New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Anyone have any inside scoop on what is new with the 47 Lightning?

I hear it has a new bottom. What changed?

Anything like another couple of inches of headroom?

Any good twin setups (triples are just too much complexity for me).

Anyone do a twin 440 yanmar setup, like that 42 a couple of years ago? Seems like the ticket with fuel prices that can only go up over the next 10 years.

After yet another weekend sleeping/cooking/living on the boat, a bigger boat is in the plans... with radar... but that still is trailerable.

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Nice boat...Triple 525's will hit low 90's.

Saw one last summer pulled up to a 42' Tiger and the 47'er is just a tad bigger.

My money says this is where big-water and Fountain have a meeting of the minds. :D

What are people actually paying for a 42' Tiger vs. a 47' Fountain...suppose with same power..Triple 525's?

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

The 47 will smoke a Tiger in big water...

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

We just got a 47 w/tripple 525s in yesterday she is still in the birthday wraper so I have no pics yet when the monsoons stop up here she is going in the show room and will have lots of pics..
Bob
ps Reggie test at 92 mph out of the box :drink:

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Those numbers are real world. My buddy just got a 2004. Loaded with Genset, AC, all the goodies. Full tanks (314 gallons) and 8 people we did 85 in smooth water at about 5000 rpm. The boat is awesome, runs at 70 in 3-5 and you can sit down in the bolsters comfortably.

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Oh,and the word I heard was that they just did a twin 1075 boat that did 116-stay tuned....

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

How about this one just out of the factory...! :cool:

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

That will work. Is that the same 47 Scott ran last year or another one?

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

You guys hear it hear first. If I win powerball tonight, I am buying a 47!!!

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Are those 600's? How fast is it with that power? Does it have the XR drives?

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

(Incoming May 25th
2006 47’ Lightning w/ "NEW BOTTOM"
Triple 600 EFI, 100MPH, XR Drives, Shorties, Herrings...)
via their website.
http://www.chicagofountain.com/

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Thanks, I know a little boy that will be very happy :D

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

I tested the 47 w/ 1075's with reggie a few weeks back. Holy **** its fast!
The acceleration is unreal and it is smooth! The new is awesome compared to the old boat, the turning radius is much smoother and tighter, getting on plane... easier therefore faster.
It ran 116 mph but were still on Rev limiters. Lots more potential speed!
And hey..... Ohh and by the way after the run we went in the cabin to enjoy the AC, Refrigerator, and all the ameneties possible!! S#$t the darn thing weighed in at 13,500 lbs. Its a big boat for those speeds.

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

I am quite interested in buying a 47. I have a 32 sportfish cruiser now.

Maybe these things can be changed, but the things I do NOT like about the 47 are:

Interior:

The carpet, floor, and steps simply seem to be VERY poorly done. The carpet is the cheapest carpet I've seen. The steps are such bogus bits of poorly fitted plywood. Has anyone seen this done well on a 47? I would be embarassed.

The ceiling vinyl that is more or less flat instead of going up into the raised area of the deck down centerline, effectively eliminating the headroom advantage of the deck blister. Really lame. So I can't stand up, even though there would be standing headroom if the headliner was glued to the deck instead of suspended. And what is up with that idiotic stringer going down the centerline under the deck, where the center seam of the headliner is attached? Really lame. If the hatches were mounted on deck insteaf of flush into the deck, the boat would have decent headroom below. Have I made it clear this is irritating to me?

Three engines. No thanks!

If the boat had stagggered twin diesels on shorty XR drives, mounted low, then the huge engine cover could be lowered two feet(!) and become one hell of a nice cockpit going all the way to the swim step. Room for a dinghy. Room for a BBQ. Room to sit down and eat and have cocktails. Room for beer chairs to kick back and enjoy the scenery, enjoy an event. Room to simply enjoy the day.

If the boat had a better looking, stronger bimini and enclosure, then criuising at speed when its not hotter than hell would be enjoyable. Use the boat a lot, instead of just a few hours on the very few best days of the year.

Not much different, really. But will Fountain build one like that?

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Those of you who own a 47: what would you do to the boat to make it more useful? What do you hate about it? What is so-so? What is great?

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

U4ea32......
Stick with your 32 fish Cruiser!!!!!!!!! The 47 is not the boat for yOU!!!

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Actually, it seems like it would be the boat for me with a few changes. True, as usually built, its not.

But the Pacific is a big place, and a big boat is what I need.

The 32 is too small to do some of the trips I want to do -- like the outer islands, 300 miles round trip. It does not have enough headroom below: a few more inches makes a huge difference.

But you are right -- if I can't get when I need, then I'll keep what I've got. I love this boat.

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

I agree completely(although i'm not in the position to buy one). If you buy a 37-47 ft boat for any other reason than to go on poker runs and stay in hotels,wouldn't you expect a large cockpit and decent headroom in cabin!Alot of people actually use their boats for more than a few hour ride. My next boat will be in the 38ft-42 ft range and it will have a large cockpit and decent cabin,Smitty

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Did it have staggered 1075's or triples?

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Sound to me that you need to design your own boat!!! :rolleyes:

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

I don't mean to be stirring things up in the fountain forum here, but I think this might be the boat for you. Its a 46' BT with triple yanmars and 3 rows of seating in the cockpit and all the headroom you could ask for.

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/0/7/78379007.htm

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Actually from what you are asking you need a 48 Fountain. It has all you're looking for but it does have triple Diesels.

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Reggie said he trying to find some monster dsl's that will allow a twin application. I know Craig (WCMARINE) has lots of experience with the 48's.

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Call Shogren. He and Reggie just put a custom 48 together. One of a kind.

Even has a reserve outdrive in case one blows mounted in engine camp.

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Yes, this could do it. Too bad its got three engines, but maybe ya can't get everything...

Also, this boat has been on the market for YEARS. Its hard to beat the desireability of a Fountain.

Oh, now I remember why I crossed this boat off my list: its 9 feet wide, so a permit is needed. While Fountain 47 is often listed as 9 feet wide, I measured it, and its exactly 8'6" wide according to the way trailerable loads are measured (the rub rail does not count, just as awnings, steps, and handles on the side of RVs and mirrors on the side of trucks do not count). Hmm, maybe I need to measure this boat too...

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Its also too wide -- I am really, REALLY trying to stay under 8'6" so I don't need permits. The permits are cheap, but the limitations are a pain: can't trailer the weekend of, before, or after a holiday for example. Can't tow in the rain or in the dark in some areas I need to drive through to get home. Need to get LOTS of permits to go across country.

But if I decide to break the 8'6" limit and start to live with permits, the two boats that I am considering are the Fountain 48 and the Formula 400SS.

(As I mentioned above, a Fountain 47 Lightning is actually 8'6" wide when measured how the DMV measures width, not including "accutrements" such as mirrors on a truck, awnings and handles and steps on RVs, and rub rails on boats).

I like the cockpit arrangement on the Fountain 48. Seems like the 47 Lightning could very easily have a similar arrangement. I measured it: with twin Yanmar 440's or 315's, the engine hatch can be lowered almost 3 feet! This will allow an almost flat floor from the swim step to the helm.

A 47 with twin 315 yanmars will still top out at 60 MPH, and will get 2 mpg. At cruise, it will go 44 mph and get 3 mpg. Very tough to beat that kind of performance.

That is why I keep coming back to the 47 Lightning...

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

I have a 47 (2000) For me it would be really nice to have a windlass for the andchor and a anchor like on the 38/48 EC. Just my preference. I dont like the way the hand rail goes arround the engine hatch. This causes a valley in the cockpit cover that holds water. plus it allows the cover to flop when towed. I wish they had a switch in the cabin to turn on the cabin power not just the one by the helm. I think everything else is decent especially for the money. I don't have a bimini to and want to add one. I wish there was a way to run the AC while on the hoist. This would aid in cleaning and working on it when very hot. We really like ours so far I like that the corsa exhaust is quiet enough so you can cruise at 50 or 60 and still talk to your guests.

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

Ray, there is no question that yours is a beautiful boat.

Thanks for the feedback on likes and dislikes. I have the same feeling, that in very many ways its really a good boat, with just a list of little problems. Its good to hear that the Corsa mufflers seem to really work.

I thought your boat had a generator. Why does the AC not work on your hoist? Because the AC is water cooled? Because it only runs on the generator which is water cooled? Because there is no shore power, or just no cable to your boat?

Does your AC have vents in the cockpit as well as below?

Does the AC have reverse cycle heat? Does that really work, or is it really humid heat that results?

Re: New 47 Lightning - what's new?
 

:evilb: :rolleyes: