I agree with you. I have a 2008 Fountain 35 Lightning with staggered 496HO with 5 bladed Maximus props, XR drives and SSM lowers (love the rooster tail). From the factory it specs as 9500 pounds. Add some fuel, gear and people and I'm sure I'm over 10,000. I also have to say she is a great handling boat. I'm not sure if the staggered engines made a big difference. Though this boat is very balanced and stable. She handles the rough pretty great. I had her in real 2-3 footers and 3-4's. I am truly impressed with this hull and build quality. I run on GPS a consistent 82-83MPH @ 5000-5100 RPM's. It's a great all around boat.

I had an '01 29 with a 575 SCi in it. Boat ran solid, had a nice ride, and flew level. Best GPS I saw was 79-80 with zero fuel. I did most of my boating on IL river, Lake Michigan, and KY Lake. After Lake Michigan I definitely was wanting to go up in size. It was the biggest PIG getting on plane and absolutely hated that aspect of it. It used a lot of fuel.

Yep 575 SCI very thirsty engine.

Old tread single Fountains run great mine old strait hull 27'-29' twin 454 HO lands hard but faster and you get homeAs far as the Checkmate post

I owned a 2006 29' Fever for six years. It was powered by twin 6.2s rated at 320 hp each. It got on a plain easily even with many passengers and a full tank (120 gallons). Top speed with a full tank and just me was 71mph at about 5300 with 1:65 drives and Bravo 1 26 pitch props. I think with labbed 28s and a 1/4 tank of fuel it would have hit the 74 mph Fountain claimed. I liked the twins and made it back home on one engine more than one time (air valve and fuel pump relay failures). The 525 single has a faster top speed and is easier to work on than the twins. However it was not my choice for the salt water that I boat in. As other members mentioned, you have the heads and the headers that require updated parts or replacement at around the 200-250 hour mark. This is not inexpensive! The 377 6.2s will run an easy 850 hours by comparison. I would not classify the 29' as a rough water boat. Remember, the 29' counts both the beak and the swim step in that 29' total. So it's really more like 25' of boat, but a nice boat, don't get me wrong. Good luck finding your perfect boat.

I own a 04 29 in which I had a 575 sci engine and hated it, thirsty, I completely rigged the boat with new transom and stringers, took my block and complete rebuild 10 over, AFR heads roller cam and lifters, 3.3 whipple with Holly super tuner with multiply HP option based upon pully currently 850, ITS, Imco scx upper and lower and love the boat now. Fast 90's all day launches out of the water on plane handles great and great on fuel. Would do all again boat is perfect and bullet proof. Would recommend all these upgrades if need if 29 perfect mid size boat.