Side By Side vs. Staggered ????
 

I would like to know if anyone could tell me if there is a noticeable
difference in handling or performance between a side by side and a staggered 42' Lightning when running at high speeds,say 90mph and higher?
I realize that Fountain has went through few different changes in there step configurations throughout the past few years but I was hoping someone could give me a general comparison.
Thanks...............:) :) :)

cant speak for 90mph but i can speak for 80mph, and the answer is very little if any. they are harder to dock, you lose 18in of cocpit space from staggered to side by side in the classic deck boats which really gets close between the frt and rear seats, on the raise windshield boats even if you ordered a side by side you would still get the staggered deck, so no real benifet to side by side configuration in the windshield boats still tight between the seats. at 80 they both fly and land level as for as speed with the same power say 500hp there is next to no speed difference.

later

There is a big difference from side by side to staggerd. For on you have more speed in the staggerd set up. the handling is also better.. now for docking yes it is alittle harder but if your looking for speed and performance staggerd is the way to go. A good place to see this is if you go to a Apba offshore race you will see the Super V's all run staggerds and the F2's side by side.

The spark plugs are easier to change.

i believe that f2 boats cant run with staggered, and fountain until a year ago did not offer a 35 or 38 with staggereds anyway. as for as the speed is concerned i speak from real world experience when i say a staggered 42 with 500's and a side by side with 500s wont be 1mph apart and it could go either way as to whom is ahead. know maybe when you get up into the bigger power which can carry the boat out of the water staggereds will be faster. but at the 80mph range i reference there is little difference
later

The F2 have to run side by side. with 500's or 525 in a 35 to 39 with wieght from 8200 to 8800 lbs theres a big difference.I know you 42 is heavy.