280 ss canvas problem
 

hey any of you guy's have a 280ss
iam having a problem with the fit of the canvas top,side and front windows there are lot of gaps and it leaks badly when it washed or rains
anyone else have this problem?
thanks.
jim h

Good to hear from another 280SS owner. I trailer mine, so I usually have the cockpit cover on and not the camper canvas.

The cockpit cover is getting fixed as we speak. The front slots in the canvas which allow you to have the bimini straps hooked to the windshield and allow you to have the cockpit cover on are too far back and it's allowing water to pour in the cockpit. I'm still under warranty and Formula is taking care of the repair.

I assume you keep your 280SS in the water and therefore leave the full canvas on. I know on my last boat the full canvas didn't do a great job of keeping out water.

If the canvas came with the boat and it's a Thunderbird product I would call them, they seem willing to talk and may give you an idea which could help. Formula seems very interested in customer feed back.

i keep mine on the lift,been in contact with formula they are working on it.

i was just wondering if anyone else has the same problem
otherwise i love the boat

what kind of trailer do you have?

I've got a Load-Rite aluminum dual axle and hual it with an F250 powerstroke.

As you I love the boat, it's a 2001 with T-260hp. What's your configuration?

i have the same boat,same year,same engine's w/b3 drives

how fast have you got it?

I had 54.7mph on the GPS a couple of weeks ago. That was with 2 adults, 4 kids and over 1/2 tank of gas. Plenty fast without bolster seats.

I've also got B3 drives. What's great is the time to plane is under 5 seconds, that baby just pop's out of the water.

I have a new 2002 330S and have had similar experiences with the full camper canvas. It does
a decent job of keeping the water out but there is still some places where it can enter....I would not say that it "leaks badly" though. Talk to Kerry Davis(Tech assist) at Formula...He has been awesome to deal with!!!!

On the trailer note....I have a NEXTRAIL tri-
axle aluminum pulling with a 4wd 1500 Yukon XL.

On the speed note.....60.4 on the GPS with twin
496's/B3 drives and Captain's Call.

iam dealing with the local formula rep

the cavnvas shop that deal's with my dealer looked at it and thinks the removable windows arnt cut right, so they are sending a new set to match up with the old stuff.hopfully they will work

Hey XO,

Have you had any run ins with the law pulling the 330SS? That's a wide load, I thought I was taking a chance with my 280SS.

Jim,

I just got my boat back from the canvas shop. I don't know if you ever use the cockpit cover but if you close the transom door and it rains you will get a puddle of water just in front of the door.

This happens in a lot of the models not just the 280SS. I had an additional pole added in front of the door so it will shed water. Formula took care of the cost.

How fast is your 280?

i had mine up to aprox 55 mph, that was with the full canvas up and a 1/2 tank of fuel

some guy with a older one with the same power said he get 60mph with lab finished props

iam thinking of having it done to my props over the winter

as far as the canvas formula is sending a new set of window to see how they fit. if they fit the same as mine they are going to pay for a custom made set

Formula is great to work with, no lie. I guess we pay for it, but at least you get what you pay for.

You say 60mph, he must have 350Mag's. If not I'm getting lab finished props. Do you know how much money I should be lookin' at.

Unfornately I've got about 80 gallons of gas 3/4 tank. Man! gas is heavy. I'm thinking 58mph MAX.

I'lll let you know. I'LL BE ON THE MAT