303 SR1 owners please chime in!
 

I have been looking for a boat and have found a VERY nice '92 Formula 303 SR1. The owner is the original, the boat has lived in it's own custom 30' climate controlled garage it's entire life, it sits on a 1995 Eagle tandem axle trailer. The boat has been used on a quiet fresh water lake it's entire life, it currently has 265hrs. Motors are the original 365hp carbed 454s (that have been massaged), and original Bravo 1s. Boat has factory installed GPS. Owner has been meticulous with maintenance since new, Mobile1, fresh plugs every season, etc. etc. Ad ons include; Barry Grant carbs with spacers, Barry Grant fuel pumps, Gil exhaust, MSD ignition, Mercury labbed 4-blades, Imco external hydraulic steering, and throttle mounted drive trim control. Boat is SUPER clean! Exterior/interior is flawless. I have been on two trial rides, the boat fires instantly and runs creamy smooth......no drama, zero vibration, and tight as a drum.

I guess my questions are; is there anything specific I should be looking for on this model boat in particular? Did the 303 have any specific weakness? Is there any reason one would try to talk me out of a 303? Lastly, what would be a fair price based on year/hours/fresh water use/original owner/etc.??? I need to stress how ridiculously cherry this boat is......it looks like a museum piece. I am extremely critical, and this boat left me speechless with how perfect it was.

Comments and insight greatly appreciated!!!!!! Thanks.

BowenCT,

Sounds like a great boat ..... A good friend of mine had that same set up as this one you are looking at before he moved up to a 382.
He to this day still says the 303 was the best and the most dependable boat he ever had.
The only draw back was depending what you are looking for and where you want to use it.
Small cabin ...... and it really isn't a "BIG WATER" boat ......
It will get thrown around a bit.
That being said ...... easy to trailer and easy to manoeuver .... even with one person.

Good luck !!!!

Jeff

Maybe Axapowell will chime in here. He had a 303 also, liked it very much. Moved up to a 353. If I remember right, he was doing low 70s with stock power. They are nice boats. There are no particular or specific issue I know of with that model.

Even though it's cherry and has a few mods, I don't think anything over 45k can be asked for that boat. If it's as nice as you say, (which of course it must be), buy it. Got any pics?

I concur.

Around 40 would seem the ideal place to be.

Here are some pics:

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...g?t=1213753394

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...g?t=1213753036

http://i209.photobucket.com/albums/b...g?t=1213753344

*I tried posting the actual photos, not sure why only the links came up.....?

Really???????

If my memory serves me right it is only a 28'-29' boat.
I realize I could be opening a can of worms here but I think that is right.
It was quick .... like Bird said .... early 70s for mph no problem.

The pictures look good ...... not my choice for colours but I am not buying the boat. I think the boat looks great other than that.

Jeff

I owned a 1993 303 for 3 years and never had any problems. When it sold, it had 630 hours on stock 502mag carbed engines. Great boat, handled like a 35 footer and not too bad in the big stuff. We just needed more cabin room...and a little more speed. With labbed props, it would run 72 GPS anyday of the week with or without gear.

Good luck! PM me if you have any questions!

Dave

Here is one of mine!

Dave

I believe it is that clean. you can see the dash shining from the stern, and that engine room/parts are pretty tidy!

seems like a nice find!
Those Mags will run forever!

I'm pretty happy with mine - it's a '92 with '97 454 mags (gotta love the fuel injection). The only thing that I really don't like, is that instead of K-planes, mines got a Bennett "starter set" trim tabs. I did buy a complete K-plane set up that I'll install this winter.

Thanks to everyone who replied. I wound up buying the boat, and have been enjoying learning it's ins and outs. It runs very strong, and is very responsive to inputs of drive trim. I do however need some tips on the trim tabs. The boat is equiped with Kiekhaefer tabs and for the most part, with advise from the seller, I have been leaving them right around 3-3.5 on the dash indicator. Am I correct in assuming that 3 is pretty much neutral with the running pad of the hull? The boat planes effortlessly, so the tabs aren't really needed, but what about top end? Would it be best to leave them in neutral position or to raise them up all the way? Obviously load and water conditions are going to play a role, but for this exercise let's assume we are talking average load (3/4 tank fuel and 2 occupants) and water anywhere from flat-1.5' chop.

The boat runs and handles great, but if there is anything I can do to optimize speed/handling/efficiency in regards to use of the tabs, I would love to learn it.

I very much appreciate the insight anyone can give.

-MB

Congrats on your new ride:D

Thx masi. BTW, a good friend of mine just purchased a clean '88 242 LS this season. It's packing a very worked motor (inside and out) and strapped with a Weiand supercharger. Nice boat!

With that kind of power it is sure to wake up that 242, all it takes is money:drink:

The planes are really a learn-as-you-go thing. Experiment with them, adjust slowly while at speed as they do a lot with just a small bit of input. At setting three, they should be close to flat with the hull. Just check them on the trailer.

The planes are very nice for adjusting for people on one side or the othe of the boat. And, real nice for adjusting the hull up a bit on one side when quartering into the waves.

We cruise the St. Lawrance a bit, sometimes hit really big cruiser wakes. I can run at cruise (40 or so), see a big wake and just before I hit it I knife the planes in hard and deep. They respond quickly, then draw them back out immediately after the wake. It sets that bow right down into them and cuts nicely. Now......... BE CAREFUL WHEN YOU DO THIS!!!!!!!!!!!!
Diving these big planes in at speed can be dangerous. You need to pay attention and don't do any slolom coures turns while you're doing it.

If you let inexperienced people drive your boat (while you're on it of course), don't let them play with the planes! Those planes can set that boat right up on its side with one in and the other out.

As for full speed runs, I usually pull them all the way out. But, at least with my boat, it'll porpoise a bit and that reduces speed. So sometimes, at bit of tab in helps speed.

Like I said earlier, you play with them and you'll become one with them. Pretty soon you'll only be looking at the indicators for reference, it will be by seat of the pants feel mostly.

Hope the boat treats you well.

Thanks ThirdBird for the helpful reply!