What are your top 10 boats of all time?

[TOOLEY]

Been think about throwing this up for awhile now, they don’t have to be in order.

1. Roger’s Bonneville 18
2. Spectra 19
3. Schiada 20
4. Donzi 22 Classic
5. Howard 25 Bullet
6. Campbell 24
7. 1st gen 22 Daytona
8. Formula 292/311
9. 19 predator
10. 25 Daytona

 

[Shlbyntro]

Been think about throwing this up for awhile now, they don’t have to be in order.

1. Roger’s Bonneville 18
2. Spectra 19
3. Schiada 20
4. Donzi 22 Classic
5. Howard 25 Bullet
6. Campbell 24
7. 1st gen 22 Daytona
8. Formula 292/311
9. 19 predator
10. 25 Daytona

Thats a lot of boats. im not sure most of us could come up with 10....

Sanger Flat
my Ultra 247XS of course (it really was a dream boat of mine)
Donzi Sweet 16
Warlock 28sxt cat
28 Scarab3 with twins
Formula 350/370/400SS
1st gen Mastercraft Xstar
1st gen Super Air Nautique
28 Criscraft Corsair/Launch
22 Cheetah Wildcat

look at that, I found 10 lol

 

[MK1MOD0]

My favorite. 47 ft Nor Tech “Ballastic“. It’s a hard top convertible rudder boat.

 

[TOOLEY]

Thats a lot of boats. im not sure most of us could come up with 10....

Sanger Flat
my Ultra 247XS of course (it really was a dream boat of mine)
Donzi Sweet 16
Warlock 28sxt cat
28 Scarab3 with twins
Formula 350/370/400SS
1st gen Mastercraft Xstar
1st gen Super Air Nautique
28 Criscraft Corsair/Launch
22 Cheetah Wildcat

look at that, I found 10 lol

Rite! I could add another 10 probably. I’ll try and update with pics. Furthermore if anyone here has pics on my list please add them.

 

[monkeyswrench]

Sanger flats...because they're floating engine porn and one was the first "fast" thing I rode in.
CP gullwing...a friend had one, loved it.
Carrera 21 open bow jet...modern, nice version of what I have and familiar with.

Dream boats, those I'm pretty sure I'll never own:
E Ticket....family pimp boat with twin I/O's
MTI 340X...just sexy as hell
Skater 388...nice lines, and can have big power.
GetReal's cat that he never had a chance to finish. I have lots of pics of that hull, and it just had good proportions and had potential

I also know full well, I would probably wad up anything in the dream boat list. Having the funds doesn't assure having the skills

Really though, my favorite boat is whichever one I can launch and comes back to the ramp under it's own power. A low bar for some, but always a good day!

 

[2FORCEFULL]

force 26 twin small block deck

29 force 800 hp x2

270 hallett open bow.. x5

270 hallett closed bowx2

cheetah wild cat x 2

272 baja x5

22 twin turbo schiada.

21 twin turbo schiada

25 nordic rage x5

21 schiada river tunnel

biesmeyer x3

22 schiade big block

 

[BigRedBryan]

Anything drag or circle...

 

[Riverbottom]

Biesemeyer

 

[Angler]

Bayliner...enough said...

 

[intense]

26 DCB non canopy

 

[Englewood]

Howard SCS Teague 1050
DCB 35 w/ Merc 1350’s
Nautique G23
Huge Center Console 5x450’s
Trifecta pontoon w/ 450’s
90’ Viking “Fishing” boat
Ranger Bass Boat

That’s all I need for now.

 

[RiverDave]

Top ten we have owned or top ten overall?

 

[TOOLEY]

Top ten we have owned or top ten overall?

Just a top ten overall. If I had owned all these Id probably list ten other ones, which I could no problem. I could list 10 Howard’s alone. Haven’t owned one yet, I passed the on a 19 years ago cause it was an outboard. Fast forward to buying a daytona project that is twin obs, as a second boat no less. Is what it is.

Honestly just trying to promote some boat talk to keep shot off my mind.

 

[RiverDave]

Just a top ten overall. If I had owned all these Id probably list ten other ones, which I could no problem. I could list 10 Howard’s alone. Haven’t owned one yet, I passed the on a 19 years ago cause it was an outboard. Fast forward to buying a daytona project that is twin obs, as a second boat no less. Is what it is.

Honestly just trying to promote some boat talk to keep shot off my mind.

I will have to think about that..

 

[Goodtime$]

19 Daytona
25 Daytona
Bayliss sportfish
Gullwing
36 skater canopies
Dcb f29
Ultra 22 stealth
Conquest deck
Force cat
Seavee 390 inboard

 

[76sanger]

1-10....V-Drives!

 

[Rajobigguy]

Top ten we have owned or top ten overall?

If w e had to of owned them then I'm out. I've only had 4 boats in my life and one of them was a sail boat,

 

[pixrthis]

21 Schiada RC
Cole TR2
28 Skater
38 Fountain
36 Cigarette Gladiator
27 Laveycraft
40 Formula
15’ Boston Whaler
That’s it, I don’t need 10 boats

 

[poncho]

Sanger flats...because they're floating engine porn and one was the first "fast" thing I rode in.
CP gullwing...a friend had one, loved it.
Carrera 21 open bow jet...modern, nice version of what I have and familiar with.

Dream boats, those I'm pretty sure I'll never own:
E Ticket....family pimp boat with twin I/O's
MTI 340X...just sexy as hell
Skater 388...nice lines, and can have big power.
GetReal's cat that he never had a chance to finish. I have lots of pics of that hull, and it just had good proportions and had potential

I also know full well, I would probably wad up anything in the dream boat list. Having the funds doesn't assure having the skills

Really though, my favorite boat is whichever one I can launch and comes back to the ramp under it's own power. A low bar for some, but always a good day!

When I met Roy a few years ago his enthusiasm for that Skater was contagious, talked at length about it, I'm sad he didn't get to finish it

 

[DWC]

No particular order
- 32’ Doug Wright with twin whackers. The Orange one maxed out just out on the water is awesome.
- 35 DCB with 1350’s if I hit the lotto and don’t have to worry about rebuilds.
- Trifecta with twin 450’s. White on white on white. Just a little faster and little cooler than @Jumppack JB
- Eticket with twin 1050’s.
- Nautique/Malibu dock crusher with every option and a huge system sponsored by Wet Sounds
- Super Petrel - Tough to beat the smiles per gallon/mile. It does float so i think it qualifies.
- 21’ Schiada with BoostPower compound trickery
- Big ass Trawler to cruise up and down the coast.
- 42 Cig with solid power for lunch runs to Catalina.
- 21’ Nordic Cyclone with a 400. All white. Don’t know where i got the idea from.

 

[LHC Kirby]

Absolutely favorite motorboat….. by far… can’t believe it hasn’t been mentioned in the first 20 posts.

Hands down the best !!!!!

 

[TOOLEY]

There’s some awesome reply’s here, many I’d of added to my list or a second list maybe even a third.

 

[monkeyswrench]

When I met Roy a few years ago his enthusiasm for that Skater was contagious, talked at length about it, I'm sad he didn't get to finish it

I never got a chance to meet Roy. I saw pics of it here. A few years back I went to my first DS, and it was parked across/in the RDP booth. It had all the attributes of the "monster cats", but not giant, and not small either. I hope someone does it justice in the future.
I'm not very knowledgeable about boat design or rigging, but bright enough to know that he was building it that way for a reason(or many).

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

I never got a chance to meet Roy. I saw pics of it here. A few years back I went to my first DS, and it was parked across/in the RDP booth. It had all the attributes of the "monster cats", but not giant, and not small either. I hope someone does it justice in the future.
I'm not very knowledgeable about boat design or rigging, but bright enough to know that he was building it that way for a reason(or many).

That Skater was widened I believe 19”. Roy was building some super one- off motor mounts for it, all the controls, hoses, whatever we’re going through passages inside the billet mounts.

He was absolutely a genius and a mild mannered gentleman as well.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with him in his shop while my boat was down.

 

[TBI]

Top ten we have owned or top ten overall?

Yes

 

[SJP]

* 19 ft - I do not know hull brand runabout with a foam floor, soft rotting transom and a 200 HP Merc. It was my uncles boat until he passed in a car accident at 32. My grandfather gave me the boat and I had many awesome days on the lake I grew up on. It still sits behind one of our barns.
* 32 ft Sundancer pontoon with a 140 Tahatsu, full size bque, and a jet ski boom
* DW 32 RT 2 X 400 HP - the best performing / efficient boat I have ever captained
* DCB F29 - Illmor V10 625 X 2 - a badass allaround Havasu boat
* Baja 250 Sport 454 MAG - I remember the day my dad took delivery on this boat.
* MTI 340X - 2 X 400 HP - Fit and Finish second to none
* DCB M31 - 700 X2 Stage III mods - Insane Speed
* DCB 21 2 X 250 Merc - my wife hated this boat
* Natique G23 - best boat to swim off of and chill
* Duffy 21 Classic narrow - wife loves this boat

Honorable Mention - Playcraft 28 w 2X250 HP, Eliminator 27 X 2 300 XS, 39 Midnight Express Quad 300 Verado

 

[Marios Metalworks]

I think this is called “manifesting”

Wallypower 118
Hallett 270s straight bottom closed bow
Lake Tahoe’s “Thunderbird”
Eliminator Daytona 28 tall deck
Formula 500 SSC
Eliminator Daytona 25 w/ twins
Apache Star
1929 Chris Craft 28’ w/ the canopy
Skater 388
Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

 

[Hydroman55]

I think this is called “manifesting”

Wallypower 118
Hallett 270s straight bottom closed bow
Lake Tahoe’s “Thunderbird”
Eliminator Daytona 28 tall deck
Formula 500 SSC
Eliminator Daytona 25 w/ twins
Apache Star
1929 Chris Craft 28’ w/ the canopy
Skater 388
Fountaine Pajot Elba 45

2nd on the Thunderbird, one of the most beautiful boats ever built….almost an illusion in person not to mention twin V 12s.

 

[CLdrinker]

26’ Howard Cat is the sexiest boat ever in my opinion.

28’ Howard Bullet is a close second.

 

[LHC Kirby]

*
* Duffy 21 Classic narrow - wife loves this boat

I have a Duffy 18’ Snug Harbor … we love it.

 

[DrunkenSailor]

By order of size.

Silverwing tunnel twin 280s

Schiada 24 wood deck

Hallett 270t straight bottom closed bow

28 skater twin 450R's

Lavey 2750 Twin 300R's mcob

Stancraft hammerhead 390

Nortech 460 flyer

Apache 47

Cigarette tirranna

Hatteras gt70

Added pics

 

[Backlash]

47' Apache
41' Apache
38' Cigarette
35' Cigarette
30' Scarab Panther
27' Magnum
24' Schiada
23' Formula 233
21' Schiada
19' Schiada

 

[farmo83]

Bezos yacht

 

[LOBOATOMY]

No Miller Wood Deck V-Drive Flats yet?
This crowd must be too young.

 

[dnewps]

Howard SCS Teague 1050
DCB 35 w/ Merc 1350’s
Nautique G23
Huge Center Console 5x450’s
Trifecta pontoon w/ 450’s
90’ Viking “Fishing” boat
Ranger Bass Boat

That’s all I need for now.

Very interesting that the Howard is at the top of the list ahead of the 35 DCB with 1350’s...can you elaborate?? I have always liked the Howard scs

 

[HBCraig]

19' Eliminator Sprint
Ultra 247
Force 26 with twins
25' Daytona
28' Daytona LP
Schiada RC
Howard 25 Bullet
DCB Mach 26
Lavey 2750
Hustler Slingshot 388

 

[poncho]

I never got a chance to meet Roy. I saw pics of it here. A few years back I went to my first DS, and it was parked across/in the RDP booth. It had all the attributes of the "monster cats", but not giant, and not small either. I hope someone does it justice in the future.
I'm not very knowledgeable about boat design or rigging, but bright enough to know that he was building it that way for a reason(or many).

You missed a chance to meet a great guy, he loved to talk boats, past and present. Very humble yet you could tell he had lived a rich life and enjoyed sharing it.
It's starts with what's your name, where you from and what's your boat background?....Half hour later you have a new friend.

 

[Your ad here]

21' Howard River Custom
41' Apache (Warpath & Allez Vite)
28' Campbell Whaler
24' Schiada
21' Vaughn
The Nordic race boat that was at this years boat show
35' Viking
42' Bertram
65' Elliot
38' Bertram Special

If any of you hung out on E dock in Dana Point harbor in the 90's you'll know the last 4 I'm talking about. 2 went North, 1 hit an island, and 1 is in Hawaii.

 

[poncho]

That Skater was widened I believe 19”. Roy was building some super one- off motor mounts for it, all the controls, hoses, whatever we’re going through passages inside the billet mounts.

He was absolutely a genius and a mild mannered gentleman as well.

I was fortunate enough to spend some time with him in his shop while my boat was down.

I assumed it would get monster power and he said that when it was layed up he promised them it wouldn't, it didn't need it. I said it sounds like your building a Gentlemens Hot rod and he said exactly.

 

[traquer]

I don't know much about boats compared to many on here, but some boats I like the most:

1) Essex Sterling

• My first fast boat ride (95mph) was in an Essex Sterling
• The first nice boat I owned was an Essex Sterling
• Most practical and best layout of any 21 boat IMO

2) Maxum Sedan Bridge (45ish foot)

• Friend of a friend had one, first ocean boat "yacht" I ever went out on! Good memories
• Super spacious and efficient layout for such a "small" boat
• relatively cheap?

3) 24' Schiada

• Everything about them is badass, especially with big power! Dude at Havasu has a blue one that's loud as hell. I love that boat

 

[Ragged Edge]

20 Stoker Sport Tunnel *
Nordic 20 Cyclone Merc 300r
Tuff 21 *
38 Fountain Fever *
Ski Nautique
21 Schiada V Drive Twin Turbo
19 Hallett Sport Skier V Drive Twin Turbo
MTI 340 Merc 450 x 2
21 Eliminator Daytona Merc 2.5 Drag x 2
21 Labsport Merc 300r

The one's with the asterisk I currently own, most of the others I've water skied behind or ski raced behind. The MTI is a dream boat, I love the lines of the Labsport and the Eliminator is just a bad ass water rocket.

Happy Easter Everyone.

 

[twocents]

Okay -- here goes from small to big -- and this list pays respect to exceptional hull designs from yesteryear (and I couldn't cut the list to just 10 , so there's 11).
16' Tahiti by Schuster
18' Switzer Flying Wing
19' Eliminator Daytona
20 Spectra Day Cruiser
20 Stoker Sport Tunnel
21 Challenger (by George Linder)
24 Skater
24 Schiada
27 Magnum
35 Fountain Lightning ICBM
36 Cigarette (original version)

 

[Englewood]

Very interesting that the Howard is at the top of the list ahead of the 35 DCB with 1350’s...can you elaborate?? I have always liked the Howard scs

I should’ve clarified. No specific order lol

 

[CLdrinker]

I don't know much about boats compared to many on here, but some boats I like the most:

1) Essex Sterling

• My first fast boat ride (95mph) was in an Essex Sterling
• The first nice boat I owned was an Essex Sterling
• Most practical and best layout of any 21 boat IMO

2) Maxum Sedan Bridge (45ish foot)

• Friend of a friend had one, first ocean boat "yacht" I ever went out on! Good memories
• Super spacious and efficient layout for such a "small" boat
• relatively cheap?

3) 24' Schiada

• Everything about them is badass, especially with big power! Dude at Havasu has a blue one that's loud as hell. I love that boat

95mph in an Essex Sterling? Let’s here more about this boat.
My Dads second boat was an Essex Sterling 350 Alpha 1. 50mph was a challenge.

 

[Marios Metalworks]

2nd on the Thunderbird, one of the most beautiful boats ever built….almost an illusion in person not to mention twin V 12s.

It sure is. Learned about it on this forum and went down a deep deep rabbit hole. I’m a big fan of the P-38 Lightning so the repower was a cool read. Apparently the original owner was a recluse and had a tunnel built from his place to the boat house. Blasted out of solid granite.

 

[traquer]

95mph in an Essex Sterling? Let’s here more about this boat.
My Dads second boat was an Essex Sterling 350 Alpha 1. 50mph was a challenge.

I loved that boat, I will try to find a pic! I ended up buying the same boat same color, but mine was mostly stock 454 mag with some massaging, Imco headers etc. and I got 67 GPS out of it with the B3. 454 or possibly a 502 mag procharged with internals, and I believe he had a XR drive. It was a 100mph boat hurt a lot of feelings, don't remember but I don't think it Chine walked or did anything weird. That padded hull is quite fast and they ride nose high out of the box, good tabs are a must. He had hyrdaulic steering I had stock, I wouldn't go above 70 without them

 

[spectras only]

19 Spectra 1978
20 Spectra 1976
24 Spectra 1972
257Mirage twin 6.2 1990 [ in my avatar ]

Ones I always loved Donzi 22 Classic friend has with 6.2 Merc, white with red stripe, white upholstery with red piping.
Friend's 28 Sea Sonic classic
Kavalk 29
Kavalk 19
Kazulin Adriatic
27 Magnum Sport with twin small blocks

 

[attitude]

1. 20.4 Stoker

The rest in no particular order
21 Daytona
Mach 22
34/39 MTI
48/52 MTI
388 Skater
32 DW
47 Freeman
52 OL
25 Daytona

 

[hallett21]

92 Viking
24 Schiada
21 Nordic crossfire
37 DCB
32 Doug Wright
400 OG 400 Hallett
Skater 388
Stoker 224
Hallett F2
Lavey Craft 29

 

[C-Ya]

Zeelander - Any Size
Solaris 48 Lobster
Feedship - Any Size
Wajer 55
Palm Beach 55
Hinckley 36 Jet or 35 OB
Benetti - Any Size
Freeman 37 or 42
Mystic M4200
Hallett 240