I have been looking around at some different boats in order to get my first one and the notion of 80s boat are longer then boats in the 90s keeps coming up.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me a little bit about how they differ and when (what year) did the change switch over ?

From what I can gather and mid 80s boat was measured not including swim platforms, and today they are counted ?

Would that me an 89 formula 272 would be 27 ft plus the swim platform, so it would be the same as a 29ft today ?

Alot depends on Manufacturer.

A CIG 35 is 35 without platform, whereas a fountain 35 includes the platform (and the beak) and results in a noticeably smaller overall "boat"

I believe the CG wants it labeled from the LOA today. So molded in boats are "longer" than bolt on boats.

In 1989 Formula did not include the swim platform in length. I think they started including platform around 1993, but don't quote me on that.

bolt on swim platform boats are longer or no platform = cig 35 with bolt on swim platform is longer than a fountain 35, by 2ft. but if the cig goes in to a marina for a night he might get charged for the platform two extra ft. same as a sf with pulpit extra cake.

Deploy, You're correct about the length of the platform not being included back in the 80's. If you bought a 1989 Formula 272 without a platform she has an LOA (length overall) of 27'2". If you had the platform the LOA is 28'11". With the platform being included today in the length of the vessel you would own a 29' by today's standards. My 357 with the platform has an LOA of 37"7". That's only 7" shorter than the model Formula currently sells as it's 38' 382 Fastech.

You've been quoted.

If the swim platform is bolted on, it is NOT included in the LOA. If its molded as part of the boat, then it counts in the LOA.

A 357 Formula measures almost 38' with the bolted on platform. A newer 353 Formula is 35'3" including the molded in platform.

Year made does not really matter.

That is not true. The molded swim platform info is correct regarding newer models (38 cig is 38 ft plus platform, 38 formula is 38 including platform) but aroud 1991-2 nearly ever manufacturer changed teh way boats were measured.
I had a 1991 310 Searay, in 1992 they no longer made the 310 but instead came out with the 330.....SAME BOAT as mine, even the colors and decals except for the numbers. Both the 91 and 92 had molded platforms but they changed the way it was measured. Molded platforms were fairly new and nearly all the manufacturer changed over then.

Yeah - CIG doesn't play those BS games. a 38 is a 38, a 35 is a 35. Makes it simple - the way it should be.....