Some interesting reading on this forum. I'd like to touch base on the conversation regarding the 47 Fountain versus the 46 Black Thunder. My best friend owns a 46 Black Thunder and I will say the room in the cockpit is tremendous and you can have a lot of friends on there--the head room in the cuddy speaks for itself. Your comment about the BT being way more of a boat than the 47 Fountain just isn't true. This year I had the opportunity to go from Miami to Key West on a full staggered 850 47' Fountain. I must say, the ride quality was amazing. Doesn't even come close to the BT. When you compare the two boats, you have to compare the weight. A 47 Fountain is 16,500 pounds. A 46 BT is 12,500. I'm not saying the BT with 700s wouldn't be a mile an hour faster, but given the 4,000 pound weight difference and the ride quality of a Fountain, they aren't comparable. Any kind of snotty water--I wouldn't want to go over 65 in a BT. That 47 Fountain, however, can handle any speed you throw at it. It's a true offshore boat.

Bryan

The comment earlier is Shogren is out to sell anything, boats/bikes/cars whatever so he obviously would be happy to take Fountains and other v bottoms in because he can sell them.......

Nice Joe Dirt quote there......"not unicef, in business to make money"

Wow wrong again for me atleast, spent an hour driving a 2000 32 Fever, about 30 min. driving a 2003 42 and 15-20 in a sit down 42 not sure of the year but pretty new. They all drove good but that was all I liked.

And by the way I kept my 29 Scarab because it was bigger than the 32 Fever where we use it.

That one off boat had an outer skin barely 1/16 inch thick. It needed the transom replaced very shortly after being sold. It should have been destroyed because it is a very light and very weak boat. Those record speeds were not set with production boats. How do I know this? I saw it in the shop up close.

I understand.... Just the advertisement I saw did not mention any other brands. Large square just said we are looking for used fountains

The OL wasnt a one off boat and was run hard for years and will make someone a great boat now that Shogren updated it a bit and at a great price!!

What year is your friends black thunder? Hull changes were made in 07 on the black thunder. A staggerd 850 fountain should handle better then your friends side by side black thunder. It would be cool to see a 850 staggard black thunder though. Who will sleep better at night in the cabin, have more friends in the cockpit, etc. Are we racing here, running poker runs professinonally, or talking recreation. I have not attended tres driving school! A 47 might handle rough better, might not. Depending on the setup, driver, etc.

MY POINT is the speed of the black thunder is impressive, especially how big it is. You admit that.
Black Thunder fits MY needs better then a fountain. OVERALL not just in one catagory. FOR recreational use. It IS way more of a boat then the fountain to me and others, but not everyone. Explain to me how a 47 fountain will serve ME better in RECREATIONAL use please. Thats all.

You are the first one to bring up "Fountain built the best of the production boats".
Everyone else is brainwashed that fountain is the best, overall, out of everyboat, in every situation, for everyone, against everything, in every catagory, no matter what, fountain or nothing! LOL!
I never argued they might be the best out of the production boats, but there are many other things to consider. Price, looks, condition of used boat, etc. Depending on each persons situation.

Here in Michigan we sleep on our boats! The days are sunny, 80, and beautful looking down 30ft deep and seeing sand bottom, and the night cools off for great sleeping without the humidity. I understand everyone boats differently, just stating my opinion on how some of us boat. Almost every sport boat still have a cabin, v birth, etc. for a reason. Sorry you guys are missing out on the best part of boating! Everything is better on a boat, I mean everything;)