Formula 311 vs 357. What to look out for?
 

I can finally afford to own a boat. I am 27, new to the forums. But growing up we always had boats. 25 footers, mainly center consoles. I found my self using the boat more then my dad did, he sold the boat years ago and the boating ich never left me. I have multiple 1 ton trucks as i own a landscaping business. So with that said, towing isn't a issue. Ever since i started looking at owning my own boat, i have loved the lines of the old formulas. Particularly the 1988-1991 311 or 357.
I have only looked on the interenet, never went to see any in person yet. But this summer i wanna start looking seriously. I have seen a 311 in real life only once that was at put n bay. Totally amazing boat. My question is, what do i look for when i look at one? I plan on getting a boat surveyed before i buy. Is maintenance much different between a 311 or a 357? Is fuel usuage much different between a 311 or 357? I have read somewhere that 311s use around 20-25 gallons per hour? Any information would be greatful! Im not new to forums, i belong to the ford truck enthusiast forum. I have a love for modifiying 6.0 diesels. Got a good amount of money and time invested into my (2006 F350 6.0) and am wanting to start a new hobby.

Thanks!

Matt

The one of the biggest problems with the older boats is the transoms stringers and bulkheads tend to rot out . So make sure you check for moisture in those areas.

Welcome to the the forums where are you from asking because you talked about put in bay. I would say there are a lot around here to look at and get on before you buy. Come over to kelleys island at the beginning of summer there is always a few there you could check out. Stop down and talk to us all of use will let you check out are boats. It will just cost ya a beer. Lol you could even possible get on a few rides maybe.

Sounds like you have never run a big twin engine boat, so stick with the 311. 357 is a VERY big boat, almost 38'. Start with a 311, they ride great and are forgiving to operate, and will be much faster than a 357 with the same power. Once you get some seat time, move on to whatever you like

1989mach11, I am from westlake Ohio, 15 mins west of Cleveland. I am about 45 mins away from sandusky. So i am very close to the area. I deff wouldnt mind coming out! I will buy all the beer you guys want, but i am not a beer drinker.... More of a jager drinker :) haha.

Rexcramer, i have never run twins. I am sure i could get use to it. THe boat we had was a 2007 25 ft proline center console with a 200 merc out board 2 stroke. I take it the 311, is a 31.1 foot boat or a 32 ft? Never seen a 357 in person, but that 311 i saw was a big boat. I hear 357s are tanks on the water and ride over waves amazing. I assume 311s are like that to?

Switchbackman, whats a easy way to check for rotted stringers?

Formula has all their brochures online to view. They also include dimensions! The vintage you are looking at list their length minus a molded bolt on silent thunder swim platform/exhaust system.
http://www.formulaboats.com/brochure...ula-brochures/

I agree the 311 would be the best starting point for you. It is big enough to handle erie yet small enough to be able to Handel when the wind kicks up. Different boat but I love my 33 big enough for the lake and small enough that no mater the wind or waters I can handle it by my self. The 357 is a huge boat to start with imo. Especially in tight docking areas like the casino or at times pib.

I think the 311/336/353 are Formulas best offshore offerings. If I was looking to get into something the size of a 357, I would probably look at an older Cigarette Mistress or Top Gun.

I really like my 311. I have TRS drives with transmissions which I personally really like, added external hydraulic steering, and currently have the engines out building them to 525 horse or so.

What about the fuel usage between the two different boats

Mr Maine, what makes you want a 353 over a 357

The 357 will use quite a bit more fuel and need probably 100 more horsepower per side to run the same speed.

To me, the 311/336 and the 353 (stepped hull fastech) are all similar size boats. The 357 would be more comparable to a 38 foot such as the 382 fastech. The old SR1 models with the bolted platform are measured without the platform, where the newer boats include it so numbers can be off by a couple feet when comparing old vs. newer.

The 357 is also a 8' 6" beam so is noticeably wider than the 8 foot beam of a 311.

Also consider launching. A 311 is bad enough at the launch, a 357 is just ridiculous. You will take up all of it.

Many points to consider I guess.

Now I know this are not the boats you r thinking about but as people have sead the 35 is more like a 38 and the 31 would be more like a 33 when you add tge platform. So with that sead here is my 33 next to a 38. Just to kinda get an idea of size difference 4 or 5 feet is a big jump when it comes to boats in my opinion
[IMG]http://i1149.photobucket.com/albums/...psd5330a2a.jpg[/IMG]

It was a big jump for me when I went from a 27 to a 33. I know that much lol

if you are worried about fuel usage don't buy a boat, they all suck, and the difference between the 2 are minimal...

launching a 20 footer and my 35 is the same to me, I even take my 35 MIstress in and out myself at times, same as docking... lol

I am not totally basing my decision on fuel, but I am trying to make a educated decision before I buy. I wanna look at all aspects. A smart man never jumps into a financial purchase with out exploring every option or looking at every peice of information. Obviously I've driven a boat plenty of times, took the classes as a kid to get certified etc. But as I am reading, I am leaning towards a 311. Originally I was soley stuck on a 357. I don't know the gallons per hour difference between the two, but judging on the weight and size of the 357 compared to the 311, I am going to assume it's around 10 gallons per hour more or around a 20 percent different. That alone, combined with the size difference and price difference of the actual boat, I am better off buy a 311 as the first boat I will own. Business gets better every year, I love 357s and I don't mind the fuel usage, but a stock boat tops out at 60 and that bugs me. I am not trying to race the thing, but we all know a low top end speed means a low cruise speed. That combined with fuel usage is starting to wean me away. Until business gets better, to where I can actually make a 357 a 75 mph top end boat and I stop modifing my 6.0 powerstroke, I can't see my self buying a 357. Plus it doesn't help that I have had the boating ich for 7 years now. I have read that a 311 is around the area of 20-25 gallons a hour cruising depending on motor, drives, and conditions of the lake or ocean. And I am perfectly fine with that

My launch is 60 feet long at high tide, 25 is at low tide. Imagine working with that along with wind and tide. I'm just saying different launches are different, I typically launch alone too.

most 311's are still mid-high 60 mph boats, some over 70, but depends on $$ spent, gonna take 500 actual HP or more to see over 70 in one... you will see what guys say they do and what GPS says are different most of the time..

just be aware..

The 311 would be a grate start because you will get the itch and will go up any way this gives you some seat time in our kind of boats. We all always want bigger and faster thats just the way it is.

Mine saw 70 on GPS with 420's with roller cams. TRS drives also. On bone stock 420's, one with 600 hours, it ran 68. Mr. Maine bought it, piped through the silent thunder exhaust straight and ran 72 as I recall.

So it's gonna take 500 hp per side to see 70. And around 650-700 a side to see 70 on a 357? What does a stock 420 have in it

And full force define minimal? You say there is a minimal difference in fuel usage verse the two

Yes, I could always hit 70, sometimes a bit more, 71, 72 depending. I only do gps, and a 2 way pass to a count for wind, tide. There is no reason for me to make up numbers

Merica, buy the biggest boat you can comfortably afford and grow into it skill wise. If not you'll be shopping again next year. If you've been on boats most of your life you be just fine.

My 303 runs just shy of 85 with 675 x 2 to give you something to compare.

In my case it took 450 a side to run 70.

A 420 is an all forged 454, rectangle port heads, crane cam, crane gold rockers, Weiand single plane manifold (some had GM manifolds), Gil exhaust (early ones had an awful Mercruiser exhaust), and a Holley carb. They were a good running motor for the time. My motors went to 500 hours on one (lost an oil line) and 600 hours on the other (cracked head). The bottom end on the 600 hour motor looked great.

One thing to note about Formula they aren't the fastest boats but they handle the rough water great and you see many of the older boats still around and looking good which speaks of the quality of them, I purchased a 90 sr-1 272 a couple years back and love the boat but do wish I went a little bigger. I don't do it often but if you spend a weekend out on the boat it's nice to have that extra room so my advice would consider how you are going to use the boat. Day trip then the size doesn't matter as much.....

I guess will have to see how this goes. Cant wait to start looking. Had a rough winter (didnt plow much) so got more bills then i want now. But once the spring kicks up and i pay those off, cant wait to start looking. Already found some decent boats on the internet. Also it would be nice to meet up with some of you formula owners at put n bay before i make a final decision.

https://rochester.craigslist.org/boa/5480844728.html

http://www.pier45boatandauto.com/198..._259400478.veh

I heard peir 45 was a pain in the ass to deal with lol

https://newlondon.craigslist.org/boa/5480520808.html



This one looks kinda rough:
http://miami.craigslist.org/pbc/boa/5431664790.html

Cant wait to start seriously looking :ernaehrung004:

Do you have a color preference? I'm always looking at boats that are for sale, very tough habit to break! I can keep an eye out.

http://m.powerboatlistings.com/view/37049

http://m.powerboatlistings.com/view/38596

No color preference. As long as the colors don't look totally faded. I'm more biased on color of the interior. That's harder to change then the color of the exterior. That 292 was awesome. Only thing I have found on that page was that most of the listings are a 7 months- 1.5 years old

Hey Matt if you do decide on a 311.there is one posted on power boat swap shop looks very clean I think he wants 16,500 for it . Good luck

The most important difference is rot. Look for rot, then look for rot again, then pay someone to look for rot, then double check where he looked for rot, then look somewhere else for rot, then buy whatever one isn't rotten and keep your fingers crossed. Oh, and don't forget to check for rot either.

BCK got it right, check for rot all over. They are great boats. I agree with others that say that the 311 is the best all around boat. The 357 is a LOT larger feeling boat when running and is wider and trailering is a bit more difficult due to the extra length. My 311 was always super reliable with the 420 package and TRS drives. Bravo's are nice with the extra room in front of the engines, TRS boats give you some room behind the engines so it is kind of a toss up but Bravo's boats over all may be a little easier to work on with the motors farther back. IMO the TRS boats ride nicer/have better balance. Props can make a huge difference on these boats. In 89 the 420 boats were the boat of the year if memory serves me correctly.

Audiofn- it's going back a ways but didn't you have one you had to rebuild?

That was a 302. Never finished that boat. Purchased the 311. Sold that last year and got a 353. Fixing a bunch of stuff on the 353 now... Never ends.

Switchback man, i saw that post on power boat swap shop. its a beautiful boat. i only hope its for sale in a couple months.

Audio fn whats the difference between the trs and bravo drive

Most of the powerboatlistings ads have phone numbers attached, as long as you keep an eye on the date of the ad and you don't go older than the previous season, you will find that most of them are still for sale.

The TRS drive uses a transmission in the boat. The Bravo does not. The transmission pushes the motors about I think it is 15" farther forward. This IMO helps balance out the boat and it runs flatter in rough water and even over all. They shift really nice as well. The Bravo boats are going to be more desirable as they are still current. They don't make the TRS drives any more. The solution is just buy a spare set of drives and you are ready to roll. Parts are still all over the place as the TRS drives were made for so long. If you know were to look they are so easy to find and are usually cheap.

Another place to check on these boats is the forward bulkhead int he engine bays. Look right were the stringers meet the bulkhead. They are old boats so don't expect them to be perfect for the most part unless you get really lucky. I loved my 311 and it treated me very well. Wish I still had it now that I am digging into a bunch of projects on my 353 that I had hoped with hit being a newer boat I would not have to do!