If you upgrade to Hydraulic steering on the baja, and added Kplanes, that will eat up the 10k or so difference in sale price.

However, the Baja with only 35 hours, should be a turn key ride for the next several years for you other than maintainance.

I think this would be a situation where taking both boats out for a ride, and making your choice from that would be worth a couple plane tickets. After owning boats with and without hydraulic steering, I cant see myself ever goin back to cable steering unless it was a pontoon.

You feel the better deal is the OL? I think you are crazy for only 9k more not to buy the fountain.

These options/upgrades on the fountain are huge money. Paint, gauges, engine and drive, hydro steering, k planes, myco trailer (the best) Those heritage trailers that baja uses are the biggest POS on the market IMO.

$61k isn't bad for that boat, the more I look at it, and not far off from the $50's number I gave you.

Thanks there 4 bus for putting me in my place.. i love it!!!! I did fail to mention that is a 10 grand paint job on the fountain boat along with a 10 grand trailer that it sits on that is only 2 years old... i hear those trailers are the best and pull wonderfully...

Also need to mention something else about the Fountain... For those that were talking bout the baja having more cabin space well the owner of the fountain took out the cooler and sink and replaced it with another seat and neatly mounted the amplifiers under there to be out of the way so i would think this would give the fountain the advantage on seating capacity and cabin space now... just my opinion!!!!

The complaints about the fountain cabin go further than that. As mild thinder stated the sides of the boat below the rub rail come in at an angle, making the cabin skinny. Fountain is also horrible at engineering storage in creative places.

The plus is your fountain is newer than what most people on this site reference. The raised deck late models add some head room.

I meant to say earlier that the 29 will prob have more cu ft of space than the 26, but the 26 may feel bigger. However it is still a 26 ft boat, and neither will have have much cabin room. Shouldn't even really be a discussion on a boat this size.

I have a friend with a 29, he is 6 2 and sleeps in there with his girl all the time. His only complaint is the bed causes him to slide down at night, he also has twins so his boat sits lower in the back when parked.

I also agree with thunder, take a plane ride and look at the boats. At the very least try to find a few local that you can see to compare.

[QUOTE=4bus;3792223]I have a friend with a 29, he is 6 2 and sleeps in there with his girl all the time. His only complaint is the bed causes him to slide down at night, he also has twins so his boat sits lower in the back when parked
QUOTE]

That might be one scenerio, where dating a fat chick would benefit you.

Read Mild Thunder's comments carefully. And consider mine. I owned a 2005 33 Outlaw for almost two years, and replaced it with a 2005 42 Fountain in 2006. Both were one year used when purchased, extremely well cared for and in top condition.

We still have the Fountain.

My opinions: These boats are larger than the ones you're considering but I believe there is similarity because of the similar size comparisons.

33 Baja Twin 496 HO
Cost 3/4 of the Fountain. Sold for 10% less than purchase.
Good ride. A little unsteady at high speed and passengers noticed this. Stable in turns. Could not get "on top" of rougher water (2'-3' chop).
Great looking boat with fine graphics.
Top speed 72 with labbed 28 Bravo 1's.
Planes easily even when loaded. Very easy to dock.
Huge cockpit. Excellent storage.
NO anchor locker.
Fair quality vinyl and fair comfortable seats. Cabin seats UNcomfortable.
496's no problems at all in 150hrs. Changed oil every 25 hrs with Merc 25W-40.
Overall build quality, fit and finish: Fair to good.
Final Comment -GREAT beginner twin boat.


42 Fountain Twin 525
Excellent, stable, predictable, confidence-inducing ride. Turns great. Gets "on top" of rougher water (2'-3' chop), feels "hooked up", and ride smooths out. Passengers do not seem concerned.
Great looking boat with fine graphics.
Top speed 87 with non-labbed 28 Maximus'.
Planes fair when loaded. More difficult docking with closely spaced staggered engines.
Large cockpit. Good storage.
Nice anchor locker.
Good quality vinyl and comfortable seats. Cabin seats very nice.
525's no problems at all in 350hrs. Changed oil every 25 hrs with Merc 25W-40.
Overall build quality, fit and finish: Excellent.
Final Comment -GREAT intermediate twin boat

from a mechanical standpoint i would go with the baja for what you intend to do with the boat. way less hours and the 496 will be a little easier on the outdrive when your doing the holeshots pulling up your knee boarder and ski'ers. i dont think the high x deminsion 500hp bravo fountian will like that too much over time. if your gonna go do poker runs or set the river on fire then go with the fountian. the baja might stay on plane at lower speeds also for tubing purposes. there are some guys on here with videos tubing and skiing behind a fountian but thats not what the boat is intended for by any means but it can be done.

I think floating a 33. Baja and a 42 staggard fountain are two completely different worlds...

I agree, but you wouldn't think so the way some of the oso members in fairytail land speak of Fountains. A 42 Fountain is really like a 35FT boat aint it??

As for the comment regarding high x dimension and getting on plane, referring its harder on the drive. My thoughts on this......

My old Fountain was rigged with the drives high. I do get some blowing out while getting on plane. What I have noticed, is while getting on plane, my props slip and my RPM is at 3500RPM. However, my engines are in vacuum on the gauge, and I have a roots blower setup. If my drives were deep in the water, and the props didnt slip, I'd be making boost getting on plane. IDK, my engines make 750FT lbs at 6lbs of boost. On my setup, getting on plane with a little slip, i dont think the drives are seeing anywhere near that torque. My guess is a little slip might help the drive. Kinda like a 3 blade being easier on the drive than a 5 blade. Or like street tires vs slicks.