Bottom Blue Printing
 

Is there anyone that has had the bottom of the boat blue-printed? I was speaking with Marty Boosinger at Fountain today and he said this is often one of the most overlooked areas for increasing rpms. I would think that you wouldn't want just anyone working the fiberglass.

Marty should know. I have recieved different opinions on the benefit on my 04 38 from 3.5 to 4 mph down to a maybe 1mph. For the cost I need more information.

What is the cost of having a professional blue print the bottom? I'm willing to take the boat within reason to a person that has a good track record. Just spoke with the local Fountain dealer's head mechanic - he also said that it would definitely make a difference at higher speeds.

Bottom work is one of those things you need a proven shop to do. Marty can probably help with recommendations. Lilly Sport Boats in Maryland is one place that could help you. Long drive though.
Jim

That would be a long drive. But you are right, I want to be sure that the person has had success in the past with similiar hulls. There has to be someone in the central part of the US.

what is your average cost to blue print?

I am going to take mine to the guy that Excaliber40 recommended in another thread. I spoke to him today and he says He usually gets 4mph or so out of Fountains. Price for my 35 was $2000-3000. Usually 2000, but if it was really bad 3k would be the highest.

Boomer35, Thats kind of like asking how much to rebuild my motor. Can you work whats there? Do you have to add or remove material, maybe both. Now it needs to be painted. Do you want to paint the whole bottom or just the running surface? Lilly's been doing race bottoms for almost 20 years. Set a bunch of speed records too.
Jim

This is a serious process you need to drain tanks,pull engines and drives, roll boat over and work and re gelcoat if you like cosmetics otherwise sharp and ugly is good!

Donzilla, It's serious alright. But you don't have to do all that to get a really nice job.
Jim

Jryan - you are located fairly close to me. Do you have any information, the guy's name, contact information, etc. I would definitely be interested. Thanks.

Most of the guys in the Chicago area go to Tom McNabb who owns Captain Nabbers shop in Morris Ill. The guy's been doing this for about 25-30 years now.
2 years ago he replaced all the stringers in my engine compartment, (except for the main center one). Replaced the complete transom, and blueprinted the bottom from the wind faring back. Gave the bottom a race finish when completed.
Don't know how much of an improvement it gave me cause I changed power during the process. What I will say is that I personally know about a half dozen other Fountain owners that had Tom do their bottoms, and they ALL were impressed with the results.

It all depends on how bad or wavey the bottom is before the job is started. He's a real reasonable and fair guy to deal with. Most of the guys I know, go there, and he gives us a super great deal.
He gave me a price, and a year later, he still stood by what he quoted me the previous year. He's kinda like the "old school" kinda way of doing business. I paid him half up front and told him that I expected a quality job. He even threw in a bunch of extra things that he found wrong, and touched up every nick and scratch on the boat, then buffed the whole boat for me, and when I came to pick it up, I asked him how much for the extra stuff he took care of, and he told me to forget about it.
Don't find many guys in this kind of boat business like this. As a matter of fact, he did the red 35 Fountain from LOTO, that won the shootout back about 3-4 years ago. Can't remember the guys name, but he ran a single carb class and won it a couple years in a row. Guys got a 42 Fountain now that I think says "Raymonds" on the side of the boat. He was at the shootout this year, think his name is John Malecki.

Nabbers # is 815-941-1546. ask for Tom, tell em Fountain Frank's a friend of yours. You won't be disappointed. :cool:

I be the current owner of said red Fountain from LOTO...you know...the Shootout class winner! Wish I had the same power as John did right now, though!

Nabbers also did the windscreen on my boat. Plus, last year I had a little gel-work done, and it was FLAWLESS...which can't be too easy on an older RED boat.

I appreciate the information from Chicago. Sounds like it may be worth if. I spoke with Billy Reedy of Reedy Marine which is right beside Leon Dereby and Highport Marine in Dennison, Texas area. He said he had been blue printing for many years and has great results. He estimated $2,500. Anyone had experience with his shop?

I will give the guy a call in Chicago.

Typically, is it the case that over the years the bottom loses some of its shape, or is it not perfect from the factory?

ask him what he would charge to blueprint a 42 Fountain and build a white race fairing for it:cool-smiley-027:

I just spoke with Tom at Nabbers. He is a little more expensive, but it sounds as though he is quite detailed. He wants the boat for 3-4 weeks. For my 35', it would cost around $4,000. He was sure that it would equate to more speed, especially if it had never been done before. He said the racers have it trued up yearly. I may wait until spring, it's just going to sit on the bunks until spring.

Tomtbone - he said it would be obviously more for a 42 but would need to speak with you about your boat.

What are people finding after their hull has been blue printed? Are they picking up speed? If so, how much? I don't mind spending the $, but would like to hear from those that have been there. Thanks.

Billy has done some work for me and he does fair work at an above average price IMHO. I would'nt stear clear of him but I would try to find someone who has had their bottom done by him and see what their results were. Remember it really depends on how bad it is to start with and you can see that with a 4 ft strait edge

The hull can have a hook or a bend in it from the factory for a couple of reasons. Some manufacturers put a hook in to decrease planing time or make up some other performance deficit. Sometimes it just warps a little when it's made and the manufacturer considers it within tolerance and let's it go. Over time sitting on a trailer or lift can cause the hull to deform a little too. This is why a touch up is needed every so often on some boats. Others will seemingly last forever. Also be forewarned that in some cases the boat will slow down after blueprinting or not gain any speed at all.

helps to keep the boat far up on the trailer so the transmon does'nt hang off and form a hook .Have seen 3/4" hooks from hanging off the trailer a couple inches

Interesting responses.

Anyone have dealings with Tom McNabb of Morris, IL? I would like to talk with somone that has had work done at his shop? I guess, I'll have to call him and ask for client list.

Rebel Heart, Why don't you get a 6 or 8 foot straight edge and check your bottom from chine to chine. See how straight it is. If its straight don't expect a big gain. The low spots , hook is what sucks the speed. Might as well know what you got.
Jim

I've had glass work ,paint work, & STEVIE at NABBERS shop blueprinted our SKATER.
BILL 815-693-3031:cool-smiley-027:

I will put a straight edge to the bottom to see how far it is off.

Runninhotracing - I'll give you a call about Nabbers.

Flying J - appreciate the info. on Reedy Marine.

Hey Rebel,
Are you going down this weekend? We'll be there Friday and Saturday. I had a guy check for a hook on mine this spring. It was not as easy to detect as I thought. He moved the straight edge into several different positions before telling where and how much hook I had. He then explained how it should be fixed. I am looking into some different options this winter. If your headed to F&L, stop by and have a cold one.

Doug

waterbum - I am coming down this weekend and Frankie and Louies is always a good stop. I looked for your place several weeks ago but I couldn't find it. I spoke to someone that had a 35' just into the no wake zone, but he didn't know you. You'll have to give me directions, again.

To fill you guys in a little more.

When you build a boat, regardless of how straight the mold is the hull shrinks as it cures. This is one of the reasons they release from the mold.
The biggest issue is heat, good shops can control the exotherm in the resin, but most cannot control the humidity or air temp, a hot boat will shrink more. Generally winter built boats are better.
As for the shrinkage, all the straight hard lines on the hull do a better job of retaining there design shape better than large flat surfaces. So the edges for the transom, chines and strakes typically hold, and the big flat areas between them shrink causing a concave area. This is most noticed in front of the transom as this is the most ridged part of the hull...... and hence the hook. A good shop will grind off the gel and fill the hook with structural filler then regel the hull...... and real good guys will leave the finish in 400 grit, with the sanding lines following the direction of water flow......... this last bit is only ok for boats that are kept on lifts or are trailer queens. As gel is like your skin and will absorb anything....meaning it will stain.
Lastly... NEVER and I repeat NEVER wax your bottom.

RT

Rebel,
The place is 1/4 mile before the no wake zone starts. It's about half way between the main channel and where the no wake starts on the east side of the cove. I can email my phone number if that helps.

Hope to see you this weekend. It is supposed to be nice and sunny.

RBT, Sounds like you know exactly what to do with the bottoms.:cool: Everything you just said, is the same things that Nabbers shop has told me over the years. :cool-smiley-011:

Good information you just posted.

Runninhotracing - I appreciate the information that we talked about this afternoon.

I am still concerned about the $4,000 price for doing a 35' boat. Does anyone else think this a little steep?

Rebel, I wouldn't even consider it for $4000.00. I do some smaller raceboats and charge almost that, it is a horrible job. I have done a bunch of bottoms and the ONLY way I will do them is with the boat rolled over...... no fuel, no motors, no nothing that cannot be inverted in the boat.
Bottom blueprinting is an art, but done correctly is a great gain. You should get, speed, efficency, and handling...... like I said above ALL boats shrink..... and they don't shrink straight. A symmetrical bottom is critical on a good running boat.

RT

Why not take it to fountain directly? I would think if anyone knows their bottoms it's them. (Punn intended)

If I was closer, I would definitely consider Fountain. Having done nothing to the bottom, after talking to several people - it seems there is some speed there. I just want to be sure I chose someome with positive experience.

What's a 10-12 hr drive to make sure it is right? I have had some issues with the Factory, but I can only say that our race boat is fast! All the Fountain race boats are fast and everyone of them have factory blue printed boats. The 3 most important things to straight line speed are HP, Prop and bottom.

I give my boats bottom 2 coats of wax in the spring before taking to the lake. I can tell the wax is wearing off by mid/late summer because it starts to show staining. And this from a boat that either is on the lift or trailer, never stays in water over 6hrs at a time. I'm not after that extra mph, but more of a bottom that easier to keep clean and doesn't stain. 5 yrs and still going good. Always Slimey Grimey'd right before winter storage so ready to wax the bottom next spring.

give PETE or CHRIS at SKATER a call 269-857-1764 and they have a guy close to the factory that does them .Let me know or i can look up his # when i go to the office . He did mention he likes to do them flipped over but will do them on a creeper if need be and looks for work in between SKATER sending him work
ROCK ON:ernaehrung004:

There was a guy in the Fountain forum 2 yrs ago that had his bottom blueprinted here in IN. if I recall correctly. Might do a search.

Dennis had his boat done by Captain Nabbers. Here is a link to the thread. http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...threadid=64578

Dan

Captain Nabbers name keeps coming up. Are people satisfied with job performed? How much speed was gained with what type of boat?

Does anyone know what Fountain charges at the factory? Any testimonials?

That be da one Dan. Also I see it is IL, not IN.