MTI 340x vs Fountain 34 ThunderCat!

But Fountain’s new 34 Thunder Cat, which replaces the company’s original 32-footer, was straight-up good fun. In fact, of three boats we spent time in on the Pamlico River, it was the most fun.
Some of that, of course, had to do with scale. The Pamlico River presented zero challenge for the 47-foot Fountain and 38-foot Donzi, and as we expected they easily dominated the six- to 12-inch chop on the windblown waterway. For the 34-foot Fountain cat, those conditions were ideal for speed runs and handling drills. And while the ride was smooth-far smoother than what we’d experience in the company’s previous sport catamarans-we could feel the waterway a lot more than we did in the two substantial V-bottoms.
Fountain powered the 34 Thunder Cat with twin Mercury Racing 450R outboard engines. With that power, Moore had no trouble running the boat to 125 mph-with a full tank of fuel-but chose not to push it any harder in the gusty crosswinds. The GPS recall showed a top speed of 133.3 mph
#HauloverInlet
#BoatFails
#BigWaves
#QualifiedCaptain

[@wrzl1675]

Fountain isn’t Fountain anymore it’s Iconic Marine with the Fountain name on it, they also build Donzi and Baja

[@rclaurence]

Fountain actually built a cat back in the day and raced it...though short lived...it blew everyone out of the water. When Reggie sold it to a friend of his, and the friend crashed it and died, he decided against building them. I think it’s his son making the decisions to start building the cat now. Great looking cat nonetheless and I’m sure is going to be a show stopper as well as a force to be reckoned with out on the water. Looking forward to seeing how this cat scratches it’s way to the top!!

[@plantdesigns7889]

They also had the Fountain Scism Cat back in the late 90s/early 2000s. It was Randy Scism's (MTI owner) hull design built in the Fountain factory. Once it got off the ground, he started building them under the MTI brand.

[@powerboatguy2308]

Outboard cats are becoming more appealing with the increase in horsepower and lighter materials. I never thought I would see the day where twin stock outboards could push a 34 to 36 ft cat over 120 m.p.h.

[@jeffbaran8036]

Great videos my friend. Keep them coming. Peace

[@joshuagosine9540]

hey this is one of the best boat review I have seen, great content with the detailed comparison info.... power, price, performance, gas mileage etc. you got yourself a new sub. keep it up bro.👍 can't wait for longer vids with rides and interviews with owners. My suggestions if you don't mind - whats the handling capabilities in calm waters to rough waters ( everyone love to claim performance in perfect conditions but practically for owners we have to face rough waters lol) also whats the cruising range of these beauties ? looking forward to more comparison vids with these power boats size categories ✌🏼

[@dieseldog00]

I've seen video of both boats in rough waters at Haulover and they handled about like you'd expect of 34' cats; they slowed down but still jumped. If I wanted a boat of that size to handle 3-5 foot swells at high speeds-70 to 100mph-it would have to have a full race canopy with harnesses oxygen and tunnel hatch.

[@willmurray7228]

Both boats are awesome, give true cred, to Fountain, the baddest boat life&builder in history. It would be a honor for MTI to take boating to next level. Mr. Fountain invented and lead for 40 years. Show us what you can do?

[@enginepy]

Great video thanks.

[@caden9572]

Great video

[@harleyausten]

Bad ass comparison! 👊🏼🇺🇸

[@tauvikrajawalichanel9133]

Wow..... Very Nice Speed Boat 👌👌

[@tbear68-]

Thundercat... Cockpit design & cost & weight put it over the top. Nice vid bud.

[@farrdawgjoker7087]

I have been out on a few cats and while fun I have to have my bedroom in my former cigarette and now my Midnight Express and Baja lake boat. I need a place to relax and after a few bac, surgeries my go fast days are over, well my go everywhere wide open days anyway. A good friend has an MTI and he loves it except when we plan multi day trips because most of us have a place to sleep and dont require a tent on the beach. I've let him stay on mine but when you on someone else's boat you can't get to frisky with your partner and that limits some of the fun.

[@jbuckets3927]

Wow 🤩

[@sikinboat]

The red fountain was $425k Sotheby’s guy saying $250 was way off. Now you can buy a fountain with 300’s for right at $300k just talked to them and the guy that bought the red fountain. I’m sure a mti with 300’s is right around 300k as well

[@gmogfx2632]

I would take an MTI

[@robertlamont9712]

Reggie trying to get into the Cat market. If it wins...or gets a title then it soon will be a must have... at 450,000 USD. Tks for the video.

[@puttingwarheadsonforeheads9872]

Do they use pump gas. 91/93 octane

[@cdbnum1ify]

I wonder what the new 500r will do on this boat

[@devildog1534]

Damn these boats are expensive. I just started getting into boats and want a boat like this because there cool and fast but I might just have to get a jet ski. I feel crushed after watching this video.

[@enzonation5363]

Look into Sanger AlleyCats. Awesome boats from the 80s. Run 130mph for under 40k. My old man bought one new when I was a kid. I bought one in my thirties for 18k. Mine needed work, but if you want turn key, I'm sure you could find one mint for under 40k. Oh and MTI is hands down the best powerboat manufacturer out there.

[@enginepy]

I hear you, boat prices have gone sky high over the last 15 years. There are some awesome older boats that look and run great. And it’s really inexpensive to throw a cool wrap on an older boat and they look pretty new. I was close to dropping almost $120k on a 35 foot DONZI ZR, but decided to get a 1999 Scarab 29 and make it a fun project to update it how I wanted. Spent less than 40k. Spend a few grand on engine work, wrap and upholstery and you have a slick boat exactly how you want it.

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

@@enzonation5363 Apache is the best, and always will be.

[@ZoneTelevision]

The cats are nice but my heart is still with the deep V's

[@707SonomaComa]

Two hundred thousand dollars is a huge price difference! There's gotta be a gig build difference. Which is a smoother more pleasant ride?

[@wrzl1675]

Fountain isn’t fountain anymore, it’s owned and built by Iconic Marine, Reggie Fountain sold the business years ago.

[@LifeOffshore]

Yes and they focused more on the center console for a while. But now they said they are coming out with the all new 42' and they will be refocusing on performance boats again! Thanks for the comment much love!

[@loganvick3385]

@@LifeOffshore he is still a big influence there he lives down the road

[@signoresantinoburnett1169]

I prefer V hulls like the Outerlimits.

[@df2447]

FOUNTAIN Powerboats! There is NO Substitute!!!

[@stephenlane2826]

The mti has a wider cockpit with 4 person couch in back. The extra room can not be appreciated until you've been In it.

[@chasefreedom5178]

Width vs length it seems than having 4 bucket seats and a 3 seat couch astern I count 7 perches. While MTI had a 4 place couch and 2 buckets for 6 butt pads. It appears that the fountain actually has the edge in deck space... Perhaps you missed that.

[@Thankful_n_Grateful]

Excellent Review... MTI 450Rs $450k Thanks...

[@TheHomeMaker1]

The Fountain is bad A but it still breaks my heart to see a Fountain cat!!! Such a below the belt blow to us V-hull guys I love the ride and feel and Turing and maneuverability of the deep v-hulls and stepped v-hulls but will always be a fountain fan but my dream boat has and always will be a big huge early 80’s to 90’s steeped deep V-hull fountain!!!!

[@NoPrivateProperty]

below the belt is the best place to be blown

[@jay-sg8tv]

Hey what's the best cat for the money

[@LifeOffshore]

Hellkat 30. It's the best bang for your buck.

[@jimmycline4778]

Liberator of Florida, look them up!

[@StevenPfeiffer]

Used skater

[@rillawhat8142]

Invest ( not in the stock market) consistently overtime in the right areas, and you'd be surprised what you can have!

[@spacegrayn5470]

Like in what would you invest ?

[@1960shakey]

Wow, I get to save $200,000.00..... I’ll take 2 of them!

[@puttingwarheadsonforeheads9872]

For all the people who say these boats are useless is like saying a Lamborghini aventador is useless because there cost $350k+. People buy them for the looks the way they drive how fast they go and how people react to seeing them. They might not be practical but that’s not there point.

[@seanmayo206]

What u mean fountain came out wanting to get in the game? Fountain started the game. Shout out from washington nc pamlico sound. Home of fountain

[@francescoschettino5726]

Anyone can chime in on. Debate , if a 42x Cigarette in purple / white with twin 1350s or a top of the line gloss black and orange MTI 390 would be the better boat all around ? I know price difference is huge.

[@StevenPfeiffer]

Mti 390. Call wozencraft insurance and ask for scott Kottmann

[@ronaldnoble4986]

There’s no way you’re getting this boat for $250K, I got a quote for one and $378K with twin Verrado 300’s. Basic boat without options, from Big Thunder Marine.

[@jerrytobin88]

Wrong. Reggie was building offshore tunnel hulls before skater or mti.

[@seanscannell5163]

I love that fountain is coming in 200k under mti, maybe at this price competition will lower there cost.

[@craigbielsky115]

NO..... MTI IS MTI AND THIS IS NOT APPLES TO APPLES COMPARISON ...LOL THOSE THAT CAN AFFORD MTI WILL BUY MTI THAT SIMPLE..... IF YOU DONT KNOW THE DIFFERENCE THAN THE FOUNTAIN IS FINE FOR YOU.

[@5571350M8]

@@craigbielsky115 What do you have lol

[@craigbielsky115]

@@5571350M8 what do you have ?

[@5571350M8]

@@craigbielsky115 I'm asking what boat you have since you think everyone with MTI money wouldn't consider a Fountain lol

[@craigbielsky115]

@@5571350M8 what does that have to do with anything ? what if i own a pontoon and jetski ....what does that have to do with the fact that mti and fountain are not comparable apples to apples totally different tax bracket ...lol if you are a serious mti buyer you dont wake up the next day and say hmm nah ill just buy the fountain cause its 250 g less...lol

[@adrianrubi5012]

With enough money I’ll go MTI.

[@jimmycline4778]

Or buy a 26Ft Liberator with twin 300Rs 120plus mph gps, for 170k, or a 21ft Liberator with single 300R 110mph gps for 79K! They even have a four seater 18 footer with 300R 100 plus MPH, not a beginner boat though! Look up the Florida Liberators you get a lot of boat for the money and ANY paint scheme you want and upgrade to 450 Rs too!

[@craigbielsky115]

SHE BURNS AROUND 2MILES PER GALLON .....LOL OHHH RICKY!

[@donhappel9566]

that's actually shockingly good, especially for the speed. I'm from the diesel cruiser world where .2 mph wouldn't be unheard of at a tiny fraction of the speed. Of course in a rather larger, heavier, and more comfortable boat.

[@craigbielsky115]

@@donhappel9566 I think he meant to say burns 2gal per mile...lol

[@trullmann]

@@donhappel9566 right, 2 miles per gallon is pretty damn good.

[@donhappel9566]

@@trullmann My last delivery was in a 72' Princess up the west coast, MX to San Francisco. She was fast, cruising easily at 28 kts and topping out around 34 kts. At WOT, with local diesel prices, it worked out to almost $1000/hr in fuel! And it's not like it was sipping at cruise either!

[@newera3757]

Stats if this companies want to make a killing: 1. Price $299k 2. 1000HP 3. 150mph 4. Super sexy look We all know is possible.

[@MAGApepe]

mti

[@TheRoguelement]

I'm sorry Bro ..I don't like the seating layout of the Fountain the 2+2+4 is just not my style Why would I ever want to pack that much Wool on board then go fast never mind MTI has been the leader in Cats for for far to long for Fountain to just pick it up and put one out there to capture the few in the market out there who aren't already MTI Cat owners

[@johnbanning8156]

To totally useless boats that are just endless money pits I'd rather had something I can fish your Off of ❗😎

[@jimmycline4778]

Nobody agrees with you John! I own a 85Mph Bullet bass boat and still love theses kind of boats, these boats would be very fun, they are far from useless!

[@smittys19daytona]

not useless if you don't like to fish 🤣

[@slit4659]

REAL SMART... I'M READING 123 and Climbing and NO LIFE JACKETS....