Old 38SC project
 

I can come out of the closet now... I've secretly been enamored with the beak for quite some time. Now I know how it feels to be FREE!!

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...eeb2d37e03.jpg
38SC project

Okay, the honeymoon's over... like all gorgeous babes (that I've known) the beauty is only skin deep! She needs a complete cabin do-over. The previous owner played surgeon with a Sawzall. Fortunately, through OSO Members Glass Dave, AudioFN, and a few others, I've nearly mastered reglassing stringers. I hope they're still here! And I hope some of you other Fountain DIY'ers can help me piece this train wreck back together. I want to spend the night in it this year.

Your boat looks very nice! I have owned my 1997 38 SC since 2006 and have replaced much but not the interior . I replaced engines, props, stereo, rub rail ,cockpit carpet, seats and aft sundeck upholstery, and so on. If you need a new cockpit carpet, my template with Corinthian carpets is spot on. If you have props that are not ideal I have been down that road to. After 15 years I still I really love this boat for being a good combination of speed and comforts. Hope you will too.

Stringers are unfortunately not a simple or inexpensive job. Fix it if you are planning to keep for a while and consider the price of a new boat. New boats are so much more costly. Avoid the big price tag of a new boat but still painful to fix.

Stringers are unfortunately not a simple or inexpensive job. Fix it if you are planning to keep for a while and consider the price of a new boat. New boats are so much more costly. Avoid the big price tag of a new boat but still painful to fix.

Thanks Pat! I will need new carpet... is there a part number setup with Corinthian?

So far I've only been working out the kinks with the motors and electronics. It's been repowered with 496HO's and 26p bravo props that seem to be matched fairly well. I still have some learning/tweaking to do, but I've seen 63mph at 4500rpm. My biggest learning curve so far is backing up in tight spaces... I envy those guys with joysticks!

Nice boat. I've got a 47SC & needed new cockpit carpet. I wanted the Fountain logo on it like the original. Went to Scotty's Canvas in North Fort Myers to see if they could make it. Found out that their supplier was the original maker for the cockpit carpeting for these boats. They still had the templates/ program to make an exact carpet & put the logo in it. It came out beautiful.

I do really love this boat! It has plenty of speed for me... and on my lake it still gets respect so I'm good!

Pat, when you replaced seats, did you happen to change the side-by-side bolster to two single bolsters? I actually happen to have a couple of old fountain bolsters I am considering putting in it. When I go out with a buddy, that side-by-side feels a little... awkward.

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These are the bolsters I have... I'm pretty sure they're from the same era fountain so should match up fairly well? My only real concern is the step down into the cabin tripping up the passenger. Or, getting in/out of the cabin.

If your props are turning in, it will dock easier turning out. Some guys trim up so reverse works better when props are turning in.

Wow, great tip! Thanks!! Anything is worth a try as I swear one time I was backing up completely sideways lol! The breeze was pushing the nose around faster than the props could correct it. What a mess! I have gotten better at it, but it still feels like I'm having to work too hard to get it right.

It's a big boat with a lot of freeboard. It's going to really get pushed around by the wind in some situations. Don't be afraid to use a little throttle in addition to shifters for maneuvering if things are getting out of hand -- idle speeds don't always cut it!

There's always the bow thruster option too :)

Sorry I have not been on this site for a while but if you call corinthian carpets and ask for my specs they will likely have the template. If not, be careful as the dimensions are a little tricky. I found the aft beam dimensions are actually narrower than towards the bow.

Any updates? I think you may want to consider switching props.Years ago I called Fountain and they said the 38 with twin 502/ 415s runs 70 mph. I questioned this and found engine issues. After repowering, My Hydromotive 26 Quad 4s were dialed back to 25 pitch and lab finished. GPS says high 60s with twin 496/425s. I had Hydromotive do the prop work. These were the props Reggie put on these boats not lab finished though.

hopefully the OP will come back with updates !

I'm still here... idk why I don't get notified when someone posts on this thread?

Lately, I've been working out the issues a lame mobile mechanic created, omg!! I'm hoping to be back on the water this weekend. Aside from fixing everything the mechanic touched, I'm still working out all those little things that crop up. Mostly electrical like a trim tab or drive decides it doesn't want to work. Easy stuff, but never ending (like normal lol!) I'm getting better at the dock... almost dangerous even, but still not confident enough to do pirouettes inside party cove.

I do have another set of props I can try. They're Hydromotive Q-IV (also 26p). They've never seen water so I might as well play around with them?

look at the bottom of the last post, or just above the box where you can reply, there is a subscribe button you can click on so you get notified when there is a reply !

I tried switching the direction of the props and gained all kinds of control! I'm still a rookie, but wow what a difference! I'd say 2x the applied force with direction control. I can move around the docs without touching my steering wheel. Backed into a tight spot without bumping the sides lol! Top speed is now 64 so maybe I lost 1-2mph. Well worth it IMO. Same 4500rpm max.

I slipped on the new out-of-the-box Hydromotives Q-IV (spinning in). I was initially shocked they have different hubs. wth? Then double shocked they have different pitch?? wtf! The prop with the splines has a shorter pitch. It was about 300rpm off at speed. They bit just fine though (didn't blow them out) so they might be worth sending off to be matched properly.

https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...8438e5009e.jpg

My props spin like Fountain set them to. I think it's faster this way but I struggle with docking especially when in reverse on a windy day.