Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

I think it depends on what you want to do. A buddy of mine had a 24 ft Baja with an 850 hp that could run 92. He upgraded to a 29 Fountain with a 525 in it and now runs under 80 without any problems, and the cost associated with running a blower motor. The boat cruises at 65 - 70 endlessly. I think while you can run a 29 Foutain at those speeds it needs to be in perfect conditions. I own the same boat, and frankly am disappointed with how it behaves flat out in wakes, cross chop and under currents. It also does not handle the rough stuff as well as an Activator. But it also does not need the power an Activator needs to run at speed. All these hulls are a compromise, pick your poisen and savor the treats...

Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

I guess i was under the impression the 29 ft fountain hull would handle the 80 plus speeds far superior to what i have now,your complaints are the same ones i have with my current boat. The thought of picking up a 3-6 year old 29 fountain for 60-70 thousand during the off season,pulling the stock motor and drive,dropping my motor and drive in and being able to run just about a hundred without boat getting squirelly and out of control was enticing. Im glad to get some feedback here on the idea, I guess the pure and simple facts are its still a little boat that wasn't intended to run much above 80 mph,Smitty

Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

Remember a 29 Fountain has about the same water line as your boat. A stepped hull gets you more mph with less ponies. I am sure that different drive setups, props and tabs can help. Just seems to me that you would be better served with a different hull..... Wish it wasn't true. I just bought mine in the fall of 03. Several people told me to go with at least the 35. The dollars didn't work for me so I bought the 29. Now I am smarter and about to blow a lot of cash to undo the deed. I am thunking about the 38 Fountain (I am on the water and a 42 does not work in my canel etc.), the new ZR Donzi )35 or 38) or maybe a Skater. Very confused and not wanting to make another mistake........ Good luck, Steve

Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

Thanks for the words of wisdom,Smitty

Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

Smitty..........I have a 94 29' non stepped hull........I have twin 502 Mags EFI.....I have seen low 80's and the boat eats up the chop. Depending on the conditions the boat could definitely handle more speed in my opinion. I have yet to be scared out there. I boat on Lake St.Clair... it gets nasty out there sometimes and there have only been a handful of days when I wouldn't open it up. Just my 2cents!

Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

Dago- is that low 80s GPS???

Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

yes I had it to 82 on the GPS........I just got a new 502 installed........had it out alone with about a quarter tank and hit 82......I was amazed actually......but I've had nothing but problems and frankly I'm getting ready to pack it in. It's my fault for buying an 11 year old boat without doing all my homework but it's one thing after another now.....see my other thread "big problems" amazing!

Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

I find 82 with twin 502's on a non step 29 a stretch at best. Are these motors stock? A new stepped 29 with 6.2's hits 72 - 74.....

Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

First of all what does that prove? Twin 6.2's....hell if they do 74 you better bet if they made a 29' with Twin 502's and a stepped hull still it would run 90 probably. I have no reason to lie......80 is nothing around here!

Well as far as I know it's totally stock, (they're EFI not MPI if that makes any difference)...........I bought the boat used...........I had it up to 78mph before the new engine install and don't think I had it trimmed right at the time(and that was with an engine that was definitely not running right at the time, obviously it blew up that week)...as a matter of fact when I got the boat I felt that the engine that eventually blew up was running badly....not idling right...always at higher RPM than the other one......I was on here asking people if they knew anyone who could dial in the motors. Now with the new engine I can definitely feel a power difference....especially when taking off and midrange too. The engines seem really dialed in, running at identical RPMS so I would say that aside from my other problems with the batteries the engines are running great. Unless my GPS is wrong....(is that even possible?) I was at 81.7mph (ok I rounded up a little) and I had to back off with some waves in front of me.........I was by myself and not very much gas......I was just happy to get it over the 79.9 hump and see an 80.........

Re: 29 with 850hp?
 

so if I hop up my twin smallblocks on my 29 non step to 400 aside (doable).......... I'll be in the 80mph range :evilb:
and I'll be 300lbs lighter....even more with pitching the cast iron exhaust :eek:
Id be happy with that..........doug