Fountain 42 Lightning
 

Any experiences of Fountain 42 Lightning with Mercruiser 496HO 425 hp engines?

In my experiance you remove them and add custom power. preferably Sterlings.

:p

Probably mid- 60's

Fountain says 75 mph in the 42 x but I dont buy it. No sale or resale value with this package. My dealer had one and sat on it for 3 years while the deck faded out and the lot rot set in.

Yea that's way underpowered.

There was one that ran in the shootout a few years ago, I don't remember the exact speed but it was in excess of 70. The next year the boat was back with new power.

My guess would bo 75-77 with a good set of labbed 5 or 6 blade herrings. My brothers 04 525 boat has seen 85 with a good set of labbed 6 blades. That would still be a very fuel efficient package for someone that doesnt need a lot of top end but resale would be a little shakey.


RAF

Those would be staggered right?

Yes, staggard only. 42s are only offered in staggard.

Depends on the price. 496's are fine engines, and should last several hundred hrs. Most of us cruise at 50 mph or so, right? 496's should get you there without being at WOT.

I wouldnt be scared of a 496 ho boat with some CMIs if the price was right. Good fuel economy and boat will still run in the 60s without running it on the dash.

im impressed that a 42 footer with 850 hp will do 75. what do other boats run with 496s (baja, formula, velocity, etc)?

Staggard motors, drive height, and a real efficient hull.The Numbers I have posted are pretty optimistic however. Add gas, coolers, bedding and whatever else and I think that 75 is still attainable with a blueprinted set of props. Still a good package I think.

My old boat, a 2005 32' Sunsation Dominator ran around 80 mph with twin 496 mag ho's. Might squeeze a couple of more mph with labbed props.It weighed about 6500 # versus 11K for the 42'. Fountain has a very efficient hull and drive setup. I have 525's in my 42' Ex and would not recommend the 496's. Poor re-sale and I don't think you are going to gain that much in fuel economy. Unless you drive the boat in cruise mode at 40 to 50 and plan on keeping it for a long time. I think the extra stress on the motors to push the boat to get on plane will out weigh the small benefits in gas mileage.

friend has 05 42 ex 496 loto stock as a rock 72- 74mph, no real problem getting and staying on plane

One big advantage is engine life rather than gas milage. 496's as stated above will go several hundred hours before a rebuild or major work compared to 200-300 hours for even modestly bigger power.

Not if they are running at the top of their RPM band and straining to push that weight, I have no experience with the 496 set up in that large a boat, only giving my opinion after having them in a smaller, lighter boat. There is no substitue for weight, length, and HP. I would not be satisfied with that set up.

do you guys forget they put 454's and 465's in the old straight hull 42's?


They also put 496's in new 38 Cigs

The boat would be slower than a 525 boat, but would be a very reliable mid to low 70's boat

we have a guy in my marina that repowered with 496's. 18000 lb 40' searay. runs in the 40's and has around 800 hrs since we repowered it 3 1/2 years ago. now thats a load and strain.

I would love a set of black motors in a new 42. Save up 20k and throw some Raylar kits and CMI's at it. You would get twice the life compared to the 525's and still save a ton of money.

remember not to long ago the 42 package that was very popular had 500's, no fuel injection, no closed cooling etc......not much momre power than 496HO's. I would not have a problem buying a 496 boat and make same mild changes to bump the power a bit more.

Jay

Actually there are a few 42/496HO combos on the internet. I was thinking of getting a used one as a second boat.

staggered black iron? pass :cool-smiley-011:

Could you say the address?

Whipple them with the 650hp kit and laugh all the way to the bank.

I Have priced the whipple kit for my Ex/525's and I know a friend that had 496 mag ho's done without upgrading the engine and you are in the 20K-25K range for the conversion. Add another 5K or so to build the 496's properly and you are around 30K. Wouldn't it make it make more sense to buy the boat with the proper HP and engines and have the right re-sale value. I can't imagine anyone paying top dollar for a used 42 with whippled 496 mag ho's. I would think that boat would be a dog on the market.

How about a 47 with TRIPLE 496's?

http://www.pier57.com/200547lightning.htm

I've got a 47 Sport Cruiser with triple 502's (very similar hp). It is a great boat with a smooth, dry ride even in rough seas and a big, roomy standup cabin. It cruises in the 50's and gets about 1 mpg without the motors even working. It weighs about 15k so I bet a 42 with 2 496's would ride about the same.

They said in Fountain,that they havn´t been making such combos,but they will,if somebdy wants.