Fountain Quality
 

....don't want to start anything here, just need some qualified comments on Fountain products. I am on the market for a 27-32 foot boat. I have a Donzi now. Will the Fountain (new one maybe) be screwed together as well as the Donzi?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Dave

Re: Fountain Quality
 

It will be screwed, that's for sure! :D Seriously, from what I've seen during past 2 to 3 years in Miami, my opinion is that Donzi has better attention to detail and better overall fit and finish quality. Don't know about the performance as I never actually went out on one, but Donzis were pretty pleasing to the eye IMHO...

Re: Fountain Quality
 

I'm on my 2nd Fountain, 27, now 32. Been on a friends '98-'00(?) Donzi 25ZX a few times. Both brands are great boats and can't go wrong either way.

You will either get biased opinions from owners of one of the brands, or opinions from those that haven't been on either. ;)

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Dave98,
If I could show you my 2004 27 Fountain, I'm pretty sure you'd never look at another Fountain again.

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Alli-Runner, what's up with your 27? Did the factory do some sloppy work on it?

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Marginmn,
Yep, three times!!!

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Gentleman,

I have a 2004 29... The quality is equal to my friends Donzi and my boat outruns the donzi.. As Reggie says dollar for dollar horsepower for horsepower, you can't beat a Fountain.... Rigging was race quality from engine cradle to steering and I got an incredible deal from the net...

Don't go comparing a Fountain to an Outerlimits, but the Fountain is an incredible value... on a quality boat...

Check out the Fountain Threads for more info

Re: Fountain Quality
 

care to share any details Alli?

Re: Fountain Quality
 

I like fountain. Blast to drive. feel like a jetski on flat water, with nice chop handle perfect.

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Its all a trade off. They are light boats with a short running surface so they're fast but in the rough tend to beat you up more than comparable boats the same size.my.02

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Marginmn,
I would love to share the details. Due to the lawsuit the details can't be disclosed.

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Did you by any chance ever look at the Sunsation 28 and 32?

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Lawsuit OMG - that pretty much says it all. For the record I loved the 99 35 classic that I just sold. It was both a beautiful and solid boat. No complaints at all.

Re: Fountain Quality
 

My 35 1993 is a great boat for 7 yrs now. Donzi makes a good boat also.

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Yes, I will be looking at a 28 Sunsation tomorrow morning at the same place that has a 27 and 29 Fountain. They look like about the same money.

Dave

Re: Fountain Quality
 

I've had time in a 42 fountain (nice boat) never been in a donzi... the only bad thing that i could say about a fountain is that their re-sale is very soft... a lot of fountains for sale right now that dont seem to want to move...

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Are you looking at a new or used boat Dave?

Re: Fountain Quality
 

I have an 05 27 with a 496 HO in stock right now. I will give the opinion of someone that has been a dealer for Cigarette, Formula, Baja, Fountain, Skater, Outerlimits, and have sold my fair share on Donzis (And owned one...I think this qualifies me).

I would place the fit and finish of this boat at or above any other boat I have PDI'd. Give me a call at the office and I can email pictures and talk numbers. I will have pics of all my NEW Fountains in the OSO classifieds within the week.

Matt
866-616-1300

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Hi, I am new here.
I want to get bigger boat so I was wondering the same thing.
What do you think is best boat for the money in 25 to 29 foot size with single motor?
Is Fountain best
Is Baja Best
Is Sunsation Best - don't know them very well
Is Donzi best
Any Others?

Thank you

Re: Fountain Quality
 

They are all going to float. Just depends how you like the styling.

Re: Fountain Quality
 

junk

Re: Fountain Quality
 

How come I can't see the pictures?
I have a 1997 21 Baja with a 7.4 motor and want to go bigger because it rides kinda rough sometimes. I have the Baja sold but I want to get a newer boat first and someone told me to come on here to look for one. Where are the boats people are selling? Thank you

Re: Fountain Quality
 

gotta pay to play

Re: Fountain Quality
 

classifieds but I think you have to pay also, not sure.

go to top of page and click classifieds.

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Thanks Dave I will check it otu

Re: Fountain Quality
 

Oh, and you'll also see Cigarette owners saying that Fountains are junk (as they are pumping the throttle trying to start their touchy 900 hp motors so they can run 60 mph)


Bottom line....look at them yourself, do your homework. Take pictures and look at them later on. Don't make a hasty decision. My advice is buy on what you like the best and what you think your best value is. Neither boat is inexpensive, so take your time. Some of it may even come down to dealing with a saleman that you like and want to do business with.

Re: Fountain Quality
 

I own a 2004 29' HP525 Fountain.

I have run it since last September & love the boat.

I feel it is the perfect package for a single engine boat in it's size range.

So coming up on a year of ownership it still looks & feels brand new in every way, I use it in the salt water as well.

Re: Fountain Quality
 

I dare you to take the head liner off and look at the construction. Cut an exhaust hole and check for air voids in the transom. Remove all the through stringer bolts and check if the really sealed them to prevent rot.

Did you know the stringers are made of plywood?

There is more air in the lamination than any other component. Don't believe me? Cut a water pick up or intake hole.

I have a 32 fever. Custom ordered it. Told them big power going in.

Spent $30K rebuilding the the crappy piece of junk and I have something I can't sell in good conscience. If you think quality is part of their program is is because you choose not to know what can hurt you. I was able to remove the Home Depot plywood front bulkhead with two tugs using my bare hands!

I hope your boat doesn't break at speed!

Re: Fountain Quality
 

What year is your boat?

Re: Fountain Quality
 

You can come run with me in my slow Cig anytime you like. Of course I am talking about the ocean so your 32 (really about 27') might have a tough time. :rolleyes:

Re: Fountain Quality
 

HEY !!.......Come run with me !!.....My Cig is only 31 ft & It's only a lake {Erie}......

Re: Fountain Quality
 

2112,THE STRINGERS ARE MADE OF PLYWOOD??? I have had my share of problems with a mass produced cookie cutter boat (baja) and iv'e been dreaming of someday buying a better,high quality boat that doesn't rattle apart as soon as you get into 2 footers or worse,fountain has always been the benchmark to me. Did the motors rip out of the stringers,hull delaminate,what fell apart on your boat that you had to spend 30g's fixing?Are the 35 footers built like junk too?Anyone else had bad experiences with a fountain falling apart? My next boat is going to be 35-38 ft and i plan to beat on it like a red headed stepchild,what is out there that will hold up that a person can buy used in the 5 y/o/100,000 price range that will hold up to big power (800-1000 hp). I plan to look look for something with base power and re-power it myself,Smitty

Re: Fountain Quality
 

My 32 is a 1998 model. The stringers are laminated plywood. Maybe that would be OK if the made damn sure that no water could ever get inside the laminate covering but they don't (didn't).

I think they have great designs and the amount of $ they would have to spend would be minimal to get the quality in there. I won't even discuss the cosmetic problems for this thread.

I am sure if you buy a $500K 42 with Merc 1075's, You might get better quality that a $110K 32 but should they at least make sure they are strong and safe?

How many of their race boats have had delamination problems lately?