400SS...Gas or Diesel?
 

After talking with a rep from Formula at the Chicago BoatShow, He was adamant on going with Volvo Penta Diesels for range, low mant, reliability, and service life...claiming only a 45mph top end though.
My understanding is 496HO's at 55mph and 500EFI's at a hair under 60mph....525's at 60mph.
Does this sound about real world?
Any and all thoughts welcome due to my inexperience on 400's and Diesels.
I'm getting closer on making a choice.

have you talked to spicy about his? he just put 496 ho's in it and its a great deal on a good lookin boat...

I think they are awesome... I wish Formula would offer the large 480hp Cummins Diesel/NXT package or 480 Yanmar with the ASD-8's.

Like Rob stated Spicy's 40ss is a good deal, looks great by the pics, and is updated.


Here you go

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...POWER-92784080

I know, it is clean and updated...even considered a trade.
Would like an 02-04 with 500's and Blue or Black sides.

I have thought about making a 500EFI one faster with the blowers off my motors and my Bmax drives.

[QUOTE=Jassman;3026325]I think they are awesome... I wish Formula would offer the large 480hp Cummins Diesel/NXT package or 480 Yanmar with the ASD-8's.

That would be a hell of a package.
I wouldn't think a 400 with 525's will run 60. I have 525's in my 370. I got 62gps out of it. Mine was on the limiter with throttle to go.

My 06 with 525's will do 60 full of fuel,
Seems like there are some great deals on them now, i couldn't even get $250k for mine so decided to keep it.

, if it was on the limiter, you need diff props, but with the boat being heavy, might be too hard on the drives.

couldnt ya just imagine one with the new imco scxs and 650/700hp...holy crap what a ride, lol

Let me give more info. I was really low on fuel, by myself, and in 42 degree air with probably 50 degree water. I think it is propped right for a load. I wish I could get rid of the Bravo XR III's and go with regular XR's. The boat is really fast around the dock.

can you just put regular xr lowers on? I think the only difference is the lower prop shaft.

I've been told I can. Don't really want to spend the money though.

You can change the drives out to XR`s but the boat will take forever to get on plane. It needs the lift of the dual props, we change out a set of drives for Pro-Charger when they were testing a package for 400SS and it gain about 5 MPH but sucked taking off.

The real deal is how are you going to use the boat? Do you plan on running 50 to 60 all the time?
But if you look at the crusing speed of the smaller Volvo Diesel against any of the gas engine options you will find it has a higher speed and much better fuel mileage than any package offered in gas.

I know the up charge is high for diesels but so are the cost of 525`s............Capt.Steve........Glencove Marine.....:cool::cool:

That's exactly the key point. I've ridden on 400SS's with 500's, 525's and the VP diesels. No question - the diesels are best. They deliver over 1.5 mpg at a brisk cruise and come with virtually unbreakable drives; monsters that look like #6's with 2 props. They'll plant you in the seat at takeoff, too.

If you have NOT had a chance to test drive a Diesel boat..........Try one before you buy!

I cannot count how many go-fast boat owners I have taken out in a Diesel 400SS and all I ever heard was WOW! what an awesome ride
and the power was great.

I have sold 4 Diesel 400SS in the past 5 years and the people that own them are crazy about them. The last one I sold ran 50MPH w/full fuel tanks. A 425hp gas boat will see maybe 52-53MPH. One cruises at 3000 rpm at 29-30mph the other at I believe was 2300 at 38mph.............What a ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!............:cool::cool:

Thats from turbo charge plus superchargers and they do not smell like diesel either!.................:cool::cool:

Can they be pushed hard to make up for the slow cruise speed? Like running at a consistant 45mph?

If you ran a gas boat at 45mph and a diesel boat at the same speed
I have to believe the diesel boat WILL be the last boat running! Diesel trucks now days run a million miles without a problem and I do not know a gas truck that can match that!.............:cool:

So its not a problem to run the VP Diesel at 45mph for about 40 miles? Thats my harbor to Chicago or Milwaukee.

I agree Drove one from Newport RI to Norwalk NJ in some big water and when the smaller formulas with gas power were sucking air I still had a half tank .. Good time to Plane and good speed outran a 32 w/ 496s my .02 BFM Dan @ Eastcoast Flightcraft Might still have one in stock that came up from another dealer 978-777-1721

Thanks Guys... I actually had two calls on the boat and showed it last night, dont know how effective it is showing a boat that is shrinkwrapped on land but we will see... as with everybody he is very interested in boat but has a 35 cafe he has to sell in order to buy... so may take cafe in on trade and blow it out here on the board for a quick sale?? I'm leaving to go to the Caribbean in a few days for a week so I will worry about all this when I get back... :eek::evilb:

But I do have my eye on a sweet 38 _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ that I want so we shall see how everything shakes out...

Back 4 More,
if it was warmer I would invite you down to Annapolis for the weekend as I have a few buddies that I hang with every weekend and there 400SS are:
Mine, 99 with 496's
Tantra 03 Blue Hull with yanmars and Bravo 3's
Black Pearl, 05 Black Hull sides with Volvo Diesels
Too Slow, 07 hardtop black w/ Volvo's

you can look at every color and engine package that your describing at one Tiki Bar... :party-smiley-004:

something else to think about, as stated I have several friends with the same boat, for the most part the boats are the same except for the finishes, my buddies 03 is identical to mine except engines/drives and the color of his sofa in the cabin...
So why pay more for the same product?

The Diesels do get better gas milage but for the 100K difference on a new one that alot of fuel vs gas to pay for to make up the difference!!!!

Just my .02

Good Luck in your search, thanks Pat

Thanks for posting the info and pics....Have a great Vaca!

PS...That one with the 3 of them is now my desktop.

Looking forward to it and Thank you...

I have a few more shots of the three of us if not all fouf of us at different places rafted up, I will post them for you when I get home I believe they are on lap top at home...

Hasn't someone on this site already told you that you know nothing about Formula.:evilb:

Seriously (because my last comment was not), after moving from go fast to the Formula SS series, I would go with diesels. As Selpel said it well, it depends on what you are buying the boat for. I found coming out of go fast that I over estimated the need for speed in the switch. Not to offend any Formula fans here, but going 55-60 MPH in an SS series boat is a snoozer. There is nothing about it that will get your adrenaline going. That line is not made for that, but they cruise at 30 or 35 in exceptional comfort extremely well. And my wife absolutely loves it.

That's what my personal experience was from the switch. I'm sure others feel differently.

Whats a good deal on a fully loaded low hour 04 with 500's? Same on a 05 with 525's
They both have my interest.

We have an 07 hardtop diesel powered 400ss. Thought the same thing about the boats you do, going from a Slingshot. Would not have the boat without them while cruising around LOTO. They do not smell, are extremely quite and get great MPG. They seem to have a better resale too. Just my 2 cents....

There is no question, if you have the money to go with the diesels, they are well worth it, fuel efficiency maintainence and safety. The true value is the longevity of the diesel engines. The diesel engine can handle being pushed harder to stay at your higher crusing and top speeds, as you move to larger heavier vessels, and away from lighter go fasts, you will find the preferred choice among those owners is diesel power.

BINGO.....

Thats where I'm at... the boat is great just boring as hell in the performance department, it rides nice and is very comfortable...

I need to go faster!!!!


Pat

Good, cause im ready for a boring comfortable ride with a happy wife and kids. :drink:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SEoZS-qIJw

I was trying to get 250k for my 06 with 525's and only had two people interested but neither one of them could get the financing so if you have money i would think that you should be able to get them for under 200k

True, going 60 is not like going 80 in my cig was but at 60 i can still keep up with some boats on the poker runs, when i have run with my buddies cigs they still stay with me if i was going 40-50 i don't think that would be the case.

I heard you can get 600's as an option...... diesels would be nice but 600's would do it for me.

considering a new 40SS with either 525s or diesels is a half a Mil boat is fuel price even important??????
Thats like worrying about the fuel milage of your new Ferrari,, if you can afford a half Mil boat/car who the fuk cares what milage it gets..
I mean cmon really,if you can afford a half million dollar toy gas milage is not a consideration..

Its not just the mileage...The fuel consumption was referring to range. We boat across Lake Michigan, which round tip could be 180 miles.

I know what your saying, but I disagree. I hear that all the time. No matter how much money a person has, it's still no fun putting a $1000 worth of fuel in your boat for a weekend. It really is important if your considering a new boat. A diesel probably gets 50% better fuel economy as a 525 boat.

Ya, ya, ya.. Scott Porter said he would hook me up with some 700's and nxt's and he would lengthen the engine compartment to house the Cummins or Yanmar 480 package if I desire to go that route... Where is Magic Float when you need him..write it up .....:party-smiley-004::grinser010:

Can you have it in about 3 months?:drink:

I thought you said about 45 days before your wife comes to visit me.:grinser010:

That was FOR 45 days - not in 45 days:party-smiley-004:

Thats about the same as us running to Catalina and back. The only time i stopped and fueled before coming back was when we ran down in really rough stuff, had to be on and off the throttles most of the way there so was never able to cruise.

When i have done the 200 + mile runs i stop and fill up halfway. I might be able to make it but not worth the chance.