Hello, first post on this forum. I am from Kingston On. Canada, boat every weekend in the thousand islands. Have a question for you guys. I own a 2003 four winns 210 horizon now with a 350 mpi engine in it and am thinking about trading it in on a used 27' fountain fever. Anything in particular I should be looking out for when lookng at the boat? This boat doesn't have hydraulic steering, should it? I thought all fountains had it not sure tho. The boat has a 502 in it, its in good shape. Haven't heard it run yet but when the lake melts will take it for a test drive. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I am pretty sure it is suppose to have hydrolic steering. As for things to look for, other than Hull, interior, gauges, paint, Bolsters, eletronics, Hours on boat see if they match condition?? Original motor / drive, if replaced OK but when and by who??

WILL

A lot of 27 fountains of that vintage did not have hydraulic steering. My 95 didn't have it although it was an option. The boat will run high 60's probably and hydraulic steering really isn't needed at that speed.

We had a 96 27 fever and really enjoyed that boat. Ours had an HP500 in it and cordless rotary trim on the steering wheel (3 places, some only had 1 set of buttons). Don't think that the 502 mpi boats came with hydraulic steering, but the one's with HP500's did come std with full hydraulic steering. Boat handled well up to about 75 mph and then it couold get a little scary with chine walk, depending how you had the tabs set. Overall it was a really nice boat. I think 95 - 97 had the "pebble" finish vinyl. I prefer the smooth finish vinyl. Other than that, no issues. We bought a 2000 29 Fever with HP500 EFI when we sold the 27.

Thanks for the info. The boat has the cordless rotary trim on the steering wheel. Now I am not sure if I am using the correct term for the steering, I am assuming if it doesn't have the big hyraulic rams on either side of the drive (outside) it doesn't have hydraulic steering. Am I correct in assuming this? The boat in in awesome shape inside and out, the interior has a sitting area on the left and right. doesn't have the sink, fridge counter option. Just a porta potty in the middle (which I think is illegal in Canada) which I will have to change to a pump out. I am pretty sure I will be buying it, cant wait to take it out

That is a pretty standard set up for the 27 of that vintage. I have not seen a 27 with a sink in it unless maybe the new lightnings have one. I thought you had to go to a 29 to get a counter and sink. I also cant imagine a porta potty being illegal. If you don't dump the waste in the lake. You just carry the potty out and dump it.

You are also correct by your discription that it has dual cable steering and not hydraulic. For that boat you don't need it. I enjoyed my 27 for the 2 years I had it and I am sure you will too. BTW I got rid of the trim on mine because it had hydraulic steering and the wheel on a boat with hydraulic steering doesn't return to the same position each time you turn it so I moved the trim to the throttle where I liked it much, much better.