lets talk fountain fever

[fctyson0]

hello all i am looking at a 94 fountain fever 27 with worked 502 and dual hydraulic stearing.can anyone tell me what to look for in a fountain boat.also whats everyones thoughts on this boat over baja,formula, and any other performance boat?

 

[seabob4]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

Fountain makes a good boat, worked on many. Out of sight, no better finish work than anybody else. Hull form is excellent, as much as I dislike Reggie, he does test a hull bottom 'til he gets it right. Standard 502MAG had 415HP, a "worked" 502MAG should see you at around 475-500. Plenty to make her go fast...

Get a good survey done as far as the condition of the hull and deck, as well as the mechanicals, especially the outdrive. Then seatrial her and put her through her paces, not just for speed and manuverability, but also at slow speeds to see how the motor does.

 

[arks]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

I have a friend with a 27 Fever 502. Great boat; fast and handles chop very well. Cabin space is poor compared to other brands but that's not why you'd buy this boat.
I agree with Seabob 100%. A proper marine survey is important- ESPECIALLY with a 16 year old high performance boat. There can be extensive hidden damage if the boat has been abused.
The survey results can be an excellent negotiation tool, and may be required anyway before it can be insured.
An NEVER, EVER use a surveyor referred by the seller or broker. Find your own.
Look here for more info: http://www.marinesurvey.org/index2.html

 

[fctyson0]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

The motor has been dynoed at 565hp and is said to run 72-75

 

[seabob4]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

The motor has been dynoed at 565hp and is said to run 72-75

Find that out for yourself...if you're comfortable...with a GPS...

 

[fctyson0]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

Guess it's 510ci with worked heads. Does that sound about right for speed. Has 130hrs.

 

[fctyson0]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

If the boat checks out and is in tip top shape. Is 23,000 a good price?

 

[seabob4]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

Yep. But the boat is about the motor and electrics. Get that survey done! Have the surveyor strip back some wire on both the boat harness and the engine harness...look for the dreaded "black"...corrosion...

 

[Philster]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

Have 5k in reserve for a new upper unit. Have 2k in reserve if she is a salt water boat for manis/risers/elbows.

I'd look for steam, and I'd not buy that boat without seeing the plugs, pistons, cylinders. I'd want to know the intimate details on that exhaust system. Water reversion would scare me. I'd be all over that.

Have 10k in reserve for other issues.

Find out exactly what 'worked' means and come back and tell us.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

also whats everyones thoughts on this boat over baja,formula, and any other performance boat?

Before purchasing I'd learn as much as you can about performance boats.

First Reggie makes lots of nonsense claims so don't believe all the marketing.
(He makes the same claims for Baja now that he owns them and it's just imposssible for both completely different designs)

They are not the most fuel efficient (actually Velocity is)and they are not safer. In fact stepped hulls spin out and/or barrel roll way more then you'd think even with a pro at the helm.

Performance hulls come in a couple basic forms starting with a straight V like (Baja, Scarab, Powerplay) Then you get hulls that use pads, transom notches (Velocity) and steps (Fountain, Nortech, Outerlimits)

They all handle water differently.

Some boats are lighter which make them faster when it is nice and some are heavy which make them faster when it's rough.

Check out scream and fly.com and offshore only.com and make sure you buy what you want.


Words from Steve Stepp of Velocity from his web site about hulls inc. Fountain.

FACT: In the past four years, there have been at least one spin out or barrel roll of a stepped or ventilated bottom boat with a professional driver at nearly every APBA Offshore Event.
If the professional race boat driver cannot control a ventilated hull design, who can? Would your put your family in one of these boats?

When one must QUICKLY turn the wheel to avoid an obstacle, whatever it might be (bird, boat traffic, jet ski, etc), he or she is utilizing the turning capacity of the hull. If that hull is aerated, ventilated, or ?stepped? in design, he or she is heading for an immediate ?high-speed-spinout.?

If you know you cannot perform a high-speed turn without a spinout, then why would you put your family or loved ones in that perilous position?

Note:

Before you make a purchase from any dealer?

Ask for a demo ride and require a high speed/sharp turn as a part of your demo ride.

Ask for verified insurance cost on the particular boat or ventilated hull that you are considering.

Ask for exact spin out and barrel roll documentation on the particular hull that you are considering from the past 4 years.

Ask for any language in the product liability insurance policy that refers to vent related bottom risk exclusion of that boat manufacturer you are considering.

 

[tcgobucks]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

Before purchasing I'd learn as much as you can about performance boats.

First Reggie makes lots of nonsense claims so don't believe all the marketing.
(He makes the same claims for Baja now that he owns them and it's just imposssible for both completely different designs)

They are not the most fuel efficient (actually Velocity is)and they are not safer. In fact stepped hulls spin out and/or barrel roll way more then you'd think even with a pro at the helm.

Performance hulls come in a couple basic forms starting with a straight V like (Baja, Scarab, Powerplay) Then you get hulls that use pads, transom notches (Velocity) and steps (Fountain, Nortech, Outerlimits)

They all handle water differently.

Some boats are lighter which make them faster when it is nice and some are heavy which make them faster when it's rough.

Check out scream and fly.com and offshore only.com and make sure you buy what you want.


Words from Steve Stepp of Velocity from his web site about hulls inc. Fountain.

FACT: In the past four years, there have been at least one spin out or barrel roll of a stepped or ventilated bottom boat with a professional driver at nearly every APBA Offshore Event.
If the professional race boat driver cannot control a ventilated hull design, who can? Would your put your family in one of these boats?

When one must QUICKLY turn the wheel to avoid an obstacle, whatever it might be (bird, boat traffic, jet ski, etc), he or she is utilizing the turning capacity of the hull. If that hull is aerated, ventilated, or ?stepped? in design, he or she is heading for an immediate ?high-speed-spinout.?

If you know you cannot perform a high-speed turn without a spinout, then why would you put your family or loved ones in that perilous position?

Note:

Before you make a purchase from any dealer?

Ask for a demo ride and require a high speed/sharp turn as a part of your demo ride.

Ask for verified insurance cost on the particular boat or ventilated hull that you are considering.

Ask for exact spin out and barrel roll documentation on the particular hull that you are considering from the past 4 years.

Ask for any language in the product liability insurance policy that refers to vent related bottom risk exclusion of that boat manufacturer you are considering.

The above quote is kind of sketchy for a couple reasons.....

1) the guy is from Velocity speaking about another brand (Fountain)

2) not many people put their families in an APBA offshore race. There's a big difference between running a 42' offshore racer 100+ mph in 5' swells and running a 27' boat 70mph on a lake or river.

Take the quote for what it's worth...in this case I would say not a lot.....lol

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

He's not talking about a brand he's talking about a hull design used by many companies.

If you don't get the point that even pros have trouble controlling them then what can anybody tell you.

A quote from one of the most knowledgeable boaters about something you obviously know nothing doesn't mean anything to you. Well that says more about you then anything. So I don't know why your laughing for making a fool of yourself.

 

[seabob4]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

Craig is correct about stepped hulls, be it a Fountain, Donzi, whatever. You cannot turn them at speed like you can a straight deep-V. And while a stepped hull of similar weight and power will run faster in calm waters, the deep-V will catch up in the chop...

 

[tcgobucks]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

He's not talking about a brand he's talking about a hull design used by many companies.

If you don't get the point that even pros have trouble controlling them then what can anybody tell you.

A quote from one of the most knowledgeable boaters about something you obviously know nothing doesn't mean anything to you. Well that says more about you then anything. So I don't know why your laughing for making a fool of yourself.

I do understand the point of the quote....and I have driven that exact same boat that the OP is considering....so call me a fool, call me whatever you want, I don't mind. My point was that to take a quote about guys driving race boats at speeds upwards of 120mph and try to use that to rationalize why a guy shouldn't buy a boat that he may never drive over 60 is kind of meaningless. You can tell me that a guy crashed a Corvette going 160mph during the 24 hours of Daytona because it doesn't corner great at those kinds of speeds....it has nothing to do with whether or not I would buy one myself. I don't drive 150mph....and even if I did, I sure wouldn't be trying to take a corner at that speed.

 

[seabob4]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

I used to build Scarabs. We'd take them out to do seatrial on occasion (usually new motor package). Only when we out into Tampa Bay (big body of water) or the Gulf (bigger body of water), would we open them up. Nobody around, nothing to dodge, straight-line speed...

Just saying, closer quarters, people keep the speeds down...

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: lets talk fountain fever

The above quote is kind of sketchy for a couple reasons.....

1) the guy is from Velocity speaking about another brand (Fountain)

2) not many people put their families in an APBA offshore race. There's a big difference between running a 42' offshore racer 100+ mph in 5' swells and running a 27' boat 70mph on a lake or river.

Take the quote for what it's worth...in this case I would say not a lot.....lol

I'm sorry I thought your point was that

1) oh that's right that one was completely wrong

2) apba situation means nothing

What classes are in the apba do you know? Do you know anything about f-1 class? it's 29' with factory 525hp mercs which is a whole lot exactly like the fountain that guy was asking about.

I'll include this bit for you again cause you missed it-

"When one must QUICKLY turn the wheel to avoid an obstacle, whatever it might be (bird, boat traffic, jet ski, etc), he or she is utilizing the turning capacity of the hull. If that hull is aerated, ventilated, or ?stepped? in design, he or she is heading for an immediate ?high-speed-spinout."

How is that related to the boat the OP is asking about (every way)

What is another relevant fact that should be big on the OP's mind that is laughable to you- INSURANCE!

"Ask for any language in the product liability insurance policy that refers to vent related bottom risk exclusion of that boat manufacturer you are considering."

Yes that's great you drove do you own one? did you finance one? have you ever put one in a poker run?(they require insurance you know)

Do you know how hard it is to get insurance on a performance boat that runs 70? (here in florida there are two option and both require full payment in advance)

Are not important things to consider in the purchase of a boat? Are they not factors in wether to buy a Fountain or a Baja or Scarab? (personally I think he should look at Superboat)

YES! That post I made was some very good info relative to to OP's question, but your to busy lol your head off cause someone let you drive theirs once.

Hey any clue how much of a pain it is to try and offer people advice that will help them make up THEIR mind on what they want to know about to have someone for no good reason go out of their way to trying to step all over it with BS?

Yeah let's listen to a guy who says he drove one once not a guy who is one of the most knowledgeable people in the industry discussing VERY important info that is relevant to question.