Changes to 353 since inception
 

Have there been any significant changes or improvements to the 353 Fastech (hull or otherwise) since it's inception in 1998? Thanks.

very little other than a move up in X dimension in 2000.

other than that just some production line changes in small trim/hardware/stereos

Thanks for the info, I saw one advertised with "3 steps" and wondered if they added one along the way since they've been out for some time now. I this basically the same size/weight boat as the 1997 33 SR1 it replaced?

Nope still has 2 steps...a real nice boat, if I say so myself !

Anything in particular to look for (or look out for) in a used one?

I had a guy tell me his 353 had 3 steps......he thought the notched transom was a step. :rolleyes:

353's have gained 1000lbs since 1998. The boat weighed 8575 in the first two years.

I am going to say it is about 1 1/2 ft. bigger, the 97 33 SR1 had the swimplatform molded making it seem smaller, we measured my buddys 88 311 and the 98 353 and the 353 was only 11 inches longer in total to the 311. The older boats with a removable platform were true length boats.

So if the 353 is 11" longer than the 311 - a true 31' boat, it's only 32' long - thought it would be at least 33.5. How did they manage to add 1000 lbs - were there layup issues in the earlier builds or was the initial weight understated? Anyone know how the 353 cockpit and engine room size compares to the 35 Fountain and the 33 Scarab AVS? Sounds like it's much smaller than the 35 Cig Cafe which I think is a true 35'.

The 311 with the removable swim platform actually measures about 34 ft. the 35 is a 35 but with the itegrated platform it measures as part of the lenght, that is why a old 31 is a real 31 and the 312 fastech was only a hair bigger then the 272 SR1
B oats like Cigs, Apache, and Baja still use a treue length since the platform is not molded to the hull.

I have Formula literature thru 2004, and they claim it weighes 8575lbs(1998-2004). The web specs for 2007 say 9500lbs? I know ac became an option after 04', but I dont know where the rest of the weight came from. I know that from at least 88' thru 98' they used Ashlands AME4000 resin in the layup, and in 99' Ashland calls it AME5000. When I bought my 98', I called Ashland and they said the new name went with new EPA standards, but not any real differences in the material. The 311 measures in @ 33ft with the platform, and it is big for a 31 footer. The 353, comes in @ 35'3", so thats a little over 2 ft longer, but the 353 is narrower from the windshield forward, making the cabin not as roomy. Back to the weight issues, I believe Formula isnt always truthfull about the weight of there boats, and here are 2 examples. My 311 on its trailer weighed in at 11300lb, minus the trailer(also weighed separately @2840lb)= 8460lbs. With gas and gear on it at the time(around 300lbs) that brings it in @ around 8200lbs(it also had aluminum heads and exhaust), so I'm thinking 8400 lb stock, the specs say 7400lbs. My 353 was 12200lbs on its trailer,and while I haven't weighed the trailer yet we're still in the 9300/9400lb range. I don't think the 353 got heavier, I think Formula got more honest. Maybe fatter is better now??

How balanced do you find the 353? I've not driven one yet, but they seem a bit tail heavy from watching them ride why not running flat out. If I recall, Powerboat reported that they lost their sightine until the boat come up on plane.

I can only compare the 353 to a 311, my 311 would run in the upper 70's, but that was with alot of trim and no tab. When that boat flew you can feel the back drop and the bow come up, sometimes scary... To get it fast it needed to be loose. The 353 on the other hand( has alot more power) rides and flys level, with just enough drop out back to let you know the bow isn't going to stuff. My 353 isn't a regular one though(Procharged 509's, Imco boxes, 1"shorty imco lowers), but I'd bet to say that most 353 owners would have the same opinion as me. The faster it goes the more stable and smoother the ride gets. It doesn't feel as fast as your going(97mph so far). The tabs and drives seem alot more sensitive on this hull then on the 311, and its kind of hard to get the boat loose(good thing or bad thing?). I'm really happy with the ride and handling of this boat, and would recommend a 353 to anybody looking at them. As far as planing goes, I have 1.36 gears, with 32p Bravos, and I try to take it easy on the drives when coming up on plane. The load of people and gas seems to determine the length of time it takes to plane, but I don't lose sight(I do stand though). Drives in, tabs at 4, half throttle and I wait, the boat plows for a few seconds, exhaust is quiet, and then the boat pops, blowers whine, exhaust gets loud, and its going 40mph. I would say my experience isnt normal 353 though, the Prochargers bring on power after 3000rpm, and its geared and proped to go 100mph. With 1.5 gears and proped to go 80mph, I'd venture to say the boat would pop on plane, my 311 did. Here is a picture my buddy took, I was feeling happy and blasting around Sandusky Bay like a kid on a jet ski, I had the drives around 5 and the tabs at 2(pretty conservative), I went past him at 92mph.

When the Anderson family raced their 353 pleasure boat in F2 they did great. It was not even a race boat and that thing rocked. I always wondered what a purpose built 353 F2 race boat would of done in offshore racing.

If you are considering a 353,spend 20 minutes in one and all your questions will be answered. Except for my 1968 Switzer,the 353 is my favorite boat of all time.

Nice pic!! you must have had a good photographer...:D

Lake Effect,did your boat come from Mailon Kent in Bham,Al?

My 302 SR1 measures 30 feet, two inches, ironically. :)

Yes it did, If you see him tell him the boat is doing good.

Nice, Lake - Hey did your boat have the boxes when you got it? I see a lot of 353's have them added - did they make a big difference for you?

I bought the boat with the boxes/drives and blown up motors with the Prochargers on them. You would have to search or start a thread about before and after with the boxes. I know my boat handles great with them.

The boxes add about 5 mph on a 353. Add from what I was told make the boat handle better too.

I demoed a 99 with no boxes and 502's yesterday - the nose flew pretty low in rough water for my taste - do the boxes bring the bow up any?

Lake Effect what year was your formula when you took the weights? The consensus is no weight difference thru the years?