Question for Fas Tech Owners
 

I am looking at different boats for my family (Family of 4), we are in North Carolina and have a couple large lakes and the inner coastal ways and the outer banks. I was wondering how the Fas Techs are with a family of 4 with or without friends? Also how do they do in 2-3 foot swells?

My kids love the water, boats and speed so I am good to go there lol. The only down side is we scuba dive so we will have to shore dive or boat charters for those.

Any insight and advice would be great.

Thank you.

What size?
I had a 312 then a 382. LOVED them both and we overnighted often with 3 kids. Very tight in the 312 and the boys were 5,8,11. Later in the 382 we pulled as many as 5 night trips and they were 8,11,14. While tight, everyone had a blast. The 353, 382 will be comfortable in those seas, the 312 will be fine, not sure I'd want to go smaller though.

Also note the size of the cockpit, the 382 is HUGE behind the bolsters!!!

We are looking at the 353 or the 382 depending on the prices. I would like to find a 2000 or newer that is fuel injected but would go as old as 1998 if need be.

353 or 382 would be a great fit. My wife and I take 2-3 people with us on our 353 and there is never a complaint for space. We are going to overnight on it for the first time next weekend so cannot comment on that aspect. 382 Has even more room in the cockpit/cabin. The storage for a bimini top is nice and clean, I know performance boaters curse the things but they do come in handy when needed. Amenities are great and performance is good, better with blue engines if you desire and budget for. The later models have more updated dashboards and controls, more "blingy" accents, but they all function the same. The only drawback with 382 is overall on the trailer weight compared to 353. We have a 7.3 turbo diesel Excursion so that sealed our decision to go with 353.

I am deploying for the 8th time at the end of October and when I get back I will be getting a Dodge Ram 2500 mega cab with the 6.7L Cummings. Just not sure if I want a brand new or used, it will come down to availability for what I am looking for. I have always loved the 353and the 382 and from what I am finding they are not that bad priced. I will defiantly have what ever boat I am looking at surveyed. I am currently in Northern New York on the St Lawrence river and see all the big boats and love the sound of the engines. I was not sure how comfortable a 353 or 382 would be with 4-8 people on board. I was looking at a 330SS or 370SS but the price and the weight got us to looking at other boats and we came to the 353 and 382. We like the looks of the 312 but feel the size for where we will be boating will hinder us. When I retire in a few years we will be moving back to the Bay Area in California and it will be all Bay and inner coastal ways there as well.

t500HP how did you arrange everyone for sleeping on your 382? From what I can tell from pictures online there the front bed then the seating below that. Does that have a filler cushion that goes in to make that another bed?

I got a 292 and its tight with 4 people, espcecially 4 adults. 353 is my dream boat and hopefully my next move. 382 although nice, I prefer the 353. Have considered SSs, but love the fastechs.

Our 2002 382 had the filler cushions for between the couches. We actually put the kids in the V-berth and the wife and I on the filler cushions. Ours had the TV, sink, frig, vacuflush head, AC and I added a microwave (no gen). Built 540's from 500's and a new trailer not long after I bought it (2006-2007).........talked to the new owner not long ago and he said he was thinking about selling, boat was immaculate 3 years ago and from what it hear the guy seems to keep it the same.

You thinking about buying it back?

I am still a couple years out from buying since I will be gone most of next year and then I will be moving back to North Carolina the end of next year. I am thinking it will be cheaper to buy in the off season then it will be to buy during season. I have no problem with getting a 353 or 382 with 496 HOs, if I do I am giving Raylar Engineering a call :D.

Also is there any benefit of Fuel Injection over Carbureted motors besides the obvious?

I am a car guy so I know from building off road trucks FI is the way to go for what I build.

You can make carb'd go faster. The new 353 formula had at the AC boat show had naturally aspirated engines in it. So the must see something they like.

So a 1998 382 with carb'd HP500s is nothing to run from?

I have seen 353s and 382 with HP500s carb'd, 502 MPI, 496HOs and 525 engines in them. Just wondering which has the most aftermarket performance parts and is there anyone type I should not look at?

Huh?

They can all be modified, the carbed 500's would probably be the easiest, the 525's the least. (unless you like whipples)

t500hps I am finding most of the 382s are 500s both carb'd and EFI and the 502 MPI. Some are with twin 525s but I am trying to stay under $85K as my price range lol.

Not looking for crazy fast, maybe mid to upper 70s at most. I think anything faster would scare the kids and their mom.

Mine had Prochargers when I first bought it......ran 98 with the wife/kids in the cabin. She always joked everytime she went below I ran it WOT. Even my dad who's run 80+ mph bassboats for many years had no idea we were running over 80 in that thing.

$85k should get you a nice 382. I would stay away from 502 mags (good motor if your not going to modify it).

If your not ready to buy for a year......try to quit looking. You'll drive yourself crazy and just might buy something before you can use it!

t500hps thanks for the info. The wife wanted to know what price rangers there were and what type of motors for those prices. I can never leave anything stock so I would not minding finding one that is easy to modify. What year was your 382?

Please do not EVER do this. I personally know of at least two individuals who suffered severe spinal injuries from being slammed against the deck and back to the floor while riding below in the cabin of a performance boat. I never allow anyone to ride below in the cabin when running anything more than idle speeds. I cannot see them, and one can never predict a rogue wave or wake from a large vessel. I am an ER physician with over 25 years of experience working in renowned trauma centers. I would not want to see a friend, family, or those of anyone on this board end up permanently paralyzed/disabled by something that could have been prevented.

While it did happen, it was quite rare.....and we were far up river on a week day. So far that you could not turn around on plane and I was the only "big boat" out there. (last run before I took the Prochargers off)

Now, when we run open/big water I totally agree with you regarding the cabin. Heck, I have never run WOT with the kids in the boat in "big" water.......and I keep a wristband on the kill-switch and use it religiously when not on that small inland river.

2002, Every option but gen, no ext. boxes. Upgraded stereo, added microwave, new/custom carbon fiber dash/gauges, Pre-lubers, 630hp/700tq motors fully dressed on a dyno. IMO it's worth $85-90K in todays market but not my boat to sell.

t500hps thanks for the info.

Sorry bout that I was replying via phone so I was trying to keep typing to a minimal. After reading it back just now, I realize I didn't make much sense. What I intended on saying was that the new 353 at the AC was Carb'd not Fuel Injected and was NOT using a supercharger to get that HP out of the engines. I know some of the older fomula engine packages had the 500 or 600scs options in them. Although there are SC options out there they are still making some big naturally aspirated engines with the same or comparable HP. So must be some benefit for one over the other.

For what it is worth: In our two dock slips we have a 302 sportboat (that's my baby), and a 330 SS. They are not exactly what you are considering, but close enough that our experiences may be informative. Whenever we have more than 4-6 people there, I never get to use the 302. Even though it has a cockpit close in size to the 382 with lots of room behind the bolsters (which makes them huge for offshore performance boats) it is crowded with 6+ people and nowhere as near as accommodating as the 330SS for a crowd.

I have a good friend who we spend the Shoot Out with, and he's a performance guy to his core. But for spending the day rafted out, he asks if we can use the 330SS instead of the 302. More space, easier to get in/out of the water, shade that works, just a nicer place to spend the day bobbing on the water. The women also prefer the 330SS for those kind of days.

If it's just 2-4 of us, and we're trying to get somewhere, the 302 gets used and it is a blast. If we are coving out, rafting up, or taking more than 4 people, the 330SS gets used. I'm not against a sport boat, and really can't see ever not owning one, but it gets used less and less, and the boat more comfortable for a group gets used more and more.

Wonder how Nort's experience is? He has both a 382, and a Sun Seeker express cruiser.

Chart,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the different boats. We are thinking more along the super sport line because of the room they have over the fas techs.

I've also started researching the Super Sports (370 and 400), and basically have learned the 370 has a sportier feel than the 400, but you really don't lose much space. I have not confirmed that personally, but the source of my info is very credible. It appears to me that some of the space is used in the nose of the 400 for that slick anchor storage, while the 370 uses a more conventional anchor design. There may also be more room in the 400 mid cabin.

Both boats are trailerable, but you might want more than the 3/4 ton truck you are considering. This would be a good time to consider a dually.

Chart,

We are already considering the Dodge 2010+ crew cab dually for towing what ever boat we get. Also getting a enclosed trailer for all the dive gear and tanks, I have a portable compressor to fill scuba tanks that will be going in the trailer as well. As for a trailer if the boat does not have one I have already received a quote for a goose neck trailer from Loadmaster trailers.

You may already know this, but the 330SS has scuba tank storage built in from the factory. I presume the 370 and 400 do also.

Chart,

I have heard about that but I have yet to be able to see pictures that show the storage.

Anyone else have some advise?