1988 29 Fountain power question
 

A friend of mine just purchased an 88 29 Fountain. My question is does anyone know of anyone with a 29 with HP 500's, and if so what we're the performance numbers such as speed at 3000 rpm's, 3500 rpm's and top end. The boat now has stock 330's in it. If not HP'S something close to it. Would be interested in knowing what size props also.

My twin 27 (29) Fountain came with 454/365 mag engines and it ran 76 on the pitot tube speedo, which turned out to be 72 on a GPS I got later. This is with Bravo 1 drives with nose cones and 14 1/2" x 26 pitch 3 blade Spinelli props.

Friend of mine had a 98 with 454EFI's would run about 82 if all the planets were alinged and your balls were big enough...could get unruly in a hurry....in my opinion they are great 75 mph boats...and many run faster...some have run 100+ but overall you better know what you are doing..understood, reggie 1st dropped the 502EFI option, then the twin B/B all together...why you see many later model ones with twin S/B's..so to answer your question..I have never seen a twin 500HP 29...not to say they never made any...

jackieboy; Clear out your inbox and I wil PM you someone that dropped 500s in his boat two years ago

My 29 with stock 365s BB ran 68gps with four blade finished props 24p @ 4800. We are in process of bumping the power a bit so I am hoping to be able to turn 26p. Installing steering asap, as it can get hairy quickly!

I would love to get more info on the fever with hp500s....

Installing full hydraulic steering is a good idea, don't get me wrong, but it is still going to be hairy. I was going to have Reggie III do some work on my boat and he suggested just tightening up the slack in my cable steering. I have always read on OSO about how full hydraulic steering was needed. I didn't want to put a bunch of money into rebuilding/tightening up my cable steering and still have to go full hydraulic anyways. I ended going with someone else to do rigging and painting on my boat. One of the things I wanted done was full hydraulic steering. Full hydraulic steering made absolutely no difference on my boat. It is still a white knuckle ride once you get over 80. In fact, I hardly ever get it up to that speed because it chine walks so bad. I have not had very much success "steering" out of it either.

Try dropping you tabs just a little. My 32 doesn't like them above level, and I see no speed loss.

The steering is more for safety, if that steering cable breaks everyone in the boat probably won't be in the boat very long, at least with hydraulic steering, if the pump fails you can still steer, it won't be fun but it's possible. As for the chine walking, hydraulic steering might hurt due to zero slop in the steering, but I haven't experienced it yet so that's just a guess. I have heard of doing the tabs, and have read of guys installing 380 k planes, and that seems to help a bunch. I don't know if I want to trim the 380s though to clear the drives... I may change my mind if it is terrible chine walking though! Depends on the terror face my dad has if it starts walking. What speed is the worst or egged did it start walking?

I would think a 29 with twin 500s would be floating the sun deck with all that weight! Fast boat for sure on the throttles.

I have seen a few with twin 500s listed for sale over the last couple years, one was at Pier 57 last year I believe. The owners usually claim low to mid 80's, which would make sense since a single 575 29 will run low 80's.

My boat has been converted to full hydraulic steering (to the helm) and trimmed 380 k plane plates added. This was done thinking that the chine walk would disappear. Both of these additions didn't help my boat at all. As soon as I get to 78-79, it starts walkin! Dropping the tabs down until it stops slows the boat down. I've got a pair of 540's in my boat and I can't use them to their full potential. As soon as I hit the low 80's @4600 rpm (32 pitch bravo 1's) it gets really unstable.

I've always wanted to upgrade the power on my 29 and get into the 90s. Anyone have experience on what a single 29 is like between 80-95? Thanks.