How did that 2005 get in there?:eek:

All 10 years old or more except that one. Would be interesting if we could go back in time, and see when these boats started to have issues. I know, with Plexus, thye should not ever come apart, but the time line would be interesting.

That sounds like a Mercury issue, not a Formula issue.

That boat looks way overtrimmed to me.

So its "driver error"Feel bad for whoever bought that boat then if Formula can't even drive them right in thier video.Any other 38 would be able to run a lot flatter in that water.


Again if they had seen that video and it was of someone that had submitted a warranty claim,they would claim driver error boat was run to hard and incorrectly.But when they do it its ok.Sorry they can't have it both ways.

The guys driving in the video is all speculation. What is not speculation is that we seem to have a few boats hear that have had seperation for no apparent reason. I spent a bit of time on the phone with Plexus and they seemed as baffled as anything that they came apart like this. Their only suggestion was that maybe the boat was fresh out of the mold when they put them together and the lamination was still wet. Other then that they had very liitle to offer. When I asked them about surface prep for my boat they basically said just scuff it up and glue it again. They wanted no less then the thickness of a paper clip or so and clamping according to them is not required.

I thought it was a lot more complex than this. Can't get much simpler. and no clamping is wild. Did they say if you could make it too thick?

I did not ask them that as I knew if I used the product I was going to use my bolts to clamp. They way they made it sound was that if the two pieces came in contact with the plexus they were going to stick together.

Right. I was not dog piling Formula with a Merc issue. The condition of the drive loosness told me that the hull needed checked due to the obvious pounding the boat was exposed to but I didn't know about this when I drove the boat. If I buy it this hull subject will be checked well first.

Well.....as shown on my repair reciept, I had "operator error" issues when my boat was 3.5 years old, and the first year the boat was mostly used on Lake Havasu (I took out of state delivery) :drink:

Well geez, we all know that Havasu has 6-8 footers :D:D:

Wild. They have a lot of faith in their product. Seems you pretty much can't mess it up. That means Formula did it right and PhantomChaos is surely the victum of his operator error:party-smiley-004::drink:

:lolhit::lolhit::lolhit:

Hey guy's, thanks for the great thread and info. I won't be down at the lake until early april to take our first ride of the year, but thanks to your information I now know what to look for and this will be on the top of my pre season check list. I have a 01, 353. Please keep the updates coming, I think all in all Formula builds an excellent boat, (this is my second) I hope to find no problems.:evilb:

Hull deck issue
 

Guys, Dont get me wrong my 382 is a great boat ! We have made boating in the keys a #1 priority in our vacation plans. Great boat, Great location. These issues are just part of the offshore performance "package". I wish we would have a government that would take advantage of domestic oil production...we must pay the countries that hate us..wow..$1000.00 a day for boating? sailboat? naw...fill er up

Yep.....I agree Dave! It's all part of it......that thing we call performance boating! YeeeeeeHaaaaaa! Although.....when my boat is done, it will be better than factory and that's a good thing. :D :drink:


How are those motors coming along?

So how did this issue turn out for everyone?

Yes, I wonder if there are any new cases now that folk have taken thier boats out from the winter to thaw. :D My boat is not ready to get wet for some time.

My rub rail is tight so I did not remove it.I am going to remove the speakers from the cabin so I can have a look though.

My guess is this. Formula is a huge name, and expensive. Not a peep from anyone right?

I had my 2000 382 surveyed last week, and hull/deck joint was pronounced perfect. Chesapeake Bay can be rough, but not as bad as the Pacific, I guess. I'm relieved, to say the least...

Good news, Go Boating. I am finally ready to go, If this so cal weather does not improve I AM HEADING TO MARATHON FL

I checked out my 353 and found it to be solid, nothing loose at all. Keep us updated, thanks.

My friends 06 382 is tight. Lake Michigan

I checked mine as much as I could without dis-assembling it...looks good to me.

382 plexus problems
 

On my 1998 382 the plexus bonding deck/hull was loose all the way around. I cut out everything inside the boat (even the floor and the toiletroom) to glass the parts together-doing a complete rebuild. Then i discovered the stringer was loose in many places also......because the deck/hull bonding was loose, it allowed water to enter the cabin. The water found its way all the way down to the stringer, and because the stringer was loose in many places, it even entered the foam inside. This water will not ever go away !
Now i have cut away most of the part of the middle stringer and glassed the hole thing to the hull.
I also drilled some holes in the stringer and removed the foam inside.
The boat is back on the water. It floats a lot higher in the water, and its a dream to drive. It feels extremely solid.
I have diesels in the boat and it comes on plane a lot easier now. The topspeed is nearly 60 knots with merc 350 hp diesels and 32 labbed maximus at 3800 rpm.

I have talked with the guys at Formula, but they told they never have experienced any problems like this......

Gorm, Norway.

Wow.......! :eek::eek::eek: Why does it float higher in the water?

Less water in the boat....:eek:

All the parts he cut away and tossed out :evilb:

I'm curious to know why this problem was not reported as a warranty issue in 2003 when the 20+/- screws were first found to be broken?

See post 65 and 78

All I know is if the weather does not warm up I am off to Marathon, FL

I pulled my cabin speakers this weekend,they must be in a different position on the 382s.Because I can't see anything on a 292.

Hull deck seam
 

382 owners please review this thread

Get others together and file a class action lawsuit. If Formula was smart they would make this go away. Your blogs will hurt their business and is.
Sometimes they need to man up and make it right.. Fight the fight... Will cost you but it's a principle thing too.
I would think there is a major safety issue too.

Never intended to sue. These are good boats and this is a fairly easy fix. We just want owners to be aware of the issue. A failure at high speed could be tragic. this is a fyi thread. None of us have ever thought of selling.

Yep.....as Dave said, this is an FYI thread. :drink::drink:

Hull Deck
 

Read this thread. I dont know if the 242 was bonded with plexus but this info may help.

TTT:bunnydance:

If Plexas might be the issue, Then I would wonder about the Fiberglass Matrix stringer system that is heald in place with Plexas. Has anyone checked out this? Just wondering since I have been looking at used and new 400SS.

Rich

Plexus
 

We found in all 5 boats that there did not seem to be enough plex applied at the hull deck seam. Anywhere i have seen the bond, at least on my boat, on the inner liner the plex is oozing out of each location. I am sure the process of installation of the liner is if anything over plexed.

Bring forward
 

I want to bring this thread forward. It has come to my attention there are a few east coast boats getting ready to do this fix. Thanks FYI I have 190 hrs of high speed running with my 700 NXT's.on both coasts. Hull deck is solid after repairs