"Way Big Fun"
 

..that was the title of the test of a 42' Fountain in Powerboat Magazine May '04. Staggered 1100 HP Cobra's...great engines from what I am hearing...# 6 drives...the boat topped out at 120 mph on radar...definitely a fast ride...PB said " It's a true offshore with sophisticated handling manners and a gentle ride..and it can fly"...lists for $ 534,505....probably can do better in checking ...reasonable for the power and all....

...my one and only question....and not asked for any other reason than I am interested in knowing....


..here's the question...

the "speed calculator says it should do 116 mph...so it did better than predicted there....


....this same sized 42' Fountain did 160 mph in the speed trial with similar or slightly less power....

why 120 mph for this boat and 160 for the other?

...now on the speed calculator...you would need a 5,000 pound boat with this power to do 160 mph...the hull is tweaked already so there is only so much you can do there...was the speed trial boat a light epoxy 5,000 lb boat?

...I am not trying to be difficult...but just trying to understand why this boat off the rack with 2200 HP isn't at least 140-150 mph....seem like a reasonable question? I mean i was lead to believe you could do 160 mph in a 42' boat...120 mph is great but 40 mph short of a days wages....know what I mean?

When a boat is run..specs of the boat should be mandated...and published...an educated consumer is the best consumer...right?

Theory sucks.

Get a boat.

AHHHHH!!!!!
 

Please , someone tell me who this guy is..........Please.

Speed calculators are just an estimate. They dont take into consideration enough variables to make the comparisons you are attempting to make.

Just go for a ride with your handheld GPS.

Someone has a calculator online which uses an effeciency cooffecient. You could take the actual speed number and work the equation backwards and come up with the actual cooffecient for the hull. From there you would have a much more accurate estimate for that particular hull only. When I say that hull only I mean only one hull. A sister hull will more than likely be different.

Oh and one more thing... BUY A BOAT! :D

Ron

Catmando is back :D

Oh one more thing. Magazine speeds are sometimes questionable.

A boat I was looking at was advertised to exceed 70 mph. Everyone I looked at had 23" props on it. All the owners said they would do over 70. A quick check with the prop slip formula proved it was a mathematical impossibility. You would need a slip ratio around 1% to achieve these low 70's speeds and stay under the factory rev limiter. But when this boat was tested in the mags it ran low 70's with 23" props. So they dont even worry about their own numbers being possible.

Ron

ok..I must lack reasoning skills...and dumb me thinking that 1100 Hp twins would do 160 mph when it did a few months back in a 42'er...OBVIOUSLY that was a very different 42' custom made boat for one purpose......

..my only point is that a 38' Gun can do about 120+ mph with this power...many say the Fountain 42' is about equivalent because of point in front and platform..so a 38' gun is about equal to a Fountain in efficiency..if not better....

and it's not about speed calulators..it's simply that the speed record 42'er did 160 mph and this does 120 mph...I would like to know why the speed difference..is all

and it has nothing to do about buying a boat...even if I had 20 boats I would still be analytical ...

...Marketing!

..and it's a credit to both...

...and it's not a theory GLH...

why dosen't a 42' Fountain with 2200 HP do 160?

...it did in the speed trials?

...supposedly the OL that hit about the same speed was stock; right?

..I mean I call call 'em the way I see 'em...no slam to anyone...just would like some parity in tests and trials ...right now they mean nothing...

....and that thread where a guy bought a Formula and the spec sheets said one speed and his actual was another..it was the same with my last 2 boats...both were advertised 5mph more than I was getting...and leaving me with the impression that "something was not tuned right"..

...PORSCHE has a policy...their company policy which is ENFORCED to the letter..is that whatever they print in their brochure regarding performance specs are actual specs...if they say a car will do 168 mph and you take it out on a track and it won't they will and have replaced 911's for a silly 1 mph or 2 MPH...why? Because it is THEIR standard....all 911's are Autobahn tested and exceed specs....but knowing that theY are tried and TRUE speaks volumes about them and what they do...

this is about customer service..remember the thread " what happens after you buy a boat"....no service...it all starts here....WALKING THE WALK....WITH THE PRE-SALE
MARKETING

Maybe the 160mph boat had more HP than they claimed:eek: :eek: :D

...if an event is sanctioned..I say they go through the boat with a fine tooth comb...supervise dyno testing etc...watch the build and inspect from a-z....it's just human nature....


...yea Rob..SOMETHING...right?

I think that is a good question. i read this forum everyday and notice some people look for any excuse to rag on other people. This guy has a legitimate question if you do not have the answer don't post. i for one would like to know the answer and i have SEVERAL boat's

...do you know a 42' "stock" Fountain would need 4200 HP to hit 160 mph...


so i doubt "they" were running T-2100 HP engines...in a "stock boat with a canopy)

...Triple 1050 Sterlings make the "stock" boat go 138 mph

...now Triple 1400 HP motors would make the stock boat go 160 mph

....so folks HP alone did not do this...that boat was very very light....or the bottom was significantly different....or more HP was used...

who knows...but the average idiot like me actually thought a stock 42' with 1050 Sterlings did this...and maybe it did...PLEASE TELL OR SHOW ME I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW THE "HOWS"...ok?


know what my calculations show? Just about every boat with steps in the same size range is about equally efficient...unless you play with weight reduction aka "Epoxy" lite layups...they are pretty similar...I didn't know that 2 months ago...

...and don't get me wrong..the 42' Fountain is still one of my favorites...this would not stop me from buying one...I just want to know the facts and nothing but the facts maam...

160 mph is a tremendous achievement...show us the technology it took to do it is all....ok?

...playing "Colombo" a little is all...

Lonely at the Fountain factory again...

check your pockets you might have enough change. :D

Maybe the speed trial boat had bigger bubbles coming from the steps..... :rolleyes:

...I am starting to wonder about GLH and the rocker too!

...hey this time I have a very legitimate question...and not too many forthcoming answers...


....and GLH when all is said and done....if you can't spring 5 cents to help a fellow boater ....but hey I think a lot of us "nit wits" have a decent question now and then...

I would think the lighter the boat the equation would change . The more of the hull out of the water the less drag so it would be more efficient.

I still say they had more hp than they claimed . 2000 hp each on a bonzi run would be very easy to do.

..if it's sanctioned...you have to inspect everything and report it to the public I would think....hope somebody reads this and things change....ya gotta watch 'em put the thing together,....ever see how "Winston Cup" cars are inspected/sanctioned? they take a wrench to them...look at the jets on the carbs..etc..not just mark a course off with buoys and a radar gun...and I NEVER said there was any wrong doing...just "SHOW ME" what you did...how you did it...and the results...

what DID impress me was the boat In PB tested a couple 2-3 months back ...Fountain 35' with chilled 575's that went 136mph....so I was ok thinking the 42' with 1050 Sterlings would hit 160mph..didn't give it a second thought...till Powerboat tested a 42' with 1100 Cobras that hit 120 on GPS and Radar...that's 40 mph difference folks...

...and if I am wrong it just means I am wrong...hey give me a PM and a plane ticket Reg and i will do a run with you as the beneficiary of the policy...
:D

...what actually started all this is that I talked to a dealer who sold several brands including Fountain..and I asked what I could get a 42' executioner for with T- 1050 Sterlings..and the salesman said forget 160 mph...
...maybe a Poker run with triples he said...see my point?

So, after all this, have you bought a boat yet?? No??? Well get on with it then. :rolleyes:

..so far the best thing I have really found to my likings is a 42' tiger TS with 575's...I posted the test published today on another thread earlier..I like your pick-up with the outboard...they said it's yours...

I know for a fact that the boat tested has a little more in it than 120. As for your question i would love to know the weight differences, construction differences, and bottom/drivetrain dimensions were on the Race boat to this production boat.

well put...

46' Rough Rider...T-900 Hp Zuls..111.2 radar mph...hey that's not hay baby for a 46'er with no platform or beak!


see why that 42' Fountain with T-1100 Cobra's at 120 mph was less than expected? Hey maybe something wasn't bolted down right or who knows what but it should have went 140 mph for sure!

http://www.powerboatmagazine.com/2002tests/june7.php

...my only point is that Cigarette dosen't "toot their horn" much or do a lot with speed trials...but man look at where they are at....At least tied for top efficiency and performance...speed wise...I knew they were good and in my top 3 list but I never did the research to find out just how fast and nimble they are....

and that's no slam to Fountain I keep saying it' a great boat...and Rio is a great boat...but Cigarette has got my undivided attention for sure!

I always thought a "rough rider" was a condom with bumps on the shaft part... maybe I'm wrong... These boat tests and speed tests and bragging rights are all about comparing apples and oranges... I still say the worlds fastest boat went over 500 mph ( before it sank)..... under no power at all.... and it doesn't get credit or any bragging rights..... I'll post the picture of this boat..... :D

tee heeeee heeee heeee heee.... :D :D :D :D I dont' know why everyone is getting their hackles up over the speed of "one trick ponies".......;)

comparing apples to oranges is done objectively...nobody wins a battle but everybody learns something

http://www.powerboatmag.com/2003tests/jul1.php

383 Fastech with 525's 80 mph...it has the "footprint" of a 40' LOA I measured one at a dealer...this boat is back in my top 3 list...with 575's it has got to go 85+..it has the Footprint of a 40' boat without a swim platform...i measured it...

all I can say is buyer beware....I have got it straight now....sorry it took so long!

that's why nothing makes sense because you are always comparing apples to oranges....

A boat that goes very fast over smooth water may not be the boat you want on big water... These " speed specific" boats and hulls have little to do with boating and more about bragging rights.. The true test of a hull shape would be to weigh the boats and give them both identical drives and motors... then speed testing would be a fairer comparison. So I don't pay too much attention to "top speed" numbers on a boat that I don't own... nor would I care to own... If you have ever driven an old race car capable of going 150 mph... and a modern passenger car capable of going 150 mph... they are two very different animals.... yet they both go 150 mph.... I apply the same logic to advertiser's claims about power boat speeds.

that's the bottom line Reed....speed is a factor but not the total performance equation...

Where in the hell did you read a 35 fountain w/575's and superchillers ran 136???

I would also like to see a 38 top gun run 120mph w/1100's.

These speeds are really inflated. I can atleast speak for a 35. We had one w/somewhere between 750-800hp that ran 104, this was a twin step 35.

PB tested a chilled t-575 35' Fountain and it went 136 mph..

before the ink dries on what ever check i write...the boat is going for a test run...no test run..no check...

what issue of PB is that from. 675 hp or what ever they are claiming w/chillers is not going to get you anywhere close to those speeds. I thought I misread something because I have been out on the boat all day.

Correctomundo!........:D

The same thing applies to how boat manufacturers measure the length of their hulls.... I've always thought the length was measured from the transom where the drives bolt on, to the tip of the bow.... and I know beaks are a little of a cheat... but that is how I would measure a boat... not from the swim platform to the bow pulpit... :crazy: Now.... LPA2106... please explain what you mean by "footprint"....:confused:

Pair-a-dice ran 120 42' with meesly 900sc's...full cabin...light lay-up...no epoxy

Buy a Boat, Buy a Boat, Buty a Boat Buy a boat buy a boat buy a boat buy a boat buy a boat buy a boat..


:D :D :D :D Maybe if LPA had a boat he wouldn't post as much!!!


Only kiddin LPA;) ;)

No **** the person inside the name is at 600 posts is 4 months, what a hore. :D
Rag's

Found the perfect boat for you....click the link and run with it :eek:

http://adcache.boattraderonline.com/6/9/4/70012494.htm

Ut---oh.... I'm 2800 posts in less than 5 months... what does that make me?......:D

It makes me a fast typist!...........:D