school me on formula 272,s and 311,s
 

I am looking at both of these boats for next season.I have found they are falling into the same price range. I know they are old boats but I don't want to go over 20k on my first boat. If you have owned or have experience with these boats please chime in....

Great boats, well built, lots of amenities, not super fast but they ride great for the size. I've had friends w the 272 but never been in a 311 not sure what else is in em maybe a head?

272 has small blocks in almost all cases, 311s have big blocks. More room to work on engines and slightly larger cockpit and cabin. The 311 rides like a much larger boat, very heavy for it's size. Best 311 to get is after 88 when they had 454/Bravos, faster and better balanced than the earlier TRS boats.

the 311 was a great boat.... for the same money id go with bigger in this case.

comfy cabin
nice cockpit
great ride
all around good boats if takin care of

Faster maybe ... 311 hull was designed and balanced around trs package. In 88 they were powerboats offshore boat of the year with 420 trs package.

We had a 272 with 454's. The engine compartment was tight -- so tight we had to pull an engine to change the starter. The 454's made it sit heavy in the rear so that even with decent K-planes it would porpoise at certain speeds.

Other than that, it was a great, well-built, wave crushing boat. Once you're in the Formula family, it's tough to leave.

being in both many times, I am gonna say the TRS rides better, COG is better and thats what the hull was designed with when built, in bigger water the TRS is a much better ride..

Bravo is faster though, so depends what your looking for..

365mag bravo should run 63-64 tops in most cases..

420 TRS run 67-68 in most cases..

I would go with a 311 over a 272 anyday, both grreat but seems 311's are going cheaper right now then 272 and its much bigger

look under cabin step for rot and water sitting as the windshields leak a lot, most 311's will have stress cracks above head, rear bulkheads rot more often then not too.. and of course check transom..rub rails let loose often since not through bolted, but thats no big deal really..

otherwise go for it and good luck!!

Or if your lucky find a 292 with bravos 365 mags. My best friend has one and it runs like 65-67 all day and rides good. Took 3-4 footers at 40mph all day on lake Erie

292's are great bot a lot harder to find over 272/311's

both boats are great.well built and solid.they do well in rough water.trs drives would not worry me.really perfered in the 311.

Well its all been covered, in the sub 20k range thou you can find yourself a really nice 272 with 350's, really a great package, maybe 2 mph slower then the 272 with BBC's, remember these boats are huge, HUGE, you will need to add just under 2ft to each boat for platform, the 272 comes in at 29'11 if I remember correctly, they are not speed demons but very roomy and solid boats just fine one that been taken care of which is almost all of them, lotta pride in Formula ownership. also my buddy has a 272 with BBC's on a tri axle trailer and it weigh's just under 10k so be prepared.
I guess you could call this common, but one of the very few issues they have as stated is under the cabin entry step, make sure its solid and know signs of water sitting there commonly.

Good luck,,,

Got a chance to ride in a 272,271,292 this weekend.it looks like I'm going to get a 272 Sr1 this winter.the 292 rode so ass heavy near the water line it was kinda scary.the 271 faster was bad ass but way out of my price line.

How for you guys afford those 60k boats...lol.o thought I paid a lot for a zo6 a few years back.but 60 k to het near 70 mph.....yikes.

don't have to pay 60K to go 70...

was the 292 on plane??? haha

I wouls still go with a 311, you will want one within 2 years, I guarantee it....aleays go as big as possible when buyoing a boat!! as we always want a little more!

Owned a 272 with big blocks for 6 years and a 311 with mags/bravos for 12 years. 311 is the better boat no contest. Mine will be for sale soon.

heres the difference
 

you can work on the motors with a 311 with all the room in front of them

Just when i waqs satified on getting a 272, you guys have put the 311 bug in me. :lolhit: I would love to have a 311 as a first boat here in South Haven,MI. Can a good twin be found realistically around 20K during the spring?

maybe not a mint one, but plenty of decent 311 have sold close to that 20 in the last year, either boat is great, the 311's are just very little more money for alot more boat

Lake Michigan..........Get the 311. Bigger is always better especially when the price is close and you're boating on that lake.

Find a 292 with mags! They're much lighter than the 311, and the 272 is too small.. been driving Sr-1's my whole life. Had 2 311's and a 292... all mag/bravo boats. Never had an issue with any of em.

fixx
 

Ok heres another curve ball,,look at the 336..heres a great deal,not mine but for 6 more thousand you could get a more modern looking boat and its a wave crusher..this on should top out around 68-70 mph.
http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/17362

I owned a 311 & have driven tons of 272's. Get the 311 or a 272 with 502's. It was the last year they made them the 272 that 502's were available for it. One of my great friends owned one.

nice 292 sr1 on ebay

That's a helluva deal for a 336. I love mine. Not as fast as my 271 but the ride and cruise is awesome..:whistle::whistle:

fixx
 

you need to add blowers and -2 shorties and then see how you like it..really wakes the hull up..

I bet them shorties also help the 303 out

as long as the salt hasn't gotten to the new power that 336 is a good deal, of course no trailer mentioned

Sent you a PM.

Hell yea, go for that 336, 496's seem to be great engines and salt shouldn't affect anything other than the manifolds, as the engine is a closed cooling system and the risers are stainless....