Boating — December 2018

SEE THE

VIDEO

High Points

XIncludes dual livewells and

effi cient high-speed pickups

designed for step hulls.

XRecessed grab rails from helm to

bow, port to starboard add security

without snagging tackle.

XHardtop is designed to receive your

brand of outrigger mounts.

Specs

· LOA: 34'0" · BEAM: 9'6"

· DRY WEIGHT: 10,000 lb.

· FUEL CAPACITY: 418 gal.

How We Tested

ENGINE: Dual Mercury Verados 350 hp

DRIVE/PROP: Mercury Enertia Eco 19"

3-blade stainless steel

GEAR RATIO: 1.75:1

FUEL LOAD: 200 gal.

CREW WEIGHT: 400 lb.

Price

$340,000 (as tested)

FOUNTAIN

34 CC

purpose. Forward, the casting deck forms

a 180-degree wraparound lounge with

thick bolsters for backrests. In fact, the

bolsters stretch from stem to stern, beam

to beam. Like the aft seat cushions, you

can stow the bow cushions for gritty fi sh-

ing action — go ahead, bloody the decks.

If you’re going to the fi shing spot and go-

ing fast, leave them ashore to lighten the

load and harden your fi shing

platform. Gunwale and shot-

gun rod holders abound, and

hardtop rocket launchers plus

undergunwale storage keep

extra rods handy. Lockers in

the deck and under the seats

have lockable latches. Rigging

is made easy with dedicated

tackle storage in the console

sides, and fi sh boxes are huge

with pumps to drain them.

We’re glad Reggie’s

back with Fountain fi shers.

We’re not so sure about the

competition.

If you know anything about powerboats,

you know this name: Reggie Fountain.

What you may not know is this

champion race-boat-driver-turned-per-

formance-boatbuilder sold more center

console fi shing boats in his Fountain

Powerboats heyday than long-nose go-

fast boats. Except the fi shing boats were

hair-on-fi re fast, built on Fountain’s top

racing bottoms.

The 34 CC we tested clocked 62 mph on

dual 350 Verado outboards. The step hull

made the most of the horsepower, but the

Fountain design stuck tight in turns, de-

fying the nasty rap some step hulls get for

sliding out and swapping ends. We think

the 34 CC built today is better than the

best in earlier production runs because

wood stringers and transoms are things

of the past in Fountain Powerboats. Com-

posite construction is lighter and won’t

rot, guaranteed.

Fountain has the same great and

timeless style lines that boat enthusiasts

admire, and they are as good today as ever

because the Fountain hull design was

ahead of its time from its inception.

The helm was doubly protected, fi rst by

a beautiful hardtop with stereo speakers

and storage boxes above, plus LED lights

to put a glow on the deck at night. Even the

cup holders have LED courtesy lights. The

dash is performance black to fi ght glare,

and storage compartments atop will keep

phones secure.

Our test boat was tricked out with con-

vertible aft seats over the livewell with

a bolster back set in the transom. For

fi shing, cushions and seat backs can be

stowed, and the cockpit opens up like the

tournament-ready boat it is.

A dual seat on the front of the con-

sole has a cooler beneath it, doubling its

PHOTOS: COURTESY FOUNTAIN POWERBOATS

FOUNTAIN POWERBOATS

Washington, North Carolina; 252-975-2000; fountainpowerboats.com

To watch our

video of the

34 CC, scan

this tag or visit

boatingmag

.com/bbg18/

fountain34cc.

C

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