POST your THREE favorite boats, in order and WHY they are your fave...

[RADRVR]

#1 Laveycraft 21 XCS, Closed Bow, 454 MAG MPI, Bravo 1 - because it's my current boat

Planes nice, especially with the trim tabs. Good punch from 30-50 MPH; it really pushes you back in the seat. I've ridden in 350 MAG MPIs and its like comparing apples to oranges. I see a top speed of 72 MPH in ideal conditions - 1/2 tank of gas, light load, down river, smooth water. Full boat it'll cruise at 60 MPH comfortably. The wind at this speed was brutal, so we installed Finney's wind flap and I couldn't be happier. Boat does get a little squirrely at 65+ MPH, though. Would love to see what it's like with external steering, but not worth spending the money. With the family in the boat I'm usually at 40-45 MPH. IMO, it's a great all around boat. It's a perfect size for the river (Needles/Parker), and with the tabs it really does feel and handle like a 24 footer in Havasu's rough water. I'd be side-by-side with my BIL and his 25 Shockwave Tremor. It has a timeless paint job (I'm not a fan of tribal), which still shines for a 15 year old boat.

A couple of down sides are the closed bow and swim step. When it was just my wife and I we loved the closed bow because we didn't have to shuttle a dozen friends and be "those people." But now with kids, I would love to open up the bow for convenience. It would be much easier to get the kids in and out of the boat. Lavey quoted $3,500 for the conversion, which I will likely do this winter. The swim step is my only other complaint. The angle is not conducive to getting out of the water and step on to the hatch cover, or to sit on while beached.

We've considered selling it to upgrade to a 25-28 footer, but it's just not worth the money. I don't gain a whole lot going from a 20K boat to a 40K boat... Maybe 3-6 feet and maybe 5 MPH. No thanks. Not for 20K. After all we end up in the same place.



#2 Howard 28 SCS Sportcat Open Bow (note: the cat, not deck) with the 600SCi package.

If I had the money tree planted in my backyard, this is what I'd buy. Why? Because it just speaks to me. With the power package it should see 85-90 MPH and that's plenty for me. I prefer the cat over the deck because it has the full rear bench seat as opposed to three seats and the side walk thru area. I never saw a point in that and I think its safer without for the kids. But this boat costs as much as the river house in Needles that I want, and I'd much rather have that house and my Lavey.



#3 Nor-Tech 392 Super Fish Center Console with quad 400Rs.

If I had two money trees in the backyard and lived in the Florida Keys.