Thinking about a 336...
 

My first post....

We own a house on Lake of the Ozarks, and we've decided it's time to buy something a little more comfortable and safe when the water gets rough. For those who haven't been there, Saturday afternoons and evenings can get pretty intense. She wants something that can accommodate 10 people, but I say let the rest get their own boat, so let's get something that will be fun and fast. We both drive Corvettes, so I just can't see us in a Sea Ray Sundancer.

I've been looking for something in the 30' range....started out thinking a Baja 302 was a good choice, then I found a Formula 303 that I really liked. I've always admired the Formula SR-1's in any length, and as I'm sure many here will attest they are built to last. The only problem was that the owner told me they were upgrading to a 382 because they wanted to be more comfortable in rough water. Not a great sales tactic on her part. So I'm thinking I don't want to get 3 footitis in a year and regret not buying something bigger.

After reading some of the posts here and on other forums, I'm really settling in to the 336. The lines of the boat are just perfect, IMO. The 33' length provides a big enough cockpit that we could probably carry 8 for short distances in comfort. I've talked to the Formula dealer at LOTO and they agree that the 336 is a great boat for the conditions there, so I'm just about sold that this is the right boat for us (still have to convince her, though).

I've done some looking, and have found a few that I'm interested in, but the one I like best has relatively high hours of 750. Does anyone have opinions on engine life of the 502's? Is 1000 hours a reasonable number to expect before rebuild? Thanks in advance....

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

CObarry - Last year I went from a 27 Fountain to a 93 336 Formula. Night and day difference in ride quality and usable space. The 336 handles the rough water ( as well as or maybe better that the 353) and has a lot of space in the cockpit, cabin and even the engine room. What I like about the 336 is when I feel the need for a larger boat the next logical step is into a 383 because the 336 is nearly identical to the 353 in everything except a non-stepped hull. The 383 offers some additional room and sone conveniences like A/C, heat and a TV.

I boat on Lake Champlain which is a lot like where you are. One nice advantage of the 336 is you are on a lake with a lot of smaller restaurants and marina's is that it is still short enough to get into a lot of those places. Where we are sometines there are no slips available for longer boats.

If the 502's have that many hours I would be looking at and prepared for a refresh of the motors and be prepared to some work on the drives. A compression and leakdown test will tell you a lot about what the condition of the motors is.

I was lucky in finding a low hour fresh water 336 where I live. Good luck in your search.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

How many years did they make the 336? You don't see that many of them. 303's either for that matter.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

The 336 is a nice boat. Not too big, not too small. You are looking at seating 4 comfortably, 5 ok, 6, well, they better be skinny in the back seat!

750 hours - things could be questionable. I'd try to "buy it right" i.e. good price. It really depends on how it was run and maintained. Could be ok, or not. If I really liked the boat, as mentioned I'd have a leak down test performed and sea trial. Price would still need to be decent as things are going to go sooner or later.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

Both were made from '92-'96 only....

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

Powerguy, nice boat. I don't think the lines on these boats will ever go out of style!

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

CObarry, Friend has super nice 336 for sale..95, 525 sc's low hrs, the same graphics as pictured above (I Believe) give him a call..Bud Frye (702) 521-5074

KL

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

I meet Powerguy up at Lake Champlian this summer an what a beautiful 336 I would love to be next in line for that boat :D

mark

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

We went from a 272 to a 95 336 and the difference was substantial. It just seems to be a well balanced boat and is easy to drive. The 272 with 454's needed some work to drive it like adjusting tabs and trim. I didn't realize how much I had to do that until I got the 336. The cockpit is decent sized, you get an enclosed head and the couches fill in to make a big bed. That was important for us because we overnight quite a bit with 2 kids. You also get good engine room access.

With the non-stepped bottom, you won't be the fastest on the lake. We've seen a best of 74 GPS with HP500's, 71 anytime. We've had ours for 2 years now and I'm not looking at anything else for a while. Next would probably be a 382. I did look at a 353 at the boat show this fall and was suprised by how it felt smaller than the 336. My 10 year-old son couldn't stand up in the cabin where he can in the 336, plus the couches were smaller. Go figure...

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

I've got a 2001 382 for sale. Will be dealer trading next month if goes as plans. Not sure if you wanted to spring for that or not. Listed on classifieds.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

Thanks for the feedback. You guys are confirming my decision. As far as speed, I'm willing to sacrifice some for comfort. As long as I'm in the upper 60's I'll be happy.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

Thanks for the response, but my dock won't accommodate more than 33', and I don't really want to get into that expense as well. Good luck selling; what will you be getting into?

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

I'm getting ready to close a deal on a 2002 382. Optioned same, trailer, nice graphics. Only 40 hours. It was bought new in 2003. Warranty good to 2008. My current boat has 100 hours and warranty till 2006. I really like the Formula boats. The 336 is nice. Step hull is nice, but if your not worried about top end, you can find some good clean ones out there for a good deal. Good luck.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

My 89 311 SR1 is up for sale as well. I want to move up to a 419, here is my ebay link if your interested. I'm looking to get 40-42. twin 502 EFI's. My cell is 410-746-0020, comes ready to go w/ trailer...Rob

(had to delete ebay listing due to old man had panties in a bunch) email me for details:D

My 502's have a total of 455 hours on the starboard, only about 35 on the port, the previous owner blew a head gasket and rebuilt the whole motor, its actually a 509. They run true and hit 70 easy with a full tank and full cooler of brew! fuel consumption was great this summer.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

COBarry,

My 1994 303 SR-1 is for sale, probably the cleanest one you'll find.
Only 250 original hours!!!
502 EFI's, Bravo I's with showers, K-planes, GPS, VFH, power bolsters, docking lights, brand new stereo with remote, always kept indoors on trailer. 3 year old Loadrite alum. trailer.
I am real anal about the condition of everything I own, and it shows in this boat.

Give me a call if interested. 609-466-4108.

Dave

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

An 89 311 with the bolt on silent thunder swim platform is virtually the same boat as the 336.

Official LOA of an 89 311 with the bolt on platform is 33'6".

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

I had a '85 272 and a '89 311. I sold the 311 and went to a 43 Black Thunder. My next boat will be a 336. They are 3" wider and about 6" longer and about 9" deeper than a 311. Try to get one newer than '94 as Formula made some hull changes around then. (hook or rocker at transom) Formula originally had rocker to help plane, but removed to help speed and handling. Latter models ('95 & '96) will run low 80's with lite load. Smaller boats on a lake are much easier to dock ect. than the bigger boats. Also sometimes depending on water levels you just can't get the big boat in some coves.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

I wonder if the 303 is the 292 with the platform. I was tied up by one last year, and it looked smaller than my 302.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

You might check with MAGICFLOAT on this forum. He is a Formula dealer and sells more Fastec's than any other dealer. He probably knows where there might be some good late model 336's that are not advertised. At 750 hours you will need to plan on major expense of re power or rebuild. That is also a lot of hours on the upholstery ect.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

I have always been under the impression the 87-91 272 became the 303 from 92-95/6? Anyone confirm/ deny that?

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

According to Formula:

The LOA of a 336 is thirty three feet and six inches.
The LOA of a 311 with the "bolt on" platform is thirty three feet and six inches.

I do not know the differences in width.

Docked next to a 353 FastTech two years ago, the 353 seemed maybe a foot and a half longer than my 311.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

From the 89 brochure, the LOA of the 272 was 28'11" and the 292 was 30'11". The 311 is listed at 33'0". The max beam is listed at 8' for all of them.

From the 95 brochure, the 303 and 336 have a max beam of 8'3". I called Formula a while ago asking if the 336 hull was basically just the 311 with the integrated platform and the guy there said that wasn't the case, that it was a new hull. I was asking if they had any info on how it performed with Hydromotive QIV's (based on info I got from here from Formula Outlaw's posts) when they told me this.

I did find it interesting that the 336 gained 1000# over the 311, 7400 to 8450, and that the bridge clearance went from 5'5" to 5'11".

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

Now this IS interesting. My original paperwork that came with Outlaw has it listed at 33' 6".

One thing that hurts the older 311's is the very low X demension. When I repower next year I am going with Speedmaster lowers with a higher X demension.

That's why the Hydromotives worked so well on Outlaw. It got the rear of the boat higher out of the water and reduced the drag tremendously. It will be interesting nwo that I've dumped the silent thunder box and gone with aluminum manifolds and risers, that I've lost close to 400 lbs. right at the stern. I'm hoping that this will help get the azz out of the water even a little more.

If I took my hatch cover off the bow might be underwater. :D

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

I'm not doubting your original paperwork, but I was going on the old brochures they have scanned on the Formula website.

I had an engine rebuilt last spring and the builder is a racer. He said that I would probably pick up 5+ mph by raising the X dimension or running shorties. That's a big investment though. A buddy and I were talking about how cool it would be if a there was a local shop with a pair of shorties they would rent out. They could probably charge $400-$500 for a day of testing. I have been keeping an eye out in the classifieds and ebay for some QIV's too.

BTW, at the end of the 2002 season I ran into a guy with a 311 with big power who made taller hatch brackets for the back of the sunpad, creatinga 1" gap at teh back. I think he said he picked up 2 mph by getting more air to the engines.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

dukenrock,

Where do you (and your adorable "Smokercraft" daughters) run a 382 near Ft. Wayne, IN? My brother lived there for several years. I grew up in Defiance, Oh. You should tow over to Toledo and run over to Put-In-Bay sometime this summer!

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

Can you tell me more about the hull changes from '94 to '95? Will Formula provide details if I call them?

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

Totally random post to see if my new avatar shows up......

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

Formula tech support should answer the questions about the changes to the 336 hull. If not you might talk to Magicfloat (RobertNelems) Nelems Marine in Jasper, AL. You can find him in the dealer section of boattrader online. I know one person who traded a '94 for a '96 to get the better bottom.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

I believe the later models had a notched transom.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

If you cannot find a good 336 you might also look at a Powerquest 340. It would be my second choice and is still a current model. The Powerquest used the 336 as a benchmark and is very similar. Not all of them have McLeod interiors and almost everything is an option so you have to really do your homework to do a comparison.

Re: Thinking about a 336...
 

Yes, my 95 is notched. Here's a 93 on top, and a 95 or 96 below. You can just barely see the drain plug in the notch...