1999 Formula 312
 

I am looking at a 1999 Formula 312 Fastech with 150 hours on the hull and 50 hours on a complete engine/outdrive swap. The boat has twin 540 engines with whipple chargers and IMCO outdrives. The boat comes with the original trailer. This boat has been surveyed and is professionally built. My main questions is how safe the formula stepped hull is. I had a 1997 31'6 scarab last year with 525 sc engines that ran 81-83. Thanks for any input.

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

Sounds sweet. I just bought a 98 312/ 502 this winter. Wish I could give you some handling feedback, but I have only put a few hours on it so far. I get 73-74 out of it and was able to over trim it and get it to chine walk, but that was driver error. With the single step it should be OK as it is only 1 1/2 tall. Sounds like a low 90's boat that must be selling around 75-80k.
Good Luck
Russ C.

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

I wouldn't worry about Formula steps. However,,,,, I would worry about a boat with "brand new 540s, Whipples and IMCO drives."

You gotta ask yourself why after pouring at least 25k into this boat is the guy selling after only 50 hours of use.

Call me a skeptic,,,,,,,,, but hey,,,,,,, I'm a skeptic :rolleyes:

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

He's poured significantly more than that in this boat. I believe the wife has told him to get rid of it to get a more family friendly boat because they have kids. I guess that will be my responsibility to inspect the boat, test drive it, review his receipts and the recent survey. I think sometimes these boats that have "aftermarket" engines/drives are tougher to sell than stock setups. I wanted the opinion of formula owners' regarding the stability of the 312 fastech, especially running 75-90 mph. thanks for your input.

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

what do you mean when you say chine walked. Do you mean a side-to-side walk or that fast front end bounce you get sometimes in rough water. I'm concerend this boat has almost too much power for the hull size. The seller says he has hit 101 on GPS in calm water on a fresh water lake. My scarab had no stepped hull and I could run 77-81 throught pretty rough water, but would occasionaly get a hard side roll when I hit waves that came toward the side of the boat. thanks.

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

Chine walk starts as a "bounce" from side to side. It gets violent quickly and will result in a spin-out or hook the boat hard left/right which will likely get someone hurt/ killed at those speeds. My boat was set-up with the props turned in and I changed them back out. This seems to have helped some but I'm curious which way Troutly's props turned when he had his 312...
Sounds like the boat could handle it, but beware of it's trim limits. Running with the tabs all the way up and over trimming the drives for that last MPH is when this is likely to occur. (when you don't have much hull in the water)

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

I would guess it would be the safest to have the planes or trim tabs at least 1/2 way down and trim up to max of 6 or 7 when running above 80. This would probably keep the front down and prevent the back of the boat that is in the water from getting loose. It would reduce speed but give stability. Appreciate the advice.

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

Glad you pulled out of it! That would be a scary feeling. The things we do (and money we spend) for the thrill of speed!!!!!!!

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

Tomswift, I have a 01 312/w 502 mags and i have experianced the "Dance" as troutly and t500hps have, It is a violent side to side and very scary, my props spin outward and it was done while trying to fully trim the drives up and no tabs,

I would be skeptical with that much power in that hull but if left trimmed in i think it would be your best bet, I am curious to know if the handling of the single step hull in the formula 312 was the reason they discontinued them and went to the dbbl steps in the 292?? Maybe somebody knows the answer, Maybe Robert from Nelems can chime in here.

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

how fast were you going when you experienced the "walk" in your 01 312 with 502's?

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

All 3 of us have/ had (Troutly) the same engines . Hits 73-75 on GPS depending on conditions. Since all 3 of us have had this happen, I'm not sure 101 would be a good idea in this hull.
Russ C.

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

Yup, Speedo read 78 gps read 74, And the hariest 74 i have ever been in :eek: :eek:

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

Dano and I have run quite a few 312's and never experienced any chine walking at all. Must be the Alabama water :D :D One customer had one with 454Mags and Prochargers with 7# boost. Dano ran it quite a bit at 95 mph and it was fine. I always liked the 312,hated to see it go. Robert

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

my father's bass boat shows 84 on speedo and is suprisingly stable (In 30 years he's run these, we've never had one get out of shape). I guess a boat can't chine walk when the hull isn't even touching the water??? :D

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

Is this boat in the San Franciso area? If so I talked with the owner this time last year. Should be ready to deal if it has been for sale that long. I had a 312w/ 502's and this boat caught my interest. Probably fine if you use a lot of common sense and as the others have said avoid the over trim and tabs fully up to get that last bit.

My concern would be resell as boat did not sel last year either (if same boat). But - if you plan on keeping - who cares?

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

yep. the boat is in the sanfrancisco area. what was he asking last year? If I bought the boat I would run it for a few years and then sell it. thanks

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

What does the boat /trailer look like? I sold my 312 to a guy in the bay area and he planned replacing the motors I had with 540 engines or something in the 650HP range he was building.

I never ever had a bad chine walking problem but then I wasn't going those high speeds either. Great boat......my first love in offshore! I've been screwed ever since! :D :D :D :evilb: :evilb: :drink: :drink:

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

he said the boat was used a lot in Lake Havasau by the previous owner. It originally had 454 mags. It has teal, blue and reddish graphics,I believe, and a white painted steel trailer.

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

I remember that boat....it has the same paint as mine 1997 only the teal was the "major" color and purple was my major color. I thought it was a 1997 too......does it have a dark dash?

Re: 1999 Formula 312
 

Towswift

I believe he was asking $85 to $90. A guy from Chicago supposedly flew out last spring and drove the boat, but the deal fell through. Ultimately turned out to be to much logistics for me (Cincinnati, OH) and I had just come out of a 98 312.

No way you could build it for what he wants out of it. Thought I had some old emails, but deleted with spring cleaning.

Good luck!