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-   -   How many Formula`s have you owned ? (https://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/formula/141352-how-many-formula%60s-have-you-owned.html)

selpel 09-27-2006 03:56 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Hey Trips Thanks for the shot of our service dept behind your 419. But tell these guys about ALL the Formula boats you and your dad have had. :cool:


P.S. Guys if your looking for a great 382 Trips boat will stand tall!

dukenrock 09-27-2006 06:36 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
3 Attachment(s)
Two, second thanks to MajicFloat too!!! :drink:

382 newbie 09-27-2006 07:12 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
I have my first one, My next one will be a slightly used factory blower boat with the formulaguard warranty. A few years down the road and one of these will become available at the right price.

cuda 09-27-2006 10:02 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
2 Attachment(s)
I went to Doller Marine yesterday to pick up an HP500 that came out of a trip powered 419. The owner was going to have the 500's gone through, but instead decided to go with brand new 525,s, new drives, and new transom assemblies. :eek:

I did make it home with one of the 500's. Had fun tonight getting it off the trailer. I had to get it off the cradle Mac at Doller let me borrow, so I could get it back to him.

fastboatbob 09-28-2006 01:41 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
I guess you would call my family Formula fanatics.I have owned 3 Formulas all of which I loved.
The first was a 1986 242 with a 454/330 alpha.A great 55 mph boat.I made the fatal mistake of taking a ride in a 1987 272sr1 with 350 mags.
Yes, traded the 242 and never looked back.I had the 272 until 2002.
This summer I spotted a 2002 292 on a trailer at Lakeport Landing marina in NH. After weeks of deliberation, I finally bought it last week.
BTW, my son owned an F3 and a 1987 242sr1 with 350 mags.

Bradman 09-28-2006 02:03 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
1st one 2002 292 with 6.2's, really fun boat to drive

firstoffshore 09-28-2006 07:58 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Three:
2000 312 FASTech
2001 382 FASTech
2002 292 FASTech

selpel 09-28-2006 10:17 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by firstoffshore
Three:
2000 312 FASTech
2001 382 FASTech
2002 292 FASTech

Hey firstoffshore, did you trade down to the 2002 292? Could you tell the difference in the 312 and the double step 292?

tblrklakemo 09-29-2006 10:43 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
none... at their advertised retail pricing

DoTheMath 09-29-2006 11:06 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Two for me:

1989 - 242 LS - loved it so much ordered another.

1999 - 271 w/ a Lingenfelter 540 - hated it so much, it will be my last Formula.

jeff32 09-29-2006 11:12 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by DoTheMath
Two for me:

1989 - 242 LS - loved it so much ordered another.

1999 - 271 w/ a Lingenfelter 540 - hated it so much, it will be my last Formula.

no,no,no, you have to say WHY it would be the last. Last because of the boat ? Or last because of engine problem ??? I would think the second answer, right?

DoTheMath 09-29-2006 12:24 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Negative - engine was awesome! Ran strong and never skipped a beat. The boat (and factory) was the issue... I'll give you a few of the low-lights:

* Took a year to get the boat (I'd expect that from a small builder, not Formula), always had "delays" and it was not because of the motor.
* They left the 1.65 Bravo on it, so I had to run a HUGE prop and resulted in a ton of prop-tourque / boat lean / tab input to correct, (obviously). Tried to get them to change it to a 1.50 or even taller gears, and explained why, but no go - (they thought I was crazy).
* Imron paint job was very sloppy, lots of over spray, poorly taped-off lines, etc.
* Both bolsters were mounted in the boat crooked, figure that one out!?
* A couple of the coaming panels in the cabin fell off / down and one of the doors came off, and I boat on a lake - hello!?
* Transom gel looked like it was hit with 200 grit sand paper, all flat and scratched - out of the shrink wrap no-less.
* Was told it would have the silent thunder platform on it, arrived without it and was told after, "oh, sorry - we just couldn't get it to fit". (got tossed off the lake 3 weeks later for cranking a 102db pass, and had a nice fine to pay with it.) It sounded sooooooo nice, but no to the MP's.! :p
* Boat had a bad time with chine walking, (and it wasn't operator error) as I knew what I was doing and I had people with even more experience than me try it, same result.


There was more, but you get the point - trying to deal with the factory was a nightmare and I ended up having to talk to Scott personally. Once I did, things started to come around, they finally took the boat back (bye bye boating season that year :mad: ) put mufflers on it to get it to pass, and never fixed the rest of the punch-list I had. So, all-in-all, to be fair - if I had gone "out of the box" who knows what would have happened. I loved my 242LS (and I was only 21 when I got that, brand new!), I thought I'd be all set going back to them for a second boat... not so much. Yeah, lots of people have had great luck (obviously) but I just can't go back in good faith and risk possibly going through all that BS again.

selpel 09-29-2006 03:01 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by DoTheMath
Negative - engine was awesome! Ran strong and never skipped a beat. The boat (and factory) was the issue... I'll give you a few of the low-lights:

* Took a year to get the boat (I'd expect that from a small builder, not Formula), always had "delays" and it was not because of the motor.
* They left the 1.65 Bravo on it, so I had to run a HUGE prop and resulted in a ton of prop-tourque / boat lean / tab input to correct, (obviously). Tried to get them to change it to a 1.50 or even taller gears, and explained why, but no go - (they thought I was crazy).
* Imron paint job was very sloppy, lots of over spray, poorly taped-off lines, etc.
* Both bolsters were mounted in the boat crooked, figure that one out!?
* A couple of the coaming panels in the cabin fell off / down and one of the doors came off, and I boat on a lake - hello!?
* Transom gel looked like it was hit with 200 grit sand paper, all flat and scratched - out of the shrink wrap no-less.
* Was told it would have the silent thunder platform on it, arrived without it and was told after, "oh, sorry - we just couldn't get it to fit". (got tossed off the lake 3 weeks later for cranking a 102db pass, and had a nice fine to pay with it.) It sounded sooooooo nice, but no to the MP's.! :p
* Boat had a bad time with chine walking, (and it wasn't operator error) as I knew what I was doing and I had people with even more experience than me try it, same result.


There was more, but you get the point - trying to deal with the factory was a nightmare and I ended up having to talk to Scott personally. Once I did, things started to come around, they finally took the boat back (bye bye boating season that year :mad: ) put mufflers on it to get it to pass, and never fixed the rest of the punch-list I had. So, all-in-all, to be fair - if I had gone "out of the box" who knows what would have happened. I loved my 242LS (and I was only 21 when I got that, brand new!), I thought I'd be all set going back to them for a second boat... not so much. Yeah, lots of people have had great luck (obviously) but I just can't go back in good faith and risk possibly going through all that BS again.

I guess the first question I would ask is who you bought the boat from and did they help you with your problems?

I can see several issues that would have not made it thru my prep guy without us hollering to Formula about them!!!

DoTheMath 09-29-2006 04:31 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Hehe, this is a true - direct quote, and I will never forget it. The owner of the Marina / dealership that I bought it from (still in business today), said to me as I was about to fire up the boat after just taking delivery (he was standing on the dock next to it), "you better stay away from the lake patrol with that, it will never pass!" referring to our db limit on the lake.

One of my other (big) gripes at the time was - why in the HELL would the dealer allow a boat to be (ordered), built, delivered, serviced, and used on the same lake - that wouldn't pass the noise restrictions!? Never mind the quality issues that it had... again, all leaving a bad taste in my mouth with Formula. Oh yeah, same dealer I bought the 242 from too.

firstoffshore 09-29-2006 08:54 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by selpel
Hey firstoffshore, did you trade down to the 2002 292? Could you tell the difference in the 312 and the double step 292?

I could tell the difference between the 312 and the 292. The 312 had a good ride, but the 292 was much more refined in terms of stability and trim. The 292 is a great improvement over the 312. My 382 was in a class by itself; I had a kevlar F-2 race version (used for pleasure) that was incredible.

BigDaddy96 10-04-2006 10:50 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by selpel
Yes sir I have seen your boat I believe at LOTO. Have we worked on it?

Yep, but with a few minor issues. Pic taken at Ha Ha Tonka

trips2win 10-09-2006 07:27 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
jeff32 - nice paint job...where did you find her?

IrishJer 10-10-2006 06:56 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
I must say, its great to see so many loyal buyers. Whether its a new boat or old boat, its still a Formula! Keep up the selling and buying!

jPorter 10-10-2006 07:17 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by DoTheMath
Negative - engine was awesome! Ran strong and never skipped a beat. The boat (and factory) was the issue... I'll give you a few of the low-lights:

* Took a year to get the boat (I'd expect that from a small builder, not Formula), always had "delays" and it was not because of the motor.
* They left the 1.65 Bravo on it, so I had to run a HUGE prop and resulted in a ton of prop-tourque / boat lean / tab input to correct, (obviously). Tried to get them to change it to a 1.50 or even taller gears, and explained why, but no go - (they thought I was crazy).
* Imron paint job was very sloppy, lots of over spray, poorly taped-off lines, etc.
* Both bolsters were mounted in the boat crooked, figure that one out!?
* A couple of the coaming panels in the cabin fell off / down and one of the doors came off, and I boat on a lake - hello!?
* Transom gel looked like it was hit with 200 grit sand paper, all flat and scratched - out of the shrink wrap no-less.
* Was told it would have the silent thunder platform on it, arrived without it and was told after, "oh, sorry - we just couldn't get it to fit". (got tossed off the lake 3 weeks later for cranking a 102db pass, and had a nice fine to pay with it.) It sounded sooooooo nice, but no to the MP's.! :p
* Boat had a bad time with chine walking, (and it wasn't operator error) as I knew what I was doing and I had people with even more experience than me try it, same result.


There was more, but you get the point - trying to deal with the factory was a nightmare and I ended up having to talk to Scott personally. Once I did, things started to come around, they finally took the boat back (bye bye boating season that year :mad: ) put mufflers on it to get it to pass, and never fixed the rest of the punch-list I had. So, all-in-all, to be fair - if I had gone "out of the box" who knows what would have happened. I loved my 242LS (and I was only 21 when I got that, brand new!), I thought I'd be all set going back to them for a second boat... not so much. Yeah, lots of people have had great luck (obviously) but I just can't go back in good faith and risk possibly going through all that BS again.

DoTheMath,
Its sad to hear your story coming from the company I work for. Our product has done nothing but improve with quality and performance. I would hope you would deeply consider another boat from us. Our FAS3Techs are the best all around in quality, ride, finish, and performance. Whatever direction you go, best of luck to you in your boating adventures.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Porter
Brand Presence Manager
Formula Boats

Magicfloat 10-10-2006 07:54 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Welcome to the board,Jeremy. Will be nice to have a Porter with us. We have a lot of fun here. :D Robert

wrinkleface 10-10-2006 09:16 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by jPorter
DoTheMath,
Its sad to hear your story coming from the company I work for. Our product has done nothing but improve with quality and performance. I would hope you would deeply consider another boat from us. Our FAS3Techs are the best all around in quality, ride, finish, and performance. Whatever direction you go, best of luck to you in your boating adventures.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Porter
Brand Presence Manager
Formula Boats

Jeremy, Your company makes a great boat, I know. Look back at my post on page 2 of this thread. I had 4 brand new ordered boats from you in less than 10 years! Good customer, great customer?? You determine that. A 400 ss would probably have been our next boat! Check w/ Mike, Pete and Scott for details. Things could have gone better. Tracy

Ted G 10-10-2006 09:19 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Welcome Jeremy, and from a 2 time owner, let me say thanks for building such a great product. I'll be looking for my third shortly, you can be assured of that.

Car Biz 10-10-2006 09:24 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by jPorter
DoTheMath,
Its sad to hear your story coming from the company I work for. Our product has done nothing but improve with quality and performance. I would hope you would deeply consider another boat from us. Our FAS3Techs are the best all around in quality, ride, finish, and performance. Whatever direction you go, best of luck to you in your boating adventures.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Porter
Brand Presence Manager
Formula Boats

Welcome and yes you guys build a great boat i love my old 272 :drink:

jPorter 10-10-2006 10:29 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by wrinkleface
Jeremy, Your company makes a great boat, I know. Look back at my post on page 2 of this thread. I had 4 brand new ordered boats from you in less than 10 years! Good customer, great customer?? You determine that. A 400 ss would probably have been our next boat! Check w/ Mike, Pete and Scott for details. Things could have gone better. Tracy

Wow, 4 boats in less than tens years. I would say your a great customer. I'm sad to see the switch to NorTech but I'm sure you have your reasons. Well we'll see what the future holds in store for you, hopefully a change back to us :D.
Safe and Happy boating!
Jeremy

PhantomChaos 10-10-2006 03:57 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Hey! We have "factory attention"!!!! Is that good? I think so.......

I've always had jabs from SCOPE club members when something comes loose in my cabin, whether it be the AC unit, headliner, cup holder or whatever. They always said...."see what you get from a manufacturer that doesn't test boats in the ocean...they are in Indiana! ". Of course, **** is always going to break, but some of the things I've had to fix....I just fix it (or get it fixed) and shake my head wondering why they did it that way, and not a better and more rugged way for an offshore performance boat.

My 2 cents!

Rippem 10-10-2006 04:07 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
3 Attachment(s)
jPorter, nice to see you stop over here. :D

I think it's all about percentages. I don't think any volume boat manufacturer can approach the percentage of well satisfied and/or repeat customers of Formula.

We all know that is HIGH praise, and a huge accomplishment.

No, not the be all/end all of powerboats...but day-to-day one fine product!

I have experienced fantastic factory and dealer support from both my selling dealer Erickson Marine, and from our own world class dealer/Formula ambassador Robert Nelems. :cool:

The whole network is a class act who really does care about your ownership experience from what I have seen.

Magicfloat 10-10-2006 04:51 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Only problem I see now that JPorter has joined our ranks,how is he going to get any work done? :p He will be on OSO all day :D But that is not necessarily a bad thing.

axapowell 10-10-2006 04:55 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Welcome Jeremy! Glad to have you! (Three Formulas for me!)

Dave

jhiguy377 10-10-2006 05:36 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Five;Thunderbird Tri-Hull, 202 w/ Gill equipped small block(fast), 233 Interceptor w/twin 260's, 26' cruiser, F302 w/400 cyclones

TeamSaris 10-10-2006 06:06 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by cuda
You don't see a lot of 303's. There was one in our boat club in St Pete. How many years did they make it?

There is one at our docks with 502s. :cool:

selpel 10-10-2006 07:46 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by jPorter
DoTheMath,
Its sad to hear your story coming from the company I work for. Our product has done nothing but improve with quality and performance. I would hope you would deeply consider another boat from us. Our FAS3Techs are the best all around in quality, ride, finish, and performance. Whatever direction you go, best of luck to you in your boating adventures.

Sincerely,
Jeremy Porter
Brand Presence Manager
Formula Boats

Welcome to the form Jeremy. The guys on this form are great. Hope to see you at the end of Nov.
:cool:

selpel 10-10-2006 07:49 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Hey trips2win ,when are you gonna tell the rest of the guys here about all the boats you and your dad have had? :cool:

jPorter 10-11-2006 06:59 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
Our boats are constructed with an offshore mindset, although we don't build them on the water we have the midwestern work ethic which is the driving force in our quality and craftsmanship.

We do go to Florida a lot where we have a couple of boats that we test. The Porters have vacation homes there where we keep a couple of boats to test and run. We also keep a boat on Lake Michigan and we'll take boats on vacations elsewhere. So we do get some rough water testing in. Like you said all boats are going to break, but each year we improve. If you have any suggestions I would be more than happy to hear them.

I just want to say thank you for the warm welcomes and kind remarks, I will probably be on here way too much not getting any work done. I guess for "selpel" and "Magicfloat" if your coming in November I'll probably see you then. So take care and good luck in your selling.

offthefront 10-11-2006 07:10 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by Magicfloat
Nice thread,Selpel,thanks for starting it. My current demo is the 2007 382 photo shoot Spyder boat,don't have a pic but it's the 382 on the Formula website :p

That is one of the best designs Formula has ever done ..I have that boat for my Desktop background ...m


Oh ... 89 311 .....turns heads everywhere we go ....

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/989...newraftmh2.jpg

selpel 10-11-2006 08:12 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by offthefront
That is one of the best designs Formula has ever done ..I have that boat for my Desktop background ...m


Oh ... 89 311 .....turns heads everywhere we go ....

http://img95.imageshack.us/img95/989...newraftmh2.jpg

Great looking 311 guy. To this day the 292 SR1, 311 SR1, and the 357 SR1 made in the 80s is still one of the best resale performance boat on the market. Of the remakes in the early 90s their replacements 303(292), 336(311), and the 382(357) the only one that failed to equal or better is predessors customer following was the 336SR1. If it came to a decesion between a 1989 311 or a 1993 336 most performance guys would choose your 311!!

offthefront 10-11-2006 08:58 AM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by selpel
Great looking 311 guy. To this day the 292 SR1, 311 SR1, and the 357 SR1 made in the 80s is still one of the best resale performance boat on the market. Of the remakes in the early 90s their replacements 303(292), 336(311), and the 382(357) the only one that failed to equal or better is predessors customer following was the 336SR1. If it came to a decesion between a 1989 311 or a 1993 336 most performance guys would choose your 311!!


Thanks selpel ....while we are "spreadin the Love" Here .. Daryl Johnson at Formula have ALWAYS come thru with info needed ... 17 year old boat ...cant beat that ....m

Treads 10-11-2006 12:50 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
1 Attachment(s)

Originally Posted by Treads
1 for now:

91 292, 502's Bravo I's
Looking at a 34 PC now also.

Now I can say 2, :cool: closed the deal on the 34 PC. Pick her up at 1:00 PM Saturday for the cruise up the bay to home port. :drink:

BTW, welcome Jeremy, its great to have the Porter Family present on the board. No better way to get feedback right to the ownership. Congrats :woohoo:

masi242 10-11-2006 08:18 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
1 Attachment(s)
Formula builds a great boat, but the best thing of all is the reputation they have built over the years :D

Great to have you on the board

She`s only 19 years old :drink:

DOCS OUT 10-11-2006 10:03 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 
I'm Interested In Owning Formula's New Ss 31'. Other Than The Site Info On The Web, Has Anyone Heard Anything About This Newbie?

selpel 10-11-2006 10:13 PM

Re: How many Formula`s have you owned ?
 

Originally Posted by JIMLAFLEUR
I'm Interested In Owning Formula's New Ss 31'. Other Than The Site Info On The Web, Has Anyone Heard Anything About This Newbie?

From everything my GM has said about it(saw it at visit to plant) this will most likely be boat of the year in its class range. We have several
spec. out but have not seen one arrive yet. Just wondering if the max of 6.2L will make everyone happy? Gonna be awesome I bet!!
:cool:


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