Looking for honest pros and cons of the difference between these two boats from people that have experience with either. I'm currently in the market for upper 27-30' performance boat and have narrowed it down to these 2 models and I'm wondering if there are any major differences between these two that would make me swing one way or the other. I'm also very curious on cabin size on both of these. I'm looking at getting a closed bow. I'm in AZ and plan on only running the boat out here including Lake Havasu. Which would you prefer and why?

Thanks in advance.

Don't forget the Eliminator 300 XP. More space, especially in the cabin. Deeper vee-hull, 24 degrees deadrise, twin steps. Many of them run a single and a 500 hp engine brings you

into the 75 mph range. Much better in the rough than the 280 XP and the Fountain Fever 27. These are popular and sell quick when they show up on the market, but you're in Arizona

so should be able to snipe one. There's a nice one with a single in Orange County for sale whose owner also boats in Havasu. Don't know the owner or boat personally.

It shows at the 20 second mark in the video etc.

27 Fever is a small 27. Curious as why only those 2 models??
IMO, there are lots of better boats in that size range

In this length range I'd look hard into Activator, Kryptonite, Superboat, or somet others.... if you can find one that is, but will be worth the premium over Fountain or a Eliminator Eagle. The 300XP tho that Larsindorth mentioned is an impressive boat too, I almost bought one prior to buying my Activator... Its a much bigger boat at the same 30ft length I am, and have no doubt it'd handle the rough great... Activator also handles the big stuff, but it runs almost 10mph faster though with a single 632/850hp vs the twin 540/650hp in the 300XP. Also as Griff said, the 27 Fountain is small... the 29 Fountain is really like a 27 even... You choice should really be dictated on where you boat, conditions, and what your going to use it for?

Santa,

As always, I will chime in with a selfless plug for the PowerQuest. If you can find a 280 Silencer with a 496HO or 502, you'll be happy. One of the largest cockpits and cabins you'll find in a performance boat of that size, and they run damned good for the power you put to them. We have a 3lb Procharger on a 496HO that runs a solid, stable 77MPH at WOT, cruises comfortably at 35MPH at half throttle, and will pull my fat ass out on a slalom.

As Griff said, there are better options than you've narrowed your search to.

Thanks. Brad.

Fountain. Because everyone in Havasu has an Eliminator...

Dave,

PowerQuest. Because you can't sneeze without getting snot on a Fountain. Anywhere.....

Thanks. Brad.

Out west? Warlock.
Or as mentioned Kryptonite, Activator, etc. They'll eat anything else mentioned on this thread as proven on the race course.

If you raft the 27' Fountain next to an Eliminator 280, you will find the Eliminator to be a NOTABLY bigger boat. Not everyone has the same tape measure.
That's just the way the majority of the West Coast boats are designed. They have bigger deeper hulls, providing much more feel for being IN the boat vs. ON the boat.

The Eliminator is going to be heavier as well, accordingly. The Fountain will be faster, given identical power.

I completely agree! The Warlock 29 World Class was a very competitive OS race V in the single engine 30' and under class. They ran in Class A back in the '90s and '00s and won a lot of races/championships from what I remember. For me personally, the 27 Fountain or the 280 Eliminator would be down low on my list if looking for a single engine performance V in that size range. I'll also throw another quality single engine V into the mix with suggesting a Formula 271 FasTech - it's tough to beat Formula's build quality in an older boat.