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Fountain 38 lightning topspeed

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Old 07-12-2018 | 02:18 PM
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Default Fountain 38 lightning topspeed

Hello.
New owner to a 2005 38 lightning with 525 efi bravo Xr semi stagered.
Im not pleased with the topspeed. I get 75mph 79mph one time. Testreport says 93mph.
I get 5000rpm on Stb engine and 5300 on port.
Drive setting 4or 5 on indicators.
I have bravo 32p. Props.

What at are your ideas? Anyone with same boat? Top speed?

Looking forward to hear from you.
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Old 07-12-2018 | 02:47 PM
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Lots of variables. Hours on engines? Compression and leak down test? Pulled valve covers looking for broken springs? When were top ends done? What props does your test report say the boat should have, brand and 4 or 5 blade? Props spinning in? Props in very good condition, have they been measured and checked for true? Thats just a start for ideas.
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Old 07-12-2018 | 03:24 PM
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You may also want to post this question in the Fountain owners forum. Lots of knowledgeable people there.
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Old 07-12-2018 | 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by Bjornj
New owner to a 2005 38 lightning with 525 efi bravo Xr semi stagered.
Im not pleased with the topspeed. I get 75mph 79mph one time. Testreport says 93mph.
I get 5000rpm on Stb engine and 5300 on port.
Drive setting 4or 5 on indicators.
I have bravo 32p. Props.

What at are your ideas? Anyone with same boat? Top speed?


You need to bring the boat to the magical Pamlico river, home of the 5 mph current and favorable winds! Then hire a 100 lb leprechaun with blessed hands to throttle that 35 ft beast to its top speed! Be sure to be environmentally friendly and never have more than 8.3 gallons of fuel aboard and point the beak down river! May the GPS genie be with you!
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Old 07-12-2018 | 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted by VoodooRob
Lots of variables. Hours on engines? Compression and leak down test? Pulled valve covers looking for broken springs? When were top ends done? What props does your test report say the boat should have, brand and 4 or 5 blade? Props spinning in? Props in very good condition, have they been measured and checked for true? Thats just a start for ideas.
150hours. No leak down or compression test yet.
Valvesprings looks good.
No topendsdone.
Test report uses same props as I have 4 blade bravo 32. Looks good. Thinking of borrow another kit to try with.
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Old 07-12-2018 | 04:00 PM
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Originally Posted by Jupiter Sunsation
You need to bring the boat to the magical Pamlico river, home of the 5 mph current and favorable winds! Then hire a 100 lb leprechaun with blessed hands to throttle that 35 ft beast to its top speed! Be sure to be environmentally friendly and never have more than 8.3 gallons of fuel aboard and point the beak down river! May the GPS genie be with you!
My report has 84 on it, I normally can hit 85, lots of time 82-83 no problem full fuel load easy.

My buddy just got a 35 EX with 525's and report has it at 88, there is issues with props on his but so far we have seen 87 with him, me, and our wives, lots of fuel, junk they take and Florida heat (two weeks ago).

Those reports are really pretty nice, they show how the boat was ran and set up to hit the posted speed. I don't remember seeing other manufactures doing that but maybe they did.
All that said you defiantly need to start looking at things.
Your numbers show prop slip 25% - 28%. Something not right.
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Old 07-12-2018 | 04:02 PM
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Originally Posted by Bjornj


150hours. No leak down or compression test yet.
Valvesprings looks good.
No topendsdone.
Test report uses same props as I have 4 blade bravo 32. Looks good. Thinking of borrow another kit to try with.
The 35 I said of my friends boat someone had cut the diameter down on them. Don't know why, but take one step at a time till you find it.
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Old 07-12-2018 | 04:13 PM
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How do you trim your outdrives? Indicators at 5?
Boat is out of water for a few days. Now cleaning and changing a leaking Powertrim hose. Then we gonna keep on testing. Poker run in Sweden next weekend😃
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Old 07-12-2018 | 04:14 PM
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Is it a 38 you have also?
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Old 07-12-2018 | 05:41 PM
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The semi-staggered 38 should run over 90 with ease. You have either some very tired mills or some hook in your hull - or both.
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