I have never owned a Profile but I have looked at them a bunch over the years. I always buy new boats. I currently own a 42 Fountain that I absolutley love. This is actually my 5th NEW Fountain and EVERY SINGLE one has had its own "problems/defects"
Here is a list of boats that I own or have owned:
1990 19' Eliminator Tunnel
2004 25' Baja Outlaw
1993 25' Checkmate Convincor
1994 28' Checkmate Convincor
1996 38 Fountain Fever
1997 42 Fountain Lightning
1999 47 Fountain Lightning
2007 35 Fountain Executioner
2007 42 Fountain Executioner
I tell you this because I have NEVER owned a boat that did'nt have some kind of problems and/or slight defects.
I looked at the Profile 40 back in 1998 just before I bought my 47 Fountain. Nice boat!
I really liked the Profile because it was a "Custom Boat" but I was a little unsure. So I went to Sumner Iowa to visit the plant. I can tell you that Randy Schultz is a great guy and very knowledgable. I was impressed with the boats but could see they were not as "refined" as the Fountains.
Profile hulls are strong and fast but they (back in the late 90's) needed better fit and finish from what I could tell. I also thought the 40 needed a little more freeboard.
I boat on Lake Michigan and it gets pretty nasty out there. Fountains are not the deepest boats either but they have just about the minium freeboard that I feel comfortable with.
NOW from what I understand the new owners are really putting an effort into making the boats more polished and refined. This is exactly what Proile needed!!
I think Randy's designs and ideas were always well intentioned but I think the company just was a bit shy of getting in just right. Believe me the Fountains are NOT perfect either.
I think perfection in a boat is just a state of mind. There is so much that goes into the manufacturing of a boat that it is IMPOSSIBLE to acheive abolute perfection. I think some people EXPECT that!!
All manufactures have their list of HAPPY and UNHAPPY customers.
That said I am very excited about thge NEW Profle and can't wait to see the new decks on the 37,38 and 40. I hope they put more freeboard in them and sell a bunch of them.
So good luck and hopefully this little thread will start a POSITIVE feeling on OSO for Profile. I am sure there are plenty of happy, repeat Profile customers out there that just need to POST some sunshine on this board!!
