First boat
 

Hello everyone, looking to purchase my first boat sometime next spring but starting my research now. This will be MY first boat but I do have experience with boats growing up on the Mississippi and LOTO in Missouri. I’m not set on “I absolutely won’t buy this make” but I’ve narrowed it down to Baja or Fountain between 29-42ft. I’ll be between the river and LOTO so want something that can handle the madhouse that the lake has become. Basically just looking for do’s, don t’s, adavantages/disadvantages from more experienced boaters. TY in advance!

Don’t rule out a 40
skater with a cardboard bussle ;)

29’-42’ wow! That’s a lot of “first boat”

As many threads say, make sure to get a good quality survey on whatever you buy. As for what brand and size, that is a matter of budget and preference. If you talk to someone with a Fountain they are the best, Cigarette, Baja, Donzi owners will probably say the same. As for size, I will tell you Size does Matter, if you can afford the larger one, that will be your best bet. Every boat I have owned, including the current one, you are always looking for the next larger one. So you might as well cut out the middle and go biggest your budget will allow.
Just remember the to account for the forgotten items like, is my vehicle large enough to pull it, Insurance cost, and upkeep. Just my 2 cents. Hope this helps.

I get the my brand is the best chit. Honestly why would any of us spend a single dime on a boat that we did not feel was worthy of our hard earned money.

I'm a solid Fountain guy, been that way for a decade and a half. Why? Because this past Sunday, my very first first ride in two summers, at 90 MPH I had that big chit eatin' grin on my face and said to myself "This Biotch will run!". I love my boat, it works for me, more than anything it puts a big azz smile on my face.

No matter what you settle on just make sure it puts that smile on your face. Any day on the water beats the chit out of a day on the dirt and just be sure to thank God you are blessed to be able to be out there.

Well said!

Congrats - I'll never forget the day my wife and I drove to Connecticut to buy my Cafe Racer. Could hardly sleep I was so excited/nervous! Of course the truck I was supposed to buy was sold out from under me so I had to stop on the way and buy a used dually cattle truck with 300k miles on it from some old farmer off the side of the road that was missing second gear. Good times being young and dumb.

Go big, be smart on the water and enjoy the hell out of it.....

PS - go for reliability and proven maintenance in your first go fast boat. You'll ruin the experience otherwise....

Odds are very good this is Darr posting BS. When is the last time someone is wanting a 42 ft boat for the first boat.

As an accountant I advise you to gain a full understanding of the ownership cost and budget for some decent repairs and when considering purchase price. When you budget for this stuff do your best calculations and then double, maybe triple that number just to make sure your still comfortable financial wise. You are better off to buy something in mint condition that runs than buying something in average condition and not having the money to run it, even if that means buying something newer and much smaller than you had hoped for. If your young, don't forget about the bloody day care costs you'll eventually pay when you marry and get kids after buying said boat. At the end of the day being on the water is what counts. Don't buy something that doesn't allow you to build wealth after considering ownership costs.

I think your choices are too narrow. Plenty of other custom and production builders that build a product of same or higher quality and any used boat has a potential for significant repairs.

NO idea if this is Darr or not but I will say the guys that came from Philly to look at my Gun a few months ago-
I was asking what kind of boats you have owned- he said- Seadoos and a Jet Boat- I'm like WhatEver- Thinking Tire Kickers for sure.
They left OK and went to PBC and bought the 42X w 900's and 6's. So it does happen lol. This guy was NO Darr BS :evilb:
Go Big or Go Home