bob_t

I'm looking at a 2000 312 with twin 6.2's but a little concerned about the power package. I would be moving from a 27 Fountain with an HP500 to this boat and I'm afraid I may be disappointed with top end performance. Anyone with experience with this package? I've seen a few 312's with 454 EFI mags, which would obviously be better (other than the added weight), but did they also make these with 502's? What speed should I expect with the 6.2's, 454 mags, and the 502's? Any other general comments about the 312's would be appreciated. I have heard that the engine compartment is "tight" with the 454's, but is this a real concern?
Thanks,
Bob T.

birdog

PM Mack312....he has the Mags......Also Phantom Chaos has a
312...not sure of power......Magicfloat is a dealer...very helpful

I know mack312s boat flys !!

Rocky

I just sold my 1999 312 w/ 454 Mags and trailer for $79,000. It only had 88 hours on it. With 454 Mags the boat is a 70-72 mph boat. With 502's the best is 72-74 mph. The engine compartment is tight but workable. I would not buy this boat w/ 6.2's, slow out of the hole and 64-66mph top end. There are alot of 312's out there that have the 6.2's and 7.4's that are holding down the prices of the ones with larger engine packages.

wrinkleface

Bob T, I had a 98 312 with 502's and I saw 74mph-gps. A buddy of mine just sold his 99 with 454 mags and it ran nearly as good as mine. We both agreed the 312 hull likes to run fast. The 30-40 mph range was not favorable. They liked to porpoise here. Drives in and tabs down.

Rocky

I agree with wrinkleface, the boat likes to run at faster speeds in any water condition. Nice riding boat in the 55-74 mph range.

bob_t

Thanks! I am particularly curious about 30-40 mph comments. With my wife and 2 young children on board, we spend alot of time around 40 mph (3000 rpm on my fountain). Our fountain rides very comfortably, and is rock solid, at that speed, even going thru rather confused seas (alot of wakes from other boats going every direction possible on the lake ). It will squash all but the largest wakes, at that speed, without missing a beat! With the kids on board, I don't ever "crank it up" into the 70's, but if there are no other boats on the lake, or river, I may run it up into the 60's, briefly. When the kids are not on board, I am very comfortable running the boat a little differently!

Magicfloat

The porpoise comments puzzle me. Obviously some of your 312s must have that tendency or you wouldn't bring it up, but Ive run lots of 312s since its introduction in 97 and up to 03 models and have never seen this condition,from 350 Mags thru procharged big blocks. I like the 312,but sales have dropped somewhat when the 292 came out.As far as 6.2s, it depends on what you expect.65-66 GPS is about it,but that's actually slightly faster than the 310hp7.4 it replaced. It might suit you just fine.Remember tho that resale value will be not as good because most performance buyers want more power. I demoed one yesterday with 496 Mags and it ran great, but the customer wanted HO's. 7.4 boats are also a tough sell. But with this in mind and the price is right it's a nice boat. I wouldn't worry about the porpoise some mentioned, I suspect maybe a few isolated instances, the one I ran yesterday was very happy at 30-40 mph. Of course,never buy without a water test,that will solve everything.

wrinkleface

Bob T, have not had my 312 for 3 summers but if I remember right it was in the 3000 rpm range that the boat just did not like to ride smoothly?!!!!

birdog

I don't get it......Mack312 is running right at 80 {79.7} Thats his
GPS & my 2 GPS's......??

Also no porpoiseing {spl}......We run right about 40 most times..
Of course i have never tried to trim a boat up at these speeds..
Just put them at neutral.....

bob_t

Dealer just called me back with "bad news". His $100,000+ boat was already "bargain basement price" ($83,000 without trailer, 2001 w/ twin 6.2's, approx 70 hrs) and he was "ashamed" to tell me what he could give me for my 1996 Fountain (which on a scale of 1 to 10, is a 10, with a bone stock, freshwater only, 200 hr HP500, silent choice, cordless trim in all 3 spokes of the steering wheel, Sony Remote from helm CD, Lightning graphics, not a ding in the gel, not a spot in the vinyl, and a significantly upgraded and very clean, painted Eagle tandem axle trailer (15" aluminum 6 lug wheels with spare, diamond plate instead of carpeted wood steps, etc). He told me that sales on "big boats" were bad this year, so I told him, "that's OK, I'll look somewhere else". Couldn't believe it!!