My buddy just bought a new 2002 35 Fountain Twin Step Lightning from a Fountain dealer with 575's, XR's with 1.50 gears and 34 props from Merc, X dimension = 18 inches

Trying to get this boat on plane is an exact science, tuck the drives all the way in, put the tabs all the way down, the engines must be brought up to a certain rpm and then at the right moment returned to a lessor rpm and wait patiently while the boat gets going on plane. If at any time you miss any of the above procedures the props will just spin out and you have to start over.

The above procedure was taught to him by the dealer and believe me any other way does not work. I 've tried. The normal way of just easing the boat onto plane will just blowout the props every time. You will never race anyone out of the hole in this boat

I believe the problem is in the props but I told him I would take this to OSO tech board and see what everyone else has to say.

Thanks for the help

I guess they are Bravo 1, 4 blade props? Maybe when available try the new 5 blade. Might get a better bite.

I have to feather my 30' Sonic to get on plane as well. If the nose comes down too fast the props break loose. Sometimes it helps to start trimming the drives up as the nose is almost down, then it is not so bad.

Sorry not a fix for the problem, but maybe something to try.

Sorry, yes they are 4 blade Bravo's

Have the prop's been labed or thined? That sound simular to my labed Mirage vs my stock prop. -----------------> try another set of props even if they are not the same size or pitch or make, sounds like it cannot get any worse. Rag's

I understand the props have been slightly reworked by Fountain, but not labbed. They are essentially stock

Try non labbed and if that doesn't work try some 30's non labbed or second choice labbed just to see if it goes away I bet it will ,,you may have to then change gears and run a smaller prop



Ijust went through this with a buddies 35 twin step and whipples

Put a set of 30 pitch hydro 5 blades on or go to a labbed 34 that has been thinned and alot of cup rolled into them. I have been through this problem

Gatorone

Please check your PM

I have a friend with the EXACT same boat and power, and problem.

It took him a couple of weeks to get the hang of getting the boat on plane. Sometimes he would blow it out three to four times before he got it on plane. It got where we would let him go first so we did not have to turn around and wait on him!

You are right on with your description of how to do it.

He tucks the drives in ALL the way, Tabs down ALL the way. Eases the throttles forward very slowly. You have to let the boat start moving a little and when in gets around two thousand RPM you have to raise the drives and tabs together as you continue to raise the RPM's

I thought it was a real PAIN IN THE ASS, but if you ride with him now he gets on plane without you even noticing what is going on.

Another friend that has a 38 Fountain with 575's was having a little trouble when he had a lot of people and fuel and changed to 5-Blades and he LOVES them.

He is suppose to let my other buddie try them on the 35 and see if it works. I will let you know when this happens.

Personally, I would give up a few top end MPH for a boat that planes better. It cannot be good for the drives either.

Hey gator how about getting two of your jackass buddies to get into the v bearth like daytona? that worked. just kidding. hot water get ahold of gaterone he has done more with this setup than anybody in the u.s. and it damn sure works!!