29' Weight - why so heavy?
 

I am looking at possibly getting a 29 Fountain. I am wondering why they are so much heavier than their competitors? I think a 29 Fountain weights 5800 lbs. The 288Sunsation and 28'6" Velocity VR-1 are around 4500-4600. Even the 290 SC Velocity with raised deck is less than 5000 lbs. What gives?

Also, anybody have all the specs for a 29 Fountain(beam, deadrise, etc.)?

My previous 29 w/ twins weighed in at 6400!! IT CRUSHED similar boats in ride and performance. Serious off-shore hulls are reinforced with more meat... and heavier as a result.
You will not have any reservations on the weight differences after you compare how much better they perform. Carder

P.S. They are 8.5 wide, draw about 36" with the drives down. Weight varies by packages.

Mine is OLD!.....an 89 with twin sbc"s.......but it has the same massive stringer set up in the engine compartment as the same year 42.......a friend of mine came over who has a 26 Sutphen also with twin sbc and he couldnt believe it.......in that era the 29 was a shrunk 42

Older single engine 29s' (pre 2001 -2002) with "old" deck style, ie, no anchor locker up front, weighed 5500 lbs dry and had 8'4" beam. The "new deck" single engine 29s' weigh 5850 lbs dry. For reference, a 2002 Formula 292 with twin 6.2's weighs 7000 lb dry. I would suspect that a 29 Fountain with twins (SBC's) would weigh about the same as the formula. An "old deck style" 27 Fountain weighs 4900 lbs. All of the Fevers are right at 100 inches beam (8'4"). The Lightnings are 8'6" beam. Old 35's and executioners weigh 7600 lbs and the "newer" twin step 35 weighs 8400 lbs. :drink:

Thanks guys. I guess a Fountain just has a lot more fiberglass than the Velocity's and Sunsations.

The older Fountains are where its at!!

My 31 ft Formula (fastech) weighed 8,050 dry from the factory.....I thought my buddies 5,800 29 Fountain was kinda lite.

I had a 32' Sunsation Dominator, it weighed about 6300#. Great boat, well built, but was too light for any serious water. There is no substitute for HP, length, and weight if you are going to run in any kind of slop or waves.

True. LI Sound gets kind of nasty sometimes and I'm guessing a Fountain would be better than a Sunsation or Velocity for that type of running.

We have a 1990 27/29 with twin BBC, never scaled it, but an old brochure I have says 6300 with SBC, so I'm guessing another 200 lbs with BBC. If anyone's interested, it's for sale in the oso ads.

I have a newer 29 and it is a heavy beast when full of fuel. Around 50 or so, she begins to free up, she starts lifting the bow out of the water at 65, hops on the pad at 72 and becomes "interesting" at 80 :drink:

So at speed, she feels VERY nimble. I think it's the best "in between" boat. There are better rough water options such as a Pantera or Activator, but it is definitely better in rough water than the Velocity, for all its weight reduction vs the Fountain isn't much faster, and probably better than the Sunsation and a tick faster as well. But when mine flys, it flys very level. Very predictable. And I will run this boat over 60 in 3 footers and maybe up to 70 if I can work it up to that speed. (don't want to hurt the outdrive)

I think the beam is 8'4'' (kinda wide for that length) and the deadrise is 23 degrees, but remember, it has that pad as well.

My 2000 Fountain 29 Fever was a solid boat. Go pound your fist on the side of the hull of a 29 Fever and then look at the stongers in the bildge. After that go to the same with a Velocity and you will know why the Fountain is heavier.

I'm checking one out Columbus day weekend, so thanks for the answers guys.