353 fastech questions
 

I'll will be checking out a 2003 Formula 353 this weekend. 500EFI's, XR drives, approx 250 hrs. If it looks good, I'll be getting a survey done.
Anything in particular I should be looking for on this model? I know the motors will need top ends soon.
Also, does formula still use wood in their stringers & transom? (2003 model) I had a bad experience with my old 26' velocity having alot of wet wood in it (boat was kept indoors & never stayed in the water) don't want to deal with that again.

Thanks,
Don

The only thing wood on the boat is the transom. Jeff Wurl

Any ideas on what would be a good buy price based on the above year & hours? Assuming the boat is mint, (supposed to be indoor kept etc.)

Thanks

80-100k if it has a nice trailer and is fresh water only. That is a fair range if the boat is in EXCELLENTcondition and needs nothing price. Good luck!

Dave

You can by my 2004 382 with 525's for not much more.Trailer too.

I checked it out this morning. Boat has approx. 350 hrs (motors never touched) & is on an aluminum Myco 2 axle trailer.
Fresh water on the Delaware river & over to upper Chesapeake area. The boat looks really clean top side, engines & transom. Minor bubbling under the powdercoating on the windshield. The bottom does look pretty beat up from rack storage though (gouges, chips, scrapes, etc.)
Guy is pretty firm at $90K

Got some other boats to check out as well over the next couple of weeks.

Top ends are past due! 250-300 MAX. Bottom issues are cosmetic, but still a concern at least for me. Windshield frame is pretty common issue. Depends on how much you want to put into it. Topside's are going to cost money, try to put that into the negotiations, if not, I'd pass myself.

Dave

axapowell, thanks for the reply, that's kinda what I was thinking too.

Oh, and check the headliner in the cabin good. I am pretty sure that that year had an issue. They are a major job to change, but if its not dropping by now its probably fine. I personally would not go 90k. High 70s low 80s tops.

I have the cleanest original equipment/optioned/upgraded 353 and trailer of that vintage (or most any) in existence.
HO/B1X

Have toyed with selling to move in other boating direction(s) that are more family oriented, and for no other reason.

I would encourage you to look at every other used 353 on the market under 100-
only then take a look at mine.
the rest would be easy.

I'll agree with that. Go back a couple years and I think I can compare on the cleanliness and appearance comparison.

Rip has "one of the cleanest" all stock 353's.

Dave

your anticipated post was exactly why i went back and added "OE" before you got here...
:party-smiley-004:

I have been insanely, retentively, over-the-top fussy over this boat from day one when I bought it home with 1.2 hours on it.
I don't believe anyone here would challenge the insanity LOL, or how this boat shows.
It is a 9.9 and so is the trailer.

tough decision to even consider it, but it isn't 4 kid user friendly that's for sure

Well i will say this the ST box that came off it looked perfect and was packaged like it could withstand an atomic bomb. If a person takes that much pride in the little things i'd bet my 311 your boat is perfect Randy!!!

Thanks for the input guys. I should be the proud new owner of a 98 Formula 382 this week. Just completed the survey on Friday. In case any of you know the boat, it's "Locked & Loaded" out of Tome's Landing, Port Deposit MD. It has to be the cleanest '98 382 in existence & blows away everything I've looked at condition wise.

:ernaehrung004:

how much is the boat you are looking at if you don't mind i asked.

because i am looking at the same year of boat with
Twin 540 Bulldogs w 350 hours
Latham steering
5k in custom stereo & LED lighting (installed 2010)
Triple axle Aluminum Owen and sons trailer with brand new tires. (cross country road worthy)
Frig has never been used
McCloed Power Bolsters & Foot rests, Vacuflush Head w/ 6 gallon holding tank, Shorepower
Livorsi Gauges and throttles.
K-Planes Trim Tabs

thank you

Tops are past due? How do you know the tops are past due? Oh, what do you mean by that? I was looking at a fastech with 400 hours, no work done.

Oh, and my current boat hasn't had any work and I have 280 hours....

Go ahead and run it...Or just do a search on here for the hundreds who didn't listen to similar advice and have had valve train issues. Better yet call Merc and see what they say...


Dave