Eds boat is super light. The 390 down south should run 90 plus. I dont remember where the driver are on that boat. Steve moved things around alot .

It sounds like the side by setup shifts the center of gravity rearward and probably helps the boat sit on the pad better. This is something I've contemplated, interesting to hear that it seems to be the case in practice. A bow lifting prop may help the stagger boat.

I wonder why fountians run so well with the stagger setup, is it the steps?

Yup!

The steps make other brands run loose when flat . I have plenty of waves to do that here , so not as important to me . Not going large boat to run on the pad , and only use a small part of the running surface . Staggered helps the COG in rough water and in the air . My 41 crushed big waves due to the weight forward . Pads might help on a lake but not where I boat , go bow up on the pad around here and hit a big wave it will make you into a submarine . I like the turning agility of the straight boats best myself . You can always add more power if it's not fast enough , but handles well .

If you really meant that youd be rocking an apache of straight cig!

Loved my 30 Velocity ( 110mph ) , but the 41' handled big water better then any boat I have ever ridden in . It was an older X-race boat and was way slower ( high 90's )and much bigger then my 42' Fountain ( high teens ) , both were staggered . I felt confident going out with that 41' boat in big seas and often did . Owned and raced the Velocity brand for almost 20 years . I like Apache's , but takes a lot of power to break 100 . Same with most older heavy boats , newer lighter boats are easier to make fast with less power . This 39' is a nice and fast boat , if you don't need the bigger ride and cabin of the 41' . Sold the Fountain because I was worried someone would fall out in rough water going fast , she felt shallow IMO when standing compared to the 41' .