27 Fever Vs. 25 Outlaw
 

Hi guys. I'm new to the boards but had a few questions. I'm thinking about getting into boating again. I grew up boating but my parents got out of it 5 years ago to buy a RV and do the camping thing. But now after taking my buddy's boat out for a ride last year I want back in :cool-smiley-011:

I've always had a huge fascination about Baja's and Fountains and owning one some day. So now I've narrowed it down to a 27 Fever and the 25 Outlaw. How do these boats compare? For sake of argument lets say both boats have the 454mag. I know a lot more about the 25 outlaw then the 27 fever but I really like the looks and history of the fountain.

Roush? You work there? I used to be in the Mareting dept. I actually have a 27 for sale in Cornelius NC right now with big power.

I think that you will find that the 27 is a much faster and better all around built boat.

The baja may have a little more interior room, but the fountain will be a better boat in just about all the other areas. I love my 27'. It's a much better built boat than baja's of the same era (early 90's).

Good Thread.

These two boats are at the top of my list for a potential upgrade path. I like the Fountain better, hands down, but it is more expensive.

I have found that if I match the two, year-for-year, power-for-power, similiar condition, hours, etc... the Fountain is about 13k more on average, and most would agree that it's worth it. I would, too!

I think the fountain may hold re-sale value better, but Bajas are popular in my area and dominate the market ( it's a tiny market here).

If money were not a concern, I wouldn't even need to ask the question. But if the deal on a Baja was just too good to pass on, I know that I could still be happy.

enty grade vs top of the line
 

in all due respect , but i truly dont see were comparing apples to apples here , theese two boats arnt comparable ! i say spend the extra dough and enjoy !! :cool-smiley-027:

I wish I worked for Roush but I just happened to be a huge Kurt Bush fan :cool-smiley-027:

Which one of these boats would be better in rough water? I will be mostly used on lake Erie so it would would mostly be seeing 1-3 footers. I love the looks of both boats but I've always had a hard on for owning a Fountain.

Baja is heavier and wider but slower. Mine runs well through the ruff stuff but you have to keep it hung and skip over the tops.

cool I'm not all that worried about ruff stop as long as it is safe to drive it in a little more adverse weather.

I was in the same situation as you, trying to decide between an OL 25 and a 27 beak. Liked both boats. Then a deal on my current 29 came up. The Fountain is faster of course but more $$$$. I think a Fountain might hold its value more than an OL 25.

it does seem to appear that Fountain has a better re-sale then the Baja's do.

Roush, just remember that when you go to get rid of either boat, the Fountain will sell. The Baha won"t. There is a reason they are cheaper. Mickey Mouse trim tabs is only one reason. My first boat was a Checkmate Convincor (spelling) loved it until I bought my first Fountain. Now 5 Fountains later still no comparison.

The BAJA won't sell? Either boat will sell when priced right. Roush, you really need to ride in both boats and decide what feels better.

Fountain. I had a baja before and was not impressed with the fit-n-finish. People like the look the fountain better anyway.....way too many bajas out there....(ie. just another loud boat)

For lenght, both are pretty equal. Lets get that out of the way. :)
The Baja will handle rough water better IMO do to the deeper deadrise (which will also make the slower of the 2) and the higher transom will give you a safer feeling.
I also was choosing between those 2 boats several yrs ago. Ended up with the Fountain only because I liked the way they sit in the water. It was different. At that time I had 0 knowledge of power boats. Have been on some Bajas and never thought lany ess of them, however the Fountain (depending on age) will come stock with better hardware; K-plains, Hyd Steering, offshore motor mounts and such. Where the Baja will have Bennet tabs and standard steering. No opinion on resale value, but around here on the 'local ' level market, a Baja will sell quicker do to the name being more recognized over Fountain. There are people in my marina who still have no idea what a Fountain is, but know the name Baja instantly.

Fit and finish..... see good and bad on both. Your best bet is to find both, take your time and crawl thru them and test ride if possible. It's your money.

Eitherway, good luck

Fountain

Be curious to see what the Baja guys would recommend.

to clear this out of the way I'm looking at 1998-2000 boats. It seems like everyone knows and what a Baja is around here and Fountains are less common then the Baja's but fountains still have some pull around here.

I LOVE the profile on the Fountains but I also like the wind screen on the Baja's. It seems the Baja's have more of a image appeal to them and the fountains have more of a speed/racing appeal to people.

Welcome to the board! OK here is what you do...go look at these things in both boats:

engine mounting brackets
trim tabs
hardware used on boat
pound your fist on the hull sides
over feel of the boat
gel coat work

Then take a water test ride and you will know which boat is built the best.

Oh I also forgot....Active Thunder "The Cult" incoming!:party-smiley-004:

i cant believe a baha is heavier than the fountain , although i dont know . but i do know that my buddys 25 comes in hot to the docks once and a while , and i can grab that boat and stop it a heck of alot easier than my old 27 fountain , to me it seemed like the boat was lighter than chit ! i can spin that baha around in the wter by hand heck of alot esier than the fountain would also ! :cool-smiley-027:

Fountain. No question. Construction, speed, style, hardware, resale, fuel economy......I could go on and on. The fact of the matter is, Rob Freeman was right, we're not really comparing apples to apples here. Fountain hulls have foam cores where Bajas have balsa. Fountain decks are screwed and glued to the hulls, Bajas are only glued. Fountain has a stepped hull, notched transom, pad keel, Baja is a straight 24 degree vee. All Fountains willl come with dual hydraulic steering standard, Baja won't (there's a HUGE safety item). Fountain has large K-Planes, Bajas have tiny little tabs. Fountain's fiberglass is superior to Baja's (I won't get into that).

This list could become massive, but the fact of the matter is Fountains are superior in almost every aspect. I know a LOT of Baja 25 OL owners, and I'm not knocking them, but most of them will agree with me despite the boat they own. The 25 OL is a very affordable boat, and you can have a lot of fun on them, as I have with many friends. But, just like in anything else, you get what you pay for. There's a reason no other manufacturer can make a faster v-bottom than Fountain. Trust me, you'll never look back, except for maybe to see who's trying to catch you.

Fountain doesn't just screw and glue, they glass the deck to the hull also. Very big difference.

The newer ones may use plexus adhesive, which Formula says is stronger than glass, but the review i just read on the 48 EC in boating says plexus plus glass tabbing.

so I'm going to guess they don't have the problems that some Baja's had with the floors developing cracks and spider cracks after being used.

most performance boats do,irrespective of make but gelcoat cracks are easy and cheap to fix. Structural cracks are a whole different story.

I've owned both, both bought 1 yr. used, with 110 - 120 hrs.
See below.


2004 Baja 33 Outlaw, 496MAG HO's, decent fit/finish when bought, quite nice ride, excellent and comfortable driving position with wind hitting me above hairline (I'm 6'1"), max speed 72 mph GPS with labbed props. Cabin remained new smelling through my ownership. Back seat got loose after the hinges cracked, repaired under warranty. Then the grab handles got loose. Passenger seat loose had to retighten. Polk/MOMO subwoofers came loose and mounting screws squeeked, had to retighten. "In gel" graphics on front deck noticibly faded after one season out in Texas sun and had to compound to bring shine back. Cockpit floor became brown with use and no standard cleaner I found could restore the pure white color. Floor developed spider cracks. Swim platform paint corroded off in 3 -4 mos., replaced under warranty. Steering hoses leaked slightly (a little drip pool after a few days storage in the shed), retightening with two wrenches didn't work, never fixed. No anchor locker in front.

2005 Fountain 42 Executioner, 525EFI's, excellent hardware fit/finish to this day, superb ride, good - excellent driving position with wind hitting me at eye level ( have to stoop or reposition slightly to get wind to my forehead), max speed 85 mph GPS non-labbed props. No hardware loosening to date. Cockpit floor soils with use but is easily whitened back to normal with off the shelf products. No spider cracks. Carpet in storage area floor came loose and had to be reglued, trim bead in cabin came loose and needed to be put back in and glued, graphics unchanged, no steering leaks, huge trim tabs stock, has anchor locker in front with bolt-down anchor mount. This is the superior product.

good review on both makes thank you.

The only screw loose in my boat is the driver!!!:evilb:

I don't understand why Baja's don't come with Hydraulic steering. I'm not sure if I would want to be doing 60+ mph without it.

Simple, to keep the price down some and make the boat seem more appealing. Your average boater has no idea about HYD steering.

Hyd steering was an option on Fountains yrs ago. You'd think of all the brands, Reggie would have made it standard from day 1, and his boats ran faster than 60 mph back then.

ROUSH97
I don't know were your located. but I have a 1999 27' with 502mpi. I could take you out. It is for sale for $52,000.

I'm in Buffalo,NY

I think you SHOULD have made a decision by now!!!! I agree with some other posts that banging on the sides of both makes you a Fountain owner.

really the only point the Baja has is the lower price, but on the same note the resale is worse on them then the Fountain. I also like the swim platform better on the Baja's but thats about it. I might as well spend a little more money and get a faster and better boat that I'll be happy with.

My '91 27' has stress cracks on the deck in the corners under the engine hatch where it's not reinforced, one stress crack on the bow near the hatch, and a few small cracks around one of the through-hull exhaust holes, that's it All just gelcoat cracks, none have grown since i've owned the boat (3 seasons). Nothing on the floor. It's built WAY stronger than a Baja of the same year. I can't speak for newer Baja's, though, they may very well have improved their construction techniques... but they're still a lower-priced boat, and you get what you pay for.

fountain/baja
 

fountain.....there is reason why they are #1.re-sale on a fountain is better.and yes,you will pay more for a fountain.you pay for what you get with boats.

Hey Roush97,

I have a 2001 29' with a 500HP, I love the boat, has about 500 hours on it and the only thing I've ever had to do is change the oil and tune it up. I'm on Canandaigua Lake and the boat goes in on 04/22 if you want to go for a spin. Might still be a little cold then though. My buddy has a 25' OL, I think it's an 04-05 with a 496. Nice boat but he can't keep up. I could try to get him out that day too. Or some other time later in the season. I'm not sure how soon you are looking to buy.

By the way, my friend owns the Fountain dealer on Canandaigua Lake and they have 2 used 27's there. www.suttersmarina.com. I could put you in touch with him if you'd like. Let me know.

Thanks,
Mike

well I was just wondering about that since A LOT of the 23 outlaws got sent back to the factory after people had them do to the floors on the cracking and getting huge spider cracks in them after less then 50 hours of work.

I'd really appreciate that. What engine is in your 29? Just wondering since 500 hours is pretty impressive on the motor. Also I just got a new job so I'm really not going to be seriously looking until the fall/winter time to make sure everything is stable with the new job but when I'm ready I'd gladly see see what your friend has in stock then since I'd rather buy sometime locally then out of state.