Jon,
I have the white 1989 272 with the Palm beach colors( Teal , Magenta , and Black stripes). I launch from Hargroves and don't leave it there. Last years (2001) you followed along to Canal Day with Bank Shot ( blue Baja) and a white Baja CC with t/Merc ob's and myself if my memory serves me right. You still had the 350 and were concerned if you could keep up Yours is the all red w/white deck 242 , right?

The 1986 Formula sales brochure spec's the F-242 LS @4,200 lbs. The 1986 272 LS is listed @5,750 lbs. My 1990 Formula dealer spec book lists a 242LS @4,150 lbs with a 7.4 & Bravo.

MOPOWER -
You got the wrong guy. This was my first year at Hargroves. My 242LS is white with maroon, grey and black stripes. It has a maroon cover and usually sits outside next to a red 10 meter Fountain. It's in my driveway now but I'll be back next year.

OOPS , Ok Jon, I saw it there last Tuesday. Nice looking boat .
I stopped by and was talking to Scott (if you know who I mean) He was winterizing a boat on a trailer right next to you.
Did you add that stabilizer to the drive or was it on the boat when you got it? A friend of mine has a problem with his Teleflex streering that could be cured with that setup.

I added the stabilizer. I wanted a little extra safety but didn't want to spring for hydraulic steering. Bought it off a guy on the board for $75. I don't think it would solve an existing problem though. If something is worn or broken it probably needs to be replaced. I think the stabilizer will add a little life to the existing steering.

Jon,
Problem is ...there is no problem. My buddy checked with Teleflex and they say his small amount of play at the steering wheel is normal. Most of the time it's no problem. But he has a healthy 406 sbc in a 20'bowrider and wot , trimmed up there is so little of the boat in the water the back if the boat will wag like a dogs tail. The little play in the rack up front will allow the drive to wiggle back and forth. Everything else all the way to the drive is tight. Now drop the trim a bit and put more boat in the water , it goes straight as an arrow. I've watched him from my boat and from land. He has about the last three feet of boat in the water. And the entire length of the chines are out of the water. This gives him only a VERY little triangle of boat wet in the back. I really think a stabilizer , either inside or out would control this:cool

PS the engine dynoed @490 HP

That's one hell of a small block. I think the stabilizer would probably help.

That 406 SBI came from Jersey Cylinder Head/Timmy's Racing Engines in Sewell NJ. Timmy himself have triple 406's in his Magnum that dynoed at 540 hp each. The engines are pretty much the same except for Vortech heads vs. aluminum Trick Flows and a little more cam.

Mine is a rare [like cuda's] 1984 242 LS with twin small blocks
The Nada lists the weight with a single about 4600.
Now add the second engine .
Comes in pretty close to what Formula [ I called them] said around 5200 +
Sleeping on board ? I did the same thing as the other Guy, only I unbolted the couch bases and raised them up even with the "V" birth. They go back down when not sleeping or {?????}
I'm up here in NY long island south shore. just had to pull her out as the weather sucks big time. I do have a slip in a town marina, BUT pull it every two weeks to flush the engines and Clean the bottom. The bottom is painted a smooth hard BLACK.
looks good but has very little resistence to marine nasties.
I gotta get one of you Florida guys to send me some good looking yet WORKS bottom paint [ black]
HEY CUDA hows the Boat and Your FINE lady friend doing.
HEY QUICK TIP
I made a fresh water shower [ for outside use] out of one of the large Enema bag type 6 gal. solar heaters. Hooked it up to a
headl light washer pump from a BENZ. mounted down in the bildge. made a barbed type push on mini manifold mounted between the rear seat and side. A simple push pull switch .
Its great and Makes a great water gun as well.
I gotta get some one on long island that can do a good blend job on my Nose cones.