Things I do not like about the boat.

Rigging was not all that great back then. They could have done a nicer job and had better locations for things (I have done a lot of this on my boat)

The deck is way to flexable for my liking. It does not seem to cause any ill effect to the boat but it is wierd walking on a deck that flexes as much as this thing does.

They did not bond the deck to the hull or bulkheads. This causes the screws to back out all the time. I through bolted mine and also used 5200 to bond the hull halfs.

The bulkheads to the cabin on the earlyer models is wood not glass. Mine move all over the place (yet another project that needs to be addressed

And since my teachers always told me not to leave on a negative note:

The Ride on this boat is one of the best that I have ever been in of it's size. Not the fastest boat in the world but it seems to always land soft.

LOTS of room. Both in the cabin and cockpit.

Lines. My boat is 24 years old and people still tell me how much they love the look.

Mine is a 1982 model year and the brouchure lists it at 6950 Lbs dry. To follow up Jon's comments ,for its size the cockpit area is much larger than newer boats and unlike Cuda's year ours have a raised deck which affords alittle more head room in the cabin. But both Jon and Cuda hit it right on the head the boat rides great and still looks great and compared to much newer boats looks and feels bigger. Rick G.

At least on the '84 - '86 models the entire rear seat can be slid forward or removed altogether to allow complete access to the front of the engines. There is no bulkhead between the engine compartment and the cockpit other than the back seat.

The only problem with that is after tilting the seat forward, it is rough on the old family jewels to step over it back into the engine area!

Anyone know when Formula adopted the McLeod bolster seats?

And after sliding the seat forward, if you lean over it and it tips backwards: That's rough on kinds of body parts.


Groove: I think it was in 1986; of course one year newer that mine.

I thought I'd bring this back to the top. Audio removed his gas tank and found it to be 151 gallons.

Yup that is what the manufacturer of the tank told me.

Jon

Cuda - Are those recent pics? Man, that thing is in awesome condition!

Jon (audiofn) - Thanks for all the recent advise. I'm still trying to get you to send me those little orange buttons. Of course, I know your hands are more than full with your project. But, when you get a chance if you're not going to use them I'd REALLY like to have them. I can't find them anywhere else and I'll send CA$H if you'll tell me what you want for them.

(The pic isn't a 302. But, it does have the little orange buttons.)

Thanks,

Brent