What happened to Lightning Boats by Ultra

[PussyPusher]

So I go and visit the web site and it no longer exist's and I cant get any info on them anymore. I did find one at the tri-state ultra dealer. But that was a used boat. Does anyone know what happened? Are they not being made anymore?
Thanks for the info
Shawn

[RiverToysJas]

The line was discontinued. Contact John West(Ultra28) @ 619-443-1100 if you're interested in one. Perhaps he'll work you a deal.
RTJas :D

[THOR]

WTF? Really?
Do you think he has any 247s lying around there? HMMMMM wink

[PussyPusher]

Nice, What happened? I know they guy that was selling them at the boat show 2 years ago and they seemed to be a decent boat?
Oh well!

[Mandelon]

The Lightnings were Ultras with less stuff, and a few corners cut....I talked to Wes about them one time. What he told me that the reason the didn't push them was that John (the owner) would rather build a top notch boat and not the Lightnings which were a product that wasn't the best he could build. It sounded like a pride of ownership thing. The Lightnings were a very good boat, just not up to the Ultra standard.
They probably make a little more $$$ on the Ultras as well. wink

[PussyPusher]

Its always about the bottom dollar!!! Damn! :p I am friends with the owner of West Coast Ultra but havent talked to him in sometime. So I just wondered if anyone else knew what was going on. I actualy like the boats when I saw them at the LA Boat SHow. But the Ultras are just a nicer version.

[H4215]

Ultra will still build you an Ultra that they call the Lightning Edition which is an Ultra with more of a stock look to it. Not all of the accessories on the boat are color matched, the hatch isn't electric, you can choose from 5 different gelcoat schemes using 2 colors, no stereo, and the upholstery is single stitched rather than triple stitched. Other than those items it is still an Ultra Hull with the same quality build. John ended up discontinuing the Lightning Line because once people weighed it out they realized that for a few grand more than could get an Ultra with all the features including one of their premium gelcoats. So Ultra still offers a model similiar to the Lightnings if that is what you would like, but as I said before most customers once they come down to check one out just decide to spend a little more to get the full custom.

[Backtanner]

When did he discontinue them? I got some sales literature on them about 2 mos ago.

[bchbum]

Damn, I may have got one of the last ones , got ours in april ' So far we love it . next boat
will be the 247 ,maybe it will become a collecters item.

[Infomaniac]

We love ours. The interior is double stitched by the way and made at the same place. L&S? I think is the name. They are the same boat as any other Ultra minus a few bells and whistles. The quality is no different.
We will list this one for sale soon. No confidence in my job (airline employee). Added a 3,000 watt stereo and the offshore head rest sun deck.
23XS 454 MPI and Bravo less that 50 hours. Pictures do not do it justice.
http://free.***boat.net/ubb/Avatars/Reader_Rides/Stern_Drives/Okie5.JPG
http://free.***boat.net/ubb/Avatars/Reader_Rides/Stern_Drives/Okie1.JPG
http://free.***boat.net/ubb/Avatars/Reader_Rides/Stern_Drives/Ultra51.JPG
http://free.***boat.net/ubb/Avatars/Reader_Rides/Stern_Drives/Ultra31.JPG
http://free.***boat.net/ubb/Avatars/Reader_Rides/Stern_Drives/cockpit.JPG
http://free.***boat.net/ubb/Avatars/Reader_Rides/Stern_Drives/Island_2.JPG
[ January 04, 2003, 04:56 PM: Message edited by: Infomaniac ]

[Backtanner]

I spoke to the guy at the LA boat show two years ago and he told me the main differences were...
1. No premium gel coat just 4 colors.
2. Hydraulic(manual) lift eng hatch.
3. 2X stitch upholstery not 3X like in the Ultra line.
It's too bad if indeed they decided to discontinue these as I thought I had my next boat picked out. frown
[ January 04, 2003, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: Backtanner ]

[btbuilder2]

just a little note to all that, the lighting's where a good boat, but most people who bought them, ended up spending the money for upgrades,once they saw what the ultra's had,by doing that they ended up spending more money to buy the lighting then they didif they would have just bought the ultra, i no this cause i used to build and rigg for ultra about 3yrs ago, the lightings sold well but cost to much in the long run, if you want a ultra, buy the ultra,,, and yes the ultra's are a well built boat, and if set up right,will never give you a problem,,,, i no like i said cause i built and drove all of them, when i worked for west coat ultra!!!!!

[twistedpair]

Sweet boat info! I personally like the type of graphics you have, as opposed to wilder schemes. Boat looks great now, and will still look great in 10-15 years after alot of the fad schemes have gone away. Hopefully things will turn around and you'll get to keep her.

[Lightning]

I own a Lightning 21xs. It's an awesome boat has the same graphic scheme as Infomaniac, but bright red and yellow. If I was to do it again I would have bought an Ultra and had a different gel coat put on. Once I was out of there I took the stock boat which had 330 HP 454 & did the following before taking delivery.
Set Back Pump
Diverter
Upgrade Motor to 390HP 454
Popup Cleats
Flush Mount Bow Light
Dual Batteries
Don't get me wrong, I love the boat and I am very pleased with it. Being my first boat ever, I think it was just fine. Having said that, if I was to do it again, I would have bought an Ultra instead of the Lightning, and done something better with the gel coat.
Also, after taking delivery I have added a custom stereo & Electric Hatch lift, as well as some other goodies.

[01RENEGADE]

Originally posted by lightning
Set Back Pump
Diverter
Upgrade Motor to 390HP 454
Popup Cleats
Flush Mount Bow Light
Dual Batteries
Don't get me wrong, I love the boat and I am very pleased with it. Being my first boat ever, I think it was just fine. Having said that, if I was to do it again, I would have bought an Ultra instead of the Lightning, and done something better with the gel coat.
Also, after taking delivery I have added a custom stereo & Electric Hatch lift, as well as some other goodies.
--------------------------------------------------
Lightning it sounds just like what I did I bought Renegades base 21 foot boat but have added several items down the road such as electric hatch opener trim tabs amp sub ss prop through hull exhaust and now doing some carb and intake work.If I had it to do all over again I would have spent the money on a bigger boat with a bigger engine and different gel coat,but for my first boat i am very happy with it your 21xs is just like my 21ls same mold I quess it is better to buy the most you can up front but thats what my budget would allow at the time.

[carreraboat]

Nice boat infomaniac

[Infomaniac]

Thanks carreraboat
One good thing about the lghtning is Ultra never listed that specific model in the NADA type books.
They book for as much as any other 23XS etc.