That old line that a cigarette is better in the rough water than a fountain is incorrect. When I had my 42' (with 575's) I went against a non stepped tiger with twin 1000 cobras (the nauti kitty after it was sold and repowered). We were running in some good swells during a poker run and I ended up first across the sound in saybrook and in Montauk.

What I would agree with is the non standard size issue. I consider my 30' cigarette closer to a 35 fountain. When I had my 29' fountain I did get the sh-t beat out of me in the ocean where that is not the case in the mystique (because size is what pounds the waves). So I would say if manufacturers came up with a standard way of measuring a boat it would be easier to compare different boats.

bmanafort, I agree...also when I owned my 2000 29 Fountain I did a real measurment with that boat while it was on a rack out of the water. I dropped a plumb at the drain plug and another plump bob where the arc of the bow would have contined up with out the beek. The 29 Fountain is a 25.5' boat.A 38 Fountain would measure around 34 something feet. My 38TE Fountain is really a 33' running surface or usable hull.
I love Fountains and do not get me wrong about them as I am an owner and will buy another but when comparing certain brands you really need to educate yourself on true wet hull usable lengths.