Throttles???
 

Why does Fountain put the throttles on the left hand side instead of the right? Being right-handed, I would feel like I want the control of the trottles in my right hand. With the throttles on the left, I would feel like I didn't have as much control.

Is Reggie left-handed?? Can you order a new Fountain with the throttles on the right hand side??

Just thought I would ask.:cool:

In Reggie's words the throttles are on the left for, "unrestricted throttle arm movement." If they were on the right your throttle arm's movement is restricted by the side of the boat. I think its also a throwback to racing boats where the throttle was on the left of the driver so either the driver or the throttleman could work them. That way if one person were incapacitated during a run one person could drive the boat back.

Dont worry it only takes a few times out to get used to the left hand throttle. I felt kind of funny the first few times out but now after owning the boat for 2.5 months its second nature.

Ron

I thought it would be weird to have a left throttle. However now that I have it, I like it better than the right throttle. Reason is normally I use my right hand to drive anyway. I noticed in my ski boat I find myself switching hands on the steering wheel so I can change throttle. Not so with the left hand throttle.:cool:

It took me a couple of times out to get it into my head, no bid deal now.

Dumb Question (don't laugh) - is the forward gear on everyone elses boat down (reverse up)? I just want to make sure that I wasn't sold the wrong direction prop.

Thanks.

Running a Fever,

My throttle goes up for forward and down to reverse. My prop is left turning.

Zack Attack

RUNNIN A FEVER,

I hate to tell you this, but you're gears are backwards. You can correct it by either switching your prop rotation or switch your gear cables. A lot of guys with twins switch their props to rotate in or out and that makes the gears work in reverse. So to correct it they just switch the cables.

Lefty

Up is forward. You can switch the cables to take care of the problem. I would ask the other members which way there prop rotates. There are could be an advantages to prop rotation on your boat.
Dan

Thanks for the info. So am I correct in understanding that my drive is turning the correct way for "forward" or is it operating in reverse to move forward? Does it make a difference which way the gears turn? As best I can tell my prop rotates to the right.

To "switch the cables" all I need to do is get under the dash and physically change the connection points?

I just don't want to damage my drive.

Thanks again.

What size and year is your Fountain? I beleive they put lefties on all single engine Fountains.

Before you change the cable make sure you are using the right rotation. Did you buy the boat used or new? Is this the prop that came on it? The Fountain web site calls for a right hand prop. You can run the Bravo in either direction without hurting it. You are correct that the cable needs to be moved to the other side of the handle. If the boat has many hours on it I would want to keep the same rotation. If you change props that will cure the problem also.

Dan

Mpally - My boat is a 2000 27 fever with 502 Mag with 20 hrs turning a 4 blade RH Mercury Revolution Prop at 23 Pitch.

The boat didn't have a prop on it since it was a bank repo from a dealer in AZ. The dealer went under and the bank's lot sold it to me as new. The dealer had this prop and cut me a good deal on it (he said it was the one for the boat, but maybe he didn't consider right hand or left).

So after some calls and research the only thing wrong with this picture is the direction of the gear selector. I am not putting any undo stress on my drive or motor? Please correct me if I am wrong. I'm going to try and find the test sheet for my boat.

I plan to start a thread to ask other owner what they are running and the pros and cons.

Thanks again for all the help, it's great to have so many knowledgable people that are willing to lend some advise.

If you call the factory with the serial number of the boat and the drive they should be able to tell you what direction the prop should be. I bet you either have a left hand drive.

Call the factory and ask. I'm sure it was set up for a LH prop. You can either buy a new LH prop or just switch the cable on the back of the throttle. As long as there are not a lot of hours on the drive you can switch the cables. The gears being run in the forward direction may have a set to them. That is why I wouldn't want to change directions of the drive. Either way it is that simple. The cable is a ten-minute project.
Dan

Dan is right the drive can be ran either way. From what I have been told reggie spins them left because the pressure points are different and the drive will last longer, may be BS but it sounds good. I just went through this prop changing . I have a twin 29 and put new 28p four blade props on and hated them they were spinning out. I came back swapped props from side to side and ran thr boat with the levers in rev. the boat was like brand new, I then came back pulled the drives and swapped the drives and cables so the props spun in and the levers were up for forward. I only changed the drives because I thought the drives should spinn the way they have since 1991.

dockmech - do you have LH or RH props? Which do you like better? If I read the post correctly, the spin in drives would have RH props? Have your drives been spinning in since 91, how is the condition of them? Turning out to go forward just seems a bit off to me.

Thanks.