51' Lightning
 

Does anyone know anything about this boat. Was this a limited production or a custom one off boat?

http://www.usedboats.com/used-boat-289873.htm

Thanks

Re: 51' Lightning
 

Fountain came out with the 51 as a production boat for one year only i believe. It is the 47 extended with Fabio Buzzi drives. Ran in one a few years ago and they perform pretty good. Dont know to much about them though.

Jay

Re: 51' Lightning
 

I saw either that Fountain or a similar one in 1999 ? in Cincinatti OH at a marina up on storage blocks. I remember it because I wondered why it had 3 drive shafts, other than that and these pics I have never seen a set up like this?? If you are sincerely interested in the boat call Fountain they keep records on every boat sold.

WILL :drink:

Re: 51' Lightning
 

I am not interested in buying the boat, way out of my price range, but just wondered what kind of numbers it produced and when it was made.

Re: 51' Lightning
 

that thing has been for sale for ever

Re: 51' Lightning
 

Only 3 produced we looked at one in Fl.

Re: 51' Lightning
 

A guy in my marina in Dunedin and then on the Anclote River had a 51. It was awesome. It had 600 something HP engines and one day he passed me at over 100mph in 4-5 footers like I was standing still!

Re: 51' Lightning
 

I think SC Marine in California has the boat for sale. I've seen it run... huge rooster tail ... kick butt on an 42 Cig with 900's and 6's. Interior keeps falling apart due to hull flex.

Nice Find
 

Well I can now tell you where at least 1 of the 3 is located.

It was trailored up to Texhoma yesterday & needs some serious work!!

Well we own a raceboat with similar setup, Is there anybody who knows the history on our boat?

Thx

BTW, Any leads on a trailer would be greatly appreciated!!

I've seen it, in Fort Myers, the guy wants to sell it bad, looked like a heck of a nice boat for the money.

is it for sale damon, the one in texoma

No, it is not currently for sale.

It is being refurbed, hopefully in time for some summer use.

Just went & took a look at the results of the acid wash and am very pleasantly surprised.

I need to source 2 quarts of Gel Coat to take care of some light damage to the first "step" on the hull.

New Rub rail insert is on the list.

Also need to re-powder coat the 18' two piece rail that runs from the windscreen to the bow. That would take a damn big oven!!

I will also utilize the search function here.

Damon my name is Casey Freeman with Legend Marine Group in Dallas TX I talked to my service manager Donny about this at 5:30pm he said you were in the store today looking for some pricing on a few parts he has email Fountain for a quote they always email us back first thing the next day and Donny will call you asap. I apologize we can not work any faster than the supplier works if you have any delays or feel like some thing is taking to long please call me direct at 469-546-1204cell or the Owner is Greg Connell his cell is 972-272-4567 we will take care of you.. We work very hard every day to compete in the performance boat market and any negative information posted in forms like this hurt more then you would ever know. Thank You for thinking of us for parts. Please let me know if there are any problems in the future asap. Casey Freeman GM of Legend Marine Group

Damon also if you would like to know any thing about the boat i will get you Wyatt Fountains Cell number and if he does not have the answer he can ask Reggie for you. Casey

These guys can powder coat about any size its across the street from Legend 972-488-0635

www.qualitypowdercoating.com

Casey,

I very much appreciate the help. There are in fact a couple of us working on getting this beast back in running condition so I will pass this info along to the party you mentioned in post #16.
Perhaps our enthusiasm to have this boat rejoin the fleet is the true culprit here, my apologies.

Thanks for the contact & the tips! That's great service!

Casey,

This boat has the white Rub Rail just like the photo in post #1.

I have a couple of quarts of gel if you still need it.

I would certainly like to talk about it.
email: [email protected]

Post some pics of this boat. I have always wanted to see one up close and running. Heard they throw a huge rooster tail.

aTX427,
I am guessing that you are on Travis so you might see it in person fairly soon. That is if Travis ever gets any water!!

Current goal for this boat is merely to get it back in usable condition. It had been rather badly neglected & mistreated for a period.

51ft Fountain on Lake Tavis?????????? That's going to be like putting a fat chick in the kidy pool.

I would tend to agree.
Usually there is free space to run out towards the west. Remember that it has been on Hubbard!!

There is pleanty of water to run. Tavis is very deep - just a bit narrower than usual. I am heading to Texoma for Memorial Day - maybe we will cross paths there.

We are having the opposite issue! To much water. I hope it cleans up quick!

TxHawk,

You weren't kidding!!

Found a dealer that has the Rub Rail Insert in 2 colors (deep blue & maroon) that match the graphics on this boat. I think either would look better than the white, frost white, black & medium gray that comprise the current available inventory from Taco Marine.

Damon are you the owner of this boat or doing the work on it?

Just good friends of the majority of the partnership that currently own this boat.

It is currently dry docked near Pier 121 on Lake Lewisville.

In a very odd note an upholstered cushion over the engine bay that was lost when this boat first moved to the shop at Texhoma was found & returned more than 2 months later!!

They are still looking for a suitable trailer if anyone has any helpful info.

Can't say enough good things about BJ & M Marine in Gordonville and the work they did restoring the hull.

I have an 07 triple axle aluminum trailer for 18600 lbs. Overall length is 53' Don't know if it will be long enough, but it has never been titled. I obtained it when I bought my crusier. I has only been splashed a couple times up here on Lake Conroe. It hauled a boat from NE to Ft Lauderdale and then here to TX. Those are the only real miles on it.

Jeff et All,

Odd ( & perhaps uninformed ) trailer question but when they rate a trailer for 18,600 do they mean it is structurally up to holding a boat of that weight under any & all conditions?

Obviously the load can vary to well beyond 18,600 as a boat moves down the freeway & hits a bump of any kind at speed.

Your trailer is around the weight class which has been estimated for this hull.

As I was told when buying a trailer, the weight rating of the trailer includes margin for shock loading like bumps. Its a gross number, so it includes the weight of the trailer! So if the aluminum trailer weighs 2000 lbs, its the right trailer for you if the boat including fuel and all the junk you put it in when you drive around is less than 16,600 lbs. I'd actually weigh the boat to know for sure what trailer to get.

The weight limit of the trailer is a gross number. It means all inclusive.

As far as potholes and bumps, the weight doesn't change. Boat and trailer still weigh the same. It didn't magically put on an extra thousand pounds because it hit a pothole.

The impact strain has more to do with the tires. You are looking for a better tire at that point.

I just would like to know which one of the three orig 51 Fountains you are speaking of? Yes... there were three built. One with Merc 500 HP, the next with 500 Innovations and the last with 600 Innovations. The 600 boat was ordered by me.......I had it in stock at my dealership in Cincinnati. The boat ran 104 and was a freight train. It took it a LONG time to get up to that speed but it would do it. I spent a lot of time on that boat. There also was a 47 with the same driveline. It was the "test" boat. It is often called a 51. But it is not. Fountain made a mold for that driveline. Only three boats came from that mold.

All currently involved with this boat would like to know more about it's history.
All I can provide is a hull # 51001 & tell you that it does indeed measure out to 51'. It has dark blue & maroon graphics.

We are under the impression that the original engines are a distant memory & are not at all sure what the current engine package consist of.

If anyone wants to take a look it is currently at the Waterworks yard immediately south east of Pier 121. Unless you get into the yard all you see is a head on shot that belies its true size/length.

Jeff can you please contact me at my: damon54@budlight
email??

Yes......51001 is the same boat that I had. Like I said, It was built with 540 ci 600 HP Innovations. I found the boat file and I have the orig build sheet, performance report, invoice and a lot of pictures. Does it have motors now? Is this thing for sale? Repo? What is up with the boat?

Amazing!! Info on the current motors is next up on the "to do"
list.

If one difficult partner in this arrangement cannot be dealt with in short order then this boat may indeed go up for sale.

As its original dealer I think you would be quite gratified to see what the hull looks like in its current condition. 2 months ago it would have made you ill.
The one change you would notice right away is that the powdercoat white bow rail on the front section is now refinished in polished stainless due to chipping that had occurred.

Partnership on a boat? This could be interesting..