Need input on boat choice!!
 

Hey guys I'm looking to purchase another boat and came across 2 that have my interest. One is a Nordic heat with a 575SC 850hp runs 96mph for $50k and the other is a fountain fever with a 525 650hp runs 80mph for $55k. Not sure which route to go and was looking for some input in the right direction.

Where will you be using it (lake or offshore)? The Nordic will be a 22* deadrise, the Fountain will be a 24*. Higher deadrise numbers generally mean better rough water handling.
How many hours on each boat? Which is in better condition? Which one do you like better? Do either have seriously dated graphics? If you're going to be overnighting regularly, which one has the better cabin?

Welcome to the forum.
Do lots of searching and reading on here, I think you'll find Speedracer has pretty much covered it. Ask yourself a few questions like those above and if the two boats come out equal then buy the one that you think looks nicest.

I think his first question is the most important one.

Are you absolutely stuck on Fountain or Nordic? There's a lot of other very nice boats in that size range. If your open to suggestion on other brands, tell us a bit more about what you plan to do and I'm sure you'll get lots more knowledgeable input.

RR

Who did the work on the engines?

Nordics cabin and cockpit will be bigger, both are well built boats

Too many variables to make a fair comparison.

90% will be lake use and from time to time it'll be used offshore. The Nordic has 600 hrs on the hull and 50hrs on a rebuilt Mercury 575SC. The fountain has 450hrs on the hull and 40hrs on rebuilt Mercury 525. I like them both that's why I'm looking too see which would be a better buy. Prob won't ever sleep overnight on the either boat.

You're going to want to see documentation regarding what was replaced/refreshed in the rebuilds on both of them before going much farther. Dyno sheets would be good to have, build sheets would be great to have. Mechanical inspection/compression/leakdown and hull survey would be highly recommended on the one you pick. Does the Fountain with the 525 have the problematic Mercury spec'd headers?

For predominate lake use either would be a fine choice. You may not ever sleep in the cabin but wives/girlfriends will seek refuge in it and if you have kids they will use it. In that respect the Nordic wins.

Personally when I see "850hp", all I really see is my wallet getting thinner...$$$$$$$. If this is your first fast boat, if you're not going to overnight, and if the 525 was built by a reputable shop with the header issues already addressed, the Fountain may be the better choice. Depends on if you absolutely need the blower whine and extra 16mph (gonna be a short learning curve on a 96mph 28' boat, too).

Lots of variables to consider, and maintenance records/condition should be higher on the list than claimed horsepower and top speed in my opinion.

Here is some of the motor work done on the Nordic. Professionally modified by EBM and RON SPORL with build sheets, blower shop billet 871 supercharger, dart heads, crane roller cam, race tech forged pistons, billet rods and forged crank, Hydromotive P5-X Stainless Steel prop and CMI. And here is what I have so far for info on the Fountain. The guy who built motor is in South Carolina named Mer Performance Marine. It was freshened up because he blew head gasket. There was no expensed spared in rebuilding all the way to new headers and tail pipes. It also has updated dash and monster gauges, interior lights led, underwater led, 2 covers, bimini top, on board charger, pop up cleats and navigation lights, gps, two props, outdrive was freshened up at rebuild, drive shower

Always keep in the back on your head, that if something lets go with all of those high performance mods, it is going to cost a bit more to fix/replace..... Depending on your budget, going with simple high power (525's, 500's) over blowers and high performance internals may be your best bet for reliability and cost effectiveness.