Looking Into a 38 Fever Loved my 35 Lightning But thinking a little Bigger on the next one. What are the Pros/cons if any and what kind of speeds would I see out of a Pair of 500s?vs 502 MPIs also Whats out there for sale? Thanks
Bob

Did Russo get it done for you?

A neighbor of mine had a '89 36/38 Fever for a number of years. With 625hp motors, he ran mid to upper 70's. It was a TRS boat, so he eventually got tired of breaking drives. He's in a 42 Lightning now.

He has told me a few times that if he had waited a year (sold it in '03) and done a Konrad conversion on it, he'd still own the boat because it was a "drivers boat", more fun than his 42 with 500 EFI's. He's just fixed his 500 "problem",so his 500's aren't 500 anymore.

The main thing to keep in mind between the 35 and the 38 is 1000 lbs. weight difference. Good in some cases, bad in others. More juice to go fast, but better ride in the bigger stuff.

Good luck,
Brian

JRyan
No Different Buyer as of weds Its Off to LOTO. The Boat will be Missed She Was a Good One! Im Going to tell the new Owner to Join OSO Great Guy ! So Look Out Party Cove Blown Income Is Coming your Way And Congrats to Steve Shultz!

Thanks Brian!

congrats BI...Fever has no walk around, I think to get to bow you have to go thru cabin hatch.

I would assume you can find one very resonable also.

Depends if you are talking about a stepped or non stepped hull.

I bought a 2000 38 Fever and put some new 525's in it last year. After some Imco shorties I got 86-ish out of it with non-labbed 32's. I'm sure I could have tweeked a few more mph with some prop testing.

The 38 Fever has a lot more cockpit room than the 35's, gives a better ride, and turns better than the 35 lightning, but the hull isn't as effecient. The non-stepped hulls are very solid boats but take a lot more HP to get them up to speed than the stepped.

I prefer the old school look of the 38 fever vs the newer 38's, but newest 38's out there are super fast and stable because of the staggered hulls, but they may as well be sit down boats for their lack of cockpit room.

Overall the 38 is the perfect boat for me on Lake Cumberland - a nice mix a rough chop ride, room, and speed, yet still nimble. For me, the 35 didn't take the waves quite well enough, and the 42 was overkill for my Lake. If I were on the Ocean or Great Lakes I'd go with a 42 Fountain or a 38 Top Gun.

A 97 to 2001 38 Fever should do around 78 - 80 with 500's, and maybe a little better if you put some shorties on it. I wouldn't own one with 502's.

Thanks Dave ! I Knew the Walkaround Part Im Going to miss that! we haven't taken one in trade and all My friends either have 35/42 So No Hands on experience with a 38 fever I know the cabin also is alot bigger than the 35. Thanks For the Congrats.. The Biggest reason I sold it was working at the marina I only get to boat on Sunday But Not haveing A Boat is Killing me and it does not leave till Weds (So Im looking )

Hey Bob, congrates on your sale. Half the fun is in the search.

I think what you really need is a 32'.