No go measure a Cigarette from from the back to the front, (the waterline) as it sits in the water. You will find 4-5 feet of the front bow not in the water.

So are you saying that a 38 Fountain is the same waterline length as a 38 Cigarette? The 38 Cig is a 1000lbs lighter than a 42 Fountain plus the Cig basically has nothing in the front cabin and a 42 Fountain is loaded down with a V-berth, TV, Fridge, Sink and so forth. Possibly that is why a 42 Fountain sits lower at the bow in the water.
Another measurment I use is what I call the useable hull length. This is from the end of the front highest strake right around the trailer eye, drop a plum and to the drain plug. When I did these type of measurments (for my own personal use) back in my APBA tech days the 38 Cigarette was much longer than the 38 Fountain.
What's your take on this?

Yep, measure it. Waterline.


Probably. But that's irrelevant.
What is relevant is how much of the boat is in the water at rest.


That isn't waterline measurement.

There are two measurments of length on a boat. LOA and the LWL.

"A ship’s Length Overall [LOA] is measured in feet and inches from the extreme forward end of the bow to the extreme aft end of the stern. Watercraft operators must be familiar with this and similar dimensions to safely maneuver the ship. The dimension is commonly found in lists of ship’s data for each vessel. "

A ship’s Length on Load Waterline [LWL] is an important dimension because length at the waterline is a key factor in the complex problem of speed, resistance, and friction. On vessels with a counter stern, the LWL and LBP can be the same or about the same. On a ship with a cruiser stern, the LWL is greater than the LBP.

Fanatic, I understand what you are saying but there is now way the running surface and or water line on a 38 Cig and 38 Fountain is the same. Even if you do not equate the Fountain 1.5' beak into the measurment the Cigarette does not count the swim platform into the LOA like Fountain does. With the swim platform and the notched transom of the 38 fountain there is a good 3 feet of hull that is not part of the running surface.

Man, I sound like I am sticking up for Cig and I'm a Fountain owner....weird huh?

This same deal goes for any boat that counts the swim platform into the LOA so for example a 382 Formula is not the same hull length of running surface as a 38 Cigarette. Formula counts the 2.5 feet of swim platform.

Another example would be a 41 Apache is a much longer hull water line length than a 42 Fountain due to the Apache doe not count the bolt on swim platform, again Fountain beak not in the measurement.

I would suggest you re-read the paragraph above.

Look at the picture...That boat has six feet of the bow out of the water, easily.

"Look at the picture...That boat has six feet of the bow out of the water, easily."

I always thought my 42 rode as well as the 46 Cig...

And also, is it a done deal that the two Fountain 42's run the same speed with the same power?

Fanatic, that picture you keep showing me I believe is a Cigarette 42 Revolution not a 38 TG.
I've seen a ton of pictures of Fountains that sit beak high in the water due to the engine weight in the back. So does that mean that some 38 Fountain are shorter than others? No it doesn't. That picture of the Cig means nothing, seriously.
At the end of the day the USEABLE HULL LENGTH of a 38 Cig is more than a 38 Fountain...period.

I was in toms river NJ in 03 with my 02 42 fountain lightning with twin 575's. I had to go back to CT so I filled all my tanks including reserve and took my guest on one last ride in the bay (6 of us in total). I ended racing an 03 38 cigarette with the same power and we beat him. We later tied up at the tiki bar and he couldnt believe with all that weight that I kicked his a-s. I also have a video that one of the passangers was trying to do his best on with recording, maybe I can dig it up next week.

Wow, what a bunch of B^%$&ing about what everyone on the planet knows:

a) Fountains are generally faster than a Cig for the same "manufacturer's claimed length"

b) Fountains are generally 8% less real length than virtually any other performance boat due to their counting the beak and the swim platform.

c) Fountains are a great "go fast" boat in relatively mild conditions.

d) All steps spin and roll (look at the 51 Outerlimits that killed everybody in Michigan 2 weeks ago)

e) There is no finer rough water boat on the planet than a Cig, albeit a bit slower than some competitiors of "equal" size.

f) Phil rolled Rio becasue of a 4' chop on top of 8' swells on a left hand turn in KW on a shortened track due to the rough conditions. Oh yeah, he was in the lead, so the slow boats didn't roll at that point.

It's all about choice and passion. Feel good about what you drive or get something else. Don't waste peoples time with boat drivle.

Unleashed, Fanatic and I where having a civilized and fun conversation about boat lengths...no more and nothing else. We were not arguing at all. Also all boats will spin out...yes even old style straight deep V's. I remember races back in the 70's and 80's were plenty of straight V style boats spun out.