Well if they put as much time and effort into the 50th one as they did the 1st one then maybe that would be good but if they were mad because they knew the plant was going downhill and their hours were getting cut and had a bad attitude then I would not want one from a bankrupt company.

In saying that and not to discriminate would you want a cig from the years that led up to their BR's. Or would you want a baja from the month they said they where closing the plant until it was closed.

I think, in reality here, that the way a Fountain looks is no different than the way any brand looks. It's the way it is, it's what makes it a Fountain, just that simple. Nor-Techs have a certain look, different than other brands, but distinctive to NorTech. It's part of what makes it a NorTech, frankly I find it different and actually like their styling. I also like some of the older school Skater styling better than some of their new versions, but that's ME, doesn't mean that is the tits for everyone.

I have the newer style Lightning, love the better performance and handling of the twin step hull design. But I still favor the "Look" of the lower, sluttier, or older Executioner styling. It's just more old school and hard core in appearance to my eye, but that's me! Likely the reason that so many restore older Cigs and Apache's, it's all about the "look".

Like they say "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" or "To each his own". Fountain has a fairly substantial following that favor the "look" so why would he chance making major changes to that. The simple reality here is that thru the years there have been more Fountains built, bought and sold, than any other brand ( excepting Baja ) on the market. So why rock the boat? Change the boat? Or screw with what seems to still work? You need to remember here that Fountain has been more of a "production" performance boat over the years, not the more custom "one off" type of boat that Nor-Tech and some others have been. There is a place for both approaches in this boating world.

This thread has been an interesting read. I am an owner of a Checkmate (first boat purchase) and do not have the money and power as perhaps some of the previous thread posters. I have been a boating fan since childhood as that is what my family did on vacations. I would like to share my experience with Baja and Fountain. I remember seeing a Baja on a trailer cruising down Lakeshore Drive when I was in undergrad. I think it was a H2X. I remember telling myself I would own one of those boats someday. My first ride on a Fountain was a customer's 47 Sport Cruiser w/ triple 525SCs that he kept in Burnham Harbor. I remember sitting on the back bench when the boat was planing thinking holy **** this a bad ass boat. I wish Baja and Fountain well. I think both companies historically build great products. If Hustler buys Fountain in these strange economic times and keeps both names/molds producing boats I'm all for it. In respect to Reggie Fountain and a company going down in bad times he was recently quoted in the November 2009 Powerboat issue: "I'm embarressed by anything that doesn't reflect postively on us. If you are a winner, you are embarressed any time you lose." I believe Mr. Fountain has brought a certain amount of passion and attraction into the performance boating world as say Muhammad Ali brought into boxing. Sure they didn't win all the time (Ali had 5 professional losses) but they brought everything they had everytime and created one hell of a show!

LOR I am curious if you are familiar with the group (Liberty Investments) that partnered up with Reggie? They seem to be well funded and also purchased Donzi and Proline so they must be serious about the industry. Why do you think Hustler was a better fit? BTW I hope you get the 42 OL and participate in some of the pokerruns down here in tidewater....it would be very cool to have an OL down here running with us

Thats kind of what I was thinking, if our economy continues no boat companies will be in business, considering what just 700's and #6 drives cost seems pretty good to me, But maybe not to some, I don't think i will ever spend over 150K on a boat ever again, I just don't get that much enjoyment out of them anymore, would rather spend it on other hobbies, like our Bell Jet Ranger

I don't think he should stop making what he has just add some, if you look at my old 50 and the new ones they are alot diff. than each other, then you look at the 43 it just looks like a short 50 so then they came out with the 427, you just need to change it up some now and then. NT and OL put out a whole new model every 2-3 years it keeps it freash, you can even get NT to dust off the old 38 mold and build you one. I still think the older I think it was a 12 meter ICBM Fountain was a cool looking boat, and a while back there was a old 47 all red Fountain race boat that looked cool as hell for sale. The old school stuff is cool but not for everybody so if you have some of both you hit a bigger market. Atleast change the sizes.

No I have not done much homework on them yet when all this started and Oxford came out I did a few hours of reading on them and some of the players there and didnt get the feeling they had a passion for anything but money and this is not an easy biz. to make big money at without alot of hard work. Hustler seemed to be into the deal just didn't work out for them and I think they could have used a bigger line to get them more into the mix but it's water under the bridge now.

I will be doing alot of reading on Liberty because if I cant find a 42 OL I like and can afford 2 boats I would be getting a bigger CC and a 38 ZRC for poker runs and my speed fix. Either way I missed most of this season and only have some jet skis and a smaller fishing boat so there will be something on my lift this spring. I got to tell you it sucks standing on my dock watching all the boats go by.

I don't think anyone can say anybody doesn't build a good boat beacause they only build a few, how many boats does Mystic build a year, or Dragon, or how many boats does Mark McManus build in ten years ? How many did Apache build a year. OL and NT might not build many boats but I bet if you ask anybody who ownes a boat company they rather have a list of people waiting for their boat than a list of boats waiting for an owner.

that I am guessing is what sets people apart. some people have INTEGRITY and a job well done is a job well done regaurdless of the cirumstances. Maybe you don't understand that or are making comments because you lack that element of basic human nature

We all have different goals that drive us. Reggie's goals have helped to shape the sportboat industry. If he were an accountant,banker,investor,etc. ... I could see running him in the ground for his companies current financial state. However, he is a boat builder/enthusiest. His passion turned in to a large business,that has produced MANY memorable boats throughout the years,and raised the bar for speed.I hope that the new investors can improve the finances of FPB, and still allow Reggie to build boats with passion.
BTW ... Bullhead's boat is a little outdated looking
Kinda funny that the swim platform is the identifying component. Makes me think that someone sees a lot of Fountain transoms.