Considering a Fountain 38-42
 

Please Help a Fountain Wants-To-Owner:
I'm considering buying a used Fountain boat--
Criteria:
--------------------
38-42 feet
2000 or newer
Staggered engines
Less than 300 hours
Good to Excellent condition, needing no work
80+ MPH
Less than $100K
(looks cool, but that's eye of beholder)

I have a 23' Stingray 454, am in Wisconsin on Lake Michigan...the Stingray is a good boat but not made for the snotty seas Lake Michigan frequently has.
Time to Upgrade :)
BUT...YOU can help me NOT make a tragic, expensive mistake!

I just want a good reliable boat and not to get into it so wrong, I'd lose my shirt repairng and/or selling it someday.

For instance, this boat:
http://www.offshoreonly.com/classifi...o37774-en.html
looks nice, I see no damage, seems "reasonably" priced, but is there something about it that some of you Fountain Experts (or just normal people like me) see, that make this a Wrong Boat To Buy?

Like, "it's the first year for that hull, it sucks handling and they fixed it the next year" etc.

I'm 48, have been boating since I was born starting as infant in my (now) 87 year old Dad's beautiful wooden 1958 Cruisers 16' runabout with the "New Starflite 50 hp Evinrude"...now I have my Stingray...but Fountain is new territory for me, not "Rich" so don't want to make an obvious mistake if it can be avoided via good advice.

Thanks to Offshore Online, you Fountain Forum members, any and all for your thoughts and help-- or suggestions for better boats for sale at less money (LOL) than the example I am considering above.

J.T., Oak Creek, Wisconsin

Not bad but most the boats down there have seen their fair share of salt water. It should run 80 but dont expect to see 85-90. Im not a fan of the patriot graphic package but thats whatever. The tall windshield looks like hell but its functional. My windshield will get cut down at some point but it does its job in the end. Its a good price point to start at but if you go up to your 100K limit you will find boats with 525 power. Its all about how fast you want to spend and how hard you look.

500hps will need a valve job at 250 hours/or valve springs at a minimum ,check the severice records:party-smiley-004:

One advantage of the 525 vs. the 500EFI is it's able to add the smart craft monitor if you choose.

I would try to find a freshwater Fountain. Drives on the 42 don't last long on Lk MI so be prepared for that.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...2-35/DTair.jpg


http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a2...042-35/CPC.jpg

that 1st pic is awesome lookin!

Those are great pics!

x2

Thanks to all for the replies!
I didn't realize the "blue" mercs need the rebuild by 250-300 hrs...valvesprings and (since in the motor heads off) valves, which means valvejob, 2 motors...this is a definite factor to be considered.
It sounds like saltwater is more of an issue than I'd thought, for longevity.

Downtown42, what a beautiful boat, and great action pics...fully airborne on snotty waves with no discernable periodicity or uniform height or direction...THAT'S Lake Michigan!

I need to find the lowest loan rates and "cheapest best" insurance too...