Hi Everyone

I am looking at purchasing a 2000 or newer single engine 29ft Fever.
This will be my first offshore/powerboat so I am fairley new to this and just looking for some knowledge.

A few quick things that may or may not help with a some of my questions.
-I will be running the boat in Michigan on Lake St Clair 99% of the time
-99% of the time I will have no more than 2 to 4 adults on board while running
-I probably will not run it WOT but once or twice a season for a few minutes (Basically not looking for something with huge top end speed)
-I am a larger guy 5'11" 250lbs


So here are some of my questions

What are everyones thoughts on the 496 MAG H.O. to power this boat?
[To me it seems like it might be a bit under powered for the boat when compared to the Blue 500 efi]


How is the 496 MAG H.O. on fuel, maintenance wise, reliability, etc?


How is the 500 EFI on fuel, maintenance wise, reliability, etc?


I know I am forgetting a few other questions right now so I will probably have more to come. But basically I am looking for Speed, reliablitity, economical, easily maintained, and some what easy on the wallet... Maybe I need a hobby other than boating or just a row boat haha =)


I am open to any and all suggestions other than "get something other than a Fountain" because I've wanted a Fountain since I was 13 years old =)


Thank you for any and all help

I haven't owned one. The 496 is basically a reliable trouble free package. The blue motors(500,525) make more horsepower but require maintenance including heads checked and freshened around 300. Pressure testing headers especially on a 525 but any stainless header should be pressure tested regularly. The 425 mag should run the boat well I'd guess some where between 65-70. Hopefully someone with it or with experience with it will chime in and help more. Good luck on finding the right one.

I am not sure I have ever seen a 29 with a 496... unless perhaps a repower? I owned a 29 with a single 525SC and was not real happy with the boat. As a single engine, the time to plane was slow. We eventually swapped the lower for an IMCO -2 and added large k-planes and that helped. I think the ride and handling improve with twin small blocks. I was not real impressed with the ride characteristics of the boat, as it did not like the slop/confused waters typical of the bay. May not be an issue on Lake St. Clair.

If you don't want to go the twin engine route, I would stick to the HP500.

i owned a 29 ft boat single engine (not a fountain) but what dirt lawyer says is 100% correct with a single engine in that size boat it does not handle as well in rough water as a twin small blocks would. your cruise speed would be much better with twins and would probably end up saving fuel because they do not work as hard.

My 29' stepped hull w/ twin blue HP500's gives me reliability, rough-water ride and performance all in one "towable" package. Aside from needing to be a contortionist to change the spark plugs, regular maintenance isn't terribly difficult. For what I gain in ride, reliability and performance I gladly pay a little more for in fuel/maintenance- that's just how powerboating goes. Oh yeah and btw- it's for sale in OSO classifieds

Theres one on here in the classifieds thaI has a 496 in it...that's under powered IMO, but that's an opinion and everyones is different.

For the little you plan on running it hard it may be fine for you, plus im not sure how much over 70 it would run, if that fast

As far as reliability, go look through the General Q & A and look at the threads asking about 496 problems vs blue engines...again, my opinion.

Just keep in mind that its actually closer to a 26' foot boat.

Good luck on your search !

I have a 29 with twin 454s 385hp each with labbed IVs and on GPS I can hit 79 two people full of fuel on a good day. A 29 with one 496. 70ish maybe but you are a lot lighter without the second motor. People have asked me "Is that boat sinking". One motor is a lot easier to work on. A LOT easier. Which brings me to fuel. If you have to budget fuel costs take up golf. But I only wish I would have bought a Fountain 20 years ago. Live your Dream Man. I'm 5' 10" 215 ibs your size may come into play going through the hatch or through the cabin doors. I don't know what your budget for a boat is. They did make 29s with single 500s or at least they are out there. But I wish I would have bought a 32 with 500s for the Chesapeake bay. So I am thinking of selling and picking up a 35 or even a 38 since the shop is finished and I have the room. I wanted a 29 or 32 because of the local boat ramps. With the new ramp only five miles away that's no longer an issue. I'm a addict for go-fasts that does not want to be cured. Good Luck

I started this thread a while ago and got excellent feedback.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...n-27-29-a.html

Ended up with a 29 with twin sbc's. It is fantastic. Runs 70 and I'm totally ok with it. That next 10 mph gets expensive

Lots of opinions on the right 29 setup, but overall everyone seems stoked on whatever 29 they had or still have.

496s are good engines, just a ton of sensors and alarms. So buy a scanner, but they can run a long time as long as they don't get overheated. You are going to get banged around on a big lake with a 29, 35 would be better but then you are twins. Higher fuel and mant.

http://www.pier57.com/web/used/Fount...nois/11040662/