292 Fastech Questions
 

Hey folks,

I'm new to this forum and hope to become a 1st Formula owner. I'm closing in on purchasing a 292 Fastech w/ 6.2's ,BravoI's but have a few questions before choosing this setup.

I'm coming from a straight deep v to my first step-hull. Do you actually steer with the drives trimmed up in turns and does this characteristic reduce its maneuverability relative to deepVs?

I see in most of the videos of this boat, it hopping(porpoising) quite abit even in relatively flat water. Is this hull going to perform in 2-4 footers of the Great Lakes, or will I be disappointed? I like a flat/level ride in the rough.

Can I spin the props inward and get anything additional for top speed like the Fountains do or will handling become unsafe?

Do aftermarket exhausts (EMI,Ekiert,etc) do anything for the 6.2's except reduce weight? Speed gain?

ANy addtional advice or recommendations would be appreciated, particularly performance related. I'd like to see a solid 75mph on gps...thanks ahead...

I've only owned mine for 4 weeks so I don't have alot of experience running the boat yet. This is my second Formula and trust me, you won't be disappointed.

I was concerned about handling of a twin step hull but have found it to be very stable. These boats like a bit of positive trim at any speed above 30 MPH and will turn and handle very well. Once I get to 3600 RPM's and 48 MPH it will take about 3/4 positive trim. I have a trim gauge not mechanical indicators so I can't give you actual settings. If the nose starts to porpise some positive tab angle will settle it down.

I only have 25 hrs. on mine and get 70 mph, so I'm not sure about your target speed of 75 mph, maybe with different props.

6.2's will not see 75 but will be a little over 70. Formula builds very conservative boats, running their stepped hull will not be a problem, continue to use the boat as you would a straight hull. I've never owned/ridden in a 292 but know a few guys that have them, the rest of your questions I simply cannot answer.

Depends on what you run with as well. If your running full tank, full water, 6 people, your going to want to run with the trim bottomed out. If running half everything you can do a little positive trim. If you start porpoising, just drop the tabs down a bit. It will settle down. You'll love it. Boat loves 2-4 foot chop, will just skip across the top.

First off you have to understand how a stepped hull works.Its designed to run on the area from the back of the rear step to the transom.Picture an imaginary line from those points.Any stepped hull runs best at "neutral trim" which is when the drive is horizontal to that line.If you trim out(drives) past that point you will not pick up speed and boat will be unstable.If you trim in (drives) while running a stepped hull will plow water and in a turn can pivot on the center of gravity and spin.While that is unlikely in a 292 it can happen.

Coming up on plane tabs all the way down drives all the way down.Bring throttles to half as boat starts to come out of the water bring up throttles all the way or almost.When boat comes out of the water bring your tabs up halfway and trim you drives to "neutral" then adjust throttles and tabs for conditions.
Turning any stepped hull is the opposite of a flat hull and should not be turned with the drives trimmed in.Reason being is the same reason you trim the drives in while coming up on plane(to lift the back of the boat) will also lift the back of the boat in a turn boat can then pivot on the center of gravity and hook and spin.
The 292s main problem is coming on plane especially with full fuel and passengers.This can be helped by changing the exhaust.Going to all aluminum takes 270lbs of the rear of the boat.Boat comes out of the water much faster and even ride better.For what they are they are a great boat but you will never see 75 with stock black 6.2s 71- 72 tops and thats with perfect conditions and it takes a couple of miles to get there from 68.

I just re read your post,The exhaust will not increase speed but will help with ride and planning.As for the porpoising they are not trimming it right.Trimmed right it won't do that,as for the great lakes I have never boated there but from what I have heard it can get pretty wild.I run mine in the ocean and while the boat can run 65 in 4-5s you better like driving it because it can be a handful.

Thanks guys for the responses so far. Just what I needed. In addition, have any of you labbed your props? Picked up any mph that way? Have you had bow lift or stern lift punched into the labbing or left them neutral? Bravo 28P is the stock recommended prop correct, even if some of you think 26P would plane better? I was talking with one member that had the 312 fastech and needed bow lift to fly the hull better in his opinion, it was too bow heavy(steering?)BBlades labbed the props to his satisfaction...any problem with this in the 292?

My '06 292 came with factory labbed 28 pitch Bravo props. Runs 68-70 mph most any conditions/load and has seen 72 mph in perfect conditions/light load. I run 5000-5100 rpm with this set-up.

Expensive Date is right on the money regarding trim recommendations. Neutral drives and adjust with tabs.

I don't think you will see much difference in performance tweaking props. It just takes some more good old horsepower, which is something that is hard to come by with these 6.2's since they are basically restricted with the stock intake/fuel injection system. The 292's DO respond well to increased HP. There is a one with Scorpion engines here on OSO running 80+ mph.

One upgrade I highly recommend are 280S K-Planes over the stock Bennett tabs. Especially if you are running the Great Lakes. I made the change and it was well worth it. Better handling in the rough.

Don't take this the wrong way as I am told I am a little blunt...ok a lot:drink: But we all want to make changes to our boats once we have them a while.It seems that you are planning(wanting) to make a lot of changes to a boat you have not bought yet.I have to wonder if you would be better off with a different boat
The 292 is a great boat....for what it is it is trying to make it what I believe you want is going to get very expensive and will probably lower resale value.

I have a 06 292, I installed the 280kplanes which improved the boats handling very much. i can have a full load of fuel and 3 people in the back seat and she will plane with no problem, and this was before i did the engines. This yeaar i sold my 6.2's and installed mercury 383stroker scorpions with stainless marine exhaust, on saturday full tank of fuel with a light chop and she went 81mph on the gps. i'm adding hydraulic steering over th winter.

turboz67...exactly the info I was looking for...could you tell me what you got for your 6.2's and what the total difference was for the scorpions? I see they run $11k-$12 new.

Expensive Date...I certainly see your point, but sometimes a boat fits just right, IF it is set-up properly and has the power to satisfy.

I started with an 18' Scarab sprint some 15 years ago, went to a Scarab 22' then on to the Excalibur 26' when the Scarabs were discontinued.
I kept the Excalibur stock until 3 years ago when I had a custom rigged 575 SCi XR put in with Imco steering. Totally woke the boat up, 75mph and worth every penny.
I want a small upgrade, the Excalibur was almost there, but not quite for me. I want twins for open water security, a heavy hull for rough water, Formula quality, trailerability, single-hand capability, affordability with insurance and gas prices...a boat I can keep for twenty years! ha ha I think the 292 is the right boat for me, but stock WILL leave me wanting. 75mph+ and 2-4 footer capability and I'm a happy camper...