I just bought a new 38 Lightning......
 

I am the owner of a 2005 new 38 Lightning with 525's that I am keeping in Longport NJ. This is my first "go boat" and I want to make sure I don't screw anything up. I am the first owner of the boat and there is about an hour on each engine. What do I need to know that my dealer might not have told me?

If any of the following doesn't make sense I ask that someone please tell me. The dealer recommends the following:

- Check the engine oil each time I use the boat...the dealer recommends warming the engines shutting them off and then checking the oil
- the dealer recommends checking the drive oil and tab fluid each use. How much of these fluids does the boat "consume" over what time period?
the dealer recommends changing the engine oil at every 25 -40 engine hour intervals. How hard is this to do yourself?

Does it make sense to turn the batteries to "off" after each use?
How often should the boat be waxed (I use the boat in salt water)?

Other then that if there is any other Fountain owners in the Atlantic City area let me know.

Thanks
TJ:D

Great boat, have fun with it!

Yes you should turn off the batteries evertime you are finished with the boat for the day it helps stop electrolisis.You need a vaccum pump to change the oil . Get the electric one at west marine. Join our boat club, NJPPC.com We have a few poker runs and party in AC all the time.

Congrats on the new purchase. Your boat is gorgeous, I saw it up there when I was picking up mine. I bought a new 05 35' Lightning from Coty Marine the last week of June. Did Richie and Joe take good care of you? :)

Check your fluids before each use and definitely cut off your batteries after each use.

I prefer to change the fluids at 20 hours just because it gives me a more peace of mind.

I was going back and forth between the 35 and 38 at the end of the last summer and I decided I wanted the 38 but Richie and I couldn't agree on a number last August. I went back last week and Richie and I figured it out.

How many hours did you put on your boat?
How much fluids has your boat been consuming?
How has the learning curve been? What are you finding most difficult?

I pick my boat up on Thursday and am concerned about docking it.....the biggest boat I have owned before has been a 20ft Bayliner:p

Check your email. I've sent you my number. Give me a call.

Don't pack it with your friends / family and yell " watch this" and then try and turn it like you did your Bayliner.

NO_HIGH-SPEED TURNS_........

Wax every 60 days for salt use.

congrats have fun and be careful. You should have drain hoses for oil out your drain plugs. Still need a manual pump to screw on dipstick to get it all out.

I've got 20 hours on the boat now, so I've been busy enjoying it! :) I have to say, it is an awesome boat and the family also loves going out on it.

I have not had any fluid consumption problems. I will be doing my first fluids change this week, so I'll let you know how it goes.

In all honesty, I've not had much trouble with learning the boat. Drive and Tab trimming you will get used to once you've been out a few times and experience it. Docking is not bad at all once I learned to relax and move slowly. I use the drives more than the steering when docking, which works well for me as long as the steering is centered.

What I find the most difficult is to tie the boat off at a dock! :eek: I've provided some entertainment to the surrounding boaters at the docks! I've had comments from more than one stating they thought I really knew what I was doing by the way I pulled the boat into the slip, until I starting to tie the boat down where it went downhill quick! :D

Most important thing with a slipery step bottom boat is...

do not trim in past level and turn it hard. Keep it trimmed out for turns at speed and with the tabs up.

Congrats lets get some pics of both them ships.

congrats and good luck with your new machine.

Research the terms " trip / stuff" . I'm being serious too , I wished somebody would of helped me get started the right way in the hi perf boat world. I had to learn too many hard things the " hard way"!

Always check your fluids before use. West Marine sells small electric pumps to suck the oil out. I connect the pump pos/neg to the battery to operate and then remove when finished. Remove the dip stick and connect hose to suck out oil. Every 20-40 hrs for changes is fine only use straight weight oil per OEM recommendations. It takes me 15 mins to do both my engines, so simple. Your drives should not use much in fluid but always check. Enjoy!

I have an 06 35 with 140 hours. I on occasion do stretch her legs but dont live aginst the firewall. I change the oil ever 50 hours. With todays synthetic oils and synthetic oil blends you are draining out good oil any sooner than 50 hours. Now if
you live at full pop 3/4 to WOT and oil temps run up 200+ thats another story. Flush after every use, batteries off when not in use, I also use a greasless silcone spray on the engine room metals to neutralize exterior corrosion and keep the metal shining. Drive lube is also critical, maintain levels and change drive lube every 75 hours. Check oil level cold, then hot if you like. Always be aware of engine raw water pressures. Somtimes when flushing from a garden hose low water pressure can be a problom. Fountain does have oil
drain hoses that exit the bilge plugs, that way you can empty
the oil pan when draining. Drain the oil hot, punch a hole in the top mount oil filter to help drain it prior to un-screwing it, it makes much less of a mess.

Frank
Master Certified Mechanic