I've been looking for a few months now for a Fountain 35 Lightning with not much luck. I really want something turn key and with that I decided I was going to try and stay away from blue motors. Not because they're bad motors but because I just don't have time to refresh/rebuild and maintain them the way they need.

I just found a boat with 500 EFIs with 300 hours. The motors have been "tuned" recently but nothing else. I've done a lot of research on the 525s and found the general rule is to redo the top ends at 300 and a full rebuild at 500 hours. Would this general rule apply to the 500 EFI as well? I've read the 525s had header issues, anything I need to look out for on the 500 EFI?

I'm kinda breaking my no blue motor rule but the price and options is right so I feel I need to consider this boat. Thanks for any feedback.

Go blue, it will also help in the resale, the 500 EFI use different headers than the 525, if the 525 has the genX, cool collar and has not been ran in salt they should be ok, Hard to tell on the hours as far as refresh, I think the 500 will go longer than the 525 with the alum heads, what year is the boat

Sorry I didn't post that before, it's a 2002.

unless you had to have closed cooled, my preference would be the 500 they make almost the same power and there is less to go wrong on the 500 vs the 525 with it being crank fire and coil on plug...jmo...good luck

Closed cooled doesn't matter to me since I'll be in fresh water all the time but turn key is my driving factor. So at 300 hours would you say to be on the safe side the top end would need to be done this winter? After that I should be good for another 300 or will it need a full rebuild at 500 hours much like the 525s?

Have it surveyed before you buy it. I think that's fair to say, if the leak down & compression look good I would change the springs and run it, make sure you scan the ecu's for accuracy of hours and it will also tell you how hard they have been ran, hours of operation and at what rpm.

It should be good for at least another 300hrs after a top end refresh.

I know a guy with a 2000 or 2001 Lightning with 500efi's and he acts like they are the best motors he's had in a boat. Routine maintenance and turn key - runs low to mid 80's. I think he told me the other day, that he hasn't even put a new sea pump in it since last year beginning of season! ...and is still running same tank of fuel from this Spring ha! ...talk about turn key!

Just got finished with our top end rebuild. Based on what my builder told/showed me...I am glad we did. Valves had bad corrosion, springs were weak, and head gaskets were all but done. In my opinion at 300 hours they should be gone thru.

It now gives me piece of mind knowing better springs are in there, better lifters, new valves, etc. also get oppurtunity to inspect piston heads, bore, etc.

like someone already mentioned, once done can get another 300 hours out of them easily. What's that 7-10 years of boating. Not too bad IMO.

I'm not sure how to respond to that so here's a bunny with a pancake on its head.