29 fountain Future considertaions
 

Well I sold my 91 29 Fever about 5 years ago because of a new kid, this that and the other and am on track after I build a new house to get into another hopefully in the next 1-2 years. With that being said some questions and insight so I can start casually looking. Really looking at a 29 with twins, wouldn't be against a 32 but they don't seem to really provide any other advantage in except in cabin space.

1. What year did the anchor locker come into existence? thought I heard 2002? Think they came with the swim ladder, kind of two things I would like.

2. What year did they transition from the block style wind shield to the more rounded cleaner look?

3. Think I want twins. For starters seen a lot of engine combos I have seen singles with a 496, 454, 502, don't think its going to cut it for a boat like that. And I want to stay away from blue motors to much maint and much more costly to replace. Black motors are fine and not looking for a speed record, 70-75 is good with me. What about dual 496s or dual 502s vs 454s?

4. Love fountain and comparing like age and models fountain is way more and more quality than say Baja and is probably a notch ahead of Formula. But I'm not discounting them as cost tends to be lower especially with baja. But I'm also looking at cockpit space as being important anybody know the difference in space in a 29 baja or formula. For some reason I wouldn't mind getting a late 80s or early 90s formula, love the look of them.

Budget is going to be under 50 so I think anything I mentioned can be found. Any thoughts or insight would be great.

Thanks for the info thus far. Not really interested in blown, or na small blocks in a 30ft boat. My last 29 had big blocks went 73 and rode quite nice. I don't really care about cabin space and toilets. I have the realization that anything I mentioned is not going to be a huge space, just more or less wondering if anybody can say yeah the baja 292 is a foot longer in the cockpit, a few inches does nothing for me but feet I would look at. Also kind of wanting an anchor lockers and ladder, anchor in particular on my 91 made me not want to boat, lol.

small blocks as in 496s or 350's. Yeah cant seem to find measurements. might have to start looking at getting measurements. be nice if somebody could give dimensions of their 29 fever so I least have that to start comparing.

Welcome back 4402.

As others said the baja will have more room but I have a buddy that had a 32 fountain then bought a 30 Baja performer. (Molded platform).

Baja had more cockpit but not a lot, way taller cabin but didn't ride as solid as the 32.

For what you are looking for a later 29 (I think 2001 and up) that has the frame windshield is what you should look for. It will have a swim latter and locker up front. Issue will be most had single BBC, great balanced boat boat needs a blue motor, doesn't sound like what you want.

I did have a chance to talk with and look over one that had twin SBC. I was surprised it had a least another foot in cockpit over my 32, and he said would run 72-73mph. Maybe 74 on a light cool day. He loved it, seemed about as reliable as a boat can get and he said somewhat easy on gas. Plus easy to plane. Look up some old boat tests, I think Bob Teaqe tested one and said he really liked the boat.

thanks for the info. So 2001 is the ladder and anchor locker, thanks thought it was 02. well ive seen twins on them but they are 496s which according to whats being said they should be fine, just didn't want 350s. Reasoning of staying away from blue motors is simply cost and thought I read somewhere they need to be redone every 2-300 hours or so and not something I want to get into.

I have no huge issue with baja its just they aren't a fountain and many ways.

Also I see some of these singles are 500efi or the 525 anybody tell what the difference is.

I didn't know they did twin 496, if so no issues there.

HP500EFI-525EFI.

HP500EFI will have open cooling, distributor, iron heads and E-Top headers.

HP525EFI has more power (DUH) closed cooling, Aluminum heads, cranks and cam sensors, smart craft capable, long tube sweeper headers.
Early headers (up to 07 maybe? Eddie Young will know) are junk, they will leak and cause $$$$$$$$ repair job.

Both motors should have top ends done around 250 hours.

yeah ive seen a few that way even seen single 496s and 454s but I think that is probably somebody blew the original motor and went cheap on replacement. Yeah I knew about the manifolds on the 525, but thanks on the 500efi. I don't need to go 75-80 just like a 70mph boat and realistically I could probably get 500-1000 hours on the other motors and even if I have to replace them two of them probably cost the price of one of the blue motors.