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-   -   Narrowing Down My Choices (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/general-boating-discussion/240384-narrowing-down-my-choices.html)

sleev-les 10-07-2010 11:56 AM


Originally Posted by Griff (Post 3225365)
A 28 Active Thunder is much bigger than a 29 Fountain. The cabin may look big in 29 Fountain Pics, but its not.

Have you actually been in or sea trialed any of the boats????

Putting a Baja in the same class is like comparing a Camaro to Porsche and Ferrari.
Baja's are decent boats, but not in the same league.

I have just started looking into AT. All in all, they have been my favorite, but have not seen as many for sale. I'm hoping to see more on the market by the time I find what I am looking for.

Its been hard to find any local to sea trial. The only boat I've been in on water is a 25 Baja Outlaw and compared to a jet ski, it rode great.... so I dont have anything to compare to yet, which is also why I keep asking the questions and taking my time so I know I buy what I really want. I wish they'd have a boat show in the area that had performance boats. Next weekend is the powerboat show in Annapolis, but its more of sport cruisers I think. I haven't seen any in the Annapolis/Baltimore area that have performance boats.

Wild 10-07-2010 12:02 PM

take it from a guy that has owned a 28 AT with twin 350s and been in a 29 fountain with twin 454s up in chicago

AT all the way, that 29 fountain was so small compaired to the AT - the AT was a wave crusher, people use to ask me at the dock if it was a 32 it looked so big

customryder 10-07-2010 12:30 PM


Originally Posted by sleev-les (Post 3225340)
And yet, another funny guy.....

...I mean, really, I don't know what I even said to make you two act like 2 year olds other than features I was looking for in a boat and what people had to say about each make.

ok sorry did not mean it to sound like a 2 year old.. lol

find yourself a active thunder, pantera, powerplay
Just my 2 year old opinion..

sleev-les 10-07-2010 12:36 PM


Originally Posted by customryder (Post 3225411)
ok sorry did not mean it to sound like a 2 year old.. lol

find yourself a active thunder, pantera, powerplay
Just my 2 year old opinion..

Now you are closer to 6 or 7 lol

Slug-ger 10-07-2010 01:01 PM


Originally Posted by sleev-les (Post 3225370)
I have just started looking into AT. All in all, they have been my favorite, but have not seen as many for sale. I'm hoping to see more on the market by the time I find what I am looking for.

Its been hard to find any local to sea trial. The only boat I've been in on water is a 25 Baja Outlaw and compared to a jet ski, it rode great.... so I dont have anything to compare to yet, which is also why I keep asking the questions and taking my time so I know I buy what I really want. I wish they'd have a boat show in the area that had performance boats. Next weekend is the powerboat show in Annapolis, but its more of sport cruisers I think. I haven't seen any in the Annapolis/Baltimore area that have performance boats.

I'm gonna post in a world of A/T's. I have a twin 525efi 29 Fountain. The cabin is not huge by any means, but we have spent the night in it a couple of times, mostly my kids play in it.
I can't speak for the A/T's ride in big water, I've never owned one. We do however run a few poker runs every year & all makes & models are present, I have ran along side of some 32"& above A/T's . Bottom line is in big water your gonna feel it more or less & in different ways in all makes & models. The diff. is how big your nuts are & what place you won't to arrive in @ the last stop. I've came in the top ten out of 80 boats when I wanted, & I've been in 79 postiton. As far as Fountain versis A/T ? Twin versis single? 100 people will have diff. opinions. I'm partial to twins but a friend of mine races in super light & his single 525efi closed canopy 30 boat performs as good as my twin (except turning).
The fact is get your feet wet in Offshore Power Boating before you spend ALOT of money. A good boat salesman could sell ice to an Eskimo.

Gladhe8er 10-07-2010 01:05 PM

I have a 28 AT and my brother has a 29 Fountain so I think I can offer a fair comparison.

A 29 Fountain has a less than 26 foot running surface and a 22 degree Vee vs. a full 28 ft running surface and a 24 degree Vee. No comparicon in bigger water. The Fountain has a step, so it is fasterin flat/small chop scenarios...I would say by 6-7 MPH. I have seen a best of 73 MPH on GPS with my 525EFI.

Fountain does not have an enclosed head. The cabin is more "plush" than the AT, but SOOO much smaller. They both have sinks.

Cockpit, bolsters, dash, throttle location(obviously) all go to the AT. The AT is a stand up boat. I usually bring my power bolster up 1/2 way which helps wedge my feet into the angled footrest...very comfortable this way. The Fountain is a sit down boat although it still has power bolsters. "Bling" award would go to the Fountain because there is more chrome and shiny powdercoat. The AT is built rugged and comes across that way, but it is still a polished looking piece.

Personally I would definitely go with a single engine in this size range. A 27/29 Fountain with twins will site very low in the water, not to mention it is almost impossible to work on the motors. I'm sure you can do a search and find more info on them sitting low.

Obviously there are a ton of 29 Fountains out there for sale, so you can pick and choose your deal..and you can get good deals on these boats. Not many AT's out there so they are more money, but worth it in many peoples eyes.

As others said, Baja is not in the same class. Decent boat, but not like the others.

Good luck and hope this helps!

TexomaPowerboater 10-07-2010 01:18 PM

I would take a 28 apache over all the ones listed:party-smiley-004:

2nd 28 saber
3rd 292 formula

Slug-ger 10-07-2010 02:34 PM


Originally Posted by Gladhe8er (Post 3225426)
I have a 28 AT and my brother has a 29 Fountain so I think I can offer a fair comparison.

A 29 Fountain has a less than 26 foot running surface and a 22 degree Vee vs. a full 28 ft running surface and a 24 degree Vee. No comparicon in bigger water. The Fountain has a step, so it is fasterin flat/small chop scenarios...I would say by 6-7 MPH. I have seen a best of 73 MPH on GPS with my 525EFI.

Fountain does not have an enclosed head. The cabin is more "plush" than the AT, but SOOO much smaller. They both have sinks.

Cockpit, bolsters, dash, throttle location(obviously) all go to the AT. The AT is a stand up boat. I usually bring my power bolster up 1/2 way which helps wedge my feet into the angled footrest...very comfortable this way. The Fountain is a sit down boat although it still has power bolsters. "Bling" award would go to the Fountain because there is more chrome and shiny powdercoat. The AT is built rugged and comes across that way, but it is still a polished looking piece.

Personally I would definitely go with a single engine in this size range. A 27/29 Fountain with twins will site very low in the water, not to mention it is almost impossible to work on the motors. I'm sure you can do a search and find more info on them sitting low.

Obviously there are a ton of 29 Fountains out there for sale, so you can pick and choose your deal..and you can get good deals on these boats. Not many AT's out there so they are more money, but worth it in many peoples eyes.

As others said, Baja is not in the same class. Decent boat, but not like the others.

Good luck and hope this helps!

10/4 ON THE HARD TO WORK ON ENGINES on twin set up. The twin 29 sits eval low in the rear & better not jump on the wet swim plattform, you will be swimmin!I like the stance of rear mounted twin anything, low in rear, high in front, just enough room under the plattform to let the rumble out.

prostock85 10-07-2010 02:53 PM

1 Attachment(s)
My 27/29 with twins..... F/S 15K
Ironically the 29's sit about 4 inches higher then the 32's??

I like the idea of a big single in a 28 and under

Back4More 10-07-2010 02:59 PM

A single engine 29 Fountain would rock.


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