Re: New 38 Lightning
 

You know I love cars and boats. I've been fortunate enough to have decent copies on both. For that last 12 years I have been scratching my head on boats. I mean if you look at a 50 - 60k auto, it's layed out pretty good. Even the ones I wouldn't choose work for the most part. If you spend 100 large, they are all pretty amazing even if they are different. A 911, an Aston, bmw, Vette etc.... different but good. You look at boats which cost 2 - 4 times as much, and they can't even figure out the basics. I own a Fountain and just bought another. You get used to the shifters on the left, but the guage location is stupid. Period. The colors are Reggie's idea of cool. Ok, you can order what you want - so in the end it's your choice. The cabin has no more thought in it than any other sport boat. How f-ng hard would it be to rethink this stuff? Look, the boat flies and it's cheap for the speed. It handles well even if it is shorter and even if you don't like the beak. But geeezzee, how in the hell can you be the driver Reggie is, have won as much as he has in this sport and be so absolutely clueless as to let his patrons, his clients have to struggle to read the guages at speed? I looked at the new Donzi's and they made it look 3rd grade simple to lay it out so it's readable. Is it stubbronness, taste, arrogance. Are people around him afraid to say - This is dumb? Are prople kissing butt that much? The trade rags of the boating world are a joke on this. In the auto world, the mags keep the manufacturers honest and on there toes. THey are the voice of the public. In the boating world, nothing is ever heard, so I assume it;s not said load enough. So this is my one attempt to scream - Wake up Reggie!! Some one is going to screw up and maybe get hurt trying to read your stupid a$$ guage layout. Hire someone with a brain. The rest of us will just have to have the specialists in the bussiness redo them fir us. Ahhhhh!!! Can you hear us?????

Now for the rest. 105 in a stock 38??? That is damn impressive!! Congrats, it will be a while before the comp catches up on that...

Re: New 38 Lightning
 

From what I heard....Reggie does not like the whole glitz thing on dash panels and graphics but was told that is what sells boats.
The plain black panel with round about gauges is what he likes.
He is more worried about bottom design than anything else.

Re: New 38 Lightning
 

Hence the 105 with stock power. Did anyone say what drives it has or what the price is??

Re: New 38 Lightning
 

So, then let someone else design the cockpit and dash.

Re: New 38 Lightning
 

Sounds like the drives are xr sportmaster shorties with ITS. They said it's going to sell for the same price at the current 38's. With 600's, ITS and shorties I would estimate around $285 on a trailer.

http://www.chicagofountain.com/details.php?boat_id=199

Engine: Twin Staggered Mercruy 600SCI's

Description: WE TAKE ALL TRADES - CARS, BOATS, ETC??? 5 PEOPLE, 70 Gallons of fuel 105MPH!!!! This is the most recent design, boat will be debuted at Miami Show in February with a "Mitcher T" paint job. new deck and engine compartment configuration, new bolsters, new dash, new stagger 18" on center, ITS, Shorties. 2006 38 Lightning, powered by a set of staggered Mercury 600 SCI's Bravo ITS XR drives with sportmaster shorties and Mercury Maximus props. Options include: silent choice exhaust, custom battery boxes, monster dash custom painted, Billet race throttles, depth gauge, upgraded canvas, Billet cockpit hardware, deck bezels, vacu flush head, pop up cleats, Latham drive showers, sea water strainers. Comes with a custom triple axle MYCO trailer.

Re: New 38 Lightning
 

I like the new cockpit layout, especially the rear bench and bolsters, they look hot. The dash is still not there...with all that space, why do the guages still have to be cluttered around that skinny wheel? Makes it hard to get readings. Like the new cabin door, but I wonder why they don't incorporate molded steps into it or off to the side, for access to the deck, like other companies do. I love fountains, but I've always hated the lefty shifters and throttles! At least have an option to switch them to the right. Soon as that happens, I'll be making a trip to North Carolina!

Re: New 38 Lightning
 

I used to worry about the left handed throttle thing but after a couple days on the water in my first Fountain, a 35 ex, it felt natural. I'm right handed and I feel like I have more control steering with my right hand.

Also, I take a lot of people out on my boats and when the conditions are right I sometimes give "experienced boaters" an opportunity to drive my ride. Having those throttles on the left side within easy access to me in the passanger bolster has come in handy more than a few times when an "experienced boater" proves not up to the task. Having them on the left gives you so much peace of mind knowing that you can chop them back in a second when someone else is at the helm. You can't do that if they are on the right. Given a choice, I would keep them right where they belong, errr - on the left :)

Re: New 38 Lightning
 

Better start packing some bags. :drink:

left shifter/right throttle

Re: New 38 Lightning
 

That monster dash looks ridiculous in general, next to the teeny tiny passenger dash it looks even worse... looks like somebody hit the nail on the head,,, Bozo left the circus to work for Fountain..