Fountain Fever

Reggie Fountain builds boats, fast boats. Since early in his racing days, Reggie has constantly worked towards attaining and improving on the fastest V-hull design out there. This is all very apparent in Reggies 29 Fever sportboat.The 29 Fever cranks up with a throaty roar that dares others to join her for a little water exercise. Her competition may not be ready for the speed and control this craft offers. The 29 Fever is offered with the recommended single Mercury 500-hp MerCruiser Magnum I tested, or with a single 425-hp 496 MPI Mag, 575 SC EFI MerCruiser. If you opt for twin engines in this boat youll get a pair of 300-hp 350 MerCruiser Magnums.Boarding the 29 Fever seems safe and comfortable. The eight-foot beam remains stable when boarding and walking around. She carries a fuel capacity of 140 gallons that, depending on speed, will get you from 127 miles to 361 miles of cruising before having to stop for more. We reached planing speed between 2000 and 2500 rpm, in a matter of 4.7 seconds. The feel of speed is immediate on this boat, and you definitely feel the force as you add throttle. The advantages of Reggies hull design become apparent when you are moving at top speed and run through performance turns without the dreaded skip, slide, or chine walking many others give at lower speeds.Up front, you have an anchor locker and bow rails. Theres plenty of room to spread out for sunning, but its not an area to ride when the boat is underway. Pop up cleats are also in this area and maintain the smooth surface when stowed. The cockpit is protected by a full framed wraparound windshield that does not block the view of the driver. All controls are easy to reach at the helm. The three-spoke wheel presents minimal obstruction, and racing influenced the placement of the Gaffrig instruments. The throttle and drive controls are located on the left, so be prepared to do some training for your visitors if they want to try their hand at driving. Trim tabs and drive position is indicated with mechanical indicators which are easy to read even at top speeds. In addition, the steering is very responsive thanks to the hydraulic system. The bolsters have bottom cushions that are power driven and are very comfortable for long-range trips. The seats drop away for the fast runs and safely hold you in position, even in the tightest turns. When you are cruising, you can easily bring the seat up for a comfortable ride. The ultra leather seating continues with a bench behind the driver and companion seat. Here three more people can rest in luxury and comfort. Even after an hour of hard riding and testing, all seats remained comfortable.Using the standard power lift, you will find all the essential checkpoints on the power plant easy to reach. Fountain left plenty of room in the single engine configuration to get to all areas in the engine compartment. With the engine hatch closed, the cover makes a comfortable padded area to soak up the sun. The pad also is good to your feet when you are coming back aboard. Getting aboard is simple using the folding swim ladder on the integrated swim platform.Accommodations below are ample for two people overnighting, yet can handle up to four thanks to a privacy curtain for some separation. A small galley with pressurized water; porta-potti and a built-in ice chest make the long days on the water much more inviting. You can upgrade to a refrigerator if you plan more than day trips.

Fountain 29 Fever Test Result Highlights

• Top speed for the Fountain 29 Fever is 76.0 mph (122.3 kph), burning 39.8 gallons per hour (gph) or 150.64 liters per hour (lph).
• Best cruise for the Fountain 29 Fever is 30.2 mph (48.6 kph), and the boat gets 2.86 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.22 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 361 miles (580.97 kilometers).
• Tested power is 1 x 500-hp MerCruiser 500 MAG EFI.

*From Boattest.com

• Top speed for the Fountain 29 Fever is 76.0 mph (122.3 kph), burning 39.8 gallons per hour (gph) or 150.64 liters per hour (lph).
• Best cruise for the Fountain 29 Fever is 30.2 mph (48.6 kph), and the boat gets 2.86 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.22 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 361 miles (580.97 kilometers).
• Tested power is 1 x 500-hp MerCruiser 500 MAG EFI.