29 law vs 30 boss
08-18-2014 | 10:36 AM
#11
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 32
From: Oneida Lake NY
When I was shopping several people told me that the 302 was a 1-2 mph slower than the 29 Outlaw. No idea if this is true or not. I very much prefer the looks of the 29 OL over the 302 but thats a personal thing.
As for comparing to other brands, your list is very similer to mine when I was shopping. My thoughts:
Formula 292 - This is the boat I originally planned to buy. My dad had owned several Baja's and they are everywhere around here so I wanted something different. When I finally looked at one in person I was dissapointed. Typical great formula quality but almost no storage space. Would have had to keep bumpers on the v-berth once the storage spaces were filled up with life jackets and all the other required stuff. The 29 Outlaw has much more storage. Also read tons of reports about the boat being slow to plane off. Thats an issue around here with all of our idle zones. A twin engine 29 OL jumps on plane. 2 - 3 mph slower than a 496 or 454 mag powered 29 Outlaw. Also usually have bennet trim tabs most didn't have hydraulic steering.
29 Fountain - Considered a single 500 EFI boat until I talked to an owner with one for sale that had also owned a 29 Outlaw. As expected the Fountain was a little faster on top end and much slower to plane. Per the owner, the Baja can plane faster with 8 people than the Fountain with 1 person. Also a big difference in ride. The Fountain is well balanced and flies well but the baja is more of a wave crusher when at cruising speeds in big chop. Per him and what others have told me, the Fountain is a more "fun" ride, especially if you go out with 1 or 2 people and run hard and fly the boat. If you want to drop the tabs and give your passengers a nice ride in the rough stuff the Baja is better. Keep in mind, this guy was trying to sell his Fountain so he had no reason to lie. In my experience, the twin engine 29 Fountains ride like ****. I've passed a few of them in rough water. Of course in smooth water they would be 10+ mph faster than me.
32 Fountain - I actually had a purchase agreement signed on a 32 Fountain but the seller backed out. Fast boat, with 502 EFI's would have been 8 - 10 mph faster than my Baja. Much tighter cockpit and most don't have swim ladders so thats a pain in the ass. I'd expect the ride would be close between the two. I would have liked the extra speed but overall I don't regret getting the Baja. With how we boat the tight cockpit, no cupholders, and no swim ladder would have been a pain. Plus I was looking at a 4 year older boat to get one the same price as the Baja.
Good luck shopping!
As for comparing to other brands, your list is very similer to mine when I was shopping. My thoughts:
Formula 292 - This is the boat I originally planned to buy. My dad had owned several Baja's and they are everywhere around here so I wanted something different. When I finally looked at one in person I was dissapointed. Typical great formula quality but almost no storage space. Would have had to keep bumpers on the v-berth once the storage spaces were filled up with life jackets and all the other required stuff. The 29 Outlaw has much more storage. Also read tons of reports about the boat being slow to plane off. Thats an issue around here with all of our idle zones. A twin engine 29 OL jumps on plane. 2 - 3 mph slower than a 496 or 454 mag powered 29 Outlaw. Also usually have bennet trim tabs most didn't have hydraulic steering.
29 Fountain - Considered a single 500 EFI boat until I talked to an owner with one for sale that had also owned a 29 Outlaw. As expected the Fountain was a little faster on top end and much slower to plane. Per the owner, the Baja can plane faster with 8 people than the Fountain with 1 person. Also a big difference in ride. The Fountain is well balanced and flies well but the baja is more of a wave crusher when at cruising speeds in big chop. Per him and what others have told me, the Fountain is a more "fun" ride, especially if you go out with 1 or 2 people and run hard and fly the boat. If you want to drop the tabs and give your passengers a nice ride in the rough stuff the Baja is better. Keep in mind, this guy was trying to sell his Fountain so he had no reason to lie. In my experience, the twin engine 29 Fountains ride like ****. I've passed a few of them in rough water. Of course in smooth water they would be 10+ mph faster than me.
32 Fountain - I actually had a purchase agreement signed on a 32 Fountain but the seller backed out. Fast boat, with 502 EFI's would have been 8 - 10 mph faster than my Baja. Much tighter cockpit and most don't have swim ladders so thats a pain in the ass. I'd expect the ride would be close between the two. I would have liked the extra speed but overall I don't regret getting the Baja. With how we boat the tight cockpit, no cupholders, and no swim ladder would have been a pain. Plus I was looking at a 4 year older boat to get one the same price as the Baja.
Good luck shopping!
I have owned a 24 OL, 29 and 36 I can't speak for the Formula.
I thought my 29 OL was a terrible riding boat. And to the owner of the single 29 Fountain, sounds to me as if he had no idea how to trim a twin step boat. The 29 single Fountain is simply one of the best boats built period. The 29 Ol has lot of room, but mine took waves like a skiff and used a ton of fuel to go no where, slow. The 29 OL is a much larger boat than a 29 fountain, in fact the 32 is more comparable for room, but the 29 still has it beat. Now, go change a sea pump impeller in the 29 Baja and you we see why you have so much day room.....there is none in the engine bay.
Not a fan of the 32 fountain.....simply cause the CG will follow you around because it appears to be sinking, 29 twin is the same way. Have you considered a 35 Fountain?
You are really comparing a fountain (race pleasure) to a Baja (sport, performance, family) its apples and oranges.
The is a manufacture that can give you the room of a Baja, with the speed and handling of a Fountain......its Outerlimits
Last edited by 4bus; 08-18-2014 at 12:53 PM.
08-18-2014 | 12:44 PM
#12
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,794
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
Agree that maintenance sucks on the 29 OL. I've already made my wife promise to kick me in the nuts if I ever consider buying another boat this hard to work on. Also agree on the 35 Fountain being the twin engine Fountain to buy, they really got that one right. Your vette/impalla comparison is a good one.
08-18-2014 | 12:49 PM
#13
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,794
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From: Baton Rouge, LA
Also, I've never had any complaints about the ride of any of the 29 OL's I've been in. Seems like it rides about like it should. Betten than the smaller single engine 25 - 27' boats (25 OL, 272 Baja, 27 Fountain), not as good as bigger twins like the 35 Fountain. I'm definitely not an aggresive driver and don't like to beat up my boat or my passengers but I've easily passed 28 Donzi's, 29 Fountains, and 29 Formulas in rough water. Maybe the drivers of those boats were clueless but its all I have to go on. Having twin big blocks in a short boat, it does require a lot of tab to keep the bow down and I wouldn't consider one that didn't have k-planes.
08-18-2014 | 12:57 PM
#14
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,648
Likes: 32
From: Oneida Lake NY
Also, I've never had any complaints about the ride of any of the 29 OL's I've been in. Seems like it rides about like it should. Betten than the smaller single engine 25 - 27' boats (25 OL, 272 Baja, 27 Fountain), not as good as bigger twins like the 35 Fountain. I'm definitely not an aggresive driver and don't like to beat up my boat or my passengers but I've easily passed 28 Donzi's, 29 Fountains, and 29 Formulas in rough water. Maybe the drivers of those boats were clueless but its all I have to go on. Having twin big blocks in a short boat, it does require a lot of tab to keep the bow down and I wouldn't consider one that didn't have k-planes.
At the same time a guy in my Marina had one of the rare 29 OL single 454 mag....yes a single. Base model as they come, you want to see a boat come on plane slow
Like I said, not a fair comparison buy any stretch. Baja should be compared to other models that have never seen the a race course.
Another great boat the OP may want to consider is a 31 Sonic SS. Impressive cabin with a full head, nice lines, and decent performance
08-18-2014 | 02:17 PM
#15
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,794
Likes: 1
From: Baton Rouge, LA
To be fair, my 29 OL had tabs not k planes.
At the same time a guy in my Marina had one of the rare 29 OL single 454 mag....yes a single. Base model as they come, you want to see a boat come on plane slow
Like I said, not a fair comparison buy any stretch. Baja should be compared to other models that have never seen the a race course.
Another great boat the OP may want to consider is a 31 Sonic SS. Impressive cabin with a full head, nice lines, and decent performance
At the same time a guy in my Marina had one of the rare 29 OL single 454 mag....yes a single. Base model as they come, you want to see a boat come on plane slow
Like I said, not a fair comparison buy any stretch. Baja should be compared to other models that have never seen the a race course.
Another great boat the OP may want to consider is a 31 Sonic SS. Impressive cabin with a full head, nice lines, and decent performance
I would think that you'd need a sundial or an hourglass to measure the acceleration on a single engine 29 OL. They seem to be popular in the midwest but I would never consider one. There have been some nice 31 Sonics for sale lately. 32 Sunsation is another to look at. The prices on the old model (Dominator?) seem to have dropped some.
08-18-2014 | 02:31 PM
#16
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 1,130
Likes: 2
From: Northern, KY (Cincinnati) Lake St Clair, MI Norris Lake, TN
When I was shopping several people told me that the 302 was a 1-2 mph slower than the 29 Outlaw. No idea if this is true or not. I very much prefer the looks of the 29 OL over the 302 but thats a personal thing.
As for comparing to other brands, your list is very similer to mine when I was shopping. My thoughts:
Formula 292 - This is the boat I originally planned to buy. My dad had owned several Baja's and they are everywhere around here so I wanted something different. When I finally looked at one in person I was dissapointed. Typical great formula quality but almost no storage space. Would have had to keep bumpers on the v-berth once the storage spaces were filled up with life jackets and all the other required stuff. The 29 Outlaw has much more storage. Also read tons of reports about the boat being slow to plane off. Thats an issue around here with all of our idle zones. A twin engine 29 OL jumps on plane. 2 - 3 mph slower than a 496 or 454 mag powered 29 Outlaw. Also usually have bennet trim tabs most didn't have hydraulic steering.
29 Fountain - Considered a single 500 EFI boat until I talked to an owner with one for sale that had also owned a 29 Outlaw. As expected the Fountain was a little faster on top end and much slower to plane. Per the owner, the Baja can plane faster with 8 people than the Fountain with 1 person. Also a big difference in ride. The Fountain is well balanced and flies well but the baja is more of a wave crusher when at cruising speeds in big chop. Per him and what others have told me, the Fountain is a more "fun" ride, especially if you go out with 1 or 2 people and run hard and fly the boat. If you want to drop the tabs and give your passengers a nice ride in the rough stuff the Baja is better. Keep in mind, this guy was trying to sell his Fountain so he had no reason to lie. In my experience, the twin engine 29 Fountains ride like ****. I've passed a few of them in rough water. Of course in smooth water they would be 10+ mph faster than me.
32 Fountain - I actually had a purchase agreement signed on a 32 Fountain but the seller backed out. Fast boat, with 502 EFI's would have been 8 - 10 mph faster than my Baja. Much tighter cockpit and most don't have swim ladders so thats a pain in the ass. I'd expect the ride would be close between the two. I would have liked the extra speed but overall I don't regret getting the Baja. With how we boat the tight cockpit, no cupholders, and no swim ladder would have been a pain. Plus I was looking at a 4 year older boat to get one the same price as the Baja.
Good luck shopping!
As for comparing to other brands, your list is very similer to mine when I was shopping. My thoughts:
Formula 292 - This is the boat I originally planned to buy. My dad had owned several Baja's and they are everywhere around here so I wanted something different. When I finally looked at one in person I was dissapointed. Typical great formula quality but almost no storage space. Would have had to keep bumpers on the v-berth once the storage spaces were filled up with life jackets and all the other required stuff. The 29 Outlaw has much more storage. Also read tons of reports about the boat being slow to plane off. Thats an issue around here with all of our idle zones. A twin engine 29 OL jumps on plane. 2 - 3 mph slower than a 496 or 454 mag powered 29 Outlaw. Also usually have bennet trim tabs most didn't have hydraulic steering.
29 Fountain - Considered a single 500 EFI boat until I talked to an owner with one for sale that had also owned a 29 Outlaw. As expected the Fountain was a little faster on top end and much slower to plane. Per the owner, the Baja can plane faster with 8 people than the Fountain with 1 person. Also a big difference in ride. The Fountain is well balanced and flies well but the baja is more of a wave crusher when at cruising speeds in big chop. Per him and what others have told me, the Fountain is a more "fun" ride, especially if you go out with 1 or 2 people and run hard and fly the boat. If you want to drop the tabs and give your passengers a nice ride in the rough stuff the Baja is better. Keep in mind, this guy was trying to sell his Fountain so he had no reason to lie. In my experience, the twin engine 29 Fountains ride like ****. I've passed a few of them in rough water. Of course in smooth water they would be 10+ mph faster than me.
32 Fountain - I actually had a purchase agreement signed on a 32 Fountain but the seller backed out. Fast boat, with 502 EFI's would have been 8 - 10 mph faster than my Baja. Much tighter cockpit and most don't have swim ladders so thats a pain in the ass. I'd expect the ride would be close between the two. I would have liked the extra speed but overall I don't regret getting the Baja. With how we boat the tight cockpit, no cupholders, and no swim ladder would have been a pain. Plus I was looking at a 4 year older boat to get one the same price as the Baja.
Good luck shopping!
08-18-2014 | 04:25 PM
#17
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 137
Likes: 0
From: Livonia, NY
I looked at both 32 Fountain Fever and 32 Sunsation before purchasing my 302. Both boats sit very low in back and appear to be sinking at first glance and very tight to work on anything in engine compartment. Both of these boats ride well...but just couldnt get over these factors. My 302 has 500EFI's and changed all 16 plugs this season in approx 1 hour. You can reach down between both engines easily and probably easier task given it has headers. Also can change impeller in 30 min or so without taking many pieces off to get to it. Given cockpit/cabin space, ease of working on engines and decent ride/performance...i went 302 and extremely happen with my choice. Most 302's 2002 and newer have extended swim platform....they are a must for sure if you get a 302. I have it on mine and just purchase SeaDek foam inserts to help with the slipping...SeaDek has the pattern for the 302 extended swim platform already. 302 w/496HO's should run mid 70's....mine has 380 Kplanes, ext boxes, imco shorties and 500 EFI's and will run low 80's loaded. Plenty fast enough for me with this hull.
If you have the tow vehicle and place to store...go 33 outlaw....just given my space requirements for storage and lakes i mainly use the boat on here in the Rochester area....302 fits the bill perfectly.
If you have the tow vehicle and place to store...go 33 outlaw....just given my space requirements for storage and lakes i mainly use the boat on here in the Rochester area....302 fits the bill perfectly.
08-18-2014 | 04:36 PM
#18
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 285
Likes: 0
From: Osage Beach, MO
I've got a very clean low, low hour 2004 302 very nicely equipped, check it out on my website:http://www.performanceboatcenter.com...sp?boat_id=849
Glenn
Performance Boat Center
573-873-2300
Glenn
Performance Boat Center
573-873-2300
