I've been in and have seat time running the above mentioned boat with Jim in all kinds of water. This boat runs very well in rougher water, but it still is only a 27' boat. This boat also had a 12" extension box and 380 K-Planes so it performed like it had a little more length. In true 2'-3's on Lake Michigan you could get the boat run in them. Anything over that you knew you could get home but not ideal. Compared to the 22 I had been in I would call it noticeably better, not substantially better.

The boat would run 98 mph and the name is "Heads I Win" ;)

I have no experience with the 22 Blackhawk but currently have a 27 Fountain.

The 27 Fountain can run in 2-3ft waves head on or trailing decently. If you have to 1/4 those 2-3ft waves your in for a long ride.

It's a small and light boat so the bow is very active. Using a little bit of tab will help smooth it out.

I would not call the 27 Fountain or even the 29 Fountain, for that matter, a good rough water boat. That having been said, length and displacement alone may give the 27 Fountain a bit of an edge over the 22 Donzi. I had a 29 Fountain for a couple of years and it was miserable in the rough. My 27 Concept runs significantly better than the Fountain did in similar conditions (I know, not comparing apples to apples, but...). I agree with the folks who suggested looking at the 27zr - although there doesn't seem to be a lot of them around.

I was close. Its been a long time and I am getting old. Jim was always a cool guy to talk to and the boat was always a surprise when he was next you.

Joe

Digging up and oldie...but I haven't been here in a while. As a past 29 Fever owner...I have a 2000 29 Fever with a HP500, bought brand new and had it for 4 years. It was a very very solid built boat but it was not a rough water boat. It was fine around the Tampa area intercostal waterway close big chop in the bay but in the Gulf on a breezy day you could lose a kidney! The 27 is a lake boat...small lake boat and the cockpit of the 27 is super tight and shallow.