27 Fountain Volvo???????
 

Never heard of one or seen one until now. Did Fountain actually put these in their boats.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NICE-...item4aaeba5b9d

wouldnt be my first choice in powertrain..

ummmmm.....gay. Maybe a OMC Cobra would be a better choice...or a Force Outboard. :lolhit:

Wow. Doesn't even look right does it?

The good is, for a single engine in that boat.... handling would be second to none. It's big enough that around dock you'd want twins and a Duo Prop would do it on a single.
I was selling boats when those came out and they are amazing.
I remember doing a demo w/a 25' trailerable cruiser w/one. Weather sucked and we did it with the full camper enclosure up in a strong wind. I told the boss I'd destroy the boat doing it.

Off the trailer, in/out of dock and back on the trailer w/o touching anything. I was amazed. Trim was also hyper effective.
During my time w/them Volvo tried to do the hi perf boat market but failed.
I saw a well restored 24' Donzi w/twin small blocks and Duo Props for sale. (Should have bought that boat)

Bad is, they are slow and ugly. The seller is going to get hit hard having that drive in this boat.

He would probably be better off removing the engine and drive and selling the hull only.

Would think...
 

almost have to be a re-power?

That's my boat, and don't be a hater till you drive one. Not the way I would have ordered it either, but it does handle great. It's not a re-power. The boat is about as original as they come, and in real nice shape. I did have a carberated 555 in it for a short time. Ran 75 mph and it would track straight as an arrow with no hands on the wheel. The 290DP is a tough drive, and can be made fast with a little work. The DPX was cleaner and faster, but newer than this boat. Pervious owners were an older couple on LOTO, and traded it on a big criuser. The boat ain't fast now, but I would still rather be seen (and drive) a Fountain with a Volvo than a Rinker with a Merc!

Interesting........
 

When I was selling boats in that era, we had a couple 23' Crownline sport cuddies that they dressed up in Offshore style and installed, I think 502's w/Duo Props. Don't remember drive model but do remember Volvo was making a push towards performance at the time. I think our reps were claiming mid 70's w/the Crownlines and were very nice packages.
During same era I sold a 20' open bow w/a 205 V-6 Duo Prop to a family of hard core skiers. I was too at the time and remember the guys being specific w/what they wanted and if a V-6 would even work. Dealer allowed sea trials so I took the 3 of them (all 6' + and 200 + lbs) out and I skied behind it. Insurance wouldn't allow buyers to.
The thing was the absolute best, V-6 powered ski boat I was ever behind. Ran low 50's as I recall as well.
Buyers used to stop in on their way to the lake just to tell me how much they liked the boat.
I think I've read tests saying the DP's give up 3 mph's to the Bravo's on identical rigs w/stock big block power???
If you then look at how much more efficient it is everywhere else where we spend most of our time.......
W/higher power things change of course.

When I was doing the initial break-in with the 555, I used the stock C4 propset. With 3 times the prop surface area over a single prop. it came out of the water like a ski boat- would damn near stand on end. With no performance props available for the 290, I researched the E series props (for the DPX) and found the splines to be the same, but the blades were back farther on the hub. With a little machining, the E4 set mounted up, with the blades 2" rearward of the originals. Kinda acted like a standoff box. Got up on plane great, and ran about 75. There was more in it, but the decision was made to sell the boat before I could use the injected 555, which is a lot stronger than the carb motor was. There was an E5 propset made, but only experimental, from what I was told. I have the inner, but no outer. 80 mph was easily possible with the E5's, or modifying the E4's a bit. Not too shabby for a "gay" outdrive. Maybe if I painted it black...

Very interesting....
 

What you are describing w/the props is "rake". I know props pretty well and can tell you that the rear prop on the current drives looks just like what us O/B guys call a "Yamaha Drag".
Yamaha's failed attempt at Hi Perf props but ended up being the basis of the baddest O/B drag props on the planet.
I have owned every one made, in 2" incrimements from 18" to 28".
Check my website out to learn more about props.
You clearly were on the right page.
TwoStrokeOnly.com

Checked out your website..and I know I have busted your balls from time to time on OSO....but I have to admit..I am a huge fan of the Old School Two Strokes...and I must give you Mad Props.

Not to Hijack...but...what are your thoughts on the OG Evinrude/Johnson V8 OB? A guy on our lake used to have a CAT with twin V8s..back in the 80's (the glory years) and it was the sickest sounding OB I have heard to date. He raced it..not sure what sanctioning body...but I do know he wrecked it on the East Coast and almost killed himself. His last name was Regeer.

Regardless....I gotta give respect where respect is due...I love the mosquito killers.

Toolz I'm not a hater. Just had never even heard of one let alone seen one. My Cobalt was powered the same way. Was a nice stable boat but was slow. Made agreat family boat plenty of power for skiing and tubing.

Thats a really unique package for that 27. Not what I would want, but cool nonetheless. Would be a great boat for someone who cruises long distances/high hour use and still wants a performance style boat.

Those V8 Johnsons are cool motors.. heard they are extremely tempermental though :angry-smiley-038:

I'm sure that's what the original buyer wanted, and I can understand- he didn't need speed, but wanted the best built boat (IMO) that there was. Can't argue with his logic, and it probably even cost him more than the same power with a Merc.

Imo........
 

kinda like screwing in diesels instead of ground on gas motors and their required maintenance. You buy your boat to sit at dock w/hatches up or run??
Would have loved to have driven the 24' Donzi I saw w/the twins.


On the V-8 O/B's (not to hi-jack the thread) they were probably the most under recognized O/B on the planet. Tons and tons of potential.
Gordon Montague of Monty racing (.com) is a buddy/neighbor of mine and one of the best on the planet at waking one up. You can have 400+ HP's of pump gas, bullet proof, 7500 rpm motor in a 550 b package.
They were criticized for being heavy in the day (light by todays 4 stroke standards) which they were but not when no one else made an O/B that strong (Merc did for a few yrs at a similar weight). Also labeled as gas hogs. Again, compared to????

Here's a couple of pix's to show their potential.
#1. Read the specs. Remember, this is in 1984/5! No computers, no injection, and on pump gas w/a warranty! If BRP would bring these back as an E-Tec they would have something.
Very few built/sold.
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...offshoread.jpg

#2. We like when you cahr moter guys pick on us ;) This is almost 600 cu. in's of blown power against an itsy bitsy 240 cu.in. 8 on juice. Set to kill it takes juice or forced induction to get around a clip on.
A friend of mine that just passed away has the world record for a clip on in a 1/4 mile.
7.54 @ 156 in a 150lb boat w/a 2.5 liter motor on juice.
To say the driver had stones would be an understatement.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/l...lownflatty.jpg

And 505, no worries. I've swam upstream all my life.

Continuing to bogart this thread ....., here's a cool video just sent to me.
40 cu. in's, horizontally opposed 4 banger w/sliding expansion chambers (200+ hp's) on a 13' boat. The first 2 1/2 mins is milling before the start (fast forward). After the start listen to the hull hit the waves. You'll hear it go quiet when the sponsons pack enough air to lift off the water.
The Kilo record for this class is in the 130's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qVI-t...eature=related

I have a boner....that dude can wheel a boat...fo sho.