This month’s editor’s picks: Fountain, Sea Ray, Formula, and Regal.
Fountain 38 Lightning
I must have the speed gene this month — well, always — because go-fast boats are catching my eye. This Fountain 38 Lightning doesn’t fall under the category of a “screaming deal” but it still speaks loudly.
Look for the semi-staggered HP525EFI engines from Mercury Racing, which is a good setup for a couple of reasons. One, it lowers the boat’s center of gravity for improved handling — always a good thing on stepped-bottom boats. That setup also places the drives closer together, which improves top-end performance. Also, because it’s not a full stagger, it doesn’t take away as much interior space.
Fountains always have decent rigging and attention to detail, making them good prospects for the long haul. You do have to be careful that they haven’t been hot-rodded too hard.
See Fountain 38 Lightning boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Sea Ray 260 Sundancer
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the market for small cruisers was strong. Boaters loved them because they open up the world of overnighting and weekending. Boatbuilders loved them because there was a lot of profit in them. One such cruiser is the Sea Ray 260 Sundancer.
A small-block engine with the Bravo III dual-propeller drive is a good setup for a boat this size. These models were pretty nifty because they had a convertible V-berth up front and a small berth tucked beneath the deck. They’re both big enough for two, making a couple’s weekend very doable. This one also has some nice optional features such as snap-in carpeting, a removable dinette table, and a power windlass. I also like the spotlight on the bow and the shore power. It was an incredibly popular boat, so there are tons of them on the used market at just about any given time.
See Sea Ray 260 Sundancer boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Regal 2200
Regal Boats are one of the upper-tier builders on the market. If you want a new one, you’re going to pay something of a premium for it. Here’s a way to get into a boat like that for a whole lot less.
2007 Regal 2200I also like that these boats tend to have all the watersports goodies: a wakeboarding tower, board racks, and an arsenal of stereo speakers. A DuoProp drive would be better for wakeboarding, but a single prop gets the job done. Look for options like a full canvas cover, a removable dinette table, and snap-in carpeting. Those things usually add a couple thousand dollars to a price tag when new, so they’re nice to find on a used model. Other not-so-glamorous but important features include a dual-axle trailer with torsion beam suspension and oil-bath bearings.
See Regal 2200 boats for sale on Boat Trader.
Formula 353 FasTECH
Here’s another performance boat. This one can be had for the price of a new runabout, but has a lot more size.
Because Formula’s designs are evolutionary rather than revolutionary, there isn’t much difference between the 1999 353 and, say, a 2009 353. This model also has some nice features, such as electric McLeod bolsters, electric foot rests, shore power, and a triple-axle aluminum trailer. The boat also has the 502 Mag MPI engines, and if you were looking to add power, these are great engines to build on. The 353 isn’t as good in terms of rough water or handling as its larger stable mate, the 382 FasTECH, but you likely won’t find one of those listed for the same sort of pricing.
See Formula 353 FasTECH boats for sale on Boat Trader.
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