Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I'm having a 292 with 454 mags surveyed next week; supposed to be pristine.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

That's not my boat and you forgot to tell me is it Chuck? :p :rolleyes: :D It's coming to the shop next week for a set of Stainless Marine manifolds and risers and a few other maintenence issues. I can't wait to see what those manifolds and risers do for the performance! :D

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

When I swapped out to the EMI Thunder aluminum manifolds and risers, dropped the silent thunder box, and installed new Stainless Marine tips with the "Superflappers", with everything I gained about 4 mph.

I'm in the 73/74 mph range now.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

The boat I'm looking at now is in Georgia. Survey next week and perhaps a road trip to go see it. Wife likes the color scheme on this one.

http://ww2.boatus.com/classifieds/Ad...asp?Boat=18743

Let us know how new manifolds/risers work out in terms of performance. Should be an improvement over stock.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Looks nice Chuck, good luck

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Nice choice of colors :cool: . Good luck

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

I have exactly what you need. Enclosed head, strong engines, gil exhaust, merlin intakes, full hydraulic steering, swim platform, 2003 Quickload aluminum trailer, new gaffrig controls, onboard charger, new sundeck and rear seat. It has been gps'd at 78.6. You don't have to worry about someone pulling up next to you with one just like it. Oh yeah, bullet proof Kaama Drives, no Bravo Blues here. Full cover, and cockpit cover. Right in your price range.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Cuda, love that tail! :drink: :D That makes it a hell of deal by itself! :p

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Nice looking boat but realistically I seriously doubt if that boat will run anywhere near 70. Especially with those props.

65/66 is probaly the best you're going to see out of her.

Looks good though...:drink:

Also double check the motors, 7.4 always referered to the lower HP engines, 330 max. some 310. The 365 motors were always referred as "454 magnums". It just may be a mistake in the description though. If it does turn out to be the lower HP motors, figure top speeds around 61/62.

If you get this boat, swap out to Hydromotive Quad IV props asap.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

stock speedo prob says 70,I doubt it has a gps speedo,my friends 311 runs 75 on gps with hp500 502's, It takes alot to see 70+ in a 292 or 311 very similar boats.
311 still for sale!! look in classifieds,taking offers,you can have a very nice 311 for almost the same price as a stock 292!!

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Cuda: I like your boat but prefer the curved windshield boats and the wife has a different color scheme in mind. The KAAMA drives are probably great...though I can see my mechanic looking at them and saying "WTF I can't work on those!"

245: The 311 does look interesting, but I'd prefer a boat without TRS drives that is stock. I've read that the TRS drives are tough but parts might become scare over the next couple of years.

Even though I haven't bought a boat I have to think about resale down the line...buyers seem to want original boats.

The boat in GA does have 454 mags. I'm not sure what kind of props are on the boat.

The owner says that Lake Lanier in GA is very low and doesn't seem to want to do a lake test. I think that would be a deal killer for me. I understand his concern but at the same time I'd like to see the boat float. The surveyor is going to look at the boat sometime next week. I told him that if it wasn't in excellent condition not to survey the boat and I'd pay him for his time to drive down there. I think the boat has been sitting for a while now, current owner has lost interest. The trailer is a 1996 model and hasn't been on the road in ten years. The owner is going to have it checked out and serviced at his expensive...might require lots of work (tires, bearings, brakes, lights etc.) which could torpedo the deal as well if the owner balks at the investment required to get it on the road.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Nice Chuck. Same colors as mine! My wife is in love with our new 292. I don't know what that means, but I like it! :drink:

It seems your thinking clearly. Outlaw is right on the props. With the heavy ass-end you'll definitely need 4-blades. I tried ours last weekend with 3-blades and it was dolphin city.

Some frown upon the Palm Beach colors. I say if your going to drive a classic, why not have the classic colors?

GRIZ

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

The Kamaa drives are suprisingly easy to work on. All the internal parts are available over the counter. I've had zero problems with my drives.

As far as Trs, they get a bum rap. The transmissions are the weak link in them. I have a Trs in Deb's Donzi. I had the transmission rebuilt, put an extra clutch plate in, and had the drive shaft splines clearanced. It should be good to 600 hp or so.

Galen at Speedmasters has been doing drives for a long, long, time. He was telling me about all these aftermarket drives, that are basically still Bravo's and still break often. He said some of them had taken the shiftabilitly out of the drive, and installed a transmission. He said once you do that, what do you have? A Trs! I ran my 302 by his shop just for him to see, and he couldn't believe how good of condition it was still in.

If you are bent on a 311, I think Russ's is a steal. As a matter of fact, when he put it on the market, I told him he was killing me running down the price of my similar sized boat. :)

Good luck on your search.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

The trs's have been good to us,very reliable,I am just amazed at what people want for stock boats and we have one with thousands un updates and little interest,I know the first person that comes and actually sees and rides/drives it will take it home,just a matter of getting someone here to see it.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

True,My friend upgraded trannies,I am not sure if he put that in his ad,He has had NO problems with them at all,the boat at one point had aluminum heads and prob made around 600 hp each with no problems running a best top speed of 80 on gps and average top speed of 77-78 gps.
I know the market sucks for selling boats right now,I just cannot believe what people want for some of them in totally stock form!

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Re: TRS drives. Yeah I think they do get a bad rap...but at the same time I think that buyers avoid them.

Re: Modified boats/engines. The same thing is true with Porsches...I learned that lesson the hard way with two cars that I tweaked. I think it is rare for sellers to recover big investments in modifications.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

That's because perception IS reality when selling something.

As for the second part, not only do you not recoup your money, you generally will get less for a tampered with engine.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Not really a matter of tampered engines,most boats out there have newer/replaced engines,they are not stock 330 or 420;s either,how many formulas have hp500's or more in a affordable price range?
I kn ow you will never get near what is invested,I have had many race cars and boats so I know how it goes,I just see alot of 292/311's in a 30-45,000 price range that are all stock,I realize some people want a untouched stocker but someone who wants a fast reliable boat is going to buy a stock boat with 330 hp's and see it run 62-64 mph and then want more,well more mph in a older formula costs lots to do,the boat my friend is selling will take just the right person who knows what the mods cost that were done and say,I can save alot of money buying a boat that is done!! This boat has alot more that just the engines done,the mods are expensive and very nice.
I wish I were in the market for the boat,I can get it cheap being a good friend but I guess it is time for a child,I was told baby before new boat!!

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

My father (years ago) bought a boat that we thought we thoroughly checked out (on a hose because we couldn't get the boat off the trailer because the tide was too low) and the first day we had that baby out the motor let go. To make matters worse, I watched on of the tandem trailer wheel and tires roll past us in the truck as we pulled into our street! :eek: What a nightmare! :mad: :rolleyes:

Chuck, my 292 should be ready for a test ride after the 4th... :D No excuses... :p

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Surveyor took a quick look at this boat today....described as a nice boat but not exactly what I'm looking for...I passed on having a full survey done.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Not to be negative in any way, But, To find a late 80's or 90's Formula without any minor flaw wether it be cosmetic or not will be a real chore, Even the best lake boats, That were used exclusivly in fresh water you will find that you will have to make some investment beyond the sale price, I looked at a lot of them in the winnipisaukee area of NH and looked at several 272's before settleing on the one i had bought.

The vinyl stitching if original on the sunpad especially is a problem area on these years, The imron paint seems to of held up for the most part on these boats but you are usually looking at motors,drives,etc,etc that have upwards of 400-700 hrs on them so there is going to need to be some freshining in those areas.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Yeah, your probably right about that and I expect that all boats need something and will need more down the line.
I'd just prefer that it not be drives/motors/etc. etc. In that case I'd be better off increasing the budget and buying newer. They all consume $$$ and I understand that.

Griz posted a picture on this thread...the boat that I had checked out was missing the glossy finish on the bow. That's what I'm talkin about...

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...d.php?t=133849

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

At least you have a realistic approach towards the situation, I guess if you can buy it right and make modest dollars upgrades with out breaking the bank that would be the way to go, Or like you said take those dollars, add some to it and go for something newer that will get you by for a while.

But there is no gurantee there either, I have a 2001 and have had to replace a drive and a motor, Now it is on to the leaking transom shaft seals to get rid of the leaking water in the bilge, It is always something.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Really? That stinks. Maybe I should just buy a sailboat.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

lol..... :D

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

blowboats suck.....

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Blowboats............Blow!!! :evilb: :D

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Glossy 1986 imron. In this picture, you can see my belly button, and the blue wavy thing is the boat cover next to it. :)

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Deb does great work :drink:

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Did you have too...? :eek: I was diggin' that paint job until you said that! :p

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Fresh water, salt water, tap water, or bath water, you will be very hard pressed to find one in better shape or better taken care of than mine.

Need a swim platform, at the price I'm selling mine someone could easily install an Extreme Marine tubular platform and save 150 lbs. of dead weight right over the props.

I got my 311 running low 70's by three basic things.

One: I dropped well over 400 lbs of dead weight right over the props so the stern of the boat sits about two, maybe close to three inches higher out of the water, ergo less drag. Have two 200 lb guys stand together on the back of your silent thunder box and watch how far it goes down. Well that's how far mine came up. These 311's are REAL azz heavy which creates drag, which slows the boats down.

Second: Hydromotive Quad IV props, a stern lifting prop which got the azz end up even higher.

Third: EMI Thunder exhaust system. A true tuned exhaust system that weights 83 lbs. less than the stock Merc pos units. Then added the Stainless Marine Flappers. No friggin' way that did not add a performance factor to the motors. Maybe not a tremendous amount, but they certainly helped.



I just thought how could I get a little more speed without having to go to the expense of major horsepower. When I bought my boat with the existing 23" Mirage props it would run 62 mph. I have now increased that with no compromise on realibility by 11 mph.

I just went at it from a slightly different perspective. But you can't argue with the results.

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Formula Outlaw,
Three questions: One, what pitch Hydros are you running?
Two, have you tried Bravo 4-blades?
Three, any luck on the sale of your boat?

Don't be so sure! :p :drink: My 292 is still for sale Oh, you must have meant 311's. I'm sorry... :p

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

formula1 wrote:
"Formula Outlaw,
Three questions: One, what pitch Hydros are you running?
Two, have you tried Bravo 4-blades?
Three, any luck on the sale of your boat?"


i was actually thinking bravo 4 blades 24 or 26 pitch myself

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

73 on gps with stock power?

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

24's that have been tweaked a hair.

Bravo 4 blades are not as stern lifting a prop as the Quad IV's therefore will not reduce drag as much. It's like trimming your drives out at speed. Trim out, lose drag, increase speed. It doesn't matter HOW you lost the drag, as long as you lose it. The higher the stern of these 311's are out of the water, the faster they're gonna go. In stock form those props are WAY down there.

Not really. Lot of people kicking tires but nothing serious. I'm scared I'm going to lose out on the 353 I want but I don't dare commit until I sell my boat. One guy offered me 24K and I just laughed at him and asked him not to waste each other's time.....:rolleyes:

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

If you call EMI Thunder aluminum manifolds and risers, tweaked Quad IV props, Stainless Marine tips and no silent thunder box stock, then yes.

Remember, my propshafts are probably close to three inches higher in the water now LESS DRAG equals MORE SPEED.

I'd like to take credit for this whole approach, but in truth, it was the guys at Hydromotive that suggested it. They thought by doing this I was going to counter the 311's biggest enemy, stern drag. So I followed their suggestions and got what I feel are darned good results.

Don't let Offthefront read this, but some people have been turned off by no silent thunder box. My suggestion would/is if you need a platform put on an Extreme Marine unit. In my opinion it would really good and save a LOT of weight. Weight is our enemy....

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

:D :D :D

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

Formula Outlaw,
It would be neat, since we are not that far apart (and assuming our boats don't sell anytime soon :( ) to meet up somewhere and swap out props to see how the different brands really affect performance!

I almost went with Hydro's, but it seemed like the Bravo's offered more of an all-around enhancement opposed to just more speed. :rolleyes:

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

The first time I went out with the Quad IV's my boat literally just jumped up on plane in comparison to the old Miarage props. Even my ex-wife looked over at me and said "wow"..

I gained about 6 mph at cruising rpms, and 3 on the top end. If I went far back enough in the archives I've got a thread about the entire swapover. But I think those are the numbers. The guys at Hydromotive spent like forty five minutes on the phone with me telling me exactly what I would get from their props and they were right on the money.

I think that some boats that are not as heavy in the stern as our boats might benefit equally, maybe better with the Bravo One's, but on our boats, at least from what I was told by prop people that the Quad IV's were the way to go. I know I couldn't be happier with mine.

Did you have Mirage originally before you changed to your Bravo's and what differences did you see????? Russ

Re: New plan. Bigger Formula
 

From what I know,spinning the 3 blade props in will give the 311 about the same effect as a 4 blade,or very close to.