Anyone know about older Sonic hulls/boats

**Nate5.0** · 07-03-2020, 11:44 AM

there is a Classic 1979 Sonic 20.6 here that has caught my eye a lot.

I have had big Sonic offshore boats (had a Sonic 358) but never anything like this.

It is all redone with an 07 opti 200 on it. I love everything about it but when trying to research them I get nothing.

Was curious if anyone had info on them at all (they ride, handle, etc etc).

Here is the boat in question

**sonicss33** · 07-03-2020, 12:31 PM

I’m not sure if that is a Jay Ross boat. I think his first boats were early 80’s like the 24’. Maybe PM “Sydways” on this. Nice find btw.

**Nate5.0** · 07-03-2020, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by sonicss33

I’m not sure if that is a Jay Ross boat. I think his first boats were early 80’s like the 24’. Maybe PM “Sydways” on this. Nice find btw.

Awesome and thank you.

Boat is amazing and redone well. Just want to get a little insite on it before pulling the trigger if we can

**Instigator** · 07-03-2020, 02:49 PM

I have seen several advertised but never in person, all in Fla.

I thought they were J Ross boats but key word being “thought”.

From what I’ve seen of them, they need all the power you can put to them, and expect them to be way heavy/slow.
Like 55 w/a 225 probably....

Sorry.
I only know what I think I know��

**Nate5.0** · 07-03-2020, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Instigator

I have seen several advertised but never in person, all in Fla.

I thought they were J Ross boats but key word being “thought”.

From what I’ve seen of them, they need all the power you can put to them, and expect them to be way heavy/slow.
Like 55 w/a 225 probably....

Sorry.
I only know what I think I know��

Hey bud....i am on OSO as well.

I am ok with a top of 50 ish if the ride is good. It will be an island cruiser on the gulf so too speed isn't a thing for me. More of ride quality and build quality as well.

**JBS** · 07-04-2020, 06:19 AM

The big sonic boats were good offshore racers.Never heard anything negative about them. The 24 was the the shortest boat I've heard of.
If the boat your looking at has been restored, check the floors, stringers,and transom for soft spots or water intrusion.

**CUDA** · 07-04-2020, 06:56 AM

Different

https://www.boats.com/power-boats/20...i-h2o-6766448/

**rgsauger** · 07-04-2020, 08:32 AM

Cool boat

**Nate5.0** · 07-04-2020, 08:41 AM

Originally Posted by JBS

The big sonic boats were good offshore racers.Never heard anything negative about them. The 24 was the the shortest boat I've heard of.
If the boat your looking at has been restored, check the floors, stringers,and transom for soft spots or water intrusion.

Ya i had a Sonic 358 before and it was a great offshore boat.

We want something different for a change and really love this boat. Our issue though is what is happening here. There seems to be no back story on this hull which is slightly concerning.

Here is our old Sonic

**FUJIMO** · 07-04-2020, 04:55 PM

Originally Posted by Nate5.0

Was curious if anyone had info on them at all (they ride, handle, etc etc).

Here is the boat in question

...ever ride in a 1970's california jetboat? thats how they ride & handle. (only way down on power.)

**scott reierson** · 07-04-2020, 08:27 PM

Nate,

I'm pretty sure I remember seeing that model with twins on a Sonic Flyer I got at the Factory in the early eighties. I can't remember the bottom they used. Take a look at the bottom to see what kind of deadrise it has. Like FUJIMO says above, If its on the flatter side it will ride rough.

Nate,

I went to attic and found the flyer I was talking about. I am wrong. The boat I was thinking about was a 21 Scorpion out of FL

**FUJIMO** · 07-12-2020, 01:01 PM

...jay ross had a small warehouse in a bad part of town west of the tracks in oakland park, (west ft. lauderdale,) at n.w.21 ave. & oakland park blvd. he was a struggling small time cash operating van conversion & repair shop, mixed in with other carpet baggers, used car repair shops, radiator shops, etc. all in small warehouses, on streets that were always flooded from the florida rains. it cracks me up when he tells people that he started as a successful aftermarket auto parts industry businessman. he's a saleman, you get the idea. anyways, he got a hold of this old 20' california jetboat mold & made a boat. took a couple years but he sold a couple. after all these decades, before sonic went bankrupt,(multiple times...after all...it IS the boat business) he built so few of them, no one bothered to keep track of them or knew that sonic even made them. there was/is never a market for them in florida. jay has been known to sell stamped concrete driveway jobs in recent years(of which he sold his first job to a relative), and of course he is in the cigar "industry" selling boxes of cigars. this is the bottom line...whatever you pay for the boat in question, will be worth half, come time to sell it.

**FUJIMO** · 07-12-2020, 01:03 PM

...glad to see you got a bit more info on these boats over on oso...

**FUJIMO** · 07-12-2020, 01:14 PM

...the good news is, you are able to buy a nicely restored & modern rigged boat for a fraction of what this seller put into it. i like the color too. looks like a "grabber blue'' from the 1970 Boss 302 mustang days.

**tangerine386** · 07-12-2020, 05:16 PM

i do know that they run sonic boats over in australia for ski racing. i to loved the looks of this boats there was one here GA for sale in good condition with a 90s 200 johson on it for 5000. i to could not find much about them. this boat was for sale last year on craiglist for way more money