fountain 42, which power?
 

Hi all,

I´m in the process of buying a used fountain 42 lightning without engines and drives. In most of the tests I´ve read the boat have 2 or 3x575's or something like that. Since I live in Sweden where a gallon of gas is about $5, I kinda want to go ahead and install smaller engines, and two, not three... Preferably stock mercs, 454, 502 or 496 with regular bravo 1 drives. Maybe even diesels if it's possible. Does anyone have a clue want kind of speed I can expect with those kind of engines? Also if you have any good ideas about other rigging details like props and so on that would be great. I could really use all the help i can get, I´m guessing it´s one of very few fountain 42's in Scandinavia.

Thanks in advance

Re: fountain 42, which power?
 

Diesels with Arneson drives sounds like it would be a good way to go. How is the hull currently set-up? For twins or tripples? What drives is it currently set-up for?

Todd

Re: fountain 42, which power?
 

The Diesels with Arneson drives would be the dream configuration. I'd do that to my Formula SR357 next time around. You get all the inherent diesel advantages plus extra space in engine compartment to boot.

Only thing you wouldn't get is the big block growl--but the diesel exhaust smell would way offset that.

Re: fountain 42, which power?
 

The newer 42' Lightnings run great with the Diesel/Arneson package.

Bill Mazzoni has one for sale. Taboo on OSO.

Re: fountain 42, which power?
 

It´s an older model, I would guess 93-94, no step bottom. And set up for twins. But they have raced it so I think it was 2 huge ones, sterling or something, 2x1000hp. But the boat is now completely empty. Nothing left of the old rigging. Isn´t it possible to use diesel and Bravo drive? I realize it won´t be the same speed and perhaps less power, but I´m thinking that the price difference would be huge. Overhere it is at least. Can you get good Arneson used in the US for resonable money? I know it´s silly to talk economy with this kind of boat but everything is extremely expensive in Sweden as soon as it´s big or is called racing. What size diesels would you recommend? If there is a complte package out there with both engines and drives I could be interested. I think it would pay off to import the driveline.

Thanks so far for your input!

Re: fountain 42, which power?
 

The new Fountains have the Yanmar 440 coupled to the ASD8 In-line drive units.

Re: fountain 42, which power?
 

mercuiser does now offer a cummins diesel bravo xr or xz power package although the yanmar 440/asd-8 combo is unreal. i forget who did it but im thinking it was spectre, put two of thm in a 36 cat and got it into the 120's and got 4mpg thats unreal aint it.the 440 is easily tunable to about 600 too with about 500 bucks worth of parts and a couple hours work. no longevity problems either. DIESELS ROCK

Re: fountain 42, which power?
 

How much is a Yanmar 440 in the US? I think it´s about $50-60.000 in Sweden. A yanmar 315 is around 40 grand for comparison. But i agree, big diesel would be the way to go, only problem is price.. anyone know of any used packages out there??

Re: fountain 42, which power?
 

diesel/surface..... you will be money ahead by the time you run it a few seasons in europe.....

Re: fountain 42, which power?
 

If he has to spend 80K more than gas and bravos to go diesel and surface drives,,,that will buy 16,000 gals of $5 gas !!! When you figure diesel is not that cheap there either ,,it's even longer to break even. 32,000 gals if it's $2.50 just to break even. Bet it's more than that. Ok, given is better resale, but that's not really what he's asking. ship some 502s and bravos from this side and invest 80k and buy gas with the interest. $6,400 per yr at 8%(avg for the US market)That's 1280 $5 gals and about 1,280(2,060 KM) miles per yr ;)