Triple 525's or twin staggered? Opinions inside.
 

I am in the market for a 47 fountain and have the following question. What set-up would you run if you were looking for a reliable, mid range use cruiser(45-55). I am not that concerned with fuel consumtion or cost, so that issue is mute. I am however concerned with the motor and drive reliability. The 525's look to get good life(800+ hours) if there not beat to hell, but how well do the drives hold up with the triple combo.

My brother-in law has a 42 foot fountain with triple 525's and says he likes the set-up for both the performace(90+) and the reliability of the combo(not to hi-performace), just wondering about other experienced opinions.

One other question, if a motor breaks down in either boat, will the boats be able to get on plain down a motor? I raise this question, because I plan on using this boat for long trips(200-300 miles).

Chuck B.

You wouldn't like a 17,000lb boat with twin 525s. To start with, the time to plane would be unacceptable and that would be just the beginning of your problems.

I am going with either the triple 525's or the twin 700's.

twin 700's hands down....1 less motor, 3 less bravos, less weight, great speed.....etc.

you dont want a 3 motor boat and your dont want bravos in that thing...let alone 3 of them. The 700's live as long as the 525's.

I have a lot of time in a 47 with triples. I would choose the twin setup any day. Less cost, maintenance and one less power package to worry about breaking. Also on a triple engine setup the center engine never really hooks up good so you end up loosing efficiency over the twin setup. If you ever have to work on the triple you will wish you had purchased the twin as there is way more room and accessibility in the twin setup.

Twin 700's for sure. Way stronger drives, one less motor for maintenance, better fuel consumption and less weight.

No brainer in my opinion.

You're certainly not likely to get 800hrs out of a pair of 525efi's, more like 300-600, and thats with a top end refresh in between. The 700's will probably be more like 200-400hrs.

good info here...

Ask the boat dealer about resale values on the tripples. White elephants very few want. I have seen dealers actually take a used tripple and convert it to twins so they could sell the boat. The 700 package is hot right now on the used market.

Twin 700s will put you in the low 90s so you'll be able to keep up with your BIL(can't let him get ahead of you! :D ) There was a time(back in the Dark Ages) when boats were heavy and motors were unreliable. Trips made sense then.

Three years ago I was on a 40' triple engine V when we lost an alternator belt three miles from the docks in 30mph wind and 3-4' chop(lake). The owner was able to get the boat on plane and get back to the docks where he changed the belt. Without that third motor it would have been a long slog back off plane. So trips can be a good thing.

Shogren has one 700 boat... 47

http://www.teamshogren.com/new-boats...lightning.html

No question. Twin 700's.

i'd say twin 700's and i dont even have a boat. you could put a cot in the engine bay with twins there is so much room. the link from fglightning would sell me right there. if money is no object put twin 1050's in there....

I went through the same situation on my Nor-Tech.. Been in 2 Nor-techs with 525's/bravo's.. ran 92.. I opted for a semi stagged 700, nxt transom assembly and 6's.. runs the same. You do not want a bravo boat, especially one of that size....The speeds will be very close with that Fountain, (1 mph less) Ive run both Fountains like you are talking about. The twins are the way to go, the 700's have a better drive, better COG, easier to work on, maintenance is less, and that blower looks pretty damn good too. They only positive is what Cat said, as well as when getting up on plane it's quicker.. Good luck Jeff

Twin 700s, NXTs, very easy to up the hp on those drives too if you want in the future.

So its safe to say that a twin with a down motor is not going to get on plain. How fast can it run with one motor? Like I said I dont want to be stranded out in the middle of lake michigan.

The 47 foot at Shogrens is very nice, but its new, and I looking to spend no more than $250,000.


Thanks for the responses

I seen a couple of trips that wouldn't plane with one motor down, one of them finally got up after the prop was removed.

Removing a prop in the water anywhere except a beach is not easy.

ya..it's safe to say you will not get up on one 700. Nor would you want to put the stress on her...

i would hate to imagine accidentally loosing a prop after removing it in deep water....

If I went with the 525's, I would want to modify once their was a need too. So from the sound of it, putting whipple chargers on the motors would highly stress the bravo drives, even more.

How about a tripple 700 boat, with #6's. I have seen a few for sale, here or there. Anyone have any experience with this set-up. Fountain said that they had problems with this set-up, but, I believe they just built a triple 700 set-up, that Shogren just sold.

You said money was no object, $250k is not going to buy a very "new" 700/#6 boat.

I said the fuel cost was not an issue. I have approval, from the wife, to spend the $250,000. Thats it. I think most on this site will understand what I am saying!

Snoworks-

I have been keeping an eye on this 47

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...tning-94522183

Got ya! The 700 hasn't been out that long, so it's not easy to come across exactly what you're looking for. Good luck though, with that budget there will be something out there!

I never heard of a 47 fountian with triple 800's, thats bad ass!

with #6 drives

This is what I have my eye on.

http://www.legendmarinegroup.com/sea...sortDir=DESC&#

Its a triple 525 boat.

I have any many a discussion's with triple 500 owners. The keys, as they put it, are how are you treating the boat. I have been told that the 'XR' drives are fine when the boat is up on plain. The issue is the strength from the start. There is alot of strain on a 42/47 foot boat, out of the box. Hammering the throtles is not the best thing to do in any application, but especially with 'XR' drives. However, I have been told, if you add the 3rd motor, you drastically reduce the stresses on the drives. With three drives you have 33.33% load vs. 50% load with two drives. Once you get up on plane, which in the triple boats, its pretty quick, then most of the stress is gone, and the 'XR" drives should do fine. Especially if your not beating the **** out of the boat, etc.

I also want the option to modify the 525's to 700's in the future, and have been told that the 'XR' drives can handle the 700's at speed as well.

Given the cost to repair/replace 'XR' drives vs #6, and or repair/replacing 700's/850's vs. 525's, I still think it makes sense to go with the 525's.

Sorry for the long rant.

nice looking boat.. as to the 525's with bravos on a large heavy boat...keep it with the 525's and leave well enough alone. When you start upgrading, then the drives need to be upgraded to handle the additional amount of power, but more important the extra torque. Then your speed and downforce will increase which will then have additional stress on the drives. Trust me..I have many friends on this board that have gone that route, to only get frustrated. Good Luck.

Great looking boat... Good luck

Maybee I will get lucky and find a used 700 triple with #6's.:evilb:

if you feel the need to travel faster than 91mph.. then you need trips..but a semi stagged twin 700 works just fine..

You want a triple 525 boat, fine, but keep it stock. Both that boat and a twin 700 boat will run close to the same speed. You want to go faster, the 700 boat will only need a pully swap and a tune. The #6/NXT drives will be fine. The trip 525 boat will take lots of money to go faster and then you have bravo drives to mess with. Go with the 700 boat.

The 47 is a full stagg.....and with a reggie tune and pulley swap he will be 100mph with two motors.....i would think.

I already know I am going to plunk down $225,000 or so on a boat. So, I also aready know that after the motors need to be "refreshed" that I will probably be wanting to modify them. Just trying to make the decision by buying the right boat now, so I dont have to purchase another one 3 years from now.

Money does come into play here with the 700/850's. We all know how many hours they are good for, and what its costs to refresh and overhaul. Just trying to keep it in the reasonable range. I still have to put 7 kids through college. Oh, and 4 weddings to pay for!

Thanks for all the replies.

Chuck B.

At a cruise the 700's won't be boosting, so you'll be very reliable. You're nuts to get the triple 525 boat. Really is a heavier, thirstier less reliable package.

:eek:


700 boat will still be a cheaper more reliable package when its all said and done.

Whats wrong with a smaller twin 525 boat....? Thats the ticket there.

Well I have narrowed it down to the triple 525's or the twin 700's.

I would love to include the 850's but I have heard that these motors are really touchy.

CGB

Not touchy just spendy.

That's a sweet boat for sure. SC800's and #6 drives. Seems like a steel.



Darrell.

I have a 1997 47' with 900's and #6's for sale. Were 800's. fresh motors.