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...

I'm running the "old" blue Merc Racing 377 Scorpion.

My top note so far is 77mph with 2 passengers and 1/2 fuel.
This is in a sweet water lake and according to a respectable source I would probably see a few more mph if running salt water at sea level. Perhaps even 80 which would be above my expectations on this boat for sure.

One thing I've noted is that it is very sensitive regarding the surface of the water. In flat water I've almost never seen above 73mph yet I've never ever regardless of load been unable to run 72. As soon as there are 2ft chops she's right up at 75.

Not sure if this summer will make for any testing in salt water though, but I'm very excited to try it on.

I'm also considering changen the stock exaust manufolds to GIL manifolds and risers, and dropping the Silent Thunder.

I have 2002 with 377 scorpion and running 30 pitch bravo 1 four blades. It is taking to long to plane off with 4 people and a full tank of gas with trim tabs all the way down. Has any body tried using a 28 pitch with success. Currently running 74 on GPS. THANKS

I have 350 mags in mine and spin 28's and it is slow out of the hole. A friend with the same boat and set up as me spins 26's and is a hair better out of the hole but not enough to make me drop down as well. These boats are just heavy and it will take a little longer to get going.

What RPM at WOT. It maybe too much prop but the only way I feel you can really make it better is to get weight off of the rear.Changing my exhaust was a big improvment.

agreed...we are slow out of the hole. abnormally slow with noticeable bow rise...i guess thats the nature of the beast

once on plane, it is quick to get up to 50-60 mph

we have ran 68 with 4 people and half tank of gas. gps verified of course.

http://sharing.theflip.com/session/8...video/17121069


Mines much better five people and full fuel.

And it really was not that rough my daughter needs to get better holding the camera.

Do you think the exhaust improvenent was due to weight loss or getting rid of flow restistance?

My primary reason for removing the ST is estetic, and I'm planning to build my own Gibson Bullet replicas this winter. Any speed improvenent will be a bonus.

Of course the speed numbers are GPS.

I may have picked up some HP mid range but the main improvement is 270lbs is off the rear of the boat.It even rides better.

I've actually never ran the ST with the plugs installed, so I don't think I will loose that much weight compared to normal. I didn't get the plugs with the boat, they were probably stored away since it was winterized when I imported her, and I haven't bothered to get new ones.

However, it would be really nice to get some performance numbers ahead getting rid of it.

I did not have silent choice,but the difference between the cast iron vs aluminum manifolds and risers is 270lbs.Thats the weight savings

i'm running 28lab finished, bblades relabbed them and teaked the props so i can 5800rpms, these scorpions run from 5800 to 6000. She is pretty good out of the hole.

My 2002 with 377 scorpion say 4800-5300 RPM spec. info on top of engine. I tried a stock 28 pitch , and it worked much better. Planned off alot easier, had better mid range, turning about 5200 RPM,ran 74 on GPS with a full tank of gas with 4 people on flat water. This might be the ticket.

Any interested in trading a set of 30 pitch Bravo 1, for a set of 28 ? (815) 922-6048

Would you guys say that the 292 is a "sweet spot" for size/performance/cost or after having your 292 for awhile, do you desire a bigger boat? I want to find the right boat without wasting money on the "foot or two" at a time syndrome that I've been doing so far...

i am satisfied with mine thus far but lets face it, who doesnt want a bigger, faster, more powerful boat...its human nature in this hobby

the key factors are like you stated...money and reliability...

i think for the money its one of the best boats made...fit and finish is amongst the best in its class

in terms of reliability...cant get really anymore reliable than small blocks hooked up to bravos...its a conservative approach. turn the keys and go. both motor and drives can take a lot of abuse without having to worry about blowing a motor...knock on wood

where do you spend most of the time boating? if its in the ocean with descent chop, no boat <30 is going to be comfortable. some do better than others but you cant match the ride of say a 35-38 footer.

I think everyone gets bored with the boat they have after a few years.It depends on what you want and were you boat.For what it is its a nice boat but for what it costs to make it more its cheaper to buy something thats already more.

^^^agreed...buy the boat for what it is

if your gonna start modding it to make it faster, etc...you wont be happy with small block power...you will end up wasting more money than its worth.

Say what you want about performance, but I'm looking into changing out my exhaust after seeing the video of Expensive Dates boat, in that poker run.

I think that hits the nail on the head! Taken as it is, its a great package for the investment. :flag:

Expensive Date-Did you install the manifolds yourself? Sounds like it should be a pretty easy project.

Don't kill me!!! I think the 292 is a great boat,but for almost the same money you can get a 312 with 496's. Better planing ability,added length,and a little more room. Seems to be quite a few for sale on some of the other classified sites (boat trader etc.). My 2003 with 375hp 496 ran 70-72 consistently.Never broke,and I ran it pretty hard in the ocean.
The problem is 2003 was last year,so if your looking for late model it has to be a 292.

(292's are awesome boats, no disrespect intended. just my .02cents)

i was actually thinking the same thing...you get the modability of the big blocks too. the only issue i see with this option is the fuel consumption. those 496's love fuel. it is substantially different than what 350's or 6.2's use.

do you get the twin step with the 312's? i thought you only got one?

One step on a 312. I had the non-HO 496's 375hp. It was very very good on fuel. I don't know the fuel consumption on the 6.2's but I think the 312's with big block's don't work very hard due to boat size,therefore good mileage. But then again I am comparing it to my 382 with 525's,genset,air,etc. It's like a Winnibago without wheels. Can you say TANK!

I did if you have some mechanical ability you should be fine.If you do it I will go over a few things before.
But please keep in mind you technically void your warranty and I picked up no top speed.It does come out of the water much quicker and rides better

Yeah, I hear you, I originally wanted the 312, but I have to find someone to take my trade, an odd-duck 01' Excalibur w/575Sci...not the easiest to sell outright or trade. I have found a dealer willing to work with me though so...292 it is.

I have a 2006 292, would i lov some thing bigger one day , sure but for now i am very happy with the boat. when i had the 6.2's i added the stainless marine exhaust, i did not pick up top end just better mid range and the boat is a little lighter in the back. the next thing i did was add the 280k planes , that was one of the best mods that i did. the boat handles rough water a lot better and at high speeds with the new motors it is alot more stable. Planning with a full tank and 4 people in the back isnt a problem. As for the 383 scorpions it is like having a new boat all over again. This boat should come with this kind of power from the factory along with the k planes. The upgrade in power is just alot more enjoyable. the boat use to struggle to get to 70mph, now it does with the blink of an eye. I have surprised a lot of people on the bay with these motors. Well worth the money. I have also added led lighting , and ocean underwater led's to make the boating more enjoyable. But i still think its a great boat.

Has anyone used the Merc remanufacture program to take the 6.2's to 400HP Strokers...looks like a nice package, but what about cost?

pondrunner read the quote

MAn in today's market the 292 is a great deal no doubt, I just wish it had shore power and a/c for that night I just do not want to drive back home.

From my point of view, it is definitely a good deal when you can get a fresh somewhat newish boat in the quality range of Formula and still do a solid 70, for 40-50k.

Which other brand or model offers this without cutting off in either area?

I love my 292! :)

Yeah, I read that...I mean sending in your 6.2's to be built into Strokers...anyone done this and whats the cost of the program?