89 292 vs 89 311 wich one do i buy
 

i have the option of an 89 311 with a nicetrailer, trs drives and 454 420s for 19000...needs the gimble done
or a 89 292 with 454s and bravos with no trailer for 19000...needs nothing
wich is the better boat/deal
how much do the trs drives hurt the 311
where is the best place for service in new england
what should i be looking for before purchase
any help would be great
thanks

I personally don't have an opinion either way, but I'll bring it to the top for ya cause I'm curious to see the replys from the boys in the know. Good luck.

had a 89 242 and went to a 89 292 and loved it, uncle had a 90 311 and thought at the time why would you need such a big boat? I don't think you can get replacement parts for a trs?

You can get replacement parts for TRS yet, you just have to know where to find some of it. Some of the parts in the gimble can get quite pricy IE- steering arms, pins. I just fully rebuilt two TRS gimbles for a 357 Formula, and was able to get all parts needed.

Tough call .... I can honestly tell you owning a 311 there is one hell of a bang for your buck. The ride is awesome and there is decent room on the boat.
I have twins that are 5yrs old and i am not the least worried about being caught in any type of big water.
Fortunately I cruise with two other 311s all of which are '88s mine and one other have bravos and the other has trs drives. Don't be scared o the trs drive .... it actually is a great drive for the 311 .... the hull runs a bit "cleaner" in the water with those drives on it.
The one with the trs drives just re-powered his 311 and still used the trs drives ... the boat is running mid 70s with no problems at all.
Besides all of that it is a great looking boat with that retro offshore look that is timeless.
Like I tell all of my friends "this my Chevelle on the water" it is a hot rod that looks fast that cruises with no problems at all. Key word being "cruises".

Good Luck !!!

Jeff

:boat:I have a 89 311 with trs drives. the boat rides great in any water conditions. not a problem to get parts forif you know were to look. the best thing you can do is flip a coin both are great boats...

Tough call but I would not let the TRS issue drive it. I would rather have the TRS drives. They are stronger then the bravo's and IMO the bout balances out better. It is a little harder to work on the front of the motor but other things are easier so kind of a wash. The 302's and the 311's IMO are two of the best boats that Formula has ever built when you take cost and so on into account. My 420 trs drive 311 is touching on 70 and with some prop testing I am sure it will get there. The boat runs very flat and does not porpois at all. The 420 back in the day and still is a kick butt motor. It has the roller valve train and all the good internal parts and was hand assembled. If you can drive them drive them both and see what you think. If you want a ride and are up in Maine you are more then welcome to come for a ride in mine.

Before I bought my 311, I was hung up on a 292. Searched high and low, found a nice one. However, once I actually got in a 311 I said "why would I buy the 292? Same price basically, tons more room in the 311, speeds almost identical"

So, I bought the 311 and am glad I did. Formual didn't make nearly as many 292s as 311s. The 292s are actually pretty hard to find.

In any event, considering you like the condition of both boats, one needs a trailer the other needs gimbal work. Trailer is going to cost more than getting the drives reconditioned.

What aobut other stuff like engine hours, canvas, options? Have you got any pics of the two boats?

311 ........

When I was looking for a 311 I only considered Bravo boats because of the repair parts "issue". I turned down a lot of really nice boats thinking TRS's would be too much trouble. But then along came Konrad and now you can buy whole replacement drives ... I would buy the 311 if you like it.

Like somebody else said you lose some room in the engine compartment with TRS's, but it's worth it to get those 420's which weren't available with Bravo's !!!

I totally agree!!! I did the same thing with my 311, only wanted Bravos. The more I learned later though is that basically, you can't kill a TRS. Plus, once you experience the butter-smooth shifting of TRS, you'll be unhappy with the less than buttery Bravos. And, as we said previously, the 311 was actually designed for the TRS setup. The engines forward setup of the TRS balances the 311 much better.

If I were shopping all over again for a 311, I'd be looking for a nice TRS boat.

So, if you're nervous about a TRS 311, you go find a nice one and I'll trade you my nice Bravo 311 for it!!:drink:

thanks for the help
 

i guess you all agree on the 311 with trs drives?

any other suggestions as to what i should be looking for before pulling the trigger...i would hate to be making a mistake

the hull was in great shap except for some small cracks in he gellcoat near the transom ...there was water under the step in the cuddy
is that a concern..i had the same thing on my 242 and could never figure the source out

any one know a good ma or nh mechanic with knowledge about these older formulas

any idea on how much the gimball will cost to replace

If the boat is local to easern MA or on my way up to Maine I would be more then happy to go with you to take a look. I AM NOT a serveyor but do know a few of the places to look. Does the Gimball need to be replaced or repaired?

Almost all the windshields leak allowing the water under the step .... there is a plug under there ..leave it out ....
Check the Stringers in the engine room for rot ...and the bulkhead between the engine room and the fuel tank ......I had to replace mine ........m

Off the front My wife and I looked around in there. Well I sent the wife in first to pull out all the nasties then I checked it out :D No plug in mine and I know a few others that did not have them either. That is on my list of things to work on after I fix the drive and tab cable.

The TRS 311 will for sure ride better, parts are easy to get still and if you shop hard and know what you are doing "used" TRS stuff is no issue, upgrading to Conrads can be an option but not one I would spend on a older boat unless it was a high powered Cig or Scarab, you would never recoupe it out of a 311, we ran 550hp easily through TRS on my buddys 311 and ran 79-80 with it, never hurt a drive...

I dont know for a "fact" that there are drains in mine ....The guy I bought the boat from told me the drain plugs lying in the sink when I picked up the boat were for the drain under the sink ....I have never had a problem with water in the cabin .....I'll check it ......m

There is no drain for the under step issue...

Mike,
I think you're the only one who's ever said there's a drain hole under the step in a 311. Now, you may have one, but I'm thinking someone before you "put" it there, and it wasn't Formula.

As far as I know, there is no drain communication from the engine bay to the front under-step area. I think a drain hole under the step would just drain into the tank foam. Maybe that's what happened to your bulkhead between the tank and engine bay, tank foam sucked all the drainage up and rotted the rear bulkhead form inside out. Just a theory.

Dave

Somebody give me an email address and I'll send you pics to post of my 311 under step drain.

handfulz28
gmail
com

What year is your 311?

Actually, as I think about it, you'd have to have two drains in that under-step area. The keel splits it.

'91 right in the middle

could be right ..... There were 2 plugs lying in the sink when I got the boat ..... also there was a typo in my post ....Under the step ....NOT under the sink ....

We are up in NC right now but I will check it this weekend ......m

311 with bravos. I almost bought a nice 292 but the more i look at how tight the engine room is compared to the 311 the decision was easy. Once your in the water bigger always seems better with the big waves. Propwash:drink:

formula242, did you ever make a decision on buying either of these boats. i am also located in newengland looking for a 292, is it still for sale any info on it? Thanks in advance

I say 357 with Kaamas! :D :D (hey, just had to stir the pot a little!)

Actually, I'd love a 357 with TRS... with a plan for Konrads down the line.

How bout a 311 with kaamas?

I know of a very nice one for sale !

possibly. post pics and more info?

Here ya go !

http://southcoast.craigslist.org/boa/1384197448.html

Email me if you'd like a few more pics..
I just listed it for a friend. It is in New England also.
Ken