Rub Rail not centered
 

How many of you on a 42 do not have your rub rail centered on the swim platform. I noticed it the very first time l laid my eyes on the rear end. I called Fountain the other day and they said that the boat has been repaired that's why the rub rail seam is not centered. Well I just got back from Florida where I was able to look at some Fountain's and to My AMAZEMENT I saw that Mine was not the only one off.

Is this the type of support that I should expect to get from Fountain, when I might have a issue. The boat is a 2005 and is out of Warranty but I took a shot in the dark that Fountain might not be like many other boat manufacture's and stand behind their product.

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

bring it to the dealer you bought it from. did you buy it from a dealer?

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

Yup - this is about what you can expect. They totally screwed up when they installed the back seat bottom on my 04 35X during production. Hinges were way off. I sent them a letter and they sent me an E mail back totally blowing me off. Ok I bought it used with 37 hours and it was 18 months old but hey - THEY BUILT IT WRONG and the original owner didnt care enough or use it enough to notice it. I had my local trim shop fix it and ate the $150 bill. That short sighted decsion just shows that they dont recognize that the used market supports the new market and that the next boat I buy could well be new.

Oh yea - I tried to order a full storage cover from them - They tell me 4 to 6 weeks - I say ok. After 12 weeks they tell me we havent started it yet because (and get this) they didnt have a 35 in stock from which they could pull a pattern. I guess that after building the same boat for 16 years they couldnt possibly know what the dimensions are - I had to have that made locally as well. :mad:

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

Bought boat off a private owner that never had it in the water. The boat was purchased originally from Shogrens last spring. Not really a big deal but very SURPRISED that Fountain would be so laxed on such a visable item.

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What exactly do you mean by not centered, not being a smart a$$, just don't quite understand the problem.

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Are you talking about where the ends of the rub rail meet in the back and is covered by an aluminum block that says Fountain on it?

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I noticed that the seat was not sitting square the first time I was comming out of the cabin. If you look at the seat at eye level the starboard side was sitting about 2 inches further up toward the front than the port side. The bumpers on the seat bottom had been chewed up because it was sitting half on and half off the bumpers. After looking closely at the hinge I saw that the part of the hinges that screwed to the seat bottom were way out of line. I brought it to my local trim shop where they moved the starboard hinge back about 3/8" and the port hinge piece forward about 3/8". Since the original holes and the new holes would have to be so close together they drilled it out and put in T nuts so now it is straight and much more sturdy and actually closes properly instead of rubbing on the port side the way it did before the repair. They were even able to work the vinyl so the original screw holes were used. Hard to describe but really easy to see and definately a mess that was created during production. Instead of owning up to it they declined the repair on the technicality that I was the 2nd owner and the boat was 18 months old. AGAIN - THEY BUILT IT WRONG. Yea - I'm really believing in their ISO 9001 processes.

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

No, No, the rub rail deal, not your seat.

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

sorry - my bad - thought you were asking about my seat. Didnt mean to steal the thread

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

Fountain really needs to hire somebody with a strong mechanical aptitude and someone who is pro customer service. When problems like this pop up they should take care of it.
What businesses don't understand is how this effects the end user, many will NOT purchase another product and it really has on impact on business revenues over time. 1 disgruntled custer tells, on average, 13 people.

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

Can you take a picture of the rub rail and post it for us?

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I agree I want my rub rail to be centered as well. I have taken a few complaints from Cig, and OL owners. It appears they are the only ones that see the back end of my rig :cool: :evilb: :evilb: :evilb:

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Its not a big deal to fix if you have a relationship with your local fountain dealer they can call fountain and have it fixed in a hour or so .. Who is your local dealer?

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Is Fountain the only place to order that aluminum center piece, the one that covers where the two rub rails meet in the back. Or is there someone making an aftermarket one?

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No local dealer, live in Michigan. What I mean by the rail not being centered is the seam is not lined up with the stern light or the center of the transom. The seam is about 18" left of center. There is no Fountain logo cover over the seam, thank goodness fot that because it would make it look worse than what it is.

All I wanted from Fountain was a piece of rub rail and that would of taken care of the situation. I will still have it fixed then I will be able to consider my Fountain a one of a kind.

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Formulas are slow (thought I'd throw that right out there to avoid the inevitable backlash)

but they certianly seem have a better handle on this concept than any other builder. Period.
I heard it prior to purchase, seen it come to fruition for others, and have lived it myself with my 353...

right down to sending out small parts and trinkets (often as good will) to 2nd and 3rd owners of 10-20 year old boats. Probably cost them less than a Glossy brochure and is 10X as effective at generating repeat sales.

The Porter's just "get it"

It's an easily understood business principle that chump change in good will, reaps big rewards on the other end.

I like the racy looks and speed of Fountain, and as I consider my 7th boat purchase (6th new) I look at them...
but since they got so "corporate" and "volume driven", you just hear of too many cases of dissatisfaction, being "blown-off", and the "you own it" attitude.

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UNTRUE STATEMENTS. You hear about it more because they have more exposure. EXAMPLE: Fountain powerboats are the second largest boat company as far as daily and monthly hits on all boat sits. Hate to say it but Sea Ray is number one. Hatteras is 3rd. Thats alot of exposure!!!!

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

I came out of a formula 292 SR1 and cant say enough about how well they build a boat. The fit and finish on a fountain will never come close to a formula...But you cant get the speed out of em. I now own an 05 35 x am not thrilled with it. Stress cracks, things breaking and poor interior. Think im going used outerlimits!

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

I bought one 2 yrs ago from a guy here on the board that made new ones. Powdercoated them white, then lazer etched the Fountain in it, instead of the vinyl letters that peel off. I 'think' it was under $10. Don't know if he still makes them.

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all you Formula lovers must not have been at the Chicago boat show last year!! As I looked down the side of the boat I almost got dizzy and fainted. I thought I was in a carnival fun house. The side of the boat was so wavey it made me dizzy!!!!! Your goingto look at a USED outerlimits. at least your smart an looking used. I can't image buying an Outerlimits boat for 890,000 and then 2 years later HOPING to get 250,000 for it. What a boat huh. That speaks volumes for OL...(overpriced)

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Thats not at all realistic, and you know it. Fountain has some quality issues and everyone knows it, but thats what you get for buying a well priced production boat.

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Not realistic!!!! You need to get a house down there in the Sonic forum. Better hurry cause Fantasty Land is filling quick. EVERY manufactuer has some issues. I dont care if your talking boats, cars(even Ferarris) bikes, even drink umbrella manufacurers. Thats life.

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Your right, just Fountain has more than others disregarding that fact that they build more boats. The quality is just not there. You cant compare them to a Cig or OL. I was commenting on your words towards Outerlimits.

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I can and will compare them to Cig and OL because they DO have the quality. If they didn't why are they so sought after and why is the resale were its at. You need to seriously move to Fantasy Land that or go buy a Bayliner and stick to watersking on inland lakes with the wife and kids. You obviously dont know the construction techniques at Fountain, cig or OL. If you did we wouldnt have this thread.

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You must be joking. Thats a good one.:D:D

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Hey fountain racing 42 ! What do you have? Guess you havent been on an outer limits. No comparison! but yeah, there expensive. My 2005 fountain is falling apart and i have never seen a stress crack on any outerlimits! you get what you pay for! Resale? Cant give my fountain away!

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Same with my friends 42. I will not go into all the problems he's had and the no support from the factory. A very reputable deal which has been in business for a very long time just got ride of Fountain as a boat line and picked up Donzi. I wonder why.

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Love the ride of the fountain. Flies through waves and lands better than the rest. Just cant keep it in one piece! To me, its like a mustang. Cheap,fast,and good for the money your spending....But it will never be a ferrari .

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Ferarris are definatly not all there cracked up to be either!!!! get me going on that issue and you will loose!!!

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WOW WOW WOW!!!!!!!

Sure glad I kept my receipt with all the bad things people are saying about Fountain, HELL the rub rail might be the least of my issues.

All I know is I think that Fountain get's many a bad RAP because of Reggie being a very out spoken and controversial person. Wait till some of the younger builder's get to 65-70 years old and I'm sure people will start nit picking their product based on their personnel opinion of the owner instead of the Quality of his product.

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I have talked to Reggie at poker runs and boat shows and always takes the time to answer any question. Stand up guy...But dissapointed with the quality. Have water leaks in the cabin now, bolsters are pulling out of the floor ect... shouldnt happen on a boat with 70 hrs on it!

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Thats says it all right there. The Fountains do have some of the best hulls out there.

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FASTTOYS:Who did you buy your boat from? Did you buy it new?

ICBM40: you contradict yourself so much you don't know if your coming or going. Was I correct on the Sonic weight. Everybody reading this should go to the sonic forum and read the threads, interesting forum

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

I never said the boat its self is a piece of crap. I said the quality is not up the standards of OL and Cigarette. Fountain has great hulls and gets good speed out of them. No you weren't because Sonics are heavier. I never said the boat as a whole was a turd.

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Yea i bought the boat new august 05. Port motor blew with 3 hours on it. Mercury replaced it in 12 days. Was not a good day! What do you have?

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

Sonic is a terd!

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ICBM40):100 pounds isnt going to be the big factor in ride. I will get a fatter friend to ride with me next I want the boat to ride better.
FASTTOYS:Just sold my 01-42 and looking and doing some research on the triple 700 47. Sounds like merc had some problems with the NXT drive. I will probably go with the 3-600's just for cost reasons. I find myself going on longer trips and the cabin ammenities on the 47 are really nice. I will miss the staggered setup as far as handling goes.
Also would like to add motor problems are always a pain in the ass. just remember that mercs are in alot of boats and its not FOUNTAIN's fault if there is an engine problem. As far as anyother problems with your boat I can't believe the dealer wouldn't bendover to make you happy. I have had nothing but great luck with my Fountains, and I run them hard.(Miami, Great Lakes, Gulf) I have been in 2'ers and12'ers and had great luck with the boat holding together. the olny "problem" I ever had was the dash comming loose and squeking, and that was an easy fix. Also the powdercoating on the dash bubbled and Livosi replaces it for me.

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

Those 42's ride unbelievable! Felt like burning my 35 when i got off it. I think the 42 is the best riding rough water boat. Im not shy with the 35. From L.I.N.Y. Gets hairy out there! Outer limits is a harder ride but strong and light with the epoxy hull.

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hmm...having been on OSO most every day for 4 years this month, that's the first time I've ever heard that one.

condidering your membership status, post count, and tone of your posts...
I don't know that this reporting deserves any credibility anyway.

just the latest defensive Fountain cheerleader who sees a Fountain-bashing conspiracy around every corner.

My comments were not anti-Fountain, they were about customer relations and the industry. I simply used Formula as a well known example of how it CAN be done, and the benefits thereof. Yes, I happen to own one right now, but yes, I also am looking into the Fountain.

The more exposure/more boats excuse is just that, an excuse.

Alot of Fountain owners have posted their experiences here with simple sh!t (and some not-so-simple) easily taken care of, and have been told to pound sand.

and yea, welcome to the funhouse. Be sure to enlarge it twice for the most dizzying effect.

Re: Rub Rail not centered
 

[QUOTE=Rippem]

The Porter's just "get it"


Not Totally Rip!!!!!! :mad: