Twins or Triples
 

If you were looking at a used 42' Fountain, would you prefer triples or twins? In either case, why would you chose that setup?

Anyone own either? Why did you chose your setup?

Triple Bravos with 500hp or twin SM3,5,6 with 750+hp. Both 1500 total HP and total reliability. Just my thought, I own niether.

Troutly, next time that 42'r is out on the Mississippi, you let me know. The boys and I would get a kick out of seeing that.

No offense, but I would love to see a guy like that come out of Red Wing with a weeeee bittt too much noise and have the "patrol" try to pull him over. It's only a few miles South to Pepin and from there, it's bye bye....LOL.....if only those damn radios those guys carry weren't so fast and accurate ;) ;)

Oh, and YES the twins would be better than triples. Yikes, can't imagine the maintenance on three motors and drives :eek :eek:

Jeff

I would go with staggered twins. I had a 99 with 540's with 620 to 625 HP. It would run 90 with a great attitude. I had 98 with triples 500 HP's. It would run 94 but the stern was to heavy for me. It did not have as good of an attitude especially in big water plus the stern set so low that the ladder would vibrate like crazy. Hope this helps :)

I agree with Blueman....too heavy in the ass.
Side by side would be my favorite.
Oh by the way my 42 is setup side by side! :)

staggered set up handles rough water a little better than side by side, but not that noticeable. staggereds or a little harder to dock then side by side because props are closer and you lose some of your piviot. in a classic deck 42 you lose 18in in the cockpit with staggereds and triples do to the motors being forward. on the new tall decks the decks are only configured one way to except staggered or triples so it has the smaller cockpit no matter what, even if you order a side by side you will not get the extra cockpit space. triples or a great way to go if your only concern is top end speed but you sacrifice so much for such a small percentage of time. then for the remainder of the time you fuel three motors just to cruise. the non step triples would run low to mid 70's with 454 magnums and mid to upper 70's with 502 magnums, and mid 80's with 525's. and twins staggered are side by side (note not much if any top end advantage with staggereds) will run low to mid 60's with 454mags, mid to upper 60's with 502mags and low 70's with 525's. the early steps in 95 added roughly 4-7% on top end and the latest big steps starting in mid-late 98 added roughly 7-11% top end speed. hope this helps any way you go they are a first class offshore boat and i think you would be hard pressed to find a more refined boat as for as performance and handling is concern.

Not to start anything but the Staggered setup dosen't make much sense.
They move the 1 motor forward and now they can be lowered for a better center of gravity right?
But then they also slap big old tanks on both sides for the fuel...not much better in the sense of lower center of weight....Just a thought. :(

the 42 at the loto was a brand new boat with less than 5hrs on it. owned by raymonds driven by their mechanic. plus the loto shoot out is a standing start run. after talking with their mechanic he asures me there is any other few mile an hour to be had. he said he was at the end of the track just as your tweaking for the last few mph plus the motors were still tight.

I'd call Tim at Riverview marine. He has driven them all and is very knowledgeable about boats in general. He had a 97 42'with triple 525's. Very sweet boat. I believe 93 was the number on that one.
Dan

Yep thats Dr. Bobs boat up at Winthrop Harbor.
Quick Delivery is one fast 42 Fountain!