Tricky919

Hey Greg, i saw you at the Glen Cove run, I was running with you for a while from Bridgeport to Cold Springs, i have the Blue and White Cigarette. You have a fast boat there, sure i will see you again soon.....Ricky

ReggieRaft

I remember that cigarette. She looked brand new.Must be nice,See you out there for sure.

OL40SVX

Greig,
I do remember you from the Glen Cove Run. I will definantly say hello if/when I see you at the New York runs.

SHARKEY-IMAGES

Ing,
What you really needed was one of the Hydra Powerboats.
Built to Government Standards & Regulations.
Unfortunately I believe it was Clinton's Budget Cut to the "War on Drugs" that the Government backed out on their contract with Hydra for the remainder of the boats ordered.

The sad part was having the contract in hand, Hydra had special ordered many parts for at least half of the boats ordered and was stuck with the bill for things such as windshields, hatch covers etc. that were made to their standards that they would have to eat.....I was surprised that alone didn't put the company out of business. Somehow they are still in business and building some best stuff out there today...

Mentalpause

Hmmm, this almost sounds like you are implying the USCG beats the crap out of their equipment. Doubtful.

I can't speak for them since I was not in the CG. But the branch of the service I was in took maticulous care of the equipment.

Lucididee

Sorry, it was all in fun and games. Relax!

Lucididee

Thanks for getting my back!

PS-I found the tape and will be making a copy. I'll PM you Mon or Tue for an address to send it to.

32storm

Rigging, construction, and components used are all top quality on the Hustler. I'm obviously partial.

But, I also looked long and hard at Fountain. If the $'s and deal was right, I would buy a Fountain.

But, my 1st choice would be the Slingshot.

ReggieRaft

Fountain 40, looking foward to some fun .Hustlrs,cigs,fountains,lets party.

Ing

A previuos writer is correct. Customs never used Hustlers. Neither did the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard piggy backed off the Customs contract and also bought some 42' Fountains. They had numerous personal injuries sustained on the Fountains because of the stepped bottom catching and pitching passengers. I had a crewmember crack his head the same way. Our interdictions were basically dogfights on water and stepped hulls SUCK for tight turns.

I will give Reggie credit for the development and refinement of the stepped hull which, if you want to point it and go fast is great. It's my opinion that as the cost of his R&D and size of his adds went up, the quality of rigging went down. The only reason Fountain ever got the Gov't contract was because he was the only compnay out of three that responded to the bid offer who could actually produce the boats. Dealing with US Gov't contracts is a real pain, especially with warranties, and most small company's, which build most of the better boats., don't want the hassle.

I have never been underway in a Hustler but I have been onboard a few and the quality of rigging is noticeably above the Fountains. Don't forget to subtract 2' from Fountains advertised length. Paying for a 38' Fountain is paying for a 36' foot boat with two feet of fiberglass on the transom. You have to wonder why every web site selling used boats has an abundance of Fountains for sale.

Just for information sake. Once the Fountain contract ended. Customs has been buying the new incarnation of the Midnight Express which has been lengthened to 39' with quad Merc 225's.

I'm not familiar with Hydra Boats. Did they build the old SEAL boats? I thought one of McManus's operations built those. The SEALs also used Fountains very briefly. Broke them and got rid of them.

Both the USCG and Customs kept meticously care of most of our equipment because we never knew when we'd be getting replacements. The USCG even more so because being a military outfit you didn't want to be an E-5, bust up a boat and be told you had to pay for it.