A look back to the birth of Fountain Power Boats in 1979 reveals the beginning of a legacy rooted in the fast-paced world of offshore racing. At its helm was Reggie Fountain, one of the most successful names in the history of racing. At the forefront of the performance scene throughout the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s, Fountain was constantly trying to improve hull designs, eventually setting numerous race boat world records.
As the boatbuilding market evolved, race boat interest would begin to lose ground in favor of fishing boats. With the popularity of center consoles for fishing growing, the Fountain brand evolved with the industry, and soon the best qualities of a fast performance hull and an offshore fishing platform merged. In today’s demanding marketplace, performance, fishability, and comfort share equal importance.
For Jupiter resident Bill Wachter and his family—wife, Jill, and 12-year-old daughter, Claire—a boat that checked all three boxes was on their short list after Wachter’s retirement. First and foremost, a serious fishing platform was critically important. With Wachter’s sights set on becoming more proficient at offshore fishing, the search for a tournament-rigged center console began. Considering the needs of his family, adequate seating and a comfortable platform for relaxing were both essential.
Finally, with plans to begin construction on a new home in the Bahamas’ Abaco Islands, this boat would need to be able to quickly transport the family back and forth to Green Turtle Cay once their new vacation home was completed and be useful for recreation around Jupiter too.
The Fountain 38 Tournament Edition got the final nod from the Wachters. The 38TE is racy yet very comfortable and boasts a variety of features that combine tournament rigging and cruising comfort. The boat is equipped with 52 rod holders, twin 50-gallon live wells, seven fish boxes, a 380-quart insulated coffin box, and a tackle station/rigging center. There are matching forward-facing seats in the bow with backrests, a large sun pad lounge (also forward), and a full transom-width bench seat with padded back and armrests.
This Fountain 38TE is rigged with triple Mercury 300-hp V-8 Verados offering a top speed of 70 mph and a cruising range of 557 miles. This is an ideal setup for Bahamian
adventures and crossing the Gulf Stream, from both speed and range standpoints.
The race boat roots of the Fountain brand aren’t completely a thing of the past. With the max-rated quad 450R power option installed, a blistering top speed of over 90 mph is attainable for the adrenaline junkie.
Power File
Length: 38 feet, 4 inches
Beam: 10 feet, 6 inches
Draft: 31 inches
Deadrise: 22 degrees
Fuel: 418 gallons
Max HP: 1,800 (with Mercury quad 450R option)
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