ThirdBird

Yo, Ragged, nice avatar!! The Fountain looks nice man.

I've got a new tow rig coming the end of the week, had to get a white one to match the trailer

'04 Yukon XL, rigged to the gills. Everybody except the drop-down DVD. 23k miles. Cream puff!! Even got the 496 (8.1). She gets a glorious 11 mpg!!! But, I didn't get that to save gas, it's my "Bird Hauler".

Just got to wait for the guy that bought my truck to actually plop some green in my hand. Should be good to go.

axapowell

Congrats Bird!!

Getting ready for Put in Bay?

Dave

ThirdBird

Roger that skipper. You ready? I'm gonna drag all over the place........... hopefully

RaggedEdge

[QUOTE=ThirdBird;1980293]Yo, Ragged, nice avatar!! The Fountain looks nice man.

I've got a new tow rig coming the end of the week,
'04 Yukon XL, She gets a glorious 11 mpg!!! [QUOTE]


Thanks.

Very nice, and speaking of draging, are you going to drag your butt up to the Bay this weekend?

Rippem

congrats 'Bird. You really like those 'Burbs huh?

did you get the vibration package on this one?

good thing 'cause the only time you'll get 11 is in "grandmother mode" or light unloaded with the cruise set at 60
expect 9-10 regularly and 7 towing.

3.73 or 4.10 gear?

Rippem

the 496 is much stonger than the 454 truck motor. Fatter torque plateau which = better accel with a load and maintains speed with 10-12K out back amazingly well for a gasser.

I eventually put a Wester's mapped ECM and a TransGo shift kit in mine and it was strong unloaded on 93. Man, that truck was a blast. I put the 0-60/70 hurt on alot of ricers and small sports cars with a 6500 lb truck.

this truck started my Allison love affair also.

I don't think I tinted it dark enough though.

Rippem

back on topic...Good Luck 5P

when I was in NH to look at that new 2001 33ZX I was able to go back and forth over 2 days from it to a (funny enough) 2002 353 with my paint in the showroom at Lakeport Landing around the corner.

33ZX
deeper freeboard
deck is higher at the dash making for nice cabin egress, but...(see deck access below)
more headroon at step-down but no more than the 353 forward and over the berth
wide beam makes for roomy cockpit (though in sq. ft. no bigger than the Formula)
McCleod seating/footrests, Gaffrig guages/controls, Latham
nice features like gunnel mounted switches and jumper terminals
plexi windscreen (if like me your not a fan of glass on a perf boat)
fit and finish was production boat good other than the print through and waves on the boat I saw were horrible.
The Donzi too came with "Z-Care" 5 year, but in real world application would it have the backup of "Formula-Guard"?

353
running surface is almost 2' longer
much more "open" feel to the cabin, bigger/longer seating
fit and finish at or above the Donzi everywhere
longer sunpad
slightly better swim platform shape/size
easier deck access from the cockpit
4 deck hatches (2 on the Donzi)
other than the cabin door which was marginally more friendly on the Donzi, the 353 is more "one level" which makes moving fore/aft and hanging out/moving around in/on the boat all day much easier

in a matter of strictly opinion I felt the Formula was more pleasing asthetically with nicer low-slung lines over it's length (than the Donzi 33ZX)

this is what I came away with...

then I considered the other end of ownership is when you sell and the Donzi would have to have been a screamin' deal to be comfortable...and even that doesn't help the size of the prospective interested audience for re-sale

+ I had no idea then what the Formula ownership experience was like. I had heard but took that with a grain of salt. Now that I know...well...I'm very happy with my choice.
Happy enough that it makes it tough to sell as opposed to continuing to enjoy it!

Just lucky...I ended up with a screamin' deal on what I felt was the better boat all around for me based upon all of the above...and the way I use my boat these days.

RaggedEdge

And no kind words for any of the Beaked variety ???

What brand are the running boards on the old silver pu ?

Rippem

absolutlely!

35'

faster by 5 than the other 2 with the same power
smallest, lightest, shortest to the water/aerodynamic of the 3 (Gotta wonder where the 5 mph comes from huh?)
nice lines...always been a fan of the "look" especially with the fairing
very good to excellent fit and finish. this has been known to vary by example like the other 2 it's a production boat like the other 2
helm not suitable for 6 footers and taller
Fountain bolsters are nice (if not a little "square" and "flat")...but alas, they aren't McCleods, and you aren't gonna find those wonderful footrests either
until you've lived that combo you wouldn't know the difference
most likely will not find a tilt helm either on most that I know of, fixed helm...you fit it, or forget it. The boat's built and tailored for those 5'11" or less period.
split hatches are different, kinda nice, racy...but what advantage are they really other than maybe pulling a motor?
again like the Donzi just 2 deck hatches
nice sized platform, closest to the water of the 3
quality guages/controls/systems throughout from many of the same vendors as the other 2
sit the most stern-down in the water which puts the steepest slope on the sunpad of the 3, something to consider if you hang back there alot, that steep a slope can be a PITA through the day.
lengendary overall performance, but there are sacrifices to be made in terms of the rest of it's use.


and those azzbackwards LH controls!

Rippem

forget it. beat the bushes looking for them for the first red DMax. Out of business.

the pics don't do 'em justice. the nicest running boards I had ever seen. absolutely beautiful shape, quality, fit, and function

they were sold over GM parts counter as a GM accessory in '01/'02

I tracked every lead...I liked 'em that much. No good.