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I'm going to suggest what Full Force did and suggest you look at a Formula 260 SS. They are hands down built better than a Baja. Baja's are on the low end for Offshore boats in my opinion, I've never owned one but have been in a few and never was impressed by any of them. By this I mean their lay up isn't as good, rigging is poor, the vinyl and stitching is cheap the cockpits are sparse and as they age they start to rattle. Fountains are great boats for what they are meant for (going fast) but would make a terrible family boat. In a bolster boat you can't pivot the seat or sit sideways in them. Either you sit looking forward or you drop the seat and stand looking back. Also as others have stated if you plan on tubing, waterskiing or wake boarding a 29 foot boat is just to big. IMO i wouldn't use anything bigger than a 26 and thats pushing it.
I've owned a lot of boats and my favorite for hanging out in and pretty much everything else other than all out speed was my Formula 242 SS. Tons of room, great ride and went fast, but there were no bolsters which are nice if you're in big water. However, if your in an inland lake they are overkill and not needed at all and make lounging a PITA. Its all how you will use the boat. As to a Baja only losing 10% of it value. Either the original buyer got a smoking deal or the new buyer was smoking crack. Like I said before, Baja's are cheaply built boats and really don't last. Take a look at a 15 year old Baja, then compare that to a 15 year old Fountain or Formula. With typical use the Fountain will look better than the Baja and the Formula will look better than the Fountain. When buying your boat, buy one that fits how you will use it today, not how you will use it in the future. Modifying engines is expensive, and unless you're going to do a lot of work yourself, you're better off selling the boat and buying one that goes the speed you want from the start. |
Originally Posted by endeavour32
(Post 3799583)
I'm going to suggest what Full Force did and suggest you look at a Formula 260 SS. They are hands down built better than either a Baja or Fountain. Baja's are on the low end for Offshore boats in my opinion, I've never owned one but have been in a few and never was impressed by any of them. By this I mean their lay up isn't as good, rigging is poor, the vinyl and stitching is cheap the cockpits are sparse and as they age they start to rattle. Fountains are great boats for what they are meant for (going fast) but would make a terrible family boat. In a bolster boat you can't pivot the seat or sit sideways in them. Either you sit looking forward or you drop the seat and stand looking back. Also as others have stated if you plan on tubing, waterskiing or wake boarding a 29 foot boat is just to big. IMO i wouldn't use anything bigger than a 26 and thats pushing it.
I've owned a lot of boats and my favorite for hanging out in and pretty much everything else other than all out speed was my Formula 242 SS. Tons of room, great ride and went fast, but there were no bolsters which are nice if you're in big water. However, if your in an inland lake they are overkill and not needed at all and make lounging a PITA. Its all how you will use the boat. As to a Baja only losing 10% of it value. Either the original buyer got a smoking deal or the new buyer was smoking crack. Like I said before, Baja's are cheaply built boats and really don't last. Take a look at a 15 year old Baja, then compare that to a 15 year old Fountain or Formula. With typical use the Fountain will look better than the Baja and the Formula will look better than the Fountain. When buying your boat, buy one that fits how you will use it today, not how you will use it in the future. Modifying engines is expensive, and unless you're going to do a lot of work yourself, you're better off selling the boat and buying one that goes the speed you want from the start. I see you own a Formula which are good boats but really??? |
Originally Posted by rod2dknee
(Post 3792584)
Good stuff... thanks for the input and comments.. i must say i didn't know the resale value was so good on the baja's.. " sold 10% less than what you paid for it " I do have a jet ski that can pull the tube and knee board however i was trying to kill two birds with one stone and get a performance family boat.. It is kind of a pain taking the jet ski and boat out at the same time and having to clean them up both after using them.. Thanks again everyone..
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Originally Posted by endeavour32
(Post 3799583)
I'm going to suggest what Full Force did and suggest you look at a Formula 260 SS. They are hands down built better than either a Baja or Fountain. Baja's are on the low end for Offshore boats in my opinion, I've never owned one but have been in a few and never was impressed by any of them. By this I mean their lay up isn't as good, rigging is poor, the vinyl and stitching is cheap the cockpits are sparse and as they age they start to rattle. Fountains are great boats for what they are meant for (going fast) but would make a terrible family boat. In a bolster boat you can't pivot the seat or sit sideways in them. Either you sit looking forward or you drop the seat and stand looking back. Also as others have stated if you plan on tubing, waterskiing or wake boarding a 29 foot boat is just to big. IMO i wouldn't use anything bigger than a 26 and thats pushing it.
I've owned a lot of boats and my favorite for hanging out in and pretty much everything else other than all out speed was my Formula 242 SS. Tons of room, great ride and went fast, but there were no bolsters which are nice if you're in big water. However, if your in an inland lake they are overkill and not needed at all and make lounging a PITA. Its all how you will use the boat. As to a Baja only losing 10% of it value. Either the original buyer got a smoking deal or the new buyer was smoking crack. Like I said before, Baja's are cheaply built boats and really don't last. Take a look at a 15 year old Baja, then compare that to a 15 year old Fountain or Formula. With typical use the Fountain will look better than the Baja and the Formula will look better than the Fountain. When buying your boat, buy one that fits how you will use it today, not how you will use it in the future. Modifying engines is expensive, and unless you're going to do a lot of work yourself, you're better off selling the boat and buying one that goes the speed you want from the start. |
Originally Posted by boatnt
(Post 3799689)
I wish I had read this before I bought my Fountain...:lolhit:
I see you own a Formula which are good boats but really??? Yes a 242 SS with a 350 mag is a joke. That boat should have never been offered with a small block. Remember though a 242 is a 26 foot boat by todays standards. A 27 fountain isn't going to go fast either with a single 350. I don't know how in the world your boat had the transom rot out twice. I've owned 3 Formulas and out of the three the only rot I ever had to fix was the bulk head in front of the engine. Transoms have always been rock solid. And yes I edited my first post. I was typing fast and did really mean to slam Fountain and start a war with all the Fountain owners. |
You know boats are like sports teams. All have loyal followers. We live in the south and have a long season so we got 3 to do all we want when we want - ski/wakeboard/tube, fish, or go fast. Probably in that order now that the kids are getting older. Sometimes I use two in one day. Not sure why we had the transom rot on the 242 either. The shop said when sombody changed the pitot tube for the speedo they didn't seal the holes right. Another said, no, it came in throught your transom shield when you had a leaky bellows. So who knows? I just know it was damn expensive and pissed me off esp. when it rotted again in two years! Oh well, gone now and the three we have now are all specialized and do their functions well. I just try to tell people that very few boats do more than one thing well.
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I agree with your last post. I have 3 boats as well right now for that very reason. Even have a sailboat, although that is sold pending the survey. If you're a skier or snowboarder its like using race equipment to go in the half pipe or vice versa. This is why I really like the Formula SS boats, another swiss army boat would be some of the bigger Cobalts. Yes they are not going to be the fastest boat on the lake or the coolest looking but they do everything pretty well and are built very well and have very practical layouts. Can you imagine tubing behind a boat with dry exhaust or even dry to the tip?
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Originally Posted by endeavour32
(Post 3799913)
I was typing fast and did really mean to slam Fountain and start a war with all the Fountain owners.
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Originally Posted by rod2dknee
(Post 3791999)
Guys please help out here.. Any advice and input is greatly appreciated here.. Iam torn between what boat to purchase.. I am looking at a 2003 29 ft fountain fever with the 500 hp blue merc motor with 300 hours... Also i am looking at a 2008 26 ft Baja outlaw with the 496 HO motor with 50 hours... I am just wanting a family performance boat to go to the lake with... Just something to cruise up and down the lake and river in and maybe do some tubing and knee boarding behind... I would like to down the road to purchase some mods to increase speed on both boats a lil bit but nothing major:evilb::evilb:.. Im new to these types of boat so i dont know if these 2 boats are a fair comparison which is why im asking for input.. If you had the choice which of the 2 would you purchase.. Thanks and i look forward to everyones response here
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Originally Posted by endeavour32
(Post 3800097)
I agree with your last post. I have 3 boats as well right now for that very reason. Even have a sailboat, although that is sold pending the survey. If you're a skier or snowboarder its like using race equipment to go in the half pipe or vice versa. This is why I really like the Formula SS boats, another swiss army boat would be some of the bigger Cobalts. Yes they are not going to be the fastest boat on the lake or the coolest looking but they do everything pretty well and are built very well and have very practical layouts. Can you imagine tubing behind a boat with dry exhaust or even dry to the tip?
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