Please help .I want to get back into the sport after a 15 plus year absence and am considering a stepped bottom 42 Fountain.The boat will be run VERY HARD in the Atlantic Ocean off NJ only.I know the Fountain will be much faster but will the Fountain be able to handle the same water as say a 41 Apache or a 42 Cig(number 6 drives will be a must ).I plan on going on day trips of up to 150 miles and dont want to destroy myself or the boat. Please keep in mind we are talking NJ water here so unless you have been in it its hard to relate to .

ask yourself how confident you are in your driving skills, imho. also, what big power are you considering?

TWIN 1000S in either boat.As i said i intend to do day trips (not buzz around the ocean for a half hour.) Has anyone been in both boats considering the above parameters (i realize you run on top of the water in the Fountain and thru it in the traditional heavier vs.

curious to read the answers and opinions...

PS I am an average driver BUT i do have many years of boating experience running a 31 Sutphen in this environment (way ,way too small a boat to fool around in the ocean off NJ )

This is going to be a good one!! The 42 does run very good in the rough but not as good as the Cigarette or Apache. The bow does not like to lift, so if your not on top your going trough it!! They do ride nice though. For you in the Atlantic id say go with the Cig, Apache, or Sutphen. You wont destroy yourself but the boat......

the last time I was in a stepped 42 fountain in 5 footers I was drenched when we got back in. The boat rides really level......which is good in some cases, but tends to stuff alot in the rough.

My old Sutphen ran great for a 31(just too small ) .I like the idea of buying the Fountain because not as much horsepower is needed to move them because of the hull technology .

This past weekend we were out in 4-6's, comfirmed by the weather services so it not bs, in a 31 and 34 Sutphen and neither of us got wet!!

Get a Cigarette.