Eliiminator Daytona 28ft v 30ft

[SpeedProp32Cleaver]

Hi, All:

I'm stepping up and looking at an older 1999 Eliminator Daytona 28' with twin stock 502s and Bravo One outdrives. The boat is in great shape and the price is reasonable.
I've also been looking at the late-90s to early/mid-2000s 30' Daytona's, also with twin motors, either 502s, 496s, or larger motors.
For those of you in the know, or who have had either of these boats, whats the advantage, and/or disadvantages, between the two? I've read where the 30' is faster than the 28' with same horsepower due to the 30' having a slightly better hull refinement.
Also, would you pass on the Daytona's and look at something that is more of a true tunnel like an Awesome, Motion, Spectre, etc.? I boat on the weekends in alot of rough water on the Ohio River, along with runs to Lake Cumberland for the Thunder Run and Poker Run.
One of my buddy's use to have a 31' Awesome that had no center pod down the middle and it had a great rough water ride. Of course, the handling was sluggish at lower speeds, but I'll trade that off any day for how a true tunnel rides in rough water in the 70s, 80s, and on up.
Thoughts? Appreciate any feedback.
SpeedProp

[mikesufka]

Can't add much except a friend of mine had an early 2000's 28 with twin 496's - it ran mid to high 90's in MN. Beautiful boat - mostly orange. I had a Spectre 30 with 300XS's - nice rig. Currently own a Skater 28 with 300X's - another nice rig.

If your water is snotty, I'd get a true cat. Spectre, Skater, DW, etc ... Good luck.

MDS

[SpeedProp32Cleaver]

Thanks, Mike. Appreciate the feedback and input.
Look me up if you ever decide to let loose of your Skater. I'd be interested.
If my email doesn't show on the thread, it's [email protected].

Thanks.

[Brad Zastrow]

I have been in 30 Motion cats, 30 Spectre cats and Eliminators. The Eliminators ride ok with I/O power the one Spectre cat was a twin big block and was a handful to drive. Too much porpoise. Personally I would look for a 32 Skater with Number Sixes and big blocks. That boat will be fast and eat up big water.

[SpeedProp32Cleaver]

Thanks for the feedback, Brad. Appreciate it.
SpeedProp

[John S]

Can't add much except a friend of mine had an early 2000's 28 with twin 496's - it ran mid to high 90's in MN. Beautiful boat - mostly orange. I had a Spectre 30 with 300XS's - nice rig. Currently own a Skater 28 with 300X's - another nice rig.

If your water is snotty, I'd get a true cat. Spectre, Skater, DW, etc ... Good luck.

MDS

What was the boat on your lake that had trips 2.4's with those little blue bottles? Saw it once, think you and J rode in it, no?

[Charli]

Years ago I had a 24' Htm, and when it was time to move up, we were looking at a 30' Eliminator with 525's. I went to go look at the Eliminator but did not drive it, but shortly after a 2003 36' Spectre came up for sale with MDG 650's with XR drives. It was a wonderful boat, and did great in rough water, the only issue was a pretty wide porpoise range, from maybe 50-70? I forget exactly. It did have a monster tunnel tab from Dana Marine that you could drop and it would help some you just needed to be careful.
If you want a more family friendly I think the Eliminator, only because only because of the space under the deck. For Poker runs etc, Spectre would be my pick.

[SpeedProp32Cleaver]

Thanks, Charli. Interesting that you pointed out the wide porpoising range of the Spectre 36'. My buddy's 31' Awesome had a pretty good porpoise range, too. It had a top-end in the mid-80's with stock twin 496 Mag power. You couldn't drive through the porpoise, but it was easy to control with some finesse on the trim button. Still, though, it was a great rough water boat. We had five people in it one Sunday afternoon on the Ohio River in serious choppy water from lots of boat traffic. It ran beautifully over top of the chop with an impressively comfortable ride for passengers at speeds in the 70's and on up to mid-80's top end. A great boat. To this day, I still don't understand why he ever sold it.
SpeedProp

[mikesufka]

What was the boat on your lake that had trips 2.4's with those little blue bottles? Saw it once, think you and J rode in it, no?

Yup - Bill Schiltz’ rig …. Still for sale

https://www.screamandfly.com/showthread.php?363779-23-Eliminator-Daytona

MDS

[SpeedProp32Cleaver]

Thanks, Mike. Now that's a real cool ride!

[JPEROG]

I have a 36 Spectre that I would sell. Its an 03' with Merc 575s and few little extras added to them. Fun boat, really nice interior, big stereo, incredible sounding boat, but I don't need all of these things.

Joe513794513795513796513797513798513799

[SpeedProp32Cleaver]

Thanks, Joe. Your boat is beautiful, and I love it, but a little out of my price range. I'm looking to hover around the $75k mark, give or take 10%. Your boat is worth over $100k easy, in my opinion.
SpeedProp

[mikesufka]

That 36 Spectre is bad a$$ - lot of boat for the money. Gotta ask ... how fast ? :)

MDS

[JPEROG]

Its run 110 best. Its a great rig for big chop and I thought that it would be a good idea to have at LOTO for a back up boat but it just never gets used. A ton of boat for the money but its extremely loud and really needs a set of baffles or clamp mufflers if anyone is going to ride in the back. I am having the Starboard motor freshened right now but it will be ready to go for the spring time.

Joe