33/35 ride quality?
 

I am curious about the ride quality of the 33/35 fountain straight bottom boats?

I'm biased, but let me giv it a shot. I assume you boat on Erie?

My comments are all geared towards older boats

There are boats in this size range that are heavier, and may have a slight advantage in the real rough. However, those boats sacrifice a lot of speed vs the fountain for that wet heavy ride.

IMO fountain is a perfect balance between safe and fast. And for nearly all the conditions that you would consider pleasure boating in it will have a speed advantage over boats from the same era. People that own other brands will say things like "ya, my boat only does 60 but it will do 60 in 6 ft waves" blah blah blah. I hear this all the time, but I have never seen it on a boat that is of comparable size. Tabs down, a beak will take the waves with the best of them, and walk most of them with the same or less power.

The down side to a fountain is room, both cabin and cockpit. The other downside is you become a target to everyone, hahah.

Look up Kelly O on oso (holy cow boat) he has a 35 with #6 drives that is 110+. I am sure he would take you for a demo ride. He lives in western NY, and is a good dude that loves to talk boats.

I have a straight bottom 336 Formula that gives me a nice ride. Usually cruise around 50 MPH comfortably.
Building new engines now adding around 200 HP each, so some things will change.

have a 29 fountain straight bottom, and rides nice but I am no professional.

Big difference from coming out of our 25 ol.

2ftrs were not bad but a lil bumpy, our 33 which is true 33 is smoother and lil kids still play around btw cockpit and cuddy and don't notice running at 50. We dont really run hard in anything, but 3-4s the 33 can trim/tab down as needed to make a comfortable ride and not spill your drink!

Fountains have pads but break waves with bow so like 4bus said it's really about space. If I didn't need space for my lil kids, I would have a 35 fountain for the efficiency/ speed!

The space on a 33 OL is amazing IMO, nothing in the performance world compares. I used to have a 36 OL, I think the 33 is one of the best boats Baja built. They hull performs a lot better than the 36.

Coming from a 28 saber, he make think the fountain has tons of room :D

Not to hijack, but bajarick had mentioned the 33 rode on top and the 36 crushed the more? Can you elaborate on the difference in ride? Thanks

A larger boat should crush more, however the 33 is much more responsive to power upgrades and x dimension changes. The 36 has a wall that is very difficult to break to achieve speeds. Overall I think the 33 works better on the performance side, and still has most of the room of the 36. The notched 35 works much better than the 36 as far as overall performance.

ok so we got opinions on a 33 formula, 29 fountain, 33 baja..... anyone got any opinions on a 85 10 meter (33) fountain or a 91 35 lightning??? BTW the saber has way more room in it. been in both

here is a 28 pantera tied up to a 35 fountain... transoms are lined up. cockpits are lined up i dont see a whole lot different up front. just sayin
[ATTACH=CONFIG]521703[/ATTACH]

The difference is 5 ft, I see it. How drastic is it supposed to be?

Pretty clear that after 1994 the coast guard regulated that molded swim platforms be counted is loa, after all it does stand for legnth over all. So if the pantera was molded it would be a 30 next to the 35.

You guys just try to make things more confusing lol.

To beak or not to beak, For me there is no question. I like the ride of my 38!!! I know lots will say 35 or whatever. Beak it!!!

i agree... to move into a fountain to gain any size you gotta get a 38.

Ron i wish i had the side shot of them tied together at grass island. the bow hook on the fountain was about a foot farther forward then the pantera. are you telling your old lady that 6 inches is a foot?

The one thing i can say about my 35 flat bottom is predictable , ride quality in the chop is excellent ,it does not do anything funny when you turn the wheel at speed,and is fairly fast for what it is.

You have biased hate for Fountians, try looking straight on. :D

And no I am not saying that, but I know 35 is 35 ft whether it is made up with platform, beak, whatever, it's still 35 ft. You act like it is a conspiracy? I believe the one he is considering is a 10 meter 33 anyway, you won't be able to use the molded swim platform joke on him.

The 28 pantera is offered with a single. A single wouldn't even get a 33/35 fountain on plane. It's a bigger boat dude.

Who makes a performance boat with a molded swim platform after 1994 that doesn't count it in loa?

Boats that also have/ count platforms

OL, hustler, nor tech, power quest, sunsation, black thunder, scarab, formula, donzi, sonic, etc.

Performance should be the discussion, not how a 35 looks next to a pantera from a rear angle camera shot. Spend some time in one with a competent pilot and enjoy a great hull from a legend. The proof is in the performance, and overall it is hard to beat.

OP - go a head and purchase it, just because your buff buddies don't think you should. You can buy what they want you to buy and always wonder what if, or you can buy the fountain and you want and show them what's up :) be prepared to be hated haha.

comparing a 28 Pantera to a 33/35 Fountain is a joke...:lolhit:, The 28 Pantera is much better suited as a single engine boat, I'm sure most would agree, way to a$$ heavy w/twin BBC , not to mention the tiny cockpit... a 35 Fountain would be leaps & bounds better performing & much better ride.. no comparison.. carry on :whistle:

I like my Formula a lot, but if could do it over I would buy a Fountain. Can't beat the classic lines.

You can do it over again. Sell and buy!! Haha

Ron before you tell me to go spend time in a fountain remember that i rigged a 33 and a 35 and spent plenty of time behind the wheel of them.. first hand experiance here buddy not some guy spouting off about how good he heard something rode or drove. so i feel im entitled to compare them between the ride of all 3 of MY pantera boats. 2 singles and a twin big block. see you have a step hull 38 which is a whole different ball game. so where is your seat time and experiance in a non step hull 33 or 35 fountain?
[ATTACH=CONFIG]521724[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]521725[/ATTACH]

:point: are you suggesting they are comparable in ride quality? 28 Pantera in any configuration vs 33/35 Fountain :bong:

I have more than enough seat time in both 33, 35, and single step 35. I like my 38 better, but the 33/35 fountain is no joke. Comparing it to a 28 pantera is laughable at best.

But see, you have a love for Don's heritage, which is fine. I have a love for RF.

You like stable, secure boats that need 2000hp to break 100.

I like a boat that is safe, but not so wet that it needs crazy power (and fuel) to go fast.

I agree that a 38 gun is a great beginner boat. No matter the trim or tab settings it will ride wet and do things in slow motion, perfect for the novice boater. When you get enough stick time move up to something a little faster that requires slightly more driver attention :)

Hahaha

love ya Tim! Boating in a month, see you soon

hey ron i hear rumors about a early run in buffalo this year! end of june. you guys gonna come out? you can follow me to the beach if it gets windy lol

by far no the single engine boat would not hold a candle to the fountain in terms of speed. power for power a twin would. you gotta remember the OP is coming out of a 90mph 28 saber... a wave crushing 90 mph machine. tell me if he is gonna be impressed with a smaller cockpit and cabin, slower 33 or 35 fountain:rolleyes:

I can only comment on boats that I've actually been on, I've never been on a 28 Saber, but are they not very similar in size/performance as a 28 Pantera? or are they that much bigger/better?

Hmm. I believe I beat you to the beach last year :)

June is tough for us, abay and other crap

Gonna miss these types of threads once the weather breaks ! So much "good" information..............................

I need to start a thread determining if anyone is interested in buying my 35.

A 50 Nortech doesn't count the swim platform, if they counted the platform it makes the boat a 53.

Once you get to 50..... Doesn't really matter anymore!! :coolcowboy:

I usually agree with you but not today. In every day conditions over here your boat is not a 100mph boat and either is mine. We're both gonna run about eighty depending on water conditions and maybe faster if you got big balls. Some people buy certain boats that they feel comfortable for there water conditions. I'm not gonna get into fountain this or cigarette that, but if you bring your boat over here you will never go a hundred and other boats may surprise you. Your river running and inland lake speed doesn't mean ****t to me

What's next?

Never said it will run top speed in all conditions, and I never get surprised by a larger hull running good in big water. Point is I am sure there is better for some days, but I am also sure there fountain is better on some days as wells that is never mentioned when taking down about a fountain.

I am spoiled by inland lakes and rivers in upstate ny. The op boats in Erie and the Niagra river. Would you say a fountain is a bad choice for him in a 33-35 size?

he is in Erie Pa. he isnt a river boater. But for boating on the niagara and setting the river on fire like in back to the future yup a 33/35 fountain would be ideal. as for the lakes i would have a couple different choices of boats id rather be in. i would take a 80mph cig vs a 100mph fountain for the majority of boating done on the great lakes

And something other than bravo drives :)

Almost forgot the OP was asking about ride quality. Coming from a 28 I still think his expectations will be met with a 33/35 fountain. Sure a 38 cig, or 41 apache would be a better boat for huge water, but he has been doing it in a 28. Also the op has limited garage space.

Waa waa waaa god some if the cig guys are uber annoying. A 16ft sea ray is as big as a 33 fountain. Oh yeah the Great Lakes, no one has ever run in bigger water. Try actually going offshore. A 33 fountain will run in any water a pleasure boater wants to be out in.

Actually went to inspect and water test a 'flat deck' this past weekend.

Would like to get a buyer lined up for my 35, but tough to even think of letting her go !

Was wondering how that went.

How Now, Brown Cow!!! ?

Kelly that is one bad ass ride.

[QUOTE=4bus;4103624]Never said it will run top speed in all conditions, and I never get surprised by a larger hull running good in big water. Point is I am sure there is better for some days, but I am also sure there fountain is better on some days as wells that is never mentioned when taking down about a fountain.

I am spoiled by inland lakes and rivers in upstate ny. The op boats in Erie and the Niagra river. Would you say a fountain is a bad choice for him in a 33-35
I can't say since I've never been in a 33 or 35. I have been in a 38 and would be a better choice in my opinion for Lake Erie. The bottom line is your boat fits your needs as does mine. Doesn't mean one's better than the other. I just get sick of people dogging older straight bottom boats because they're slow when around here 70 is plenty fast on most days.

Have you been in a 33 before? Tells us about it.