I'll go with the beak!!thay build bajas now but still go with the fountain for a few more bucks!

Baja.

fountain
 

fountain

Are you a salesman for Baja? Quirks of a stepped hull (that everybody except Baja uses now) Cramped? strange cockpit layout? Dated? Hmmm

Sounds like another hater!!!

If you are over 6' tall you may find the helm seat a little close to the steering wheel but other than that the Ex is a great boat.All I can say is you get what you pay for.

I started out looking at bajas when shogrens became the dealer but the more I have researched fountains vs bajas hands down the fountains are just a safer faster and all around better boat . With that said the bajas cabin is bigger but that's one sacrafice I will make even though I have kids .

No...never owned either and never will, been in both. Hit a personal button maybe? You don't think stepped hulls have quirks? Are you serious? Puhleeze. Conventional hulls are more stable just by the simple fact that they aren't aerated, more forgiving and safer. Forums like these are replete with stories about spin-outs and Fountain isn't exempt. And the Fountain cockpits are small, sorry if it seems that way to me, it obviously doesn't bother those that own them and that's fine. The left throttle is strange, again the Fountain faithful don't care but it is unconventional. The dude was asking opinions, sorry if mine don't match yours. Read it for what it's worth.

However, that helm hasn't been updated in eons, maybe the dune buggy steering wheel bit the dust recently, hardly any changes in the deck over the years. Most other manufacturers have changed, quite a bit actually. The Ex is a nice boat no doubt, but other boats have other features that will appeal to different tastes.

Sheesh...the Fountain groupies really get their shorts up in a bunch when anyone says didley about the boats...big whoopdie doo...settle down people.

I can see where Indy is coming from....I don't believe he's a saleman for Baja and if he was, wouldn't he be a saleman for Fountain too??:eek:

Anyway I don't see the "hatin" from Indy...There's more Baja hatin' in this thread if anything. Just the typical BS opinon from most that have never owned a Baja... like I said, I can see where Indy's coming from...Quirks in a stepped hull...yea, that's why there's various driving schools to deal with stepped bottom boats now adays. They don't run the same as conventional bottom boats and are not as forgiving, it's just a fact.

cramped? Yea, the cockpit is smaller (lenght and width) compared to a Baja.

Strange cockpit layout? I assume he's refering to the funky left side throttle/sticks on a Fountain.

Dated? Fountains have looked the same since 1985, except for the various bottoms Reggie slaps on the bottom.

Example (see below). 1988 model and 20 years later 2008 model...same boat.

At least Baja has changed the deck styles, fairing styles, windows/no windows, hatches (round compaired to square).

I keep hearing how Fountains are "Safer" just like Reggie claims. Serious question...How's a Fountain "Safer"? Because of it's layup schedule? I've never heard of baja's having any safety issues what-so-ever.

But really, who cares?...Baja, Fountain...Buy new and you're buying from the same builder...But in the end, buy what you like, fits your budget and fits your needs and you wont be disappointed.

Indy,

The single step 35' has zero quirks and behaves exactly like a straight bottom boat. No "ball bearing" feeling like the twin steps, turns great, etc. Drove one for 3 years just like a straight bottom (trim down in turns) and never felt a single bobble. This was back before I knew better. Also, never heard of a single step Fountain spinning out. The single step just isn't aggresive enough to affect the feel. Probably means it doesn't do much for speed either IMO. Also the 35 Ex has a way bigger cockpit than a 33 PowerPlay. Also way bigger than a 35 Staggered, 32 Fountain, etc.

Checkmate,
You got dozens of opinions here, if possible you shoud test drive both boats, then you will know the boat that is right for you. By the way, what type of water will you be boating in (Lake, Ocean, Bay, River)??