1999 Formula 353
 

I'm found another 353 on Long Island, NY. It is a salt water boat. What is the general opinion of salt water boats, OK or stay away? The asking price is $69,000.00 without a trailer. This boat has 502's, 200 hrs. and bottom paint. I would appreciate any honest opinion of this boat. Thanks for any advice.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

My 311 lived in salt water it's previous life but it is WAY cleaner than most of the fresh water boats that were for sale when I was looking. It was trailered most of the time; didn't sit in the water much. I think it just depends on the care of the previous owner.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

The salt water wouldn't bother me, but the bottom paint would.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

If it's bottom painted, and no trailer, it was most likely moored/slipped in salt. These boats don't typically get flushed and rinsed. There is a reason it's the cheapest 353 ever heard of. I personally wouldn't touch it with your money. Another 15-18K will get you a nice '98-99 FW boat. One of the members here has a nice clean one for sale taken in on trade. I think it's brokered too at Lake Cumberland. The price was 89K on a trailer 200 hrs. very clean. If that boat could be bought for 85 clean cash...youd be waaaay ahead of the salty boat.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I just responded to your other thread in Technical.....didn't realize they were down to 69k. Just consider how much maintanence and "fixing" your willing to do and if you will be ahead after doing so. (I think probably not)
Good Luck.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Agree with Rippem: Bottom paint = stay away. Boat will be slower and would indicate it spent a lot of its life sittting in the brine.

Wantsa311: Nice boat...........same graphics (Palm Beach as my '89 and looks clean). :D :D

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I also agree with Rippem. I have bought two bottom painted boats in the past, and I swear I'll never do it again, no matter how good a price I think it is.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I looked at both when shopping. Try to stay with fresh water. No matter what salt takes a toll , especially when left in :(

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Thanks for all the replies. I think I will stay away from the salt water boats. I have my 1999 271 for sale if anybody is interested. Let me know of any 98-00 353's out there.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

$$$????

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I'd like to stay 80-90 if this is possible.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

you're right there on a FW boat. Plenty to choose from. Beat the bushes a little harder. :)

it's gotta be a clean deal though (do you have to sell your boat first?) and you have to be ready to move quickly when the right boat appears for sale!

You can buy a nice, nice 312 and a trailer for well under your limit. Would you consider that? Plenty of those out there.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Yeah, maybe mine! :(

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

The 312 is nice but it's not that much bigger than my 271. My wife wants more room in the cabin and an enclosed head. I might as well just make the jump to a 35 footer instead of going 4 ft. bigger then looking to upgrade next year.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I got an email back saying this boat sat at a dock from June -Sept. and had a fresh water flush at the dock. It was owned by an elderly couple who traded it in for a fishing boat, so it shouldn't be abused. I was told you can remove the bottom paint, has anybody ever done this or had it done?

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I found my 89 311 in Gulf Shores, Alabama (salt water) and the damage wasn't readily apparent. This boat was rack stored and in excellent cosmetic shape. It was washed and flushed each time it was lifted but the salt still does it's damage. Some of the areas I had immediate problems with were circulating water pumps, exhaust manifolds, water transfer tube in transom assy. Any aluminum part typically takes a beating.

I'm in full agreement with everyone else on the bottom paint. If someone painted the bottom, it's usually because they left it in the water for extended periods. I would shy away from it. Like Rippem said, there are plenty of clean reasonable fresh water boats out there - be patient.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Tell them you'll pay 75K with a fresh gelcoated bottom. They are a Formula dealer, they should be able to get it re-done.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

not worth that kind of $, and it doesn't have to be regelled anyway, depending on the bottom paint, just stripped off.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Rippem,
What do you think this boat is worth?

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I just meant it's not worth 5-6K to have them strip the bottom. It's an ugly job for sure, but if $ are an issue you move closer to the FW boat to spend the money on that salty one.

Hard to say what the boat's worth without seeing it. Consider that salt air/water also takes it's toll on everything from stitching to wiring in the boat.

Personally, regardless of the money, I don't want to be constantly chasing problems related to intense salt exposure.

I would feel better if it was a racked boat with a crazy meticulous younger owner. Problem is the older owners in terms of care is suspect, mooring in salt, and the fact that FW flushing DOES NOT get rid of all salt deposits in the drivetrains without "salt away" or another like product.

have you checked with Robert Nelems? He has deals cooking constantly. There was something cooking on a nice lift kept FW '00 353 trade not long ago. At the top of your price range, but if at all possible...he will hook you up with something!

Be patient, PM or e-mail Robert in the meantime.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Rippem,
You probably right, I need to be patient but that seemed like a good price for a 353.. I have not been in a 353 yet, been in a 312 and a 382. Where do you live? I'm in Oswego and boat on Lake Ontario and the 1000 Islands.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I live just a couple miles from the mall in Watertown. Keep the boat slipped in the boathouse at Hutchinsons in the Bay. I'm 20 mins from the Lake, and 25 mins from the River. I spend more time on the Lake all the time. Meeting a buddy of mine from down your way tonight for a steak and a beer. Maybe you know him? ThirdBird here on the board. :drink:

I was boatless for 6 weeks in July/Aug. of '03 after the sale of my last boat, waiting for the right deal on a 353. I had been beating the bushes for 8 mos. Then Troutly made me aware of this new leftover 353 over his way in MN. The rest is history. It was the deal I had been waiting for. :D

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I think that 353 at lake Cumberland is sold ...Maybe a good thing ....I went up there in January and looked at that boat with a buddy looking for a 353 and it was VERY clean ..... Cept .. we found ALOT of bubbles in the gelcoat on Port side .....under the waterline ..which indicates water intrusion

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Rippem,
I know ThirdBird. I work at the same place he does. I cruise across from my launch here in Scriba to Sandy Pond quite often. We camp alot on Wellesley Island and trailer the boat there. Do you know of anybody looking for a 1999 271 ?
I just got an email today offering me the 99 353 for 64K, they want to move it out.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Just got in from steak and beers with ThirdBird. Dave's a good guy. :cool:

got no prospects for your 271, all I can say is advertise heavily, price right, and it'll go.

Look me up when you get over this way.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

that is tempting I know...by far the cheapest 353 ever.

You just gotta decide if you want to spend the additional out of pocket, or finance it on a boat with a more attractive history...

and whether you want to work on a boat, or run it.

Only you know the answer.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Sumthin is up with that Price .... have you seen the boat ?

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Is this the boat at Ocean Outboard???? I bought my 312 from them in Nov 04 and I know they had a bottom painted 353 at the time. These guys seemed ok, but I had a strange feeling about them...like I wasn't getting all the info I should have. Obviously it wasn't real bad because I bought the boat but still just a little odd. If you think you want it, make an offer. However find out if they own the boat or have it in on cosignment. Speak with the previous owner to see what info you can get. AND GET A SURVEY.
How does the boat look. They told me mine wasn't perfect, but I think they could have given a more acurate description before I drove there.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

For $64k asking price I'd at least take a look. Have a professional paint / glass repair guy give you an estimate to get the bottom cleaned up.

That boat has 3 things working against the price (potentially in your favor)
- bottom paint
- no blue motors
- salt boat

I once kept a boat on the dock in salt water in New England for 4 summers. No problems other than I had to replace the exhaust manifolds, which were 10 years old and that was past due anyways. I had another boat that sat on a mooring for 10 years in salt. Neither had significant problems. I agree fresh water is better, but I think some people get a little too nervous about salt water. Actually the worst corroded outdrive I had was from a boat I bought off of Lake Winnespakuee, believe it or not. The guy never changed the anodes because he thought fresh water didn't do anything. Well the galvanic reaction between the stainless prop and aluminum drive pitted the crap out of the lower unit over years w/o anodes.

If everything checks out ok, and possibly you can pound them down to around $60, I'd think that would be a great deal.

Good luck with your decision.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

t500hps,
This boat is at Ocean Outboard. I have not seen it yet, only pictures that they have emailed me.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

blue motors have nothing to do with it...that consideration has long since been taken out of a price like that. It's about a FW black motored boat @ 85-90K vs this salty one @ 65K.

without taking the engines apart you just don't know. If the heads manifolds pumps ect, ect. are junk or soon to be...you can spend 20K in a hurry, and then there's the bottom.

It is probably worth a look at 60K, but consider the worst case scenario with everything in regards to SW...period...

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Awwwww, you're making me blush Rippem :p

I pretty much agree with the "no salt" thing for all the good reasons brought up by Rip and others. However,,,,,,,,, 64k (or maybe even 60K) for an '00 353 is pretty tempting. First off. it's worth the ride to see what this thing really looks like. Hell, Rippem and I were just talking last night,,,,, we've both traveled at least that far for fresh water boats that were absolute trash. But, you don't know 'till you actually view it yourself.

Why not just go see it and get the real scoop for yourself (oh wait, I know, because you're working the same long-ass hours as I am!!).

Anyway, it may be worth a few extra outta-pocket grand for manifolds and other stuff. Man, to tell ya the truth, I may just go down there first! :eek: :D

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

ThirdBird,
You've got a good point, go see it in person then make a decision. Bad part, no time until the end of the month.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Yeah, I figured as much. With these outages, our spring time is pretty much done for. :mad:

I used to really like spring snowmobiling up on the hill. Great snowpack in the woods, could get off the trails and ride right through the woods. Not anymore. Can't do chit in the spring now (except make extra $$$$$ for summertime) :D

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Just for the heck of it I called the boys at Fast Forward in Brewerton, NY (Onieda Lake) to see how much to strip bottom paint... Matt said $100 to $300 a foot depending on what kind of bottom paint. He also said that if it was the teflon speed paint, the price would be closer to the $300 per foot. Traditional bottom paint, black or blue, closer to the $100 per foot. These guys do a great job with finishing and repair to boats, so I would put the faith in their opinion and estimate for the job. They also said it would take a while to complete. If they got too heavy with the sanding before the paint was put on, you may have to re-gel the bottom!

Hope this helps..and thaks Fast Forward! 315-676-3317

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

The Senetor has spoken!!!!!!!!!!

Where the heck have you been lately? Think you can just barge right in here start pontificating on bottom paint? Just like that?

New rule: If you lurk too long without posting, (like you do), you must first reintroduce yourself........................

"Hello, my name is Axapowell and I'm a lurker"

How ya doin' buddy :D :D

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

what he said... :p

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Just went over those paint removal numbers in my head.

OMG :eek:

We're talking like 10,500 bucks to strip a 353!!!!!!! Might as well mold a new hull for Pete's sake.

I'd be doing a whole lot of personal hand sanding before I'd pay 10 grand to have my bottom stripped. Hmmmmmmmmm,
"bottom stripped", how apropriate.

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

Strip? Yea, that seems like a lot to me as well, but as Matt put it, you never know what that paint is hiding. Why is it bottom painted anyways? I've heard that a lot of performance people in salt paint the bottoms? WHY? To me it ruins the boat. We should start a new thread that surveys the performance boater and see how many do paint the bottom.

BTW, check around...I post...sometimes...sorta of...well maybe I do...a little?

Re: 1999 Formula 353
 

I agree, it totally ruins the boat. Some boneheads even anti-foul the drives!! :eek:

If I were buying a used boat that was moored, I'd rather it be non-painted with sea-scum grown all over it. It's easier to get that chit off than it is to get paint off. If there are some areas of blistering, they can be fixed. Still easier than grinding a combination of bottom paint and sea-scum off.