deepv29

I love it. It's like CSI Formula! I will definately bring it up to the seller. This is a great forum. Happy New Year all and we will dedicate tonight's mojitos to you.

Any more thoughts on the boats...keep it coming

sprink58

I have to say...I'm partial to the 302. If it's solid you get a lot of boat with it. Several people successfully raced that boat with a few mods back in the day and had good results. It's not a light weight top end machine but it will do very well in the rough stuff...not Cigarette "well enough" but a great family boat none the less.

Stout Big Block power is needed to push these boats to 70 and beyond but they are solid and roomy.

Diego9040

iTrader: (1)

I like the 357 with 502's but obviously a lot more money, if that wasn't an issue i would go bigger, I am sure it is a nice ridding boat. can someone explain me the advantage of a surface drive.(kaama)

sprink58

Very little drag from drives if any.

Kaama302

They are a far more efficient way to transfer power from the engine to the water. Much less power is lost in a KAAMA drive vs TRS The drive has only one gear to turn in the drive vs. 2 in a conventional drive. Also while on plane and properly trimmed 2 blades are piercing the water at all time. this leads to less drag.

38fountainecman

I have owned a 1990 292 SRI for about 7 years and I have owned the 357 with Kamma drives for about 4 years. Both Formulas were awesome boats in their own way. The 292 definately has 330 hp engines, not 365's. The 330's have a single plane lower intake manifold and the 365's use a dual plane intake. Also, the 292 has the stock cast iron exhaust that will eventually leak water into the cylinders and would need to be replaced. The 292 is minus external hydraulic steering that the 357 has. Also, the 357 appears to have GIL exhaust that will last much longer and flow much better than the cast iron exhaust on the 292. I had a stock swim platform on my 357, but the drives still stuck out a little farther. I just purchased two plastic 40 +\- gal plastic trash cans, but the bottoms off and would slip the "covers" over the props with a bungie cord before I let wives and children exit the rear of the boat. Never had an issue with the props sticking out. The 357 is a wave crusher, no doubt and just rode fantastic. The 292 was also a great riding boat for its size, but was a little harder to control at speed. The external hydraulic steering I added really helped with keeping the 292 going straight and not getting out of control in heavy seas. The 357 will ride on rails in any water. While they don't make the KAAMA drives anymore, there seems to be a lot of parts and spare drives for sale on OSO and the biggest issue is replacing the boots which I understand may now be available. I agree with others that you will eventually want a bigger boat and the 357 is the way to go. That boat will always be work $20+k, so I don't think you can go wrong with it. Good luck.

JP-8

I used to abide by the "bigger is better" philosophy, and naturally regarded the 357 as one to aspire toward.

But, after getting to know it a little better, I've reconsidered.

As Kaama302 states: the 357 hull sports a pronounced hook. This has a measurable effect on efficiency. It takes about 650 HP per side to make a TRS-equipped 357 get out of its own way. Certainly KAAMA drives will always improve performance, but the hull still has its faults.

Of all the performance boats Formula offered during the past 3 decades, the 302 SR-1 would be my pick. The hull design, with its flared bow, wide stance, and exceptional balance combine to make a pretty awesome package. Scott Porter took one racing in the mid 1980s and did very well.

They all need stout power, certainly. It seems everyone was ordering their boats with 330s in those days and were thrilled at the top speed of 57 MPH.

Jg1000

iTrader: (1)

I bought a 292 '89 last summer and love it. I have the 365hp motors and it tops out at 65mph on gps. I had it out on shoot out weekend at the ozarks which there were 8 footers out that day. It was quite a ride , but I don't think a bigger boat would have done better if it was going slower. Anywho all are good choices . I love mine.

Full Force

iTrader: (5)

8 footers??? come on now....

Crude Intentions

iTrader: (1)

Right there with ya. Seems I read a lot of overestimating seas on this forum. I run a 190 ft boat everyday in te Gulf of Mexico. I do weather for safe voyage on a daily basis. Also people shouldn't use a NOAA forecast for the seas as NOAA is rarely accurate. Very broad. True 3 ft seas and I can't keep the prop of my 272 in the water.

I drive a boat for a living and don't like taking my 190 ft steel hull offshore in 8 ft seas.