Deltarat

I bought a new boat and I have some questions. I have had a 21 foot jet boat that I have been driving for 15 years. This year I bought a 27 ft Fountain and the difference between them is huge. Let’s start off with passing and crossing cruiser wakes. What is the proper way to do this? In my jet I would slowly creep up on them and then I would just go over them fast enough to carry my bow in the air, but dropping of plane and getting back on plane is a pain in the Fountain is a pain. When the cruisers would be coming at me I would aim the bow about at a place were the wakes were minimal and just hang on. Is this the same with a bigger boat? Speaking of plaining the boat, what is the proper way to do this, can you just pop one of these boats on plane or do you have to creep it up on plane. In the jet I just stood on the pedal and the boat would always pop right up. Any advise on running RPMs, in the jet I had no worries, but I was told that the way you drive your boat would be a big determining factor in how long my drive would last. I have had the boat for 4 months and I have already lost one drive doing nothing but cruising around at about 3500 RPMs with and occasional 5100 RPM blast.
Granted, the stock Bravo that was on the boat probably wasn’t in the best shape to begin with. I will be putting a new Imco Extreme SC on the boat this weekend and after what I paid for the drive I would like it to last a while. Is there any rule of thumb about running in the 3000 to 4000 RPM range? Thanks in advance for all of you suggestions.

Dave M

I try not to go over 3K rpms while getting on plane. Once on plane I get on it. I wouldn't think a '27 Fountain would be to hard on drives unless you have crazy HP. "Knock on wood", I have over 600 hours on my Bravo in a 24 Superboat. I air this boat out in some pretty rough water.

As far as driving and wakes, that's hard to answer. A lot of time it depends on how much room I have to work with when negotiating wakes. In wide open water it's simple. Swing wide or accelerate quickly past before you get hung up in the wake. In narrow crowded waterways it depends.

Deltarat

I live on the Delta and our waterways are all pretty narrow, on hte lakes its no big deal.

Downtown42

just take baby steps, don't show off, get used to the feel of things, no high speed turns, throttle back when you launch and forward when you land and keep inch'in your way faster....had a 35 for 7yrs and took me about all this season to feel comfortable with the 42. Now I need to go faster.

East Coast B

What year boat? Engine? Prop? Ditto... take it easy getting on plane. Don't drive around all day with drive trimmed all the way down or too far up. Proper Maintenance!!!!!

Payton

If you have the room try to cross the cruiser wake as perpendicular as possible.Sometimes maintaining your speed is better than slowing up. That way you hull sort of spans the area between the waves. Just be ready to pull back on the throttle in case your prop comes out of the water. Only pull back enough the not let the engine rev up, not to slow up. Then back on the throttle as your prop reenters the water. That is to reduce shock to your drive, not your passengers. Take it easy and get the feel of it.

Have fun

pullmytrigger

you shoulda' posted this in the Fountain section!!! ........do what Payton said.......dont slow down you could stuff the boat!.......I maintain speed then ease into the sticks right b4 I hit them to keep the bow up......be ready for a quick blip of the throttle back if the prop comes out of the water like Payton said......

pullmytrigger

Oh ...Planing.......to get on plane tuck the drive all the way in.......put the tabs at least neutral (you have marked the neutral position on your indicator havnt you ) or 3/4 the way down.......give it like half or 3/4 throttle.......wait till the boat is starting to roll over the top.......if the tabs are neutral leave them and start trimming the drive out as you gain speed to loosen the boat up and get it going.......depending on the year of your Fever you should be cruising in the top third or quarter of the trim range........for example my top speed is achieved at maximum trim!!!....7 on the indicator.......i cruise at 5 or 6.......your Fever has a pad bottom......you gotta trim it out to ride on it for max speed and economy.......now .....beware........if your running along at 6 trim at say 3/4 throttle (high speed cruise) and wanna slow down and cruise at say half throttle YOU HAVE TO TRIM IN!!!!......you dont and a Fountain will porpoise SO BADLY it could litterally throw you out of the boat!!!!........they are a drivers boat and are very trim sensitive.......when Im slowing down to come to a stop I trim all the way in and set the tabs so their raedy to go for next time out.......see you in the Fountain section......doug