Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

Rip, That is beauty that got away, love the grffics...but yours is a great looking 353 also.

I would second the reccomendation for anyone looking at a Formula Fastech...to cut to the chase and go direct to source Robert Nelems...unless you stumble accross something local, etc. I purchased a beautiful Infra Blue 353 from Robert last year. The price was very competitive (lower than most private party...wishful thinking, pie in the sky..They cost $300,000 new, I saw one in the trader for that much a year ago,... pricing) and he knows the boats, great rep all that. I since sold that beauty to a friend for the same price as paid and moved up to 382.

KL

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

I poked around that Infrablue boat too before it came in from the original owner. :D

Robert had said that boat was particularly fast for some reason. Faster than other 500EFI/Stellings boats he'd seen.

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

I think that was the same boat I started looking at with Robert last year around January. It was one of the favorites until I decided on a 382. Robert didn't have any at the time. This year I went back to Robert for a 382. He wkkoed me up nicely. :D He's got my business from now on. He has the right mindset on doing business. He doesn't try to make all the money on one customer and he's very fair on his trades.

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

Fl. Powerboat Brokers in FT. Lauderdale has a clean 353 with boxes. I saw it last week and it looked pretty good. Joe Murray

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

agreed. WOW

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

I agree the Electrode graffics are about the hottest for Formula...Have'nt seen that many what's up with that?
The Infra Red or Blue are not far behind (a bit more subtle).
There is an Ifra Blue 382 on a hoist here in Long Beach the only none I've seen.

Anybody repainted (Fastech's)??

KL

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

We sold that Electrode boat to a customer in Mississippi. Talked to him at the Bham show about trading it in on a new 525 boat. Who knows,I may get it back. :p

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

Hi Guys;

Does Robert Nelems have a website?

Buying private can be a frustrating crap shoot, and it is always nice to know of a reputable dealer.

I am looking to move up. Want to check out a larger Velocity or the right deal on a 353/382.

Looked at a '97 382 a few years back locally (Ottawa, ON) but it was rode hard and put away wet.

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

No website, but Robert does have a "showroom" listing on boattrader.com.

Tell 'ya what...I'll sell you mine for a great price and I'll go to Alabama. I could use a good road trip about now. :)


...all options, mint, 97 hours, warranty 'till Aug. 2008. It's over in my building...highly detailed bow to stern, serviced, and ready to be shown.

No crapshoot here, ask anybody who knows me. ;)

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

:eek I knew it was only a matter of time! :D :

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

Actually,we do have a website, www.nelems.com but all it does is go directly to our boats on Boattrader. Simple and cheap I guess,but I figure most people are just interested in our boats anyway,and it does serve that purpose. One day I will get around to getting into the 21st century and build a real website. :D

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

My apologies Robert. I now recall you mentioning it before.

Rather than high $ builder, maybe a student of computer science or web building at a nearby university could build something for you as a credit project or something. Professors love this stuff, real world real business experience, not a simulation. A reasonable donation to the computer science department may be in order. Everybody wins in that scenario, and it's community oriented also. You already have the domain name, and I'm sure the Mrs. could keep it maintenenced/updated once it's up and running. Just a thought. :)

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

Thanks guys....have bookmarked Nelems under "favourites".

As they say Rippem; no such thing as a boat that is not for sale! :D

If OK with you would not mind a look at your 353 once things thaw out around here.

Ideally I would hope to trade-up with a dealer to avoid 2 boats in the boathouse and save some tax. However, I am not worried about selling my extra clean '89. Buddy of mine sold his last year in a week with 3 offers.

Do you have a case of 2-footitis? :evilb:

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

No problem, my building is 1.5 miles off Rt. 81, 27 miles this side of the bridge. :)

Tax issues can be addressed. ;)

I might. :D

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:drink:

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

The 382 is A LOT bigger than the 353. The 353 feels smaller than my old 311, and the 382 dwarfs the 311. It's a lot more boat ... more like 4-footitis!

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Been aboard an aquantence of mine's 382. Yes, big boat..add 2 feet of cabin where the cabinets are, and a foot of sunpad.

The overall size and the additional freeboard/headroom feels good to me as I'm 6'5" 240.

Though also a bit of a different "feel" than a 353

Didn't say I wanted one. :D

Re: 353 Search---Need Info
 

The 382 I looked at a few yr's back was a first year boat ('97). Ugly grey dash and Formula had not gotten the cabin totally refined either. I recall that on the trailer It looked HUGE compared to the 31 LOA of my 292. :eek:

Having said that, I went from a 22 foot Grew with a single 350 to the Formula in one leap (a gain of of almost 500 HP and 7 plus feet). If I am going to move it will be one time to a seemingly too large boat..............when in doubt go bigger :evilb: :drink: