26 Jupiter.
As far as Contenders....A friend has a new 29 with twin 300s. Other than being super fast, he likes the room and ride on mine better as he can’t run it any faster in a 2’ Gulf head sea.

Funny you say that, someone looking a bigger boat going from a 23 SC would probably be very happy with a 27. Unless you wanted all the new shinny bells and whistles the new stuff has to offer.
After getting the 27 I have stopped looking at mid sized hulls as much... Now to find the time to do something with it.





If you could find a nice 86,87 year 27 CC that was in good shape you couldn't go wrong. It would save you a lot of coin and put you in a lot bigger hull than your 23. Set it up with newer twins and build it the way you want it and still be in for half of the cost for a used Regulator 26.

Calling Todd’s Lures! Doesn’t he still have that 27?

I had never heard that the 26 Reg Express was a crappy ride...good to know.

Boats that I may look at after next year without kids at home:
27 Blackfin Fisharound
27 SeaCraft
29 Blackfin Flybridge and Combi
35 Contender Side Console

You are so ruined.

I’ll never get rid of this seafari 25. I’d love to get a master angler 27 but I’m sure none in Hawaii. I’m sure I couldn’t afford any of these but if seacraft didn’t exist this would be what I’m looking at.

Sportfisher like Viking, Jupiter, Paul Mann custom
Bertram
Yellowfin
Seavee
Contender
Maybe the right whaler like an outrage 330

We have three Blackfins at our boatyard we take care of. A 38, a 32, and a 29.
They all ride phenomenally.
I don't know what kind of black magic they put into their hulls, but they definitely are one of the best riding boats I've ever run.

One of those is nothing like the others haha!

Cool! Their forum has very good information. The 29 Combi outboard runs very differently, but still quite well - 47mph. I've talked with the owner of 2 29's - a Combi with twin 300 Etec G2's and other 29 Flybridge with the standard inboards.




Sandy-I'm very ruined...…….Ansley may be mostly online for her senior year at Manatee High. So, opening the 2nd office over there in PBC will ruin me even more with that offshore so close while spending a week or two there each month. The 18SF is at Loggerhead marina in Jupiter inside on a dry rack just sitting there! Ready to go fishing??

The 35 Contender is a Cary splash and not a great ride even loaded down. They are popular right now to rebuild as 3 people I know personally have restored them. They are ok at best ride wise but have lots of room. Much better hulls out there in that size class that would run circles around them in seas.

If I was to take on another project build it would likely be either a 30+ Baha, a 32' Tempest or a 31 Fountain. All very affordable but likely require full, deck off rebuilds.