mid-late 90's 42 Fountain Question
 

I have been kicking tires on a bunch of non-step (and early step) 42's- many of which run triples. I am not too fired up about the prospect of 3 motors, so have been trying to find a nice twin in my price range. Have seen some that are staggered (not my preference because of the small-ish[er] cockpit) and a couple with side-by-side install. Does anyone have any experience with these guys? Will a non-stagger 42 be "OK" with HP500's or am I kidding myself? Thanks.

Stagger is a lot better to work on and a better ballance for the boat the side by sides are not bad just stagger is my prefered set up. 500hps in that boat low to mid 70s 76-7 on a good day

ive had a 90 non step and ive got a 98 big step both side by side. the difference between the stagger and side by side is about 1-2 mph not enough in my opion to give up the extra space in the side by side. from my experience a non step with 500 hps is a high 60's low 70's mph boat and a early step with 500's is in the 73-76 range, both great boat

The all white looks killer.:cool:

Here's an opinion, take it for what its worth.

Steps are more fuel efficient: every time you run the boat, your gas bill will be less with a step boat. I spend a couple of hundred per day in fuel, so even 10% will make a noticable difference, and the difference is generally much more than that: a non-step Fountain burns about 25% more fuel. On a typical day, an extra $50.

Side by side engines are a b*tch to work on. Staggered, you can climb all around them. Even if you don't work on your boat, your mechanic will charge you for all the extra time it takes to do anything. Just consider doing these things:
a) Change the impellor on the raw water pump.
b) Remove and inspect the exhaust manifolds for leaks to avoid reversion killing your motors.
c) Inspect the inside of the outdrive where it comes through the transom.
d) Change the bilge pumps.
e) Check the clearance of the drive lube tube: is it hitting the drive shaft?
f) Check the clearance of the battery cables to the starter
g) Remove and replace a starter motor
h) Track down a leak in a trim or tab hose where it goes through the transom.

All of the above you will need to do. Look in a side-by-side, then look in a staggered engine bay, and tell me which is going to be a pain, and which is easy.

So my opionion: get a staggered, stepped hull.

Get the simplest boat, in the very very very very best condition you can find. It will be much cheaper than an older boat.

Stuff goes wrong in boats. If the boat is complicated and hard to fix, a lot more will go wrong, and will cost $$$$$$$$$$$$ to fix.

I agree with "later" my 93 42' non step with side-by-side 525SC's ran 74mph.
The cockpit room is great, but you will go faster for less effort with a triple...not to mention you'll get a good deal on one right about now.
If I was to do it again, I would go triples since building mine for speed has me at +15mph over stock...I could only wonder what another motor with 800hp would net me.

Later, you're still alive I was wondering if you are around.

still around, have had some family medical issues were dealing with, any luck on selling the boat, the 525 executioner is a sweet boat and yours has awsome graphics

later

Back4More , thats more in line with my experience, and when you think about it a non step with triple 525's supercharger motors would run mid 80's 85-88 that was a unbeatable combination in the early to mid 90's nothing was running with those boats, and as a side note W.David Scott ( of bud select fame won the shootout top gun in 94 or 95 with a triple 525's boat juiced up to around 650-700hp each at 107 or 108 with a/c big bang for the buck

later

Carcrash,

i agree and disagree, the stepped bottom are very efficient when i bought my 98 with the big steps i gained better than 15mph over my 90 42 with 454/365's and yet my fuel burn was the same if not better at cruise speed's ( sure glad i didnt go with the blower route that i was thinking of back in 98 to gain that speed ) i think i would have been chasing the drive issue like most and ended up hating my self ( actually the wife is the one that talked me out of it ). I disagree on the maintance and ease of working on the staggered as a win /win over the side by side. With staggereds you have a whole different situation because of the saddle tanks that they put in the staggered boats, for example its not easy getting to the starters on the starboard motor while trying to climb around the saddle tank and plugs or similar, seawater pumps on the port motor are up front, and with the saddle tank on the port side is a tight fit to get in frt of the starboard motor for maintience, while both setups have ther own problems as for as accessibility issues, i dont believe one has a clear advantage over the other to warrant passing on a boat for that reason alone, plus the extra space in the cockpit has a huge advantage over the disadvantage of ease of maintence. as always these are just my opinion.

later

This is very interesting- I have also wondered about ease of handling around the dock in a staggered vs. side-by-side. I have a friend that bought a staggered 42 and loved it- except around the docks (they can get VERY tight at LOTO) where he hated it. I have never operated anything that big one way or the other (except a 46 Black Thunder, which is another story all together), so I am seeking the genius of experience here on the Board . . .

My '96 with stags had hp500 engines with silent choice.
With silent choice it was a real mother trucker to crawl
around with all that piping going on.
Stripped out the SC and put in CMI's.
BIG imporvement as far as getting around in the engine compartment.
Went with 2" shorties with 5 blade props which IMOHO the boat is more mannerly around the docks.

Dennis

I thought this boat was a great deal. 1996 42 side by side. It says make offer, but I remember it being around $70K at one point. Its been for sale all summer.

Damn dude...where you been? Haven't seen you out in a couple years...I still had the PQ last time we hooked up! You should come out to Boater's on Sept 15th for the CPC Beach Party!

Yeah I needed some time on the side.
I had Nabbers re-gel my bilge so I rerigged the engine compartment and had the engines upgraded:D
I just fired up my new engines a few minutes ago.
Gonna take it over to East Chicago maybe tomarrow to see how it runs.
See you at Boaters.........:cool-smiley-011:

Later,
Dennis

What 96 are you talking about?:D

I prefer the staggered on the longer boat. The drives are much closer to the center line of the boat, handling at speed is better and ease of engine access. However, close quarters handling may be slightly deminished if you rely on boat rotation using opposing engine thrust or pirouetting . The 42 should have ample cockpit room for staggerd engines. I saw a new 35 Lightning with stag 525's, now that consumed cockpit room!

Forgot the link....my bad

Its the 1995 42 fountain

http://www.dallasboats4sale.com/index.asp?boat_type=29

That boat has been for sale for several years. Been sitting outside a lot. There is a early 90's tripple 454 boat for sale on the lake too.

How much do you want to spend?

How fast do you want to go?

Do you know anything about the 95 42' ?

TTB- aren't those always the questions? Cubic dollars = speed. I want to stay under $100K- which limits my market quite a bit. There always seem to be a lot of newer 42's for sale (out of my range) and very few "mid" price boats. Then there are some real beaters out there that are "cheap" and need all new drives, transom assemblies and power- and suddenly they are not so cheap anymore. One of the keys for me is also freshwater use- at LOTO salt will really kill resale.

and, to answer the other question, I would like a 70-80mph capable boat. The key to me is cruise in the chop at 50 comfortably. Of course, 90 would be ok, too- I just don't want to (can't):D PAY THE MAN . . .

This one can be purchased a lot less than 100K, will also run in the low 90's

TTB- where is this boat? I may recall seeing this- used to have a generator/air, maybe? Is this your boat?

It is my boat......:cool-smiley-011:

TT:how much did you have to pay them to visit with you? :angry-smiley-044:

They paid me:party-smiley-048: :party-smiley-048:you see how I roll.....that was 2 weeks ago, I feel sorry for you. You probaly already had to winterize yours.....

how much for that 42 t-bone

69K

new power, headers, drives, ect....ect...

that's a sweet deal for someone!!

Thats a great price!

tomtbone1993.........you had your boat at the destin poker run tied up on the outside of a boat lift .....am i correct???

It was tied up on the outside dock. I had some A-Hole old man yell at me everytime I started up the boat. He was living in the sunkin house boat

i was the boat right by you with the yellow green and yellow lightning bolts on the side of my 38 fever i took a look at your boat while it was parked .....very clean boat .........

Thankyou...My cover ripped right before I left for Destin.