Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Hydra-Sports 3500VX 2008 vs Hydra-Sports Bay Bolt 23 Tunnel 2009 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a deep vee Hydra-Sports 3500VX 2008 against a tunnel Hydra-Sports Bay Bolt 23 Tunnel 2009 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 900 hp, the Hydra-Sports 3500VX 2008 has a 600-hp advantage over the Hydra-Sports Bay Bolt 23 Tunnel 2009's 300-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Hydra-Sports 3500VX 2008 carries 372 gallons versus 69 gallons in the Hydra-Sports Bay Bolt 23 Tunnel 2009. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Hydra-Sports 3500VX 2008 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Hydra-Sports Bay Bolt 23 Tunnel 2009 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Hydra-Sports 3500VX 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Hydra-Sports 3500VX 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 34,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Hydra-Sports Bay Bolt 23 Tunnel 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeHydra-Sports
MakeHydra-Sports
Model3500VX
ModelBay Bolt 23 Tunnel
Model Year2008
Model Year2009
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam11 ft. 6 in. (3.5 m)
Beam8 ft. 10 in. (2.7 m)
Beam - Meters3.51
Beam - Meters2.69
Beam - Inches138
Beam - Inches106
Deadrise23℃
Deadrise14℃
Length - Meters10.4
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet34
Length - Feet22.92
Length - Inches1
Length - Inchesnot available
Length overall - Detail34 ft. 10 in. (10.4 m)
Length overall - Detail22 ft. 11 in. (7 m)
Length overall - Meters10.62
Length overall - Meters6.99
Length overall - Inches418
Length overall - Inches275
Bridge clearance - Detailnot available
Bridge clearance - Detail7 ft. 2 in. (2.18 m) with Bimini top
Bridge clearance - Metersnot available
Bridge clearance - Meters2.18
Bridge clearance - Inchesnot available
Bridge clearance - Inches86
Draft [drive up] - Detailnot available
Draft [drive up] - Detail10 in. (0.25 m)
Draft [drive up] metersnot available
Draft [drive up] meters0.25
Draft [drive up] inchesnot available
Draft [drive up] inches1
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail3,150 lbs. (1,429 kg)
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg1428.81
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.315
Body / Hull
Hull materialComposite
Hull materialComposite
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeTunnel
Engine and Drivetrain
Fuel tank capacity - Detail372 gal. (1,408 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail69 gal. (261 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1408.17
Fuel tank capacity - Liters261.19
Fuel tank capacity - Gal372
Fuel tank capacity - Gal69
Drive typeOutboard - Twin
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max900 hp (671 kW)
Engine max300 hp (186 kW)
Operational Info
HeadSealand Vacuflush? w/10 gal. holding tank, overboard discharge & dockside pumpout
Headnot available
Water capacity40 gal. (151.4 l)
Water capacitynot available
Maximum capacitynot available
Maximum capacity990 lbs. (450 kg)
Maximum peoplenot available
Maximum people7