Everyone I know uses the head as a storage compartment,the fast-techs are a little bigger.

On the way back from looking at this boat we stopped by another dealer as their website had a 271 Fastech listed for sale. I wanted to see on up close to see if I might like one of those...but really they are not much bigger than the 242 I just sold. The 271 wasn't onsite, but they did have a 2001 292 Fastech with 6.2s. The boat was amazing. Too bad I don't have $73K! Interestingly I think the 87 272 was about the same size.

I have a friend with a 271,it is the same as the old 242,the platform makes a world of difference,that is why older 272/292's are pretty big boats,the new 312 fast-techs are actully small looking,my friends 353 is only 11 inches longer than his 88 311 and the cabin is a few inches smaller.

Didn't they quit making the 312?

Yes,I think 02 was last year.

I have a 98 312 Fastech. They came out in 97 and made fewer and fewer until 03 (I think I heard they made 3 in 03 but can't verify that) The 292 came out with twin steps (mine has 1) and anyone going bigger than the 29 went to the 353.

Chuck. The Fastechs are "smaller" boats than the older SR-1's based on how everyone started measuring boats in the early 90's. A 292 SR-1 is pretty much the same size as my 312 Fastech but the older boat has a little taller deck making the cabin a little larger.

Yeah, I know. Seems like the industry changed the way they measure boats in the early 90s. The old Sea Ray 268 suddenly became a "290" with a bow pulpit and swim platform.

I think the Formula 271 is the newest Formula that I can afford (I don't care for the mid-90s "Falcon" Formulas). The 97+ Fastechs seem like they will do around 65mph with a single big block.

A 271 would make sense for me but I still like the earlier boats with twins.

The older boats are wider in the front also, again giving a little more cabin space. It's been a few years, but I think that's a 353 I'm rafted off to. Mine has the black cockpit cover.

You're probably right. I've been rafted off to a 353 twice and you can barely tell there's any difference.

However that was with the silent thunder box on, now I'm probably a little shorter....(story of my life...)

If I ever sell my 292SR1, I would only consider a used 311SR1, 357SR1 or a 382. It seems like all the other Fastech's just aren't as roomy. Althougth, I haven't been on a 353 yet...It seems like a newer version of the 311SR1...