Fountain 38 lightning topspeed
#1
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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.
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.
#2
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.
#4
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Joined: Jun 2005
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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?
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!

#5
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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.
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.
#6
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Merritt Island, FL
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 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.
#7
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Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 7,309
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From: Merritt Island, FL
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.


