Best riding 28' deck boat

[lavish62]

I agree with you,,,,except Magic not being quality. I strongly disagree. My boat is a 05. I have spent a total of ZERO dollars since I bought it new right from the mold. No interior issues, stitches pulling, fading, nothing. No Gel issues. No rigging issues. The only money I have spend is for routine service. Ive never been towed, never broke. Just got sea tow this summer for the 1st time. Now, for performance ,I also disagree. The boat is stable and safe at 70mph. I do have friends with 85mph deck boats, also safe. Just NOT with a family on board. For that matter the cruising speed in a deck with kids and dog and stuff is around 55. Once you hit 65 its a wind tunnel. Wind is wind, no matter your bottom hull. Magics are priced right because 90% of them have 496HO in them. Throw HP in them and they are equal to the rest. If you notice, some other brands have bigger HP, Magic really pushed for the 496HO. They didn't want to be in the the huge HP FAMILY market. Which is why you see a lot of families with them,with mild power

Nothing against magic's I have just heard a ton that they move and rattle. I still would love to ride in a few and make up my own mind. I have met Ron Moyes a few times and he is a great guy I know he made a very nice boat.

Please excuse my ignorance as I haven't actually been on one so I am strictly going off what I have heard/read.

Again I am still actively searching one out.

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[lavish62]

What's a ballpark price of a fully loaded Howard 28 SDS w/ a Merc 525efi/bravo xr/on a triple axle?


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Starting around $110k loaded plus motor package so with 525 or 565 you are $150k and with the extra parts needed for the 565 you're an easy $160.

Thinking it's a steel...

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[riverroyal]

Nothing against magic's I have just heard a ton that they move and rattle. I still would love to ride in a few and make up my own mind. I have met Ron Moyes a few times and he is a great guy I know he made a very nice boat.

Please excuse my ignorance as I haven't actually been on one so I am strictly going off what I have heard/read.

Again I am still actively searching one out.

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the only rattles you hear would be the bimini, maybe some hatch lids or doors. By move Im assuming you mean flex. Yes they do flex, but every deck Ive been in flexes a bit. Just the nature of the design, 2 outside sponsons attached in the middle! When I bought the boat, the very 1st day, we were idling across Thomson bay and I kept feeling a thump from below. I just didn't seem right. Magic was having demo days at the Nautical, I drove in, found my sales guy. He said 'yeap totally normal, its the small chop being trapped under the tunnel'. Don't feel anything now Im used to it I guess..

It takes a few months to get used a cat after being a Vee. Its a strange feeling at first. In a deck its extra strange because of the view out the front, it will look like the water is going to come over the front. It never does, one time I had it happen was self inflicted. Wake boarding slow, then turning to retrieve the kid. It was a about a 2" high wash down, no issues, right out the back bilge.

 

[PVHCA]

My dad and uncle have a 02' 27' Eliminator Fundeck. Boat feels like it is riding on a cloud:thumbup:

I have two friends that have the Fun Decks and love them. I have driven both, one with a 525 and one with a 575, both boats are very roomy and comfortable, both plane well and ride like you said, on a cloud.

I would consult with 2FF and Froggy before you buy just to pic the brain(sorry Steve, LOL) of two guys that really have experience with this type of boat.

 

[lavish62]

Well it looks like we have it narrowed down to the few talked about, I think its going to come down to ride, amenities, price, and whats available.

The top contenders are:

1. 28' Eliminator Fundeck - I love the look of the Eliminator however, it seems a little small in the interior ,pricey. Love the interior and graphic design on them, wind shields, build quality.
2. Magic H series - I like the H series for the goodies and gadgets, free board, and styling. They did a very nice job with the amenities and styling of the interior. Electric bimini is a plus.
3. Howard (Non SDS) - Great build quality and performance, I don't love the styling although it is nice. Interior is second to none, resale, and sliding doors in front to keep kids in
4. Magic (If I can't find the above) Beautiful boats, roomy, sound great, price point.

I am going to ride on all of them if I have the opportunity and make the decision from there.

Now the big question is what to do with my boat, anyone want a really good deal???

 

[Scott E]

Ride in every one you are interested in.

I'm biased as I own a Howard Sportdeck and I work the booth at the boat shows but I will give you a true story. At the 2012 Havasu Boat show I took two different prospective buyers for a demo ride on Monday morning in our boat. One couple was coming out of a boat from one of the manufacturers that has been mentioned above. The wife told me that she suspected they would stay with that manufacturer as they had been thoroughly satisfied with their deep V and had been treated like and made to feel like part of the family; something everyone spending the coin we do on boats wants to feel.

I took the couple for their test ride and they indicated they were impressed and were appreciative of the demo. Later, the wife told me that they immediately contacted the other builder and asked if they could setup a demo ride. Fortunately for that builder they were able to get them on a boat later that day.

After the two demo rides the couple took on the same day, only a few hours apart, they decided on the Howard Sportdeck as did the other couple.

Also, as far the different builders being bottoms being 'tuned', Mike Willen did quite a bit more to the bottom than that. Not to bore anyone but here is what I know from researching the different deckboats prior to purchase and watching the work Mike did while designing the Sportdeck.

The Howard 28 Sport Deck is not simply built on the same bottom as their 26 Cat, rather it is a derivative of the same. This is a common practice used in the boating world. When you have something that works, you do not discard it, you improve upon it. Mike Willen, who owns Howard Custom Boats with his dad Gene and does all of the in-house design for Howard, took the existing bottom of the 26 cat and used it as a base to work from. Mike then made the following changes:

First, the bottom was stretched from the original 26 foot length to a new length of 28'6. The new lengthened bottom was then placed on a round beam on the shop floor to find the new balance point (center of gravity). This is very important to determine weight distribution. Once you find the balance point you can simulate engine weight, tank weight and passenger weight and see how all of this affects the balance of the hull. By performing these steps Mike was able to get the boat balanced correctly.

Second, the sponsons were deepened to accommodate the additional freeboard that was added (over 18?) and the angle of entry at the bow was sharpened and changed to increase the wave piercing effect which results in a softer entry producing a smoother, drier ride in rough water.

Third, the deck was moved out 6 inches (over the Cat) on each side to maximize interior space. Additionally, the bow walk off area is actually molded into both the top and bottom of the boat, not bolted on like some deck boats. This creates a ?unitized body? and is one of the reasons why the Howard is as strong and rattle free as it is.

Next, the opening in the step was increased and the step relocated to allow for more air-flow, resulting in greater air entrapment which uses the compressed air between the water and the bottom of the hull as a hydraulic arm lifting the boat without having to trim the drive, therefore keeping the boat level and increasing hull efficiency. The bottom from the step aft was completely redesigned including changing the height of the transom notch to allow for higher drive heights which result in greater top end speeds. The dead rise angle of the bottom at this point was also changed.

Lastly, the whole lamination process was changed from the Cat. In order to keep weight at a minimum and strength at a maximum, a fully composite hull and deck lamination schedule was developed. A complete fiberglass inner liner was designed and more than a dozen separate molds are used in the build process.

This whole process took Mike, who did all of the work himself, over a year to do. Additionally, Mike built a running plug to ensure the new bottom worked prior to building the new molds.

So, while the Howard Sportdeck was created off of the Howard 26 Cat, Mike made so many changes to it that it really is a new boat. The new Howard SDS and the Howard SCS bottoms are based off of the Sportdeck mold.

Sorry for such a long post...

 

[riverroyal]

Well it looks like we have it narrowed down to the few talked about, I think its going to come down to ride, amenities, price, and whats available.

The top contenders are:

1. 28' Eliminator Fundeck - I love the look of the Eliminator however, it seems a little small in the interior ,pricey. Love the interior and graphic design on them, wind shields, build quality.
2. Magic H series - I like the H series for the goodies and gadgets, free board, and styling. They did a very nice job with the amenities and styling of the interior. Electric bimini is a plus.
3. Howard (Non SDS) - Great build quality and performance, I don't love the styling although it is nice. Interior is second to none, resale, and sliding doors in front to keep kids in
4. Magic (If I can't find the above) Beautiful boats, roomy, sound great, price point.

I am going to ride on all of them if I have the opportunity and make the decision from there.

Now the big question is what to do with my boat, anyone want a really good deal???

1) you wont find a used fundeck under 100k
2) you need to REALLY look at the bottom if you do find one. The one I considered buying a year ago was tooled horrible. Im mean real bad, like the steps were a after thought.
3) tough find, nice choice
4) I got one! give you a ride next weekend

 

[riverroyal]

Ride in every one you are interested in.

I'm biased as I own a Howard Sportdeck and I work the booth at the boat shows but I will give you a true story. At the 2012 Havasu Boat show I took two different prospective buyers for a demo ride on Monday morning in our boat. One couple was coming out of a boat from one of the manufacturers that has been mentioned above. The wife told me that she suspected they would stay with that manufacturer as they had been thoroughly satisfied with their deep V and had been treated like and made to feel like part of the family; something everyone spending the coin we do on boats wants to feel.

I took the couple for their test ride and they indicated they were impressed and were appreciative of the demo. Later, the wife told me that they immediately contacted the other builder and asked if they could setup a demo ride. Fortunately for that builder they were able to get them on a boat later that day.

After the two demo rides the couple took on the same day, only a few hours apart, they decided on the Howard Sportdeck as did the other couple.

Also, as far the different builders being bottoms being 'tuned', Mike Willen did quite a bit more to the bottom than that. Not to bore anyone but here is what I know from researching the different deckboats prior to purchase and watching the work Mike did while designing the Sportdeck.

The Howard 28 Sport Deck is not simply built on the same bottom as their 26 Cat, rather it is a derivative of the same. This is a common practice used in the boating world. When you have something that works, you do not discard it, you improve upon it. Mike Willen, who owns Howard Custom Boats with his dad Gene and does all of the in-house design for Howard, took the existing bottom of the 26 cat and used it as a base to work from. Mike then made the following changes:

First, the bottom was stretched from the original 26 foot length to a new length of 28'6. The new lengthened bottom was then placed on a round beam on the shop floor to find the new balance point (center of gravity). This is very important to determine weight distribution. Once you find the balance point you can simulate engine weight, tank weight and passenger weight and see how all of this affects the balance of the hull. By performing these steps Mike was able to get the boat balanced correctly.

Second, the sponsons were deepened to accommodate the additional freeboard that was added (over 18?) and the angle of entry at the bow was sharpened and changed to increase the wave piercing effect which results in a softer entry producing a smoother, drier ride in rough water.

Third, the deck was moved out 6 inches (over the Cat) on each side to maximize interior space. Additionally, the bow walk off area is actually molded into both the top and bottom of the boat, not bolted on like some deck boats. This creates a ?unitized body? and is one of the reasons why the Howard is as strong and rattle free as it is.

Next, the opening in the step was increased and the step relocated to allow for more air-flow, resulting in greater air entrapment which uses the compressed air between the water and the bottom of the hull as a hydraulic arm lifting the boat without having to trim the drive, therefore keeping the boat level and increasing hull efficiency. The bottom from the step aft was completely redesigned including changing the height of the transom notch to allow for higher drive heights which result in greater top end speeds. The dead rise angle of the bottom at this point was also changed.

Lastly, the whole lamination process was changed from the Cat. In order to keep weight at a minimum and strength at a maximum, a fully composite hull and deck lamination schedule was developed. A complete fiberglass inner liner was designed and more than a dozen separate molds are used in the build process.

This whole process took Mike, who did all of the work himself, over a year to do. Additionally, Mike built a running plug to ensure the new bottom worked prior to building the new molds.

So, while the Howard Sportdeck was created off of the Howard 26 Cat, Mike made so many changes to it that it really is a new boat. The new Howard SDS and the Howard SCS bottoms are based off of the Sportdeck mold.

Sorry for such a long post...

a bit bias,,,ha, great info!

 

[usfestival83]

I am biased because I have a Magic. Because so many 28's were made you can often find killer deals, since the economy took a dump. Even though a lot of people have given up on Magic and its owner they are still making boats and have been extremely helpful anytime we need something to be fixed. I believe they have a number of 28's on consignment right now. If time is not a factor, you might want to hold out for a 28H or even a 30. I have the 30 and it is a monster. Both have the electric bimini which to me is an awesome feature. Let us know what you decide!

 

[riverroyal]

I am biased because I have a Magic. Because so many 28's were made you can often find killer deals, since the economy took a dump. Even though a lot of people have given up on Magic and its owner they are still making boats and have been extremely helpful anytime we need something to be fixed. I believe they have a number of 28's on consignment right now. If time is not a factor, you might want to hold out for a 28H or even a 30. I have the 30 and it is a monster. Both have the electric bimini which to me is an awesome feature. Let us know what you decide!

Since I also have one. I see yours all the time, beautiful clean lines. Was that Ron's personal 30?

 

[Heavyhauler]

There's another thread here about new Magic Septer hulls that were produced a few years ago with current new Mercruiser power and drive for 65,000. All the used Magic's advertised about anywhere and any model are more than 65,000. Seems like a no brainer to me, warranty or not. You wouldn't get a warranty on a used one.

 

[lavish62]

There's another thread here about new Magic Septer hulls that were produced a few years ago with current new Mercruiser power and drive for 65,000. All the used Magic's advertised about anywhere and any model are more than 65,000. Seems like a no brainer to me, warranty or not. You wouldn't get a warranty on a used one.

Can you point us to the thread? I have a feeling that it's the lbys deals, if so they are all gone...

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[ONE-A-DAY]

Can you point us to the thread? I have a feeling that it's the lbys deals, if so they are all gone...

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The boat Broker / Havasu - waiting for my wife to decide on which one

 

[Heavyhauler]

Can you point us to the thread? I have a feeling that it's the lbys deals, if so they are all gone...

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Here you go. Thread is just a couple of days old.

http://www.riverdavesplace.com/forums/showthread.php?100847-New-2011-Magics

 

[Shane54]

Just saw that Robert has a new Magic deck up for sale on his site. Looks to be exactly what you are looking for.

 

[lavish62]

Just saw that Robert has a new Magic deck up for sale on his site. Looks to be exactly what you are looking for.

Are you talking about coastmotorgoup. Com? Who is Robert, do you have a link?

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[Shane54]

Yes. Coast motor group.

 

[lavish62]

Didn't see a new one I'll look again... Thanks

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