what do you guys think
 

I was looking at fountains website and noticed their new line up doesnt have anything smaller than 33ft. Do you think they are kind of getting out of touch. I mean a lot of guys buy the big 2-3-4 hundred grand boats and maybe thats fountains marker but theres a lot of guys who dont. My fear is 5-10 years from now when these used boat become affordable for some a lot people wont have the pockets for them. Also getting over 30ft you start looking at towing vehicles dock space and lakes people can get into. I would think keeping a fever around wouldnt be a bad idea. I dunno maybe there idea is to appeal the big boats to people who can have them and use Baja for their smaller line. But I just dont know.

they will still make the 29's

I would hope so if they are dont know why they dont advertise it on their site. I think getting rid of the 27 would be crazy.

I love my fountain and wouldnt do it any other way but it just seems there marketing is horrible. For one getting parts for em are crazy their apparel and knick knack line is horrid.

The entry level into any sport or recreational deal becomes very price sensitive. In this case a boater with a family runabout decides he wants to move into more of a performance style boat. He goes out looking but just can't get it when he looks at a Baja vs a Fountain, or any of the other higher level build lines. Just can't see or understand the difference in cost and opts for what he feels is the better, less expensive, model.
As time goes on his understanding of things advances, he begins to see the value built into the higher priced models and begins to move in that direction. And he is also now looking for the larger boat as well. At this point he is willing to spend some extra money for a higher level boat. Enter the higher level builders, now he is in their market. He was not when he was looking for the smaller and less expensive boat. Simple case of knowing your buyer and building what he will see value in and be willing to buy.

Perfect example would be an 18' bowrider by Outerlimits priced @ 45K vs the Bayliner near 10K. Avg Joe, first time buyer, just wants to get the wife and kids out for some fun on the water, where do you think he will land?

You bring up good points and I agree but thats what I am saying I mean. Theres what one wants and what is better and thent there what one can afford. I assuming the Fountain 32 is about a 150 grand boat, I dont know many people that can get into that or really want a 32ft. I know not everybody can have what they want and not every sport is for everybody. But pricing your self out of a large majority of the populace is kind of a mistake. Take for exampe a cadillac its high end but still affordable for a lot of people specially a used one. Now cut off some of your bottom line cadis and see how well you do as far as sales. But I guess if fountain wants to sell more Baja's maybe thats what bean counters think is best.


Also take into account used boats. For intance I could never afford a brand new fountain or even a 2-3 year old one. I will always have probably between 5-10 years old. I mean I could probably afford a new one but that would mean no Camaro, no trailer, no snowmobiles, etc and or Im taking a 20 year loan out on a boat(which to put it nicely find it questionable for people that do that) But with that said lets say you never make anything under a 32. If you go look at late 90's early 2000 boats. 32's seem to range from 80's to 90's and 27-29's 50's to 60's. a 20-30 grand differance can be a lot. And if you fast forward 10 years from now and dont have any ten year old 27-29's people are now looking at their only option is a 32 at 80 grand or a baja/checkmate that is 27 feet and cost 40 grand, not as good of boats, but for the average joe it will get them out on the water go nearly as fast and have just as much fun. And how many are going to say spending the extra 40 grand to get a bigger boat is worth it not many. I realize Fountain is not an average joe boat and not for everybody I just think you still make a high quality smaller boat.

NOTE: i see your from northern NY I am from H20 Town area maybe see ya around

Yes, spend the season in ABay at HBW. Your 29 come from Sandy Bay area?


I hear what you are saying but for some of the more high end builders it just does non play out that way. Need to remember that the big difference price wise in the 27-29 jump to the 32-33 is the single vs twin engines. For a lot of years the 35 was a top seller for Fountain, as of late the 42 seems to have taken over. Likely part of the reason for droping the smaller boats. Maybe in the future that will change, as fuel prices climb, the demand for a smaller single engine boat may see a come back. The 27-29 Fountains do not seem to sit on the market very long, they still sell well from what I see. Personaly I think a 29 with a 525 or 600 would be a great boat.

I think it's a smart move (and I'm not even a fountain fan). Thier larger models are the ones that really sell and are widely known. Look at Stingray, they make a couple 20-23 ft "performance boats" but nothing bigger. Every manufacturer has to decide what portion of the market he wants to compete in, trying to compete in all markets will likely mean you can't compete in any of them.

BTW: Formula discountinued their 27 a couple years ago too.

Live In watertown have a place down by sandy pond. But I hit the river quite often. Got a twin 29 white with blue and red graphics. Maybe see ya around.





Yeah true i guess its depends on what market you want to capture. Auto industry does it too, and sometimes decisions that you make now will hurt you later. So well see. I see an awful lot of 27-29's for sale and like the other guy said the way gas is going I dont know.

GM is a good model for what they are doing. Think about it, Baja is the same company as Fountain, why not have them cover the smaller more price sensitive level and fountain/Donzi the higher end.

Kind of like the Chevy, Buick, Caddy thing. Why would the same company want overlapping models in such a small market?

thats what I am thinking they are doing. But Baja will be owned by fountain but pretty sure they will still look like Bajas, and IMO ive never really liked the way they look. Now take some Baja's and add some fountain styling. Maybe

I can understand that one, but you know there are just as many that hate the look of beaks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, I had a friend that owns a old 25 outlaw (Pink and gold:picard1:) and the first time he seen my boat his comment was how he didn't like the looks of the beak.:lolhit:

Any way you look at it, it is a tough market going forward, I just hope they do good.