Best Single Engine 26-29Ft. Performance Boat?
 

Im trying to decide what will be my next boat after selling my current boat and have narrowed it down to a single engine 26-29 v bottom performance boat.

Below is what is most important to me anyways.

#1-resale vaue
#2-reliabilty
#3-speed
#4-comfort in ruff water (loto)
#5-cabin room

so far im leaning towards a fountain or eliminator

all opinions appreciated.

since my boat is now at a brokerage lot this is what ive been reduced to. dreaming of my next ride:D

In that order, I would say:
Velocity 280 or new VR1
or a
Fountain Fever

27' Activator, 27' Progression, or 27' Kryptonite.
Sorry, I'm from New York as are all of these boats.:cool:

tally so far

fountain-3
velocity-1
eliminator-1
sonic-1
active thunder-1
pantera-1
activator-1
progresion-1
kryptonite-1

i also like the looks of the sunsation but dont know much about them?

Fountain
 

Another vote for Fountain. I own a 27 and was at first worried about its rough water ability. I recently took the boat from just south of Baton Rouge, LA to Biloxi MS. On the way there the water was pretty snotty and we caught air for several miles. The boat flew nice and level and landed great. The boat felt very secure and did not even rattle except for one windshield support. After enjoying and hour or so of airtime I got tired of flying and dropped the K-planes and she rode great. The last 30 or so miles were pretty rough and a quartering sea and she would bang down hard every now and then. Maybe not the most comfortable ride but the boat is solid enough to handle it. A 29 would ride even better. What you really need is the 35. A friend came with us on his 35 and while we were catching air he had two girls laying on the engine cover catching a tan.

Before we bought the 27 I looked at several other boats. The problem is that once we saw the Fountain no other boat could compare in the cabin or cockpit. While the cabins are smaller the Fountain is a step up in fit and finish. I brought my wife to look at a Donzi after the Fountain and while she was looking at the cabin she started laughing.

Good points about the Fountain.

1) Fast, they will be amoung the fastest for given hull size and power. Step hulls and notched transoms are standard.

2) Fit and Finish. It was the best amoung all the boats in our price range. From the power bolsters in the cockpit to the leather cabins, they are beautiful.

3) Solid. Fountain bonds the hull and deck together with fiberglass on all boats. Everything on the boat is secure and overbuilt to a degree.

4) Equipped. So much is standard on a Fountain. Full hydraulic twin external steering (latham). Real K-Planes with mechanical indicators for tabs and drive. Gaffrig gauges with even oil temp and water pressure standard.

5) Style. They have a style all their own. You either love them or hate them. Once you own one you cant think of owning anything else.

6) Resale. They hold their value well.

Bad points about the Fountain

1) Size. With the beak and the swim platform they are actually smaller boats for the same given length of other boats without a platform.

2) Rough water handling. A boat with a straight 24 deg dead rise will ride better in the rough but is slower.

3) Cost. They command a higher price but resale well.

Thats the way I look at it. So once again I have sacrificed space and comfort for good looks and speed and I couldnt be happier. I really wanted a 29 but in the condition of boats we were looking at the 29 was 15-20K more.

Never been to LOTO but from what I hear any 27-29 single will be challenged.

Ron

Take a look at a Sunsation. I owned a 28 a ran it on Lake Michigan and the boat ran really well in some pretty rough conditions. It has alot of room for a 28 and I really like the styling and the lines. Joe and Wayne were always good to deal with and treated me right.

If your #1 criteria is resale value, how could you not consider a formula? I dont know too many boats that hold their value better. Wasnt somebody on here selling a 28 cig?

I also think you need to look at local dealers. A dealer makes a huge difference, especially when a problem arises.

I will say I got along OK with my 27 Fountain over memorial day at LOTO, During the peak busy times I would say it was adequate. Couldn't run much over 35 a feel safe with people on the boat, that lake is like a washing machine. Waves were good size and just coming from every direction.

I ordered a new 28 Pantera, it doesn't have the pad or the step and it's a bit heavier than the fountain. Neither one have a lot of freeboard, I did have foot wells added to my new boat.

Don't get me wrong I think the beaker did OK and i don't think on the holiday weekends your going to be real happy with anything less than a 38TG but for the remainder of the time I think it's a good boat. The Pantera has more head room in the cabin than the 27-33 fountains. Griff can give you his impression of how his Pantera did on the same weekend there.

The riggin on the 2 boats is about the same in quality, Fountain does a good job with ammenities, more leather, power bolsters things like that. Pantera is a little more basic but is regarded as a good rough water boat for it's size and uses quality materials, deck is glassed to the hull, k-planes and so on.

You need to take some rides, there are enough local dealers at LOTO you should be able to do some meaningful comparison.

DCB 28' Extreme

Velocity 280... fast, high freeboard and the cabin is bigger then most and the factory people are easy to get a hold of and great to talk to.

I'm going to agree with Fred on this one- LOTO can get very rough, and can challenge any boat less than 35', so IMHO, a South Florida custom mfg. in this length would give you the best ride. Since I own a 28' Active Thunder, I'm biased towards them (of course!)
The Pantera, or a Powerplay (did they make any 28's with a single?) would handle LOTO as well, and were in the running prior to my AT purchase.
I don't know anything about the custom New York boats, but their reputation seems to be very good. There are also some OSO members having great success running the 28' Sunsation off the east coast in rough water- nice boat! I'm sure they'll chime in!
As far as a production boat goes, the Formulas may not be quite as fast as a Fountain, but the rough-water capability is going to be better, and the fit/finish/resale comparable. I owned a Formula, and would own another. The new 29' Formula is a very impressive boat, although most opt for twin SBC power rather than single.
Happy Hunting!

I also put in a vote for Formula if speed isn't the top concern. They are great rough water boats, resale is great, and fit and finish is as good as any.

I have two, one is an 81 that I am restoring. The more I take apart, the more I am impressed with this boat. The wood behing the panels is not rotted, most of the 21 year old bolts looked like new. The stringers are big and solid. Even the 21 year old upholstery wasn't rotted. A few seams on the seats were loose, and a few puncture wounds, and this boat wasn't babied. Doubt it ever saw any wax.

These threads are always fun ...

Are you buying new or used? You can talk pads, Vs, and steps all day but nothing will affect the ride more than weight. If you bought a used 28 to 30 twin ... you will definately ride easier. I'm not familiar with LOTO, but all 26 to 29 single Vs will pound in the soup.
That said ...

I have a 280 Velocity, and am very pleased with it. Very fast, very deep, no step(which is good), supurb quality.

Formula 271 would also be a GREAT choice. Great resale, only a mild step, decent performance, the BEST quality. Their 290 with twin small blocks would also be good. A used 303 about 1995 with twin big blocks would be ideal ...

Sonic 26 is a heavy, deep V with a great ride, but not real fast. They also make a 28 with twins.

Might want to look at a used Baja 29 outlaw with twins. Their quality has been getting better and you could buy a slightly used one for the price of one of the others new.

Can't recommend the Fountain 27. Has half the room of the others above and has too radical a step. I've been inside and beside them in rough stuff and I wouldn't own one. One last week in the poker run in ABay hooked and ran in to a Fountain 41 and sent some people to the hospital. The 29 would be a better choice but would be more than a Formula, which is no comparison.

Eliminator makes great cats ... but I haven't seen any of their v hulls.

I selected what I felt was the right boat for me. These are some I would recommend you look at. Good luck...

30 Checkmate convincor (28ft)Nice cabin,good rough water ride and a good MPH for a single.28 Sunsation is also a nice package..I have been looking too.Test drive before you buy.
Dave

Before you buy a Fountain, you might want to check out some of the threads concerning their customer service. Sounds pretty piss poor to me.

One vote for Sonic. I have an 01 model with the 496 ho. I give you a good deal on. I am upgrading to 31. I got spoiled riding in Danos with 500s and the new one with 575s. If you have any ?s about Sonic feel free to e mail. Good luck on your choice. Try riding on as many boats as you can before you decide.

You've got a lot of good boats mentioned already. I go to LOTO a couple times a year and thats one of the main reasons I chose to get my Pantera. It is SOLID!!!! and a true 28'. It is longer than a 29 Fountain when you include the swim deck. Also the cockpit will seat 6 in reasonable comfort.
The Pantera handled the water at LOTO over Memorial weekend VERY well. One of things I was impressed with was how level the boat stayed coming off of 4-5 footers. Waterfoul also drove it in some BIG slop and was also impressed.
As far a creasture features, there aren't many on most Panteras. The cabin is good sized and about the same as a 312 Formula in height and length. Actually I have a longer, taller V-berth, and the Formula has longer benches. I was also considering several of the boats already talked about, mainly a 271 Formula and 288 Sunsation. I chose the Pantera for many reasons. One of the main reasons was that I never heard one bad thing about them. Another was the ability to call Pantera and talk to the people who built the boat without any big run around.
If you haven't made any decisions by the Shootout, get a hold of me and I'll take you for a ride.
BTW, JO, when do I get start getting my commissions for being your Midwest representative???:D :D

OK, I'll have to plug my brand of choice too. The Superboat 30. It's got your list covered good except for maybe the cabin. You can probably pick one up for less $$ than most of the other boats mentioned. Superboats are a little sparse on ammenities but the performance is there.

Good Luck,
Dave M.

P.S. I think my next boat is going to be a 28 Pantera.

1) Resale...Heh, thats funny. If you want good resale, buy a USED boat. I don't care what brand boat you buy, you're going to take a big hit the day you take delivery. Let somebody else take the initial hit, I know I will next time I buy a boat. Many of my friends bought new like I did, most will buy used next time.

Also, most of those same friends bought a 28' like I did, and ALL say its too small and will be looking to upgrade in size like myself if you run in the rough. If you run in the chop, I would seriously consider a bigger boat. I know this doesn't meet your criteria for size, but it's food for thought. I wish I knew what I know now when I purchased a 28'.

How about a Nordic? Their 28' Heat model runs very well in rough water, has a spacious cabin and above all is great handling and fast. (single step) I usually get the chance to ride in a couple during the summer on Lake Erie, and I'm always impressed with the way the boat handles 3-4 footers. Also, it goes without saying, you just cannot compare Nordic's workmanship- from the rigging to the always flawless gelcoat with any other boat in that price range.
If you have any questions about the 28' Nordic Heat do yourself a favor and call Franks Marine in Berlin Center Ohio.(330-547-3688) Even though I do not own a Nordic, I was treated extremely well there when I purchaced my Scarab there. I believe Frank has been a dealer for Nordic for the last 4-5 years now. Great Boats, check em' out. Hope that I was of some help to you.
Later, Scott

I have a 2001 28' Nordic, once I got rid of the cockpit carpet and moved the bolsters forward, it fits me much better now. Its a fine boat. Fountain was one of the finalists, but once I saw the Nordic, it was an easy decision. If you want info, send me an email.

Donzi 26 ZX is a solid riding boat, I have been in the Sarasota Poker Run, Hudson Poker Run and The Atlantic city Poker Run. I have been out in 6-8 footers and I had no Issues. She runs close to 70 Stock has a nice cabin big cockpit area and a 8-6ft beam, She is also not a light boat so she runs more like a 30ft boat. The cabin has 2 seats a nice v berth a sink,porta potti and a ice storage chest built into the sink area and the clove compartment box. I took the 28ZX for a test drive and the 26 riders the same way. I like the single engine, makes it nicer if I want to supercharge.

Velocity VR1
 

The Velocity 280 or VR1 are hands down the best choice. Powerboat test even agrees.

Also on Velocity. Mercury uses them exclusively as a test boat and now GM is buying them. What does that tell you?

What's wrong with a 29 Scarab? You could go with a 500 EFI, or twin small blocks.

No votes for the 29' Envision? They don't have the reputation, but they have the ride. I had mine in LOTO-like conditions on the 4th - no problem:cool:

DCB 28' Extreme
 

N/A Teague w/Bravo + glassy water + 110 degree heat =

current tally:

sunsation-6
fountain-5
formula-5
velocity-4
sonic-3
pantera-3
nordic-2
powerplay-2
active thunder-2
superboat-1
donzi-1
scarab-1
checkmate-1
eliminator-1
activator-1
progresion-1
kryptonite-1
shockwave-1
laveycraft-1
advantage-1
baja-1
dcb-1
envision-1

strike , excellent point about the velocity!

griff , a "true" boat length is what im after and it seams fountain and a few others cheat when it comes to actual length.


too old , your so right , shopping is half the fun.

indy , ill be buying used.hell , im to cheap to pay for a new boat.besides why take the hit.

roughstuff , yes it seams fountain has some serious issues that scare me away.i should have added factory support to my criteria.however , fountain seams to have the best resale value.

catmando , i love the looks of the laveycraft.

cliff , got any pics?

wilerty , my current boat has twin 502's and it rides pretty good in the "soup" but i just dont want twice the headache anymore.

this is a fun thread.i wonder if the factory boys are reading this.:p

Here's my picks:


1) Active Thunder - although I'm not too sure on the resale value, but its well built , big cabin and is pretty fast.

2) Advantage- Don't know allot about them but I've seen one run in some rough stuff and it took it well.

3) Formula - Well built , resale is good , decent cabin.

4) Sunsation- Well built , good looking,decent cabin , fast

5) Fountain- Great resale , awesome looks,fast, small cabin, only drawback is you need a 32 to get the ride of the aboves 28's (not intended as slam)


These are just my opinions:)

Two questions..
 

1. If I make three posts ...can that count as three votes?

2. Do I get extra credit for posting pictures?

:D

yes and yes , but you have to say what were all lookin at.pretty boat btw.

hi, we have a 27 ft.checkmate that is great, great ride in rough water, very good cabin room,one of my friends has a 29 fountain w/575 sc,it's fast,but doesn't ridegood at all and cabin is too low,no headroom, another has 28 sunsation,it's small and cramped too, another has 27 powerquest which is a real roughrider, they may have better resale value,but think about having room to move around inside it while you own it.

Well you East Coast guys have some great boats...
 

...but there are a couple good West Coast builders out there. As for DCB, I am yet to hear (or see a post) from a dissatisified owner...very few builders (either coast) have that kind of following...IMHO, worth looking into...

A friend of mine took delivery on that 28' Extreme from the LA Boat Show. The cabin is beautiful...the boat is rock-solid...Dave does some first-rate work...kinda expensive...but first rate...

Here's some video I shot of another DCB from that boat...do I get extra credit for video? ;)

PS- Four posts...is that 4 votes?

Here we are at our favorite spot:

hi, we have a 27 ft.checkmate that is great, great ride in rough water, very good cabin room,one of my friends has a 29 fountain w/575 sc,it's fast,but doesn't ridegood at all and cabin is too low,no headroom, another has 28 sunsation,it's small and cramped too, another has 27 powerquest which is a real roughrider, they may have better resale value,but think about having room to move around inside it while you own it.

I have a 27 Baja, with the swim deck it is only a 25. NOT ENOUGH. It stays at the 14 mile marker, and is used only on weekends. I am sure that less than 25% of its hours are in near-smooth water. I gave up a long time ago about concerning myself with top speed, because I am limited by the water, not the engine. You should certainly raise the lower end of your length range if your expected use comes anywhere close to what I described. I would say the minimum would be a 28 plus swim deck. A little weight would help also.

Another thing, this will probably hurt my long term cause though, I would be very carefull about buying a used twenty something boat that was run only at LOTO. That water is hard on this size boat and you can only learn so much in a few water tests, it takes time for some of the boats damage to surface.

checkmate 270, 40hrs. Its a better boat than expected, bought new from dealer bankruptcy, couldnt pass it up. Handles rough water great, very roomy (103" beam,) very easy to trailer, and now---fast. Overall vey pleased with quality, support from factory, and all for under 100k.

Hello,
I think you have heard alot of good suggestions. There are 3 boats that i would look at. Definetley the 28' Pantera, I am partial to Pantera because i own a 24'. Let me tell you this is one of the best rough water boats out there and im sure the 28' handles extremley well also. This boat is a boat that you dont back off if you see things you go through them. It is just a fabulous boat. Also depending on how much $$$ you want to spend i would take a look to see if you could find a 30' Cigarette Mystique or maybe a used 28' SS. These boats are also good. I would definetley check out the 28' Pantera. If you want to really do alot of rough water, pantera would be a great way to go.

-Best of Luck.
-PANTERA LOVER

Carefull with set up
 

personally, I'd take a mid size cat over what you're looking at but that's me.

a real length boat in that range (not counting beaks and built in 18" swim platforms) is tough on a single bravo. Lot's of weight and wetted surface area. just keep that in mind- either mild power, small prop or budget for drive upgrades in your future. Loto is fun, wish I was there this weekend. good luck!

The 29 SCARAB is a great 29' single that handle the snotty water well. They run like a Mini Cig.
If you are looking at Nordic then you have to look at Magic as well. Magic builds a 29' with a Mid Cabin Option (Not good for rough water but holds more people) Strong, good looking boat and the company stands behind there product.
A 29 Fever is just not a 29' Boat Case Closed!!! You will also end up playing the Swap-A-Prop game between planing response and top end speed.
A 29 Baja needs twins and then it is a contender
Formula is a good choice but you will have a heavy boat that takes power to move (I.E.$$$$$)

The Sunsation 32 with a HP 500 might be a good choice. There was one in the boat trader a while back like new for 80K. I think they are beautiful boats.