"Faired" engine compartment
 

Is anyone familiar with what Fountain means by a "faired" engine compartment?

I just got a 2005 42 Lightning fresh from the factory. I expected it to be a smooth gel coat finish that would be easy to keep clean and would also look cool. My 1985 Wellcraft had it!

What I got was a rough white finish that looks like they painted gel over the glass cloth.

Am I expecting too much, or did they forget to do the upgrade I ordered?

Also, my hatch cover mirrors get a big buckle in them after running for awhile and some heat is under the hatch. Is this normal? I'm talking a 3/4 inch buckle!

Thanks for the feedback.

Jerry :cool:

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

I can comment on the buckle in the mirrored. Mine was about a year old when I got it and there is also a permanent 3/4" buckle in it. I don't know if it grows when heated as I got the boat at the end of the season and it hasn't gotten very hot yet. It looks like they expected it to move as the screw clearance holes are enlarged.

I was going to see what I could do about it next year. Let me know if you solve the problem.

F

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

I'll see what Fountain says on the mirrors.

How is your engine compartment finished? Smooth like gel coat or rough like fiberglass?

Thanks - Jerry

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

It looks like Fountain uses the same "Bilge Kote" white paint that most builders use. Both my 29 and 38 look the same, a glossy thick looking paint. Do a search and I am sure you can find many threads on it.

What doesn't look so good is the creme colored putty sealer they use around the thru hull cables and such. These must be done after the paint is applied. I suppose you could paint over them if you need to.

Is yours white or resin colored?

What engines you got in the 42? Must be sweet!

F

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

Mine appears to be all white. I'm not seeing any of the "off white" you describe.

I set it up with a pair of 525's. I still work a lot and I have to have a boat that's ready to go on the weekend with a reasonable amount of maintenance. I enjoy maintaining it, but I don't like down time. The 525's are rock solid and should give me years of reliable service. I'll still be able to keep up with most V's in almost any water conditions.

Thanks again.
Jerry

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

you will be more than fine with 525's Congrats

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

Any more feedback on someone out there with the "faired" engine compartment? I really want to know if I got my money's worth for the upgrade.

All Fountain owners... Is yours smooth gel coat (like a mold) or rough painted glass?

Still wondering?

Jerry :cool:

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

I have a 2001 and the engine comp is the painted over glass, and I hate it it is a ***** to keep clean. I wish it was gel coated like the exterior of the boat.

WILL :drink:

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

2000 29' Fever --- rough painted over the glass. I second 27Fountain, it is a b**** to keep clean, and the sharp/pointy edges can be tough on the skin when working in the bilge! (not that I try to spend a lot of time in there!)

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

03 29' and it a huge pain in the arse.... Castrol Superclean works well....50/50 with water. The big pain was when I had my fuel pump changed and the proverbial footprints in there took hours for me to get out.

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

04 29 fever and it is rough galss with paint over it. Looked at a bunch of other builders and they were not that way. I will agree with the other guys a pain to clean. I am putting alumin diamond plate over the bottom of my bilge.

Terry

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

The Faired option is glossy white over the raw fiberglass. I'm not sure if it's Gel or paint. It's not smooth. Hope this picture of an 04 42' helps.
Dan

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

Wow!
$1500 extra and it's not smooth?

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

So, I take it that the faired option is more or less a shiney paint vrs the dull white paint?

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

Candyman's picture is exactly the same as my new 42. I can't imagine what it would be if we didn't put out the extra green for "faired"! What the h*** is "Faired" anyway? (Dissapointed in that)

How about the mirror buckle... anyone? :cool:

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

The engine compartment in my boat is painted mess from Fountain....
Thank You So Much.
It's porous and now has a tan stain to it.
The people at Fountain need to stick their nose in the bilge of some of the other manufacturers offerings instead of keeping their nose stuck up their a**.
Next month while the engines are out the bilge gets a new going over with Awlgrip.

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

$1,500.00 FOR THAT!!!! :mad:

Man, that's harsh! My old 29's waaaay smoother than that. You can polish mine.

I just ran outside to look at the new 42 that's here and it has the same chitty finnish that you show in that pic.

Re: "Faired" engine compartment
 

I have never seen a Fountain with a gel coated "finished" engine compartment.

What you were hoping to get was what Formula & Sea Ray have for example.

I'm with the rest of you guys on your thoughts.