Some 292 Fastech questions...long post
 

Picked up an '06 292 with 6.2's and 30 hrs on it middle of last summer. Only put about 30 more hrs on it last summer so I'm just now taking the time to dig into it and learn about all the liitle details. I have a few questions for you guys with more 292 experience.

- When stepping down into the cabin that step hinges up and there's a space below. There's a transducer glued to the port side of the hull. Is that for the depth finder I assume?

-Also in that same space there is a plastic grommet on the starboard side that HAD a rubber expansion plug in it. The plug fell out somewhere along the way and was laying on the hull with a lanyard attached. When I discovered this space I also found a couple of inches of standing water in the space. Is that grommet the entry to a drain pipe that is supposed to drain into the bilge? I haven't tried to snake it out but the water is well above that grommet and does not drain down thru that hole?

-I've seen on a bunch of threads that people are reporting top speeds of 69 - 70 MPH. Best I've seen after diddling with tabs and trim is around 65 - 66 with 3/4 fuel and a couple of guys onboard. I've read on some forums about keeping the tabs all the way down while trimming the drives out, is this the manuever to get top speed out of these boats? Are guys only getting to 70 after getting the props blueprinted?

-Speaking of props, I'm not 100% up to speed on all the lingo but I assume that getting the props "labbed" means getting them blueprinted? Can this be done by the local prop guy or only some super secret area 51 prop place?

-Also remember reading that someone on here added K planes to thier 292......maybe 4mulafastech? I know that the consensus is that it's a major improvement and I was wondering in what respect. Better high speed handling, more top end, smoother ride, all of the above?

-My boat has the cheesy trim gauges (that suck) and nothing for the tabs. Thinking of retrofitting mechanical indicators. Am I correct that Formula uses the Stainless Marine parts when they are factory installed? Anybody added them after the fact like I'm thinking of?

-Anybody have or add a fresh water rinse shower on a 292? If you added it was it pretty straight forward or a PITA?

Sorry for the the long post, I actually have more questions but figured I'd save them for later. I've been lurking around here since last summer and found lots of great info. This is my second Formula. I had an '87 311 with 330's and TRS's about 10 years ago and I've been away from boating since then. Of course I already have the fever bad again and I'm wanting to go right to a 400SS. Oh well, never satisfied...........I live by the motto "if some is good, more is better, and too much is just right". Also I know someone is going to say I need to post pics but I actually don't have any good one yet but I'll take some soon. Mine the same color and paint scheme as 4mulafastech's but stock, without the Latham steering, K planes, etc. My 292 wants to be like his when it grows up. :D

Thanks, Pat

Sorry, one more thing to add maybe related to the standing water under the step in the cabin. I also found standing water in the carpeted storage compartment on the starboard side of the porta potti under the v-berth cushion. I bailed it out by hand but after it sits for awhile some comes back way down at the low point in the rear of the compartment. Youi can see a water stain line where the water was up with in a few inches of the hatch at one time. No evidence of any water up top under the cushion and I sprayed the deck hatch above that area to check for leaks. Anybody ever have a fresh water tank leak? I did winterize the whole system with pink antifreeze last fall. The suck out hose for the head also runs thru that compartment over to the starbord side of the boat but it sure seemed like fresh water, not pee water. If it was a leaking porta potti hose I'd think the smell would have knocked me out when I opened the slider dorr for the first time this season?

Hey speaking of the sliding door, anyone ever had a problem with the latch pulling right out of the door in rough water? Anyone come up with a better retention method than the squeaze method that Formula uses?

Sorry again for all the questions. Once I get back to speed and remember some of my long lost forgotten boating knowledge I'll try to give more than I take. :o

I have basically the exact same boat as you Pat....and amazingly was about to start a thread about the "water under the steps" also!!!! The black puck is the transducer for the depth finder..... I also have NO CLUE where this water is coming from and why is won't drain????

I tried to snake it out a week ago, and got about 2 feet down, and nothing happened???? So I hand bailed it out and got the rest of it dry with towels.

In regards to speed.... that is about the same as I get....once in a great while, with a good current, almost no gas, 1 other person, trimmed wayyyyy up, I can hit 70, but more times I max out around 67.

Big K planes on a 29....a big waste of money I feel...just my 2 cents. On a 38 or bigger, it's well worth it...for us, not really, I feel.

I have a fresh water shower, and never use it!!!! For me persoanlly I don't want to hold the extra weight....I would rather have the speed.... IMO.

I have not looked in my porta=potti area for water....you gave me a idea though...I'm going to look for sure ASAP.

Never had problems with the latch.....and I've been in some fairly rough waters...

Hope this helps a bit....and feel free to contact me with any other ideas/questions.

Jay

Jay,

Thanks, that does help alot. I guess I'll just bail that water out under the step for now until I can figure out what's going on with that. I was also thinking that maybe water from the anchor locker was finding it's way in? I believe that has a direct drain thru a fitting in the hull up near the bow? I'll have to check that out also I guess. Other than I don't know where that water would be coming from other than the fresh water tank.

Ya' 67 seems to be about it for me too so far. Though I was doing something wrong or maybe didn't have the right drive and tab tune up.

My wife is really the one that wants the 400SS :rolleyes: if you know what I mean, and the reason for the question on the transom shower. She brings a 2 gallon water jug with us when we go out to rinse off after swimming. I was thinking that the shower would be a more dignified solution although the 2 gallon jug is a cheaper solution. I guess I'm getting old but I'd sacrifice a couple MPH to be able to take that water jug off the pile of crap I have to drag back and forth every time we go out. :)

The latch that holds the sliding door closed stays attached to the jamb and the door slides right open when it starts pounding in rough water. If I remember correctly from last year it has a screw that goes thru it and squeazes the latch from both side of the door. I'll probably just take it apart and add some adhesive when I fix it again this weekend.

Hey, we're practically neighbors also. I'm up in Warwick, RI and boat on Narragansett Bay. You got anybody good for Formula warranty work that you'd recommend? Ocean Perf doesn't seem to be in the Formula business anymore? My boat came from Lakeport Landing on Lake Winni in NH but I'd like to avoid that ride.

Thanks again,
Pat

I do think the anchor area does flow out from its own port near the front of the bow....I have flushed it out a couple times and remember seeing it. Sooooo, I really have no clue where that water is coming from, and WHY the hell it won't drain????? There is a drain plug at the very bottom of the hull, right in between the two engines.....but I can't get to it, there just is not enough damn room! Last summer I had this same problem (water in the holding area) and I took the plug out and it DID drain.....but this year it seems as if its blocked or something....clueless!!!

I know Pat, Todd and the guys at OP fairly well, and believe they still have the Formula line.... they have done all my warranty work, service etc, and that's where I bought it new.

Go for the shower, if your wife needs it....much better than a jug!!! I only use it when we go to Block or trips.....it is handy no doubt.

So are you saying that there is a rubber expansion plug at the front of the engine compartment down between the engines? Like the passage up under the cabin step connects to the engine compartment this way and there's a plug that blocks the hole on each end? I'll have to investigate.

Speaking of the anchor locker, got any ideas on how to keep the inside of that locker from getting the s**t beat out of it by the anchor? I thought about trying to figure out some type of rubber caps to cover the sharp edges of the anchor but that doesn't seem practical. My wife thinks I should get it Rhino Lined inside like the the back of a pickup bed but again probably not practical. Just curious.

Had a paint warranty issue to resolve last winter and got the impression that OP wasn't dealing with Formula anymore. Left a few messages with them and never got a return call and then Formula actually sent me to another place in Old Saybrook (a marina) that ended up doing the work. No biggie, just curious. Also heard a rumor that Bassett's Marina's may start dealing with Formula and there's literally a half dozen of them around me.

Where is the transom shower located on your boat? I think I've seen them in a compartment flush mounted thru the port side of the swim platform. Mine has radio controls in that spot. Does yours also have radio controls on the swim platform?

Thanks again for all the info. Maybe we'll meet up some time out at Block Island.

Pat

Pat,

So you have a 292 with the Barbados paint like mine? That's cool. You are the first that I have heard of with the same paint scheme. They discontinued it after '06. You need to sign-up and post some pics!

As for water under the step, I have never seen any water under mine since I bought the boat new in 2005. Sounds like you may have a leak in your fresh water tank. That is the only place I can figure. The only other way I can think of if you have your boat in the rain with the bow lower than the stern.

JayFan is right, the puck is the depth finder transducer. I replaced my stock one with an Airmar transducer compatible with the SC5000 SmartCraft display. Works much better than the stock depth finder.

I have a fresh water shower on the back and it does come in handy to wash off sand, etc... But I don't think I would go through all the trouble to install that if it didn't come factory.

I run 28" labbed Bravo 4-blade props. "Labbed" to me means labbed by Mercury. These are the only props I have run since new and 68 mph is typical with a load and I have seen a best of 71.5 mph in good air, water, and a light load.

My 292 came factory with Stainless Marine mechanical tab and trim indicators. They work great and I highly recommend them.

Uhhh... as for K-Planes being a waste of money... NOT!! I ran the boat for a year with the Bennett's. Mostly run on the Mississippi River (which can get plenty rough with large cruisers, yachts and barges, and also occasionally boat on Lake Erie. In 2007 I had 280S K-Planes installed and it was worth every penny. Much better high and low speed handling in rough water, holds plane at slower speeds and also gets on plane easier. We were just running on the river on Memorial weekend in VERY sloppy water. I put the tabs down (about 1/2 way - #5 on the indicator), tucked in the drives, and running smooooth at 38-40mph. The K-Planes keeps the nose down cutting into the waves making the best use of that deep 24° V hull. I highly recommend them if you intend to keep the boat.

*NOTE* - When turning never have the tabs down, always neutral to full up. If too far down this creates enough stern lift to induce a spin-out at speed when turning.

Hope this helps!:drink:

Dave

Oh... and regarding the anchor locker. The only thing I keep up there is the anchor line that has a large stainless steel clip on the end. We keep a Fortress anchor in the side storage and hook it to the line. No way I would want to keep the anchor up there with a chance of banging around in the rough, plus the Fortress doesn't fit anyway. The Fortress is very light weight and easy for the wife to handle. Works great for us!

I assume from your post that you have the Bennet tabs? If so then K-planes will do WONDERS for you. You DO NOT want to run at speed with the tabs all the way down. You could easily spin out!

When the boat does not drain is it in the water or on the trailer? Is there any chance that you have the bow down lower then the bilge if it is on the trailer?

You can not give your props to any prop shop. Very few can actually "LAB" a prop. Talk to Julie at Throttle up or a few of the other well known ones.

I just wanted to clarify my stance on the K-planes....I'm sure they totally kick butt and are FAR FAR better than the stock garbage I have!!! I just personally feel I would rather spend that extra money on say a "ProCharger" for my Corvette!!! lol

The anchor area to me is fairly worthless....it's too small for a quality anchor, so I just store ropes up there also.

Pat.... say you lift your engine hatch, stick your head right in between the 2 engines near the front, and look straight down...BINGO..there is a plug there, HOWEVER good luck getting to it to release. I'm not sure this is it anyway...I just thought it "might" be. I would personally of thought the water would have gone from the cabin area INTO "under rear seat" area..... down into the batteries area....and out to the engine area where it could be pumped out??????

As I said I believe OP is still a Formula dealer....they do good work...NOT THE CHEAPEST!!! lol I would email [email protected] He is the head of service and ALWAYS gets back to me fast.....

Shower is located right IN FRONT of the Kenwood radio controls on the left side of the swim platform.....

Let me know if ya find the source.....of the H2O...I'm going to inspect closer on Sat.

It's a Fountain part, but if you can get past that, I can tell you it works. Stainless anchor and it never moves at all. We Fountain guys are pretty protective of that Beak and this does the trick :D !!!

Dave,

Yes, mine has the same colors and paint scheme as your boat. Yours is the only other one that I've seen also with that combo. Honestly, I wasn't sure that I was so fond of it when I found out about this boat. In the pictures I saw it looked very pinkish and I almost passed on it even though the deal was right but I'm glad I went to see it because it looks much better in person. Since then it's grown on me and it is different than anything else I've seen. I do catch some grief from a few buddys about my "purple boat" but they're happy to ride in it when they want to go for a blast to Newport for a few beers. Not sure how to post pics here but I'll investigate. I realized that I don't really have any good pictures either so I'll have to do something about that too.

I've been thinking that it has to be a fresh water tank leak also. I'm going to work on figuring it out this weekend. You do bring up an interesting point though. I store it inside my shop for the winter but I did pull it outside in the early spring for a few weeks and it sat on the trailer, next to the building, right where the rain comes off the roof, on a slight hill where the bow might have been lower than the stern. It have the cockpit cover on but maybe some water got in anyhow? Given the water up in the storage compartment next to the head I'm leaning towards a leaky water tank. You have any idea why the water won't drain back to the bilge? The boat is in the water now and the bow is definately higher than the stern. I guess I also need to check on that plug in the front of the engine compartment between and under the engines that Jay had mentioned.

Not sure if I'm going to keep the boat or not. I'd give up some speed for something with more space like an SS series. That was kind of the plan when I got this, keep it for a couple years and then trade up but we'll see. Either way, I'm interested in the K plane upgrade if it will help the rough water ride. Narrangansett Bay gets choppy with all the wakes and also with a south wind and frankly, I've been kind of disapointed in the rough water ride of the boat. I was thinking that it should knock down the rough stuff a bit better than it does but it rides pretty hard as far as I'm concerned. Did you do the K plane install yourself or have a shop do it? Just curious on what's involved. I'd be tackling it myself. I HATE the trim gauges on the boat and lack of tab indicators. Probably do a K plane and mechanical indicator upgrade next winter if I decide to keep it for another year.

I agree that I should get a Fortress aluminum anchor. Probably the best solution and it would be much easier for her to handle also. I just had visions of dripping black mud across the deck when it comes up, hand off drama over the windshield, etc. Still better than big gouges in the anchor locker.

Thanks for the great info. I'll get some pics posted soon.

Pat

There was a guy that I think is a Formula salesman at a dealer on LOTO that was suggesting that the tabs down / drives out manuever was the trick to get a 292 to top speed. He admitted that it was unconventional but if I understand him correctly he's saying to put the tabs way down to get the stern up out of the water and then bring the drives way out to get the bow up and that is the hot set up for best 292 speed. Said he does it all the time and it works great? Didn't sound like something I wanted to try without good tab indicators but figured I'd ask if anyone else was using that method.

Thanks for the prop recomendation. I'll check it out.

Pat

OK that's the place I was thinking you were describing. I have a younger small dudes that works for me. I'll grab him by the feet and lower him down there so he can get doused with slimy bilge water when he pulls the plug and it comes gushing out. :lolhit:

I'll give Scott a shout if I need anything else done............like maybe a new fresh water tank!!

I'll be searching Saturday also and I'll let you know if I find anything

Pat

Cool.....

Honestly I don't think you/ or anyone can reach that plug.... I had my 5'3" thin Fiancee try to get down there.....and she was still about a foot from it.... pisser!

I found that post from the Formula salesman that I was thinking about. Thought you might find it interesting.

Celery sticks are shims. On a Bravo where the trim rams connect to the drive there is a slot instead of a hole. What I suggest is to move the shim from back to front of the slot that will allow the drive to tuck farther.

As far as your trimming question your boat is differant then anyone Else's Formula on this forum. I mean the 292 Fastech in general. I boat at LOTO and it is rough water most of the time. The 292 is my favorite Fastech to drive, because I can suprise people on how well I can make it handle the rough water. Now back to why its differant. USE YOUR TRIM TABS AND OVER TRIM THE OUT DRIVES. I know it sounds wrong, but it works try half way down maybe 3/4. Might do it by your self once before you do it with all your friends and trim the drives up, higher the faster you go. Don't be afraid to over trim you can always trim back in. Try this and tell me what you think. Should feel like a new boat and have a really cool roost behind you when your in the throttles. The main thing you have to be carefull about is not to get the bow pointing down THIS IS BAD. Always try to keep the bow about 15 Degrees with the water. Look at my picture below my name, thats a 292 Fastech and thats what it should look like when having fun.

I hope I haven't told you to much it is a lot easier to explain in person so try a little at a time and be careful.

Here's a link to the whole post
http://formulaboatsforum.com/forumte...5&topic=1683.0

After re-reading it I see that he's saying have the tabs 1/2 - 3/4 down, not all the way and he does cuation about bow steer. Anyway, just thought it was interesting and thought I'd pass it along.

Also don't know if I answered on the boat attitude when not draining. I noticed this water after I dropped the boat in a couple weeks ago so this is while it's in the water and the bow is high. The water level in this spot is well above what looks like the drain hole but doesn't drain. JayFan did mention a rubber expansion plug up in front of, and below, the engines which may be the other end of this pipe. If there is a plug still in there maybe that's the reason for no drain? Bigger question I have is where is the water coming from? Hopefully I'll find the answer tommorow and maybe even test out the "Troy from LOTO" 292 Fastech trim tab and drive trim super tune! :boat:

I'll have to check that out. Thanks for the tip.

Pat

lol! I just wish I had a Corvette! Yes, it is definitely not a chead upgrade, but hey, it's a boat - 'break out another thousand'...:drink:

You're welcome!:drink:

We get a lot of compliments on the paint scheme. I like it because it is unique, plus the wife had a lot of input on the selection since she contributed to the purchase! If it was just me, a more traditional paint would have been more likely.

Competition Marine Center in the St. Louis area did the install. It is a big job that I was not comfortable tackling and wanted professionals that have done it many times and had the right tools to do it. The grid system makes the job more difficult since you have to make some modifications to the grid (cut small windows) to access the through bolts on the K-Planes. Do a search on some of my previous posts on K-Planes and you will see what I am talking about. The entire job parts and labor was around $5000. Not cheap, but my wife even thinks it was worth it after feeling the difference in the ride.

Where we boat there is mostly sand and a little mud, so it shakes right off the anchor. We will have a large towel ready to set it on and my wife hands it over to me. I do a final cleaning off the swim platform before stowing it away. If it was really muddy this method may not work.

or TWO, or THREE!!!! :lolhit:

Ya' I was somewhat surprised that we got a lot of compliments, at the marina when we first put it in, on the color and paint scheme. Again, probably because it is different. My wife does like it alot although she never misses an opportunity to bust my balls about "my" purple boat.

There's a used set of 280 K planes in the classifieds for $1k that look like a good deal. We'd probably tackle the job at my shop if I end up doing it. I'll do a search for your other posts and check it all out.

In all the spots that we anchor in the bay we seem to pull up black sticky mud that almost takes a putty knife to dislodge. Looks like a nice mix of oil combined with toxic chemical waste from the old jewelry factories that used to thrive around here no doubt!! I've been thinking about trying out anchoring off the stern anyway to eliminate some of the swinging around this boat does while on the anchor. It'll also be way easier to clean the anchor sitting on the swim platform with a brush than kneeling over the bow dipping it in and out of the water 100 times. Looks like a nice aluminum Fortess anchor and a reorg of the gunnel storage compartments is in my future.

BTW, are your mechanical trim and tab indicators from Stainless Marine?

Thanks, Pat

Yep, Stainless Marine. They use a spring system at the indicator to keep tension on the cable to eliminate slack. Plus the indicators have a bright red LED's that you can see really good even in bright sunlight.

Pat....did ya find anything out about that water issue????

JayFan,

Brought this post back from the dead! Sorry for the delayed response. I did find the source of the water leak. There's a little hole in the bottom of my anchor locker and everytime it rains or I wash it I guess some water is getting in there and drianing thru this hole before it can make it to the anchor locker drain. The water shows up in the starboard side storage locker (next to the porta-potti) and also under the step at the cabin door. Repaired it and never putting anything in the anchor locker again. I had lots of line in there with the anchor all padded and protected (I thought) but it still poked a little hole in there. Did you find where your was coming from? Ever figure out the deal with that drain..................or lack of drain under the step.

Pat

[QUOTE=pat@osp;2917511]JayFan,

Brought this post back from the dead! Sorry for the delayed response. I did find the source of the water leak. There's a little hole in the bottom of my anchor locker and everytime it rains or I wash it I guess some water is getting in there and drianing thru this hole before it can make it to the anchor locker drain. The water shows up in the starboard side storage locker (next to the porta-potti) and also under the step at the cabin door. Repaired it and never putting anything in the anchor locker again. I had lots of line in there with the anchor all padded and protected (I thought) but it still poked a little hole in there. Did you find where your was coming from? Ever figure out the deal with that drain..................or lack of drain under the step.

I thought about that myself!!! So you say there is a drain in the anchor locker that LEADS down through the cabin...under the step and out to the stern..... I will look closer at that. Washing and rain...would get into the locker...that does make sense, however I wonder why the water under the step will not drain??????? Very frustrating!!!! I'll have to look for a little hole in the anchor locker though......I thought it had its own drain near the bow area...but I looked and it has NOTHING.... so it must drain back.... keep ya updated !!!!!:drink:

My anchor locker drains straight through the hull. There is a small black drain. See red circle in the pic.

Jay,

Sorry for the confusion. There is no Formula drain hole that goes into the cabin area.............the hole I'm talking about was created by the anchor bouncing around and busting a little hole thru the bottom on the locker which allows water to drain down below the v-berth on top of the hull. It seemed to collect in that starboard side locker and under the step once it got in. My anchor locker has the same factory drain with little black cover in the side of the hull that 4mulafastech is showing. The hole that's poked in the bottom is at or below the level of the factory drain and with 200 ft of damp line holding some water in there it looks like some goes out the facrory drain and the rest seaped thru that hole. I didn't spot it until I ran my hand thru there and actually felt a soft spot. Couldn't see a hole until I poked it open with my finger. I'm changing my anchor plan to an aluminum Fortress anchor and line in a bag , stored in one of the side lockers, that 4mulafastech suggested a couple months ago.

I still havent investigated what's going on with the water under the step not draining thru what apprears to be a drain hole back to the bilge. I know that the water leaking in from the anchor locker flushed out a whole bunch of loose dust and fiberglass remnants from under the v-berth so maybe that drain is all clogged up with crap...................assuming that it is actually a drain to the bilge? I haven't tried snaking it out yet.

Pat