292 or 353......need some help guys!!
 

It'll be a Formula Fastech for sure, just what size. I love the 353 with a couple of 525s, but a bit pricey. I want to trailer the boat, so a 292 seems a bit easier. Not convinced on the 377s, but still should be a great ride. Tell me......how's the ride and performance between a 292 & 353?? Would a pair of CMI Sport Tubes help improve the performance.....Thanks guys!

Get the 353 ... never heard anybody say they wished they bought a SMALLER boat.

I say go for the 353, as it will handle the rough water a lot better, and also have a lot more room. Even though the 353s are a bit pricey, it saves you from wanting to upgrade in a few years. Those 353s are built rock solid and will last forever.

Another boat that you might want to consider is the 312Fastech. It is a couple feet longer than the 292, and could give you a "best of both worlds" approach, considering that you are planning to trailer the boat.

I do not know if you are buying new or used. The Formula dealer in my area is Northpoint Watersports near Lake Norman in NC. They have a bad azz NEW 2007 353 with 525s that they are just about giving away. This boat is brand new and red with one of the custom paint packages from Formula.. I do not want to quote a price on this post, but someone will get one heck of a deal.. They want it gone....Jeff Wurl

I have a 07 292 w/ warranty For Sale if interested..... everyone on here is going to tell ya to get the 35....but it's not their money however.

I say it will depend on 2 things mostly, where you are boating and do you overnight?

if you are on a inland lake that does not get tore up and don't overnight, maybe stay with the more affordable 292, if you are going to be in big water ocean or great lakes and will overnight go with a 353, the 353 will of course ride better and have more room, but I think besides cost the 2 things I brought up will be a deciding factor for sure.

ditto to what FF said.

We mainly boat on the Mississippi River and some local inland lakes, so a 292 is plenty big for that water. We overnight in it a lot (2 adults, 1 kid) and it's not bad, but a 353 would definitely be roomier. When considering towing, the 353 is about 2500 lbs heavier. The 353 has that longer deck and looks better than the 292 IMO.

My 292 runs right at 70mph with the 377's and gets 1.8-2.0 mpg cruising 35-50mph, doesn't matter. From what I have read headers will only help a little in acceleration, nothing on the top end. The intake/cam/heads on these engines are very conservative. I just turned 165 hours on mine and they have been turn-key reliable.

292 vs 353
 

I have owned both boats 292 then 353, both great boats but two different worlds, as previous said alot depends on where you boat,if you go with the 292 , I suggest k-planes , put them on mine and made the world of difference !! but LOVE my 353

Robert Nelems (Magicfloat) has an '08 353 photo shoot boat that has EVERYTHING (TV, air, thermonuclear defense:p). I've driven this boat and it is incredible.

I'd go bigger.

http://www.nelems.com

If you want the best of both worlds, then check out my 353 on boat trader. It is a 2006 with factory Gen,air,tv, its got it all. And the 496hos will push it 75. dont want to sell her but bro is selling condo and have on place to keep her.