Formula SS people
 

Looking at the formula SS and I think I have narrowed it down to the 260-280. the 240 looks to small and the 252 doesnt look much better. My questions are concerning power, Im seeing singles, twins with 350s, 4.3s and 454s. Im coming from a fountain and looking for something for family appealing. Twins and going fast really isnt a huge priority. But I dont want the boat to struggle or suck gas. and would like something to at least get to 45-50mph. So whats some opinions on power? Also anything else to look for


Also if anybody is interested in my fountain or would like to do a straight trade check it out here
http://watertown.craigslist.org/boa/4614390983.html

My buddy is also shopping for a 260/280 and he had the same questions. I know the 4.3's use Alpha drives so that is a big deterent there to me (although they probably hold up fine). He seems to want a single big block for ease of maintance and I think he is on the money there. Although I think I would strongly consider the twin small blocks as well.

I have a 280 with twin 260HP mercs BIII, that is the minimum I would go with this boat if you want acceleration for water sports etc. The 300HP mpi's would be better and probably have the same fuel burn. If you just want good cruise you could do the 220hp 4.3s, which I had on a SeaRay and were great engines IMHO. I don't think I would do a single on the 280. It would probably be good on the 260. The 280 is a very solid stable boat and I really like the layout.

thats the conumdrum. I think twin SBCs are fine but the 4.3s with alphas dont necessarily worry me as far as working and reliabilty as those are used on cruisers quite a bit. My issue would be getting any sort of descent speed and guzzling fuel, and resale wouldnt be great. But I think I would be equally worried with a single 454 in there as I dont see any sort of speed past 40mph with it and I see it sucking fuel as well. Two 220 43.s is more hp than that single 454, but with the added weight your probably equal or little less in the power department with twin 4.3s

Avoid the few 280's with single engine (obviously) . . . 280's with 4.3's could be considered somewhat lightly powered, but should meet the low end of your speed range. 280's with 5.7's are the most common, and are nicely powered and should be a 50 mph boat. The boats with 7.4's are well powered and should be 55+ mph boats.

A 280 with 4.3's is a tougher sell, so take that into consideration.

thanks for the information. Yeah I think im going to pass with any single in a 28, seems like a tall order. A 26 maybe. But with my budget I cant be totally picky either

100% satisfied with my '05 260 SS with 496 mag. 53-54 mph, excellent fuel efficiency and planing. Have crammed 12 asian ladies and myself on this boat for a bachelorette party ... tough day, everyone had a blast.

thanks red dog, I think a single on a 260 might be alright. Looking up the numbers a single 280 is 800lbs heavier dry than a 260, 8in wider and 2 feet longer, which means its 15% heavier and the surface area its pushing through the water is also about 15% more. just by the math would put a 280 at best with a single at around 45mph boat max. Which again im not looking for a speed demon, but want something that can get to 50. But then again if a single 280 is fuel efficient, less maint costs etc, maybe its worth it.

I had an 01 260 with a 454. Did @ 50 or a little above, and that was with a generator and air conditioner I had installed after the fact.

I now own a 370 SS, I recently spent @ $80,000 on repower and new outdrives (does @ 55-60 now) and I would love to go back to the simplicity of a single engine. If you don't need the 280 and the twins, I would go with a 260 and the single and enjoy the simple, efficient and cost-effectiveness of the single engine.

i really am not leaning toward a 260 or 280 over one or the other. Really its what fits my budget. Obviously a 260 single would be the cheapest. Really like I said speed isnt the number one concern, really looking for efficiency and ease of use more than anything. I just dont want anything to struggle.

I've been shopping for a couple months and have ruled out a single for several reasons, after owning a few boats some singles and some twins it's hard to go back to a single. The extra maintenance doesn't bother me as these are stock simple packages that really don't need much. I'm struggling with low power 5.7's and really only want mags or 6.2's but those are rare. Personally I don't think you can have too much power, not to race others but so you can comfortably cruise at any speed you want.

Just bought a 2000 280 last winter. Love the boat, cuddy and ~1 foot wider are key to the 280 being a better buy. Wanted a 260 with 496 originally, found a 280 with twin 350's and am very happy. Saved $1000's over 260.

The headroom in the 260 was about 1 foot less, the 280 is more comfy for sure.

Only draw back to the 350's is fuel usage, 260 with a 496 would be 25% better. Had a Velocity 280 with 454 MPI, would get about 2 mpg vs 1.5 for the Formula 350's at cruising speed. Would thing the 260 is the almost the same as the Velocity. Twin are much better for handling and ability to get you home if something goes wrong.

Thanks for all the info so far. Yeah I think I have 100% ruled out a single in a 280 just looking at performance and fuel usage I don't see how it would make sense. I would take a 260 in a single.

Now after reading and looking I am swinging towards a 280 as the enclosed head, extra couple feet here and there makes more sense. Also you can get 280s or the same or less of a price. But still would be open.


I guess im still stuck on the twins on a 280 as said above finding BBC or something similar I just haven't found them. I guess where Im stuck on is I found one boat that has twin 4.3s boat looks great. and engines are relatively new. Just wondering on performance and fuel usage.

Yea, two years ago, I was looking for a 280 w/ twin 5.7's. Twin BBC are rare in the 280SS, as are the 4.3's

I test drove a 280 up in the 1000 islands area . . . out of Clayton, NY, if I recall correctly. Didn't buy it, but it was a nice trip up there and enjoyed being on the water. I have a thread about my search on iBoats.com, if you are interested . . . http://forums.iboats.com/forum/gener...for-a-new-boat

I ended up buying a 330SS, and am glad that I got the bigger boat.

Prices are all over the place, watched them for 6 mos last year. 260's were more - especially with a 496 or 454.

My 2000 was $36K last July, bought it for $20K w/alum trailer when the exhaust was found to need replacing. Spent $4k replacing all of the exhaust manifolds, risers and a Y-pipe.

Fresh water boats are higher for that vintage - $32-35K if you can find one.

Yeah Im looking hard. It seems a 95-2000 280 can be had for mid 20s to lower 20s Some in the 30's range. For me a 330 is more than I would want at the moment.

Right now I have a 2001 on the hook for low 20's looks to be in great shape with SBCs but your talking almost 700hours on those engines and probably rebuilds around the corner. salt water boat

Boat 2 is the 1999 with 4.3s great shape asking 25. I want to pull the trigger on this one but the 4.3s and alphas have me worried but the engines are newer and its a nice boat. salt water boat as well.

Boat 3 is a freshwater boat but only has 170hous on the SBC, they are firm at like 23 which is more than the 2001. Just wondering if this is worth it since its a 95 but almost a new boat.

edit. actually found a few forums where guys were happy with the 4.3l and both claimed the boat could get to 53-55mph and was easy on gas.

Soldier- like I said before, if they are the 220hp 4.3 efi engines and you are at sealevel . I would think they would fine. I had those engines in a 26.5' Searay with flybridge and they were good on that boat. I dont think carb'd 4.3s are 220hp. sea trial with the boat loaded the way you would normally boat will help you decide. I boat at altitude so the SBC was the choice for me. I think the 280ss is a great combo of day/speed boat that can be trailered

glen, they are MPIs and we are talking sea level. The more I read the more I think it would be ok.

I guess what would one buy if it were them

1. 96 280ss with 5.7s 170hours, fresh water boat, no trailer, . 22k firm according to dealer(probably get a little out of them)

2. 99 280ss with 4.3s. 430 hours on boat 150-200 hour on the engines, no trailer, salt water boat. 25k have not negoiated with them yet.


Boats both look to be in good shape, the salt water one has bottom paint. But both look very nice.

I'd think the 4.3s are 42-45 mph, 350's are 50-55.

There is/was a boat in the NY are with 4.3's in the low 20's, something seemed off and the boat stayed on the market the past year.

Your #1 would probably be a carb motor from the year?

There is a redone 96 in my area FS, check Detroit Craigslist. 2 new EFI 5.7's, aluminum headers. New canvas and Vinyl and paint. He bought it for $11, 'wants' 32K - likely negotiable.

Checked Detroit and didn't see it. The 96 was FI I believe. The boat (#2) I am looking at is in ny and going to check out this weekend. Not committed to by but got them down to 21. Which the boat from 86 pics seems mint.

Did some reading. And two different guys that personally owned said they got. 53 and 54 on GPS. Now your talking 80 less hp with the v6s but your also talking about a 450lb weight loss due to drives and smaller engines. I also read in multiple places where guys that knew guys with them and were happy with fuel consumption


Like I said I'm not concerned with high performance or speed anymore. I know a lot of guys see smaller engines and snub their noses. But I will take the thing for a ride and see what it does. If it's gets. 45-50 I'll be happy with it


You know anything about the boat in the ny area

He listed as 280ss
http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/boa/4575582343.html

Lots of upgrades to this boat from when I last saw it.

This one was the questionable one that's been bouncing around craigslist for the past year:
http://newhaven.craigslist.org/boa/4511878470.html

Snow,

Funny thing is I have talked to both of them. The NYC one i ended up pulling the plug. dealer was in NYC, boat located in CT. Like you said just didnt fell right. I got him down to 21500 for it, but I need a trailer, plus 2 grand to ship it, made it a 26-28k boat, just not worth it.

The guy in detroit, he wanted my fountain on trade plus 5 grand, he had no trailer. Not a bad deal but I need a trailer, so really my 91 fountain fever 29 plus 5 grand plus a trailer just didnt work out. The boat looks ver nice. I dont know why one would dump that kind of money into it, but from talking to him he has a boat fettish. If you looked at in person, whats your thoughts on it? Cash price he was like at 31 for it, which its nice and has all that work done but its still a 96.

It also makes me wonder if he bought it for 11 was it just a little beat, engines blown etc. Because I asked him why all the money and fixing it up was it salavage or something. He said no, just likes to work on things.

Boat was pretty rough when I saw it, appears to have fixed most everything. The drives looked pretty rough, no mention of them in the ad.

He had it listed for $19K once the paint dried.

http://detroit.craigslist.org/mcb/boa/4542598728.html

Nice 260 with 6.2L. Drove it and looks great - local body shop owners boat. Only oddity is the bimini, not factory made from square aluminum tubing.

Fresh water and with a trailer.

Thanks for your help. I ended up finding a chap 265SSSi pending my a sea trial, it will be mine. Got it for a good price.

Yeah I talked back and forth with the guy on the formula. I ended letting the cat out of the bag about him buying it on the cheap. He claimed he bought it off a friends dad for 17k. He said it really wasnt beat or anything, but was just anal.

His sell was that it was a 2005/2006 and was equivalent to a 65k boat, because he had 40 into it. Which from the pictures and all it looked nice, but at the end of day its still a 96, boats are not like houses upgrading/repairing doesnt necessarily make them worth more money. Really I cant fanthom dumping 40k in a boat, thats worth half of that. My question or worry to was, how was all that work done, is it something after a year or two the paint falls off and the engines blow, I would really have no way of knowing.

At the end of the day he seemed like a nice guy, but was insistent that it was a 30k+ boat, when in reality without a trailer they are all over the net in that year for 20-24k. Like I told him even if I wanted to go up to 30 which was out of my budget, a bank wouldnt even book the boat close to that. He said well people put money with boats all the time. I just told him that for one its end of the season, two the boat market is not a sellers friend anymore, and lastly why would I buy a boat considerably over book, because what if I have to sell it in the next few years, I would never be able to without taking a loss.

My feeling is he will end up having to keep it or take a huge loss. He claimed pier57 would take it on trade for 27 or something and sell it for 33k

i got to ask, how did you spend 80k on repower??? What did you go with and why? Im planning on my repower

i got to ask, how did you spend 80k on repower??? What did you go with and why? Im planning on my repower