242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Can this hull take those speed. Is it designed for that. getting it there isnt that problem just makeing sure it can take it is my though it does have tabs to obvisoly help me out its running a 496 MPI Mag i am going to Superchage just want to know if its worht it. thanks for the input if any
Mike

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

I had an 85' 242 LS. Twin small blocks. Running 23 inch cleavers on twin alpha drives that were NOT counter-rotating.

That boat boat in extremely light load would run 65 gps. When trimmed out for that last two mph, it chinewalked EVER so slightly. It was so slight it did little more than kind of jog your memory of watching the backs of hydros or something. Not even an annoyance of any kind. Just something you were barely aware of.

Got a feeling that counter-rotating drives would have made a big difference in that.

If you're going to achieve those speeds, yank those baby Bennett tabs off and put some K-Planes on that boat. At 75 or plus mph those Bennets are not going to stand up to the punishment, and if one goes at a bad time, you could be killed.

Hydraulic Steering is MANDATORY. Case Closed on that subject.

Other than that, I'd say go for it. Sure surprise a lot of boats....:cool:

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

You're going to need lot$ of HP to make it to 75mph. A friend has a 1991 242 LS with a warmed over HP500 now dynoed at 535hp and can barely see 70 on a good day. (warm humid summer days , 68). My guess is , bare minimum 600hp and probably closer to 650hp. His 242 is a great riding and handling boat for the size but because of this the speed suffers. His net gain from the orig. 415 hp 502 mag to 535 hp was 62 mph to 70 mph (both under ideal conditions and two people and full gas).

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

the 242's have a pretty ugly hook in the hull. my 242 twin does close to 70 with twin vette motors in it. going to try for 70+ by getting rid of those cleavers and trying some q4x's to lift that hook out with out tabs

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

I sure miss mine. 1985 with twin 1999 Fwc 350 mags. It would run 65 on a good day. The best money I ever spent on it was a tie bar.

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

242 FORMULA: YOU WILL NEED A 598CI TALL DECK - 700+ HP,MAYBE CLOSER TO 800HP. STAND OFF PLATE FOR THE OUTDRIVE, AND FORGET ABOUT A BRAVO WITH THAT HP YOU WILL NEED A TRS OR KONRAD OR OTHER DRIVE FOR UPTO 800-1000HP. AND THEN MAYBE YOU WILL SEE 75MPH AFTER ALL THAT. I KNOW A GUY IN NY WHO PUT A 540/600hp in a 242 boat ran high 60mph on gps on fumes with one person, after $4000 in props where used. Best prop was a hydromotibe 4 blade 26 pitch he used. bravo drive - blown 4 times - and a jackplate extension which help add 3mph

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

He must be doing something wrong. Here's a 535 hp 502 that I wrenched on and watched being dynoed and KNOW its 535 and gets 70 GPS on a good day with 2 people and a full tank :cool:

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Ya, it just takes cash :D That`s why I`m stock :(

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Aw c'mon Masi , part with some cash and wake up your 242 :evilb: :evilb: :evilb:

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Me too. :(

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Between my uncle,my cousin and me we have collectively owned
8 Formulas from the mid to late80s period. They all had hook in the hull. Some much worse than others, it was designed in for some stupid reason. Answer was to pull the engines, build up the inside of the bottom and then grind the hook away. Every single one picked up 4-7mph with no other changes but a hell of alot of elbow grease to get it done. Trying to get max speed without removing the hook puts a strain on the transom. If you have someone crazy enough to video it you can actually see the transom bend as you try to trim out the hull and hook tries to push it back in. (I was young+ crazy enough to hang off the back and look, that was 20 years ago )

__________________________________________________ _____
http://www.hotrodlincoln.org/boatsig.jpg
Chapparal 21XLC Merc 454/Alpha
Yeah I know,but its all I can afford..

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

What a memory! I had an "87 242 LS two boats ago. Clean, clean well cared for boat with a single 270 hp 350 MAG. With 19P Mirage prop I got 37-38 screamin' mph summer and nearly 40 in winter! But that little boat had a heluva ride for its size. Good as a Cobalt. Put a subwoofer under the passenger seat and the stereo sounds great. I think my old boat is for sale on Yachtworld now. :)

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

This is very interesting

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

on some its pretty visible even without using a straightedge ..
you can see where the strake runs flat but the bottom hooks down.
Its like running with your tabs down all the time.
On the earlier models there was enough meat in the hull to get rid
of it without adding material but not on the late 80s models which
had a lighter layup. Be coolto find someone that worked there
back then and find out why they did this to their boats.
I havent seen it on the 90+s or 70s models,just most of the 80s..
http://www.hotrodlincoln.org/fhook.jpg

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Just grossly overpower the boat enough and there won't be enough hook in the water at speed to make a difference :evilb: :evilb:

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

I'm with MOPWER or just keep the thing on the dock in the flat water. Besides 1-2 footers make speed! if the only thing in the water is the outdrive 75 shouldn't be a problem with all that power / $

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

You're absolutely correct but in the case of a 272 with big blocks , it's very stern heavy and tends to porpoise between 40 and 60 mph without using tabs anyway. Removing the hook would only make it worse. Next summer I plan to try some Hydromotive props in lieu of Bravos since B1's are bow lifters anyway and Hydros are stern lifters. A single engine 242 is a bit of a different story as the balance is much better than a twin BB 272 as demonstrated in these pictures.

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

I like the "squat" though. Looks cool, you know there's a lot of iron back there.

Fountains have the best squat in the business. My wife and I were discussing the "squat" of various go-fasters and she labeled the squat as "looking slutty". :D I like that, they look slutty! :cool:

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

YEAH!! :evilb:

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Fountain's squat is more optical illusion then anything else. They have less hull and more deck , placing the rub rail closer to the water and therefore giving the appearance of being lower :rolleyes:

I like the look too. Like you said "You know you got some iron back there" :D

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Love the squat. If we wanted to look like everyone else we would run bayliners

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

correct prop and in the case of dual motors correct rotation of props should correct any ride problems.
There is no reason a Formila with a staight bottom should porpoise unless something is wrong with the setup.
Prop and drive science has come a long ways since Formula
made them in the 80s.
My lil 21 footer with a 454 and radar arch in the back is very stern heavy. With the wrong prop(bowlifter) it bounces up and down like a carnival ride. With a stern lifting (or no lift) prop it rides smooth as can be.

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

'89 Formula 242 with single 502ci using a B&M 250 blower. Bravo drive. I can't remember what prop I had on it. Ran 78mph (on hand held GPS) all day long. Sometimes I wish I had it back.

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

1990 242 LS 454 330 bravo drive , ya there's nothing like the 'squat' .. Id like to ad some hp !! :D

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

I found that even with twin small blocks, I had to add some weight on the sun deck for the proper squat.:p

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

LOL Cuda just right !

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

I had a 241 Lib with twins years ago...The Hydros helped mine ALOT. really lifted the stern up at speed.

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Speaking of squat:eek:

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Mopower, I think that`s my old boat:drink:

I need more squat:D

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

My buddies with 509 is the same:(

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Just some fyi from someone who currently owns a 242 LS with a hp500 bravo I drve. It has taken a little work with prop and enusing that all is good but just this past weekend I posted 69.9 mph gps with 1 person and 1/4 tank. Right now I'm experimenting with sure carb motifications which should put me at just over 70. I believe that with a clean hull a cold nice day and me losing about 30# ;-) I might see 71. Need lots of hp to make it happen but certainly possible. Keep me posted.

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

what prop you using. My buddies 509 dynoed 535 hp and he's running a labbed 24 Bravo at 5400 rpms with 2 peeps and a full tank. Of couse he tried it with three people and an empty tank and this happened. A two stage tow:eek: The sail boat got us to within 100 feet of the dock but neede 5 feet of water so we got another tow the last 100 feet:D

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Wish i could say 75mph , not just yet ! My 454 330 is coming out after next summer. I bought my new to me 1990 242LS last april , in Grand Haven MI .Had it transported back to wa. and had a very smooth 53 mph summer but now its time to step it up !! my set up right now is a Bravo 1 1.50 gears , 21 mirage prop 4400 to 4600 rpms . it always comes down to $$ and if we are keeping our boats . Yes my formula is worthy of a blue or black engine ,454 mag .502 . 496ho or even the blue 500hp , I joined OSO a couple of months ago and havent stopped reading since. thanks everyone for all your funny and informative threads :D

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Love the squat... 292 and twin 6.2's...:drink:

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

The background of your picture looks familar. Missouri is a pretty long boat ride from Kelley's Island, Ohio...

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

242 was an awesome boat. Twin Scorps would be great. 700hp.

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

More like a 10 hour tow!!:rolleyes: We were there early August 2006 and had a blast. My parents live on their Nordic Tug up there during the summer. I was playing with my image software, that's why the Casino is blurry... Here are a few other pics... Would like to have seen your 353 out there. From the other thread it sure sounds like you have it running good!:drink:

First is at East Harbor beach. Dad's Nordic Tug, brothers 21 Formula, my 292. Second pic is at Bay Point beach.

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

1987 272 with 383's 425 hp on dyno 69.8 on gps, glassed hook 37 in. forward installed 280 k-tabs 23 mirage props @ 5100 rpm

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

Nice:drink:

Re: 242 LS Hull 75+ mph Possable
 

its for sale neg.