Hi!

I consider importing a Formula 353 Fastech. After checking out the CE rules, the engines equipped in most 353's will not be approved importing to Norway. Mercruiser 500 EFI and 525 EFI are not CE approved. Mercruiser 496 HO and Mercruiser 600 Sci are.

The fuel prices in Norway are increasing every day, and at this moment we have to pay USD 10 per gallon of fuel. Running two 600 Sci engines one season proves to be rather expensive.

One idea is to buy two 485 Yanmar diesel engines with appropriate drives (fx. Konrad / Arneson / etc). Those engines consumes approx. 37 litre diesel at cruise speed. Cruise speed with a diesel is more efficient than with regular gas engines, typically 500 rpms below wot. The Yanmar engines can easily be tweaked to 550 hp each. And they run 8.000 hrs before rebuild.

Due to tax regulations, diesel in Norway for boats is less expensive than diesel for cars and gasoline. One gallon diesel for boats costs approx. 5,5 USD.

Running 2 x 600 Sci engines one hrs at cruise = 50 gallon x 10 USD = 500 USD per hour
Running 2 x 485 hp Yanmars one hrs at cruise = 18,5 gallon x 5,5 USD = 102 USD per hour

Stunning figures.

If you run 100 hrs a season, you have to pay USD 50.000 in gasoline running 600 Sci’s and USD 10.200 running Yanmars.

What is the second hand price you can get for 2 x 500 EFI’s / 2 x 525 EFI incl. drives at the market in US?

The easiest way to do this is to separate the engines and drives from the 353, and sell them in US. Then buy two Yanmar 485 hp engines and appropriate drives.

Do you have any experience with diesels and Formual 353's? I have seen Nortech boats running 2 x 415 hp Yanmars. Top speed is approx. 75 mph with a Nortech 3900. With two tweaked 550 hp Yanmars, the top speed for a 353 should be in excess of 80 mph? What do you think?

Thanks for your help!

Cheeers, Toffen G

I have no idea how well it would perform but if you take this on I hope you post your results. Are you talking used engines and drives or new? Might help us determine a selling price. Also, if you are considering new see if a dealer can talk Formula into building what you need without switching hardware. (Too bad other builders are known to be more accomidating for "custom" builds)

the boat will not run right with that much wieght astern I'll bet

the overall balance and step attack will be all wrong

Hi

I got a mail from Formula a week a go, and they are now
producing boats for export to Europe by the Ce certifcation
rules.

I spotted a 353 at Volvo Penta's Test center with their 496 gas engines and DupProp drives installed. I don't know if Formula offers that package yet, but I'm sure that VP's are easier to get parts and service for in Europe. That doesn't solve your fuel problems though.

The closest thing weightwise that I could find in a complete deisel sterndrive package was Volvo's D4-300/DPR package, but they are only 291 prop hp per side, and still weigh 190 pounds more (each). The D6-370/DPR (as used in the 400SS) makes 355 prop hp, but a pair of those would add 850 pounds. They are straight 6's as well, and would be a tight fit even in a 382. The same D6 engine has been tuned up to 435 hp in Volvo's IPS packages. Maybe they will offer that version of the engine with the stern drive some day.....

No matter what, you've got to come to grips with considerably more weight and more torque. Not easy to do in a narrow performance hull.

Have a look at the 400SS with the D6-370/DP package.

Hi!

Thanks for all the help!

Another option to solve the CE rules are; sell the Merc 500 EFI / 525 EFI engines, and change to Merc 496 HO. Import it to Norway, then add Raylar engine upgrade. If I am correct you will have a 550 hp engine with ease. Due this way you will have CE approval. Its legal to upgrade as long you have the papers in order in the first place.

A friend of mine imported a boat some months ago with a Merc 525, and he had to remove the engine to get the boat into the country. Thats suprised me.

I am not sure about the costs for Yanmars in US, but I think I have seen USD 40.000 per side plus drives... You can get two 496 HO engines for USD 12.500 per side, keep the drives and add two Raylar upgrades for USD 7.500 per side. I am not sure what you get for two second hand Merc 525 EFI engines. Around USD 15.000 per side?

Cheeeers! Toffen G

In europe there are far more diesel powered vehicles than gas. Gas is sooooo expensive and diesel is soooo cheap.
So I can see why Formula is building boats with diesels.

Ford builds a european car called the Mondeo. It's diesel powereed and gets 60 MPG on the highway.
Why can't they sell it here????

The yanmars will not fit into a 353 and they are way to heavy

If you want Diesel in a 353 use theese baybys
6,6 l V8 Diesel twin supercharged

up to 505 HP 1000 lbs weight

Fit in the same space as a V8 gas engines

Easy to convert

The engines are CE certified