06 35 lightning w/525's handling
 

Looking for some input on the ride of my 06 lightning....Just went out on a speed run this evening by myself. Boat hit 91 mph but was way out of shape over 86 mph, boat would start to dance side to side. I had drives at 4 on indicator and tabs all the way up. I even tried bringing the tabs down to about 2 to see if it would take any of the walk out of it, some, but not much. Boat has 32p bravo's spinning out. Any thoughts on this???

This isn't my first 35..I had an 01 with 500 efi's, 30p bravo's spinning in, that you could drive with one hand all day at 86mph.

I was shocked to see boat handle like this...any thoughts? change prop rotation?

thanks in advance for help....

I'm not sure here, but I think based on how I've seen most Fountains setup, 2 on the tabs is still above parallel with running surface. At least try and get them level with the running surface and see if it settles down. I know mine WOT with the tabs ALL the way up feels a bit loose. Not at all unsafe or undriveable, but tabs neutral it's solid as a rock.

Solid as a rock. Run tabs about 3, on mine that is about dead even with the bottom, and run drives out to 4.5 to 5. Never a problem.

I have run a bunch of different props on mine and the handling did not change much. The exception was a set of 15 5/8 X 30 non labbed Maximus 5 blades, they wanted to pick the tail too much and made it real loose, even then I did not see any chine walking. I would try spinning the props in, most leave the factory that way, works fine on mine, though I have never tried spinning them out. I have run a best of 94 and hang right around 90'ish most days and the boat never gets out of shape.

Get the performance report from Fountain on your boat and it will tell you exactly how to set the drive/tabs for best results.

I agree that your tabs are doing nothing at 2. I would say at least neutral (whatever that is on your boat) should help extend the running surface and settle the boat at top speed.

Find neutral position for the tabs/drives on your boat and mark it on the dash.

Thanks for the help..I do have the speed report and they have drives at 4 and tabs at 3 with a top speed of 93....suprising to see the x dim at 19''.....

I 'll try that set up and see what happens, if that doesn't work then I'll spin the props in

Brent

My friends 04 35 Lightning with 525's never chine walked with B1 props. That boat ran 89-92 mph. I believe the 04 and 06 are the same bottom, not exactly sure about X dim, though. Are your tabs mounted horizontal or at the angle of the hull? If they are mounted horizontal, you get less "effect" from the tabs at higher tab settings. His tabs were mounted horizontal and one time he did have his Herring props nicked from the props hitting the tabs. That can't happen when they are mounted at the angle of the hull. Just something to watch out, for, nothing more meant by that. There were a couple of 35 twin steps that did had chine walk problems that I know about, and those had "out of shape" hull bottom issues. Was the boat possibly kept on a lift or trailer that was not fitted to the boat (steps)?

Your props should be spinning in for best top speed. Get them spinning in and run the boat at the settings on the test sheet and I bet your issues will be solved.

Sounds like the previous owner wanted better manners at the docks and spun them out.

My "X" is at 19" also, The '06 was the last of the side by side configuration and also have the highest "X" dimensions that I have seen. Most earlier were around 18.5 at most. My test sheet showed about the same settings as yours but only 90 mph. Best I've seen with the 4b Bravos was 91.5 lite on fuel with 3 in the boat.

How is your boat getting on plane?

Am I correct that my props would be spinning out?

http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/4233/img0734lc.jpg

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yes...your props are spinning out.

Boat is ok getting on plane. I have to feather the throttles once it bust loose but that's typical with fountains.

As for the speed report, I was shocked to see 93mph

Test report speeds are obtainable with no gear on board, empty water tanks, and little to no fuel. But typically within 2-3 mph of actual customer experience.

Just an update...I change the prop rotation "in" and it made a HUGE difference. We hit 90 on GPS with 2 people and half tank of fuel, way more stable on top end.

thanks for the help....

I'm going to switch mine too so I'm glad to hear it helped. Was is hard to switch the shifters?

it took maybe 30 min...Just pull pull out the control box and change cables, easier than doing it underneath the dash

I switched my props(32P Bravos) to turn in a while back as well hoping that my handling would improve at speed. At 80 my boat is solid but starting soon after the boat begins to roll side to side. My performance report has the tabs at 2.5 and trim at 4.5 and 90mph. My X dimension is 19" as well. I have tried many combinations of trim and tabs and can't seem to get rid of the rolling. My speed is a little off as well but I think if I could smooth things out I could get there. Any suggestions?

The bottom most likely has some hooks & rockers & needs to be blueprinted.

Hi Reggie, i have a 2011 29. When that boat hits a little over 70 it rolls back and forth bad, not all the time. Bad enough that u have to get out of thr throttle. does that mean it has a problem with the blueprinted bottom. It has the 600 with the ITS/SSM and running a 28 maximus prop with the X at 20. Do u remeber the boat.

I sure do remember the boat. Its a little rocket. There might be few small problems in the bottom that need straightening & the rest is in the setup. Prop,drive height & cg. Let me know if I can help!

Hi, Thank you for the response. At the time when it rocks the drive height is at 4 and the tabs are at 2&1/2. Should I keep this 28 Maximus prop and work with it or should I totally change the prop. What would you recommend for a prop? cg???I love the boat!

A herring would work really good.

Thanks reggie

Good to hear your rocking again.
Will keep ya posted on the new prop.

whats the approximate cost to get a hull blue printed?

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...eprinting.html

The link is from 2004 but you get a ballpark idea of cost.

In my opinion the fatory test reports are very close if you can drive the boat. Mine says 90. Most any day I can get that number with the stock 32 Bravos it was shipped with, good days I can better it by a little. With the other props I have I can more than better the number.

Far as this chine walking deal with a 35 twin step Lightning, you are just not setting the boat up right. The hull is solid as a rock. With the right driver imput it will chew up slop like it is not even there.

The Cost Varies Quite A Bit Depending On The Amount Of Hooks,rockers & Warped Panels That Are Found. The Condition Of The Steps To The String & What The Overall Angle Of Attack Is. There Is Always A Improvement In Speed & Handling.

I agree with you 100% RE, this hull is solid and it was like that on my 2001 35 Light. The 06' is alot different and does walk more than the 01'. I need to try and lab the props, and see if it would make a difference. I feel pretty confident I am setting up the boat correctly, this is my 4th fountain and second 35'

I am new at this having never even ridden in a Fountain before I purchsed mine! I came from a 271 Formula which never did anything at any speed. I am sure there are things I can do differently and I'd like to find out what to do. I'm sure blueprinting would make a difference but not sure when that will be an option. I'll take any other advice I can get! Thanks!

The '06's have a very high X compared to prior years and maybe that makes a difference. Really can not say as my last 35 was a single step design, it was a fantastic handling boat as well. I stand on the comment that as the driver your imput is the key. This hull is one of the finest handling, as well as one of the fastest 35 foot designs out there. One just needs to learn the hull and drive it accordingly. Really no different than any other boat out there.

Now there is an opportunity for RF Boats, a learn to drive your Fountain program! Lessons in boat handling from the man that designed the hull.
I would quit my day job and sign on as an instructor for that venture!:drink:

[QUOTE=RaggedEdge;3470471]The '06's have a very high X compared to prior years and maybe that makes a difference. Really can not say as my last 35 was a single step design, it was a fantastic handling boat as well. I stand on the comment that as the driver your imput is the key. This hull is one of the finest handling, as well as one of the fastest 35 foot designs out there. One just needs to learn the hull and drive it accordingly. Really no different than any other boat out there.

Now there is an opportunity for RF Boats, a learn to drive your Fountain program! Lessons in boat handling from the man that designed the hull.
I would quit my day job and sign on as an instructor for that venture!:drink:[/QUOTE

:Whatever:
Mr.OSO