We have a 2002 260 SS cuddy with a 496 HO that we bought this year. We had a 31 Sonic previously. We absolutely love this boat. It is a great all around boat for performance, family and cruising. So far we have had 4 adults and 3 children on board and had plenty of room for more. We would have been cramped with that many in the Sonic.

Soldier4402 – we are not too far from you. You are welcome to come and check it out sometime. PM me if you are interested.

hey thanks bn. Yeah I run around the cuse every so often and hit the river a lot. If I think of it and am around ill hit you up. I saw quite a few SS on the water this weekend but nothing close up. I think after looking at the specs the 25 or 26 foot, SS or SSI would be a good fit, the 28's really start getting into a big heavy monster.

The video tells you all you need to know about the 260SS. We looked at many boats before we bought the 260SS and nothing else even came close. Awesome boat in every way.
http://www.usboattest.com/boat-tests...la-260-ss.html

I've had a 252SS a little over a year now. By far the only thing I don't like about it is the cockpit layout; it has room for 7-8 people as long as everybody is sitting down but when anyone needs to move, it's cramped. The boat handles chop reasonably well, tops at mid 60's with a 502Mag and planes very easily, but the main reason I bought it was that I got a smoking deal for a very low hour boat.

Not bad at all, but budget permitting, 260 is IMO better. The only downside I can think of is that 252 sleeps two comfortably, three in a pinch, 260 does not.

Thanks CPC! My first boat was also a blue on white/charcoal PowerPlay 185 XLT. Nice little boat!

Glad I know I am following the correct path! They are WAY fun and extermely solid for what they are.

Well thanks everybody for the info. Drove my boat last weekend and still love it. But if the right deal came along I would definitely be inclined to think about it.

Anybody in the northeast area has something like a 252 or 260 SS or the Chapparal SSI, and would like to trade hit me up. My boat info is in the forum. After looking at values, the trade I would want would probably have to be like a 97 or better and the chapparal probably a 2000 or better. Must have a trailer as well. I wouldnt mind throwing a few g's into the pot, but one for one is what I am looking for. Thanks all.

The Formula 260 SS will seat more people than the Chaparral 260 SSi due to the port lounge vs. port bucket. It is a bigger overall boat, too.

A broker told me that the cabin in the Chaparral is a lot smaller than the Formula. My problem with the 252 is that you have to climb over the windshield to get to the bow. Did that with my 382. Don't want to do it any more.

As was stated before, I am big on dead rise too because of how much it effects the ride quality. The Formula 260SS or even the 280 is 24° and is a mono hull. The mono hull and 24° together will "drag" in the water ALOT more than a stepped boat hull. The stepped hull will be more fuel efficient because of it's ability to release from the water drag but water sports behind a stepped boat is a bad idea and not recommended, even though some do it! That said the fuel efficiency is not really a legitimate comparison, to me anyway, because the water sport boat and the "go-fast" boat are worlds apart and drastically different uses. The Formula SS in the "Sun Sport" version is all mono hull but the SS as the Super Sport version is stepped. If you look on Formula's web site you can see what is available, in sizes you want, if the fuel efficiency is a strong concern. I don't believe the difference in the hulls can compare to efficiency because the stepped is going to be better but has limitations to use. That is the best way I thing to describe the two hull types; they are both good in specific uses.

We shopped for a long time, went to many shows, got on a lot of boats before pulling the trigger on our Formula's. That is the best thing I would recommend, get on the boats and get the feel. There are Formula SS's that you may like over others for many reasons, some that are better felt and seen than told. The space and layout is very practical in the Formula line and to ride on one you would see how the ride is renowned among owners of the Formula line up.

I have the mono hull 242 just for the water sport reason.