To all the naysayers that told me i was crazy to buy my 42 with triples
10-07-2013 | 09:12 AM
#1
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 456
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From: Central Square & Fishers Landing, 1000 Islands NY
To all the naysayers that told me i was crazy to buy my 42 with triples
All I heard from everyone when making the decision this past spring to sell my SR-1 292 Formula with twin 502's and buy my 91 Fountain 42 with triple n/a 500hp's (was repowered with the newer hp500's bumped up to 570ish apiece) was that I was insane and would have nothing but headaches. Granted, most of my critics were the older non high performance crowd that have a hard time doing a tuneup on a Bayliner, but even some hardcore performance boat guys thought I was crazy, it would be a gas hog, and it would break down every other time out. Well here we are at the end of our boating season and all I can say is you were all wrong! Used a total of 5 quarts of motor oil, and repaired one broken power wire on the center motor MSD box all season. No drive issues, no motor issues, and the only annoying problem was the damn IPod cord from the stereo needed to be replaced. I didn't abuse it getting on plane but I didn't baby it either. It stays on plane and will cruise at a whopping 1900 rpms and burns the same amount of fuel my Formula did. Now it's time to plan a few winter upgrades. First up is to hang some newer XR drives on it in place of the original old style Bravos, then maybe bump the motors up a hair. It runs mid 80's now in the right conditions with the 4 blades on it, but 90% of the time I run the 5 blades at lower rpm's and it just tickles 80. The best part about this boat is the safety factor. My 12 year old son would get a little scared in the Formula at anything over 50, especially in the rough. Total opposite in the Fountain, as he has held onto the GPS at 79 and was grinning from ear to ear. Girlfriend still thinks I'm nuts and that it's way too big, but like my helmet sticker says.......size matters!
10-07-2013 | 01:31 PM
#5
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,555
Likes: 81
From: Columbia S.C.
Great to hear of your problem free season. This has been the least problematic season in a decade! I have blown through $1000 + in the past 60 days having a blast.Don't listen to the majority of these A$$holes that have invaded the site in the past few years! Best of luck in the future.
Last edited by bulletbob; 10-07-2013 at 01:35 PM.
10-07-2013 | 02:15 PM
#6
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Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 1,934
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From: Lake St. Clair
good to hear... the old triples need love to! funny story I took my uncle for a ride last week on my 42 (he's has an older 70 MPH Formula 292) he was smiling ear to ear the whole time! .. ran him up to near 90 he was surprised 
how fast & smooth the big beak ran.. no substitute for length! 
how fast & smooth the big beak ran.. no substitute for length!
10-07-2013 | 11:30 PM
#8
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Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 3,611
Likes: 371
From: Traverse City MI
Glad to hear your enjoying your boat!
Why change out your good working condition Bravo drives for newer XR drives?
IMO
Older Bravo drives have the better forged gears
Cheaper to rebuild
find a matching spare for cheap
save money for some really nice drives like Imco SCX, SC, SCX upper SC lower, etc.
Newer XR drives have poor quality gears
Cost more money
IMO are not enough of an upgrade
Why change out your good working condition Bravo drives for newer XR drives?
IMO
Older Bravo drives have the better forged gears
Cheaper to rebuild
find a matching spare for cheap
save money for some really nice drives like Imco SCX, SC, SCX upper SC lower, etc.
Newer XR drives have poor quality gears
Cost more money
IMO are not enough of an upgrade
10-07-2013 | 11:47 PM
#9
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 15,491
Likes: 4
From: LAKE CONROE, TX
All I heard from everyone when making the decision this past spring to sell my SR-1 292 Formula with twin 502's and buy my 91 Fountain 42 with triple n/a 500hp's (was repowered with the newer hp500's bumped up to 570ish apiece) was that I was insane and would have nothing but headaches. Granted, most of my critics were the older non high performance crowd that have a hard time doing a tuneup on a Bayliner, but even some hardcore performance boat guys thought I was crazy, it would be a gas hog, and it would break down every other time out. Well here we are at the end of our boating season and all I can say is you were all wrong! Used a total of 5 quarts of motor oil, and repaired one broken power wire on the center motor MSD box all season. No drive issues, no motor issues, and the only annoying problem was the damn IPod cord from the stereo needed to be replaced. I didn't abuse it getting on plane but I didn't baby it either. It stays on plane and will cruise at a whopping 1900 rpms and burns the same amount of fuel my Formula did. Now it's time to plan a few winter upgrades. First up is to hang some newer XR drives on it in place of the original old style Bravos, then maybe bump the motors up a hair. It runs mid 80's now in the right conditions with the 4 blades on it, but 90% of the time I run the 5 blades at lower rpm's and it just tickles 80. The best part about this boat is the safety factor. My 12 year old son would get a little scared in the Formula at anything over 50, especially in the rough. Total opposite in the Fountain, as he has held onto the GPS at 79 and was grinning from ear to ear. Girlfriend still thinks I'm nuts and that it's way too big, but like my helmet sticker says.......size matters!
10-08-2013 | 01:13 AM
#10
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 73
Likes: 0
& you forgot to mention how awesome triples sound synced in passing by ! Just curious what speed your cursing at 1900 RPM's & what's the minimum speed you keep her on plane at when you want to go slow ? Thanks in advance & continued luck with the boat
