What makes the boats of today so fast?
07-12-2013 | 11:12 AM
#22
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From: Plainville/Old Lyme, CT Boca Raton, FL
Talk to richie powers about this and you will be very surprised how little the steps make a difference. For example, take a straight bottom 38TG, build it to the same weight as the new twin steps, put 525's with ITS transoms, high x, and 5 blade props. I bet it would be very very close to running with the TS boat. Most likely 2-3 mph in perfect conditions.
07-12-2013 | 01:05 PM
#24
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Joined: Nov 2002
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From: New Jersey
Take the evolution of the 35 Fountain for example.
The original 1995-ish single-stepped bottom 35 Ex with side-by-side HP 500's and 4 blade Hydromotive props ran around 81 and came up on plane in a snap.
In around 2000 Fountain introduced their new twin step design (with much larger steps) and with everything else constant the boat picked up 3- 5 Mph because of the advanced step design. The 35 Lightning now topped out around the 85 - 86 MPH range.
From 2003 on Fountain switched to 525's and the 35' twin steps broke the 90 MPH barrier. But about the same time advancements in design of 5 props allowed Reggie to start really raising the X diminsion on his Fountains and the speed of the 35 twin stepped side-by side-Lightnings crept up to the 94 range by 2006. However, as the X was raised getting on plane became more and more of a chore.
In 2007 Reggie introduced the Staggered 35 Lightning. He sacrificed a great deal of cockpit space in order to do the stagger but with 525's and now 6 blade Herrings the boat exceeded 100 mph.
The original 1995-ish single-stepped bottom 35 Ex with side-by-side HP 500's and 4 blade Hydromotive props ran around 81 and came up on plane in a snap.
In around 2000 Fountain introduced their new twin step design (with much larger steps) and with everything else constant the boat picked up 3- 5 Mph because of the advanced step design. The 35 Lightning now topped out around the 85 - 86 MPH range.
From 2003 on Fountain switched to 525's and the 35' twin steps broke the 90 MPH barrier. But about the same time advancements in design of 5 props allowed Reggie to start really raising the X diminsion on his Fountains and the speed of the 35 twin stepped side-by side-Lightnings crept up to the 94 range by 2006. However, as the X was raised getting on plane became more and more of a chore.
In 2007 Reggie introduced the Staggered 35 Lightning. He sacrificed a great deal of cockpit space in order to do the stagger but with 525's and now 6 blade Herrings the boat exceeded 100 mph.
07-12-2013 | 01:11 PM
#27
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From: Kingsville----lake erie
I think that 38 scarab AVS needs some fine tuning as Humpsters boat runs 92mph with 850 a side.
I agree great chronology with the 35 fountain -- how was the handling and seat of your ass feel as the hull was lightened and the larger steps produced more of a cushion of air underneath the hull?
I like speed and yet I've ridden in some boats that should not go as fast as they do ;0
I agree great chronology with the 35 fountain -- how was the handling and seat of your ass feel as the hull was lightened and the larger steps produced more of a cushion of air underneath the hull?
I like speed and yet I've ridden in some boats that should not go as fast as they do ;0
07-12-2013 | 01:44 PM
#28
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Okanagan Falls BC. Canada
what makes today's boats faster? More HP. My friend's old 1998 35 Fountain 600SC's with Blowershop blowers can run 100 with light load. We had it up to 96 [ clocked by helicopter at the poker run ] with 4 people on board and half fuel. Boat is pretty light given the foam core hull and step. Install some Merc 1100's or 1350's and it would fly [ literally apart, pun intended ] haha.
My 25'7" boat is designed in 1990 to run on a single BB to about 65-68. Got twin small blocks and it runs up to 76. No magic there, just more power.
My 25'7" boat is designed in 1990 to run on a single BB to about 65-68. Got twin small blocks and it runs up to 76. No magic there, just more power.
07-12-2013 | 05:29 PM
#30
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Joined: May 2004
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From: Auburn, New York
[ATTACH=CONFIG]504285[/ATTACH]
The 35's evolution is a great example.
Steps, stagger, balance, etc.; but look how high these drives are mounted. Drive height and prop technology makes this one fast.
The 35's evolution is a great example.
Steps, stagger, balance, etc.; but look how high these drives are mounted. Drive height and prop technology makes this one fast.
