Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

I'm following up on a thread in the Milling Area talking about some of the 29's that used to compete in F1 class. Speculation was that a 29 with a 525 in F1 trim may push the mid-90's mark. It's just speculation, no one's tried it. Moot point, F1 is going the other direction with the 496 for power.

This brought up a better question: why are there no Fountains with a lid running in SVL class? The 29 with a lid seems like it would be pretty competitive package.

Better yet, what about a 32 with a flat deck, no swim platform, and a canopy? :cool:

Do any single engine 32's exist out there? Anyone care to irresponsibly speculate on what speeds you might get out of a 32 that was lightened up to say, 4800 lbs? Assume a single 525, high X-dim with 15" of box on the back.

For those of you with the "inside scoop" at the factory, has anyone ever considered one of these? What happened?

Just thinkin' out loud...

Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Brian,

Doesn't a 35' equal out to be a 32 with the platform removed?????

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

It would be close, but in days past, it was measured at 32'11". Too short for Super V (34-40), too long for SVL (26-32). Unfortunately, puts one of the most successful hulls out of the competition. The 35' is only APBA-legal in F2.

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Wonder how it would work and I wonder if they would let it in being that it is too long. Guess only one way to find out is ask.

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

I also wonder how difficult it would be to get it down to 4750-4800lbs in single engine SVL trim. Yup, it's worth asking.

Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

p4-33, Brian, What do you mean by "lid"? Is it a full canopy?? I know it's a dumb question, but I was curious anyway. I am a pleasure boater, not a racer. Thanks.

Dave

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Hey Dave,

Yes, a lid refers to a canopy. See the picture in post #2. "Lids" are a requirement for all "Super" classes, such as Super Vee (SV) and Super Vee Light (SVL).

In most cases, manufacturers incorporate canopy provisions into the entire deck mold. This is what people refer to as a purpose-build raceboat. I don't know how common to is to retro-fit a canopy into an existing open cockpit hull, but I'm sure it possible. Just comes down to money, like everything else.

Hope this helps,
Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Thanks for the clarification :drink:

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Brian,

Did you find out if it would be legal or not???

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Haven't looked into it just jet. The folks at SBI/APBA have been pretty busy over the last month or so, thought it would be best to let them tend to business.

I'm not ready to shift classes for this season. Just looking at ideas for the long haul. I'll drop a line to the homologation folks and see what they have to say. There's also the issue of building one, and get it to come in at a competitive weight. That's a whole different question for the Fountain team.

Thanks for asking,
Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Is the one in your picture a single??? It sure looks like it!!

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Fun Home,

The boat in the picture is actually a twin engine 35'. Basically the popular F2 version(ie.Utz, Lake Cumberland/Rusty Wallace) with a canopy.

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Yeah, I don't know of ANY 35's set up with single engine, and there are hundreds of them out there. That's why this request to the homologation folks as well as Fountain is quite out of the ordinary.

Doesn't mean that it couldn't work, tho.

Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Thanks Shane!!! I guess that covers SBI/APBA. Now can it be legal for OSS SVL????

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Hey Shane,

Thanks for the reply, but I'm not sure I understand your answer to the question. Let's suppose the 35 hull, with no swim platform measures at 32'11" (although I've not been able to get this confirmed, yet). "No tolerance" to me sounds like it would be over the 32' limit, and NOT be legal for SVL.

What does "no tolerance" mean?

Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

I was just digging thru the rule books for SBI (2004) and OSS (2004)...

SBI says "Overall lengths shall be rounded off within a six (6") inch tolerance. but no specs for SVL.
OSS doesn't mention tolerances, lists OSSVL as "Length Minimum 26'0", Length Maximum 32'0".

We'll have to see how the 2005 rules shake out.

Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Brian,
What about a canopied version of the 32'????

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

That's what I was wondering. The 32 in single SVL trim seems like it would be the hot setup.

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Just really surprised with the way this class has evolved and the time and money spends on racing that they have not come out with one yet. You agree Gordo??? How you been??

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Hiya Dennis! Been, cold.
Agree 100%, but I'm guessing that Reggie is going to focus on the bigger class boats since, from a boat sales aspect, that's where the better proffit margin is. That being said, I know Reggie likes his boats to dominate no matter what class they're in, and I'd think the 32 in SVL trim would scream. Of course, it would have to in order to keep up with the Extreme.
Hope you guys are staying warm up there.

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

I agree, the 32 would fit the SVL class the best of any of the Fountain line. If the weight came in on target, it should be very competitive.

The problem is that it's out-of-production. I believe there's homologation rules stating that 5 hulls have to be produced to qualify. Don't know if that's current model year hulls, or overall production.

I've asked the homologation folks this question, but still waiting on an answer.

If this gets answered favorably, the next question would be to ask Fountain about the prospects of developing a deck mold for a 32 canopy. Seems to me that this program might draw some interest from other racers with a preference for Fountain hulls that want to move up (or down) to SVL class.

I've been holding off talking to the factory, waiting on a homologation answer.

The next step will be to get a shiftable Konrad drive thru the same process. :cool:

Cheers,
Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Brian,

Just curious if you have gotten any word on any of this???

Thanks
Dennis

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

No word from homologation folks yet. I'm at the Miami show right now, and I plan to visit the Fountain folks tomorrow morning to get an idea on fitting a canopy to an existing hull, or the feasability of building a top deck mold.

I'll let y'all know what I find out.

Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Brian,

Also inquire about what they think they would build for an SVL boat????

Thanks,
DPT

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

No problem

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Hey guys, sorry for the delay. Trying to catch up after the show.

I talked to the Fountain folks about a SVL project on Friday. It was interesting that they had already discussed this the night before during a Fountain team dinner in Miami, so they already had answers for me.

The twin-step 35 hull would be their target. Without the platform, it measures 32'11". This would put length at 5" over the 6" tolerance allowed by SBI/APBA. They didn't see weight as a problem, and a canopied deck mold already exists for the 35 hull. They thought they should look into moving the canopy backwards, because CG with 1 motor would change quite a bit. There would also be a fair amount of balance work to accomplish, because there isn't one 35 hull in existence anywhere in the world with 1 motor, and doing a canopied boat at 4800 lbs is new territory for them. They seemed excited about the prospect. They were also confident that a twin step 35 at that weight would be very competitive.

So, then there's rules. They believed that if there was some interest for this boat (ie: potential for the class to grow), they might be able to get a 5" variance on existing SVL rules. Fountain campaigns a bunch of boats with SBI/APBA, yet there's currently no place for the 35 hull to compete.

OSS is a whole different story. Their rules are governed by equipment owners. So the question would come down to - do SVL teams want to allow a hull into their class that has the potential to clean up? An interesting question.

On a side note, I understand that during F2 class meetings in Atlanta, the subject of drives came up. The Konrad 540 was discussed for consideration for homologation into the class. In the end, they decided against it due to the requirement for a tranny in it's current configuration. It's no secret that a shiftable drive is on their product roadmap, so allowing it in the future is a good possibility. Bottom line is that the Konrad name was brought up in equipment conversations, completely unsolicited. I saw this as very encouraging.

That's the scoop.
Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Thanks Brian. At least now if there are any potential people interested in wanting to run a Fountain in that class there may be a strong opportunity. Hope someone builds one soon. Is yours on order??

Thanks Again,
Dennis

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Haven't ordered one just yet, I'll stick to p-class this year. This was a long-term planning exercise. It's a little late in the season to be starting a new boat, anyway.

All that's left is to find someone to buy me one. Interested? ;)

Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

I wish I could buy myself one along with one for you. Not in my cards right now but hey you never know what can change right????

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Cheers,
Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

Here is my quick thought on the subject. It's been a while since I was active, but I've owned an F1 29' Fountain and I've driven the Extreme. There is no comparison. The Fountain can't handle the rough or choppy stuff like the Extreme. If I was Reggie, I wouldn't bother with it until I was ready to start from scratch with new molds. The Fountains have too much beam and they can't handle rough water.

Sure kilo numbers are great, but a race course is another story. The longer Fountains may handle the rough differently, could be a length to beam ratio thing. The shorter Fountains are too stubby. Kind of like a short fat Polish girl.

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

That's why I like the idea of the 35... nice long sleek legs, built for performance, not awkwardness :)

You're right, the 29 isn't "it" for SVL. Probably a good reason why no one's done one.

Brian

Re: Fountain for Super Vee Light class
 

That is because once you get rid of the beak and the platform you are only a 22-23 foot boat I think I was told.

Would love to see the 35 in a single / race version.

I don't understand why Fountain doesn't build a SLV boat. It's my understanding that they are only building the 32' boat and nothing smaller. So why wouldn't they take the 32' hull put two big steps in it like the rest of their boats, and use it as a test bed for their pleasure boats. They could put a cut down deck like the rest of their race boats. I'm sure they could build a boat that would be competative. There is more competition and a higher boat count in the SLV class than any other v bottom class.

Phantoms and Extremes would smoke it that's why. They're 7ft beams and built for racing. Offshore Racing isn't a profittable venture either. It'll never happen at Fountain.

Fountain doesn't make a 32' sport boat any more, bottom line... just a center console. Homologation rules state that new hulls introduced into a spec class must be based on the same mold for a similar boat in a company's pleasure boat product line.

Brian

Interesting older thread.....

Sure is Phantom1

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