35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

I ordered one of the first new 35 Lightenings and it should be delivered at the end of January. I have always been interested in the 35 Lightening because with 525's it would do a real 90 to 93-GPS, and that was very good if the count was honest. When I heard about the new staggered, herring props, sportmaster shortie boat, I started to check around and all of a sudden I fouind myself talking on the phone with the man himself, and he invited me out to the factory. I went there with the ex GM of Velocity, and we were both so impressed that I went back to my dealer and odered the boat the next day. I was really taken back with what these Fountains people, (Reggie and his boys) did with their boats. He is going to personally deliver the boat to me when I pick it up at the factory. I've only been into high performance boats for a few years and I had 2 Velocities which I liked very much, but this new Fountain I know is the real McCoy. They took a 93 MPH boat and stretched it out to 106. That's real genius. It's not often that a guy as famous as Reggie Fountain takes the time, with great pride and shows a guy like me what he has built, what he believes in and then shows it all off like a father talking about a favorite son. He is really something! I couldn't be more excited.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

Let me be the first to say congratulations.

Did the man take you for a demo ride in the new 35? What is that bad boy like at speed?

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

No I didn't drive a new 35 because it wasn't out of production yet, but Reggie himself told me if it doesn't do 103, I could have it for nothing-LOL. How can one pass on that? I was most impressed with his dedication to build the fastest and the best. The fit, finish, engineering, design was second to none. I know this boat will perform as advertized!

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

I heard about that boat a few weeks ago ...that sweet that he garunteed it

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

great news!

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

Did you get to see the interior at all? The pics on the fountain site show a all new interior in the 35. looks real nice too.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

You will love the ride at 106 we hit cross wake and boat did not feel unsafe at all we have one coming in next week with 525's and anouther with 496HO's coming in 3 weeks www.fountiandealer.com

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

Congrats on the new boat, post pics when you have them

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

Oh-The interior is fabulous. The seats have a round modern contour that is completely different than older models. I had the ex GM from Velocity with me and he was really impressed. He couldn't believe the quality of the boat and how well the whole thing was done, and this guy knows performance boats as well as almost anyone on the face of the earth, except, the man, (Reggie-Offcourse) It is far superior to anything else I have looked at which is almost everything-LOL I was partial to the Donzi but The donzi 35 ZR is at best a 93 MPH boat-OLd Technology, and their fit and finish is not even in the same parage as FOUNTAIN. I liked their design, but not as much as the Lightening and when I compared the rest, I bought the 35 almost instantly. I'm too excited

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

Imagine that!!! And with all those Velocity-ites swearing up n' down that Fountains are chit compared to their boats. Maybe ex GM can stop down to their forum and set them straight.

You deserve to be excited!

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

this new 35 is really drumming up some conversations. possitive and of course the negative. I cant wait to see these boats at poker runs just kickin the sht out of the competition. I am really eondering what the 496 package will do. talk about a real afordable haulin arse machine. the 496 is probably a 90mph boat..it has to be anybody have any guestimates on that

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

The 496 boat is supposed to be a 93 MPH rig, set up the same way. With all I have heard I am really impressed with this new enhanced performance of these standard engines. I haven't heard of another boat running at those speeds,
93-496's and 106-525's, with anything but BIG EXPENSIVE, and sometimes very breakable engines and drives. The 496's and the 525's are almost bullet prooff.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

93 with a 496....cool!!!! lets think ahead and see who gets the first 600 or 700.......

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

I have to ask but where did you hear that a set of 496's will get above 90+?

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

I heard that from the people at the factory. I also heard it from people that attended the Fountain Dealer Meeting in the fall, when the new 35 Lightening was introduced. I couldn't believe it myself. Think about it? Twin 496's was an 80 plus MPH boat, now it's above 90 MPH, with staggered, Sportmaster Shorty, and I guess Herrings. I think that's the set up. That's a terrific rig!!

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

it sounds like the speed info is from very good sources but there's a thread in the General Boating section that is about the 496's going away.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

What is the going price of this boat?

I see it still weights 8600lbs and that is the same as the older 35 Lightning....they must have changed something on the hull and did some balancing of the boat.

I can't wait to see it at the Miami show. If I fit behind the helm (I do not fit the 35 Ex...to shallow and close) then my wife will be wanting to work a trade of our 38TE for this boat.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

I had the opportunity to crawl around the new 38 at the Lake Cumberland Poker run in Sept. Those new cockpits are tight. I guess they are a compromise between the sit down boats like the 42 PR and donzi Zr comps, and the user friendly but slower fountains with larger cockpits.

At the poker run some guys best buddy had just bought a new 38 with 600's and the new herring props. The sheets said the boat did 106 when tested at the factory but the best they saw that day on Lake Cumberland (700 ft above sea level) was around 96-97.
That was the first weekend they had it but their first impression was that the boat was great on the straightaways but it felt very unsecure in the turns compared to their older small stepped 38. Right after the poker run the guy wasn't real thrilled with the new 38 in a turn but to be fair they hadn't had hardly any seat time in it at that point.

I can't wait to test drive one myself :)

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

I rode in the new 38 Ligthening with Merc 700's when I went to the factory, and David Ganey took it up the 96, and it had much more. It wasn't WOT, and it wasn't even trimmed out to max the speed, it was like a ball bearing on the water. I have had 2 high performance boats, and I have done a lot of testing with props, trim tabs etc. to gain speed. Additionally, I spent 500 hours hanging around the Velocity factory watching the boats being built and tested and learned a little about what the process is. One thing I learned is that every boat, at high speeds has to be driven, it's par for the high performance boat, when owning one you have to know how to drive it. Some do drive better than others, but I know this 35 Lightening is going to be a fabulous boat, but no one can plan to get in the boat with 20 gallons of fuel and one person and take it up to over 100 and not expect to drive it. That just doesn't happen.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

Oh, I felt the 38 had enough room in the cockpit. I was also told that the 35 Lightening has the same interior room. Hell, it's not supposed to be a cruiser-LOL. I was told when I 1st got into high performance boats, the common denominator of every person who owns one and is able to drive it, wants it 1st to be faster than it is, and I have learned that is true. So even if the boats might be a little tight, the fact that it is a 100 MPH plus boat fit the bill completely.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

:cool: :cool: :cool: Nice Boat

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

Congrats on your new boat!!! I saw the 35 at the NYC boat show today. Not to burst anyones bubble but it's just another Fountain looks wise. The handling and hull is where the money went. It was priced at $296,000. The cockpit didnt seem smaller and the bow was just as short, so I dont know where they got the room for the staggers.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

the stags came from the cockpit being moved forward

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

It didn't seem the bow was that much shorter.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

When talked with Reggie about the 35 he said that they moved the cockpit up a little and he said the boat still looks great, and it does. The changes, staggered engines, Sportmaster Shorties, and Herrings props changed the hydrodynamics and gave it more speed. He said the interior is the same as the 38. What props did it have? I thought it was supposed to come with 5 blade herrings. My friend said it had 6 blade herrings?

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

The cabin looks awesome! Its about time they got rid of that out dated sh1tty cabin! Pics on the website look great. Gonna check it out tomorrow at the N.Y boat show.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

here is a small preview a shot of the boat at the plant

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

http://www.fountainpower.com/boats/s...TG_gallery.asp

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

You have bought yourself one awesome ride. Cant wait to see your pics and here about your experiances with it - Best of luck and congratulations.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

All I know this boat will out run any Formula!
Happy New Year Rippem!

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

I think any Fountain out runs all Formula's!!

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

Yep I'm very aware of that...seen it proven time and time again in F1 and F2....just razzin' our bud Rippem!:evilb: :D

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

Congratulations!

I look forward to reading your posts once yov've taken possession of the boat and spent a few hours on the water.

Re: 35 Staggered Lighteing-106 MPH
 

anyone have any idea if the 42 or 47 will have the new interior like the 35 anytime soon? I am thinking about buying a new boat this fall. I would wait if the new interior is going to be in the new 47.