All boats have their pros and cons. Some are custom some are more production. But, to say Baja isn't a real boat is basically ignorant. I love fountains, and almost bought one just for the speed, but I'm 6'3" and couldn't stand the bolster positioning- my knees were eating the dash. Also not into the cheesy interior. and Don't even get me started on the length issue...
The 29 fountain I almost bought was basically a 24' boat to the water. With that beak, the massive built-in swim platform and the notched transom, the final number came out to about 24' 3" or so depending on how you look at the shape of the nose.

If you measure a 38 Fountain true length in the water running surface it is only 33 feet I believe. Will get a definite answer this weekend. My former local Fountain dealer measured it. I know some Baja owners and there boats are not having the issues that my friends fountain's are. Each brand has had their fair share of problems as well as any other has. Baja does make a good boat for the money as well as Fountain.

I'm sorry for getting this started. I was not trying to say that Baja was not a real boat. I looked at several of them before I bought my Fountain. I personally do not think that they are on the same level, at least the ones I drove, as the Fountains I drove. They are a good boat for the money and you are right, the girls love Bajas. The part that got me going was this satement:

Comparing a boat with twin 500's to one with a single 525 is like comparing a cat to a vee. Of course the twin 500 boat is going to be faster. To come in to the Fountain section and make your first post talking about ruling a Fountain with a Baja rubbed me the wrong way.

Back to the reason of this thread:

I would save up and go with the 35. That is what I am doing. The extra length with give a better ride in the slop and if you get the 32 you will end up wanting the 35 anyway.

I am curious, how do you measure the running surface. At different speeds you have a different amount of wetted surface. Are you talking about how much boat is in the water at top speed? Baja makes a nice boat, so does Fountain, not everyone will like every brand. I think you know my choice.

Are you comparing a twin, to a single motor 29? You should be faster. Compare apples to apples. Since the popular belief is that the beak and the swim platform increase the length. Lets compare it to a 32 Fountain, about 29 feet by everyones measurments. Put 2 500 H.P.'s in it......and....well you can see where this is going. Lets just say not even close

Come on guys, this chit about the swim platform is really tiring. And coming from Fountain owners to boot! Alot of big name big priced boats have them and never once does the extension ever get mentioned. Whether an actual swim plateform or a transom extension, there's alot of length hanging past the transom.
MTI, Nortech, OL.

HOLLY CHIT! what is that, 5 feet?

I'm on a roll!

I had a 1997 29 outlaw with twin 454/385s and when I ran it in real water(chesapeake Bay) I had to tighten my teeth when I got home. Eventually you will come to realize that that hull is really not controllable or predictable in any kind of water above 2 feet. Anything coming in from the side makes that hull slam with a shock that goes through your spine. You must have noticed this by now. Power is no substitute for hull lengh when it comes to control. I sold it after 6 years and 550 hours and bought an 04 35 Executioner last year. When you finally get a ride on a 35 Executioner or a 33 Powerplay you will appreciate what you are now missing. Ignorance is bliss so be careful. If you are partial to Baja's I hear the 33 rides comparable to the 36 and the new 35 looks real nice. I just dont think you can beat the value in the Executioner. Your comparison of your twin engine boat to your friends single is totally ignorant and coming out to the Fountain website with that garbage shows a lot of nerve.

It's not just the swim platform, it the overal length of the hull in the water and when you put any size Fountain next to the same size of a different manufacturer the Fountain would fit in side the other boat. Yes alot of boats these days have platforms and overhangs.