90' 292 Sr1 - Good - Bad - Ugly?
 

I'm currently in the market for a new to me used boat. I stumbled across a 1990 292 SR1 with twin big blocks. I ran it by a friend of mine who is a formula guy and he talked it over with his dealer, also a formula guy. The dealer thinks the boat is too ass heavy with the twin big blocks and its really a 272 with a swim platform. prone to taking on water over the rear, etc. and was a bad apple from the start. I don't believe he's got any reason to lie to me about the boat, but I can't seem to find any information to back up the statement about the boats taking on water. I'm just looking for some verification. I see some guys have eliminated the platform to shed some weight and gain some deadrise in the water + obvious performance gains with less exhaust pressure.

Every thread I've come across on the 292 SR1 is that its a great boat, but most went with a 311 because it had a bigger cabin and only cost a few bucks more for the upgrade in hull performance in the open water. I'm itching to upgrade from my bowrider, and the 292 seems like a hell of a step up. I was originally looking for a 252 or similar but the price is right on the 292. I'd love to find a 311 for the increase in cabin and engine room but I haven't seen any in my price range.

Was the 292 SR1 short lived for the ass-heavy nature of the beast?
LOA is a 29'2" with the platform, correct?

292 is w/o the platform, great boat, 311 and 292's are real simalar in price

that era Formulas are measured WITHOUT the platform, so add 2 feet for it. The 272's and 311's were more popular because the 311 was nearly as fast as the 292 with the same power. The 272 came with either SBC or BBC but the 292/311 only came with BBC.....that Formula dealer doesn't know what he's talking about IMO (maybe he's thinking of the newer/smaller 292 that only comes with SBC and therefore his opinion would be justified, the newer boat I would consider a 27ft with a swim platform). A buddy had a 272 with twin 454's and the boat wouldn't break 70.....the 292/311 were a couple mph slower. All these boats are wave crushers for their size and other than an older Cigarette they are the only brands I'd consider in a 20 year old boat.

I wouldn't listen to another word out of the dealer's mouth. The 1990 292 is 30'11' with the platform. Go to the Formula site and you can download the 1990 brochure with all the specs. I've never heard of that boat having any issues.

I've got an 89' 292 SR-1 that is completely stripped that I'm going thru right now.

It has Bravo's and Twin 454 Mag's instead of the 330hp's...

I put it on a drastic weight reduction program! No silent thunder swim deck, went to aluminum exhaust manifolds, no refer or mascerator, removed all the bow rails etc., etc. and everything is either getting updated or replaced.

Also, I removed the windshield and made a fairing for it.

They do have inherent problems and you might want to read Audiofn's posts on his Formula that he re-did a while back.

One big issue is interior drainage... there is none!

If water enters the boat from say, a leaking windshield, it has nowhere to go but to just settle under the step in the cabin. That can, and will, cause major repair issues if left that way.

There is the same problem in the center of the boat where the gas tank is... No drainage if water gets in there.

There are other things to look for obviously, but I think the water issue is the biggest one... And the water issues will lead to rot if left unchecked.

That was be my biggest concern with an older Formula like mine.

I think the 292 Sr-1 is an awesome boat and a great value for what you get!

Best of Luck to You

It is absolutley not a 272 with a swim platform bolted on, 272 292 and 311 all have silent thunder platform in the era, that are bolted to the transom. There is no problem with water coming over the stern either. I know where theres a very nice 292 for sale, in Northeast Mass. Interested??

thanks guys. I appreciate the feedback. I got in contact with the seller last night and we spoke about it briefly and I got some better pics of it. I'm going to setup a time to go look at it next week with a mechanic i have working on my other boat.

Hull has ~800 hrs on it and the rebuilt big blocks have less than 200 on them. It sounds they were rebuilt pretty close to stock (which I'd prefer, it seems less likely they were beat on that way). Interior looks OK, evidently has one rip in the rear seat. The owner has had it for 5 years now and last took it out 3 years ago, although he said its been prepped and re-winterized every season since. He had the carbs rebuilt this year but never splashed the boat. I asked him to rate it on a 1-10 scale, he said 7.5-8.

Needs a trailer & cover. What should a boat of this caliber go for? I've got a hunch, and what he's asking seems like a comfortable number for me if it meets my expectations in work needed

Jiffy292, I'd be happy to take a look, it can't hurt. send me an email [email protected] with pics/info. Just remove the "292" from the address. (keeps spam down)

post some pics and you'll get some cost estimates...based on what you've stated so far I'm guessing low-mid $20's.

Here's the boat, it's out of suffolk county, LI. anyone know the boat?

http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._2315059_n.jpg
http://a8.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._2096840_n.jpg
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._4907798_n.jpg
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._7365598_n.jpg
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphot..._6508516_n.jpg

this boat has been for sale for 3 years plus, i talked to guy way back when i was lookign for one. he is hard to deal with i talked to him a few times. he will not get the boat running for you to come see it!! i wouldnt pay more than 15

did you go and look at it? I don't mind taking a drive to go check it out. but I don't want to waste my time either. He did mention it was winterized and didn't want to fire it up. I'll take a gamble if I'm bringing a mechanic to check it out. but without hearing them roar is a whole other case.

If your really interested in this boat tell the guy your bringing 7-8 gallons of anti-freeze and will re-winterize the engines after you hear them run. If he's un-willing to let you do that then you must assume the engines are blown and make your offer accordingly......and I'd tell him that.

The reality is it has 3 year old gas in it and has been sitting......this boat WILL have problems. Unless you are a good trouble shooter/mechanic I'd toss this guy info and keep looking.

Yeah that has been for sale for a while. If it sits on that trailer much longer it will have more that the regular hook in the hull from the factory.

been for sale 3 plus yrs. guy told me he doesnt need money, boat is sold as seen. he will not start it he will not even put batteries in it. has a ps cooler leak. dont waste your time guy, the things a load. as 500hps said it will be problems. he wanted like 23k 2 years ago and wouldnt budge. its a total gamble. he also claims motors were rebuilt but has no paperwork

Wow!

Not to rip on another guy's boat but that trailer looks pretty scary to me!:eek:

Looks like it would be "fishtail city" on the freeway...

he also has or used to have a 272, that boats a pile stay away might be worth 8grand if the the hulls not f~ed up not sure what hes asking now but low 20's will buy you a nice 292 w/o the history of that boat KEEP LOOKING, ps that guy also jerked me around

thanks guys. It's very nice to come to a place like this and have people who know some of the history right up front like that. I'm going to call him back next week and and play dumb. See what he says about letting my mechanic fire it up and re winterize it before we go. If he says no then I'm not even going to make the trip down.

Re: trailer. It's just temporary. And I suspect his 272 is on it now... which he also still has and is trying to sell.

I'm going to keep looking for now. I'll expand my search to the entire eastern seaboard. I will be in Miami in a month and ideally I'd love to find one down there that I could do a sea trial in and use for a few days before bringing her north. If anyone has a line on a 27 to 31 formula Sr1 I think that's my comfort zone. Any bigger than 31 limits where I can head in freshwater around here.

when you say 27, do you mean 271 with a single or the 272 with twins?

heres a very nice 272, friend is toying with it, he says teens buys it


http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...2-SR1-97236586

272 with 350's couple mph slower the bbc's but much much better to work on in the engine room

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...2-SR1-97921352

nice looking 292


http://stlouis.craigslist.org/boa/2219418777.html

that will keep you busy for a while, isn't shopping fun

Too funny, can't believe he still has them. Been for sale for 5 years or more. Back in 2006 I flew up there to look at the 272. Obviously I didn't buy but he's not a bad guy in person.

Can't go wrong with any SR1.

i had a 272 with 350 s and loved it . i liked the one for 15500 in illinois

I sold my 88 311 with a new trailer for 20k and it was nice. I wanted to move it because i don't have room for 2 boats in my driveway. If I started it for every tire kicker I would have gone through 100 gallons of anti-freeze. Just an opinion from a seller's point of view.

that guy is a clown i tried to buy the 272 then the 292 he has more stories from woodchucks eating the interior in the 272 to the 292 only having 100 hrs on it .only has 1 trailer and witchever boat sells hes keeping for that .told me straight out i dont need the money i own 5 homes a helicopter bunch of muscle cars ect ect .he needs a dose of reality .very arragant couldent even talk to him .hell he took the motor out of the 272 because of a leaky pan gasket 10+ years ago and cant find the time to fix it .stay away!!!!

I got one 311

CB dont do it

send me an email with the details. Great looking boat!

Email sent Sir:drink:

I know Sam i know

Anyone familiar with this boat?
http://www.boatclassifieds.us/14573/...rformance.html

CB,thanks for the email. I'll give you a call sometime but I'm not sold on the drives for my purpose. It's a great looking boat for sure though.

No prob BSD let me know if you have any ?'s:coolcowboy:

BSD, I was telling 88242LS about this boat:
http://syracuse.craigslist.org/boa/2188517468.html

292



http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1990.../United-States