Got back from the Fort Wayne boat show, saw my first new formula in quite awhile. Probably the first in 20 years. Went on the 270 BR they had there, good and bad.

Boat was nicely done, the finish is top notch as I expected. The price I believe was in the 120's, maybe 140's, not sure. Either way, expensive but not bad when you compare a top line wake boat will run you 120+ also. My wife immediately liked it, but I took one picture and was like, never mind. I sat in the bow and realized just how small of a boat it felt like. Cockpit was shallow, surprised me for a 27' boat. Bow reminded me of our old FourWinns bow rider. I am sure time has clouded my memory here, but it was not big at all. Felt like it is more of a sitting place while at anchor, not deep enough to ride in underway. I saw much nicer designs in the wake boat sections for the bow.

This thing is as heavy or heavier than my 272, 6" wider, way way way newer and I felt it was smaller. Fit and finish, beautiful. Design, no thanks. Hurts me to even say that.

Oh well, no big deal. I am sure I am not their target market anyways. Middle age, engineering degree, plant manager, kids growing up and starting to leave in 5 years..... nope, not me. Gotta admit my wife surprised me when she looked around and said, "this is nice, I could see using this." Escorted her right off that boat, walked away and never looked back. Have to find me an old wave crusher to redo like a real formula, Scarab (not the new small jet boat) or maybe a newer sunsation for my future boat.

I think I know how women felt when it came out their star idle was gay.... shocked! LOL!!!

Oh well, flame me away here fellow Formula owners. I am still shocked I felt that way.

I really do like my old resin bucket 272 that much more now. Besides, this will set us up for a motor home in a few years when we trade up the camper.

Shocked and dismayed, Brian

I agree with you I prefer the older stuff to the new. I do like the 35 and 40 ft ss models however I'll never be able to afford one

The old resin buckets that are true length feel like they are the same size as newer boats that are 4 feet longer. I know it's a touchy subject but it's the way it is.

Some day I would like to be invited on a fastech 292. The boat should be slightly longer than my 272 with platform, which is just under 29'. And it is 6" wider, but others have said that it will seem like a smaller boat. Not sure how that is possible, but maybe someday I will see.

Yea, the 270 is a nice day boat, but you really have to look at it as a 25 footer when comparing it to the older boats, like your 272. It is that molded in swim platform thing that made all of the boats 'smaller' in the 1990's . . . and not just Formula either. So, you have to take 2 feet off of the model size to get a good comparison.

The current 292 would be more apples-to-apples of the older 272's. They are probably only an inch or two different in length with the platform.

Also, in the mid 1990's Formula really split their "Deep V performance" product line into 2 series. The Sunsport's . . . and the Fastech's.

So, if you look at the Sunsports in comparison to the older LS/SR1/SS series, there is quite a bit of difference.

I've been on several 272 sr1s in my life and I currently own a 292 Fastech and I can honestly say the 292 feels smaller. The older SR1s are tanks, absolute wave crushers. The 292 just doesn't have that feel even though about the same size. I love my 292, don't get me wrong. It's a very cool entry level twin engine performance boat. I think the older sr1s had more cabin room which makes it feel larger. Put an Sr1 next to a 292 and both will stand the test of time

I loved my 272 sr1 and do like the new 292 but the 272 was better in its day in my opinion. My gripe is that Formula has gone away from the fast offshore style boats and become more of a deluxe versatile sportboat and cuddy cabin manufacturer. Didn't they used to call those models the Thunderbirds and reserve the Formula logo for the offshore models? Maybe the shrinking offshore market forced them to build these boats?

maybe. Didn't Scarab used to mean offshore and coolness for the new comers to offshore? Now it is a small hippy jet boat made by four winns up in Michigan.... All things change.

I will stick with my 272LS and my 63 Dyne. If I upgrade, will look at a classic like a cafe, mistress, 353 or one of the old 38 by someone.

Who knows, but I like my 272 more than ever now.