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Formula 357-Dear Lord What Have I Done
I’ll start by saying I thought I knew quite a bit about boating. Then I bought this 1988 Formula 357 and realized I don’t. I love it, but I know nothing. I am looking in every direction and seeing things I don’t even know what to call. If an artist rendered a drawing of me with this boat is would be me standing there looking at it confused with my hands on my hips. I’ve searched the forum and done some reading but still. Do any of you guys know anything about this boat? The electrical system, the TRS drives, heck I’m not so sure the previous owner didn’t change the throttle control cables (shouldn’t forward/reverse be on the left side?), but I have no context with these boats. Any Formula experts care to weigh in and give me some general operating and maintenance advice? I grew up with Mastercraft’s, Supra’s, Sea Rays, and a Chaparral cruiser, but this offshore stuff is a different animal.
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If you want help, you are going to have to ask some specific questions. In reality, there are a lot of boaters that don't know much about boats.
As far as the shifters, it depends on what you have. If you have normal offshore style controls like pictured here https://www.offshoreonly.com/classif...57-o75654.html they can be taken apart and configured with the levers in a number of ways. Its personal preference. A lot of people like the shifters on the outsides and throttles in the middle. |
Originally Posted by Griff
(Post 4706706)
If you want help, you are going to have to ask some specific questions. In reality, there are a lot of boaters that don't know much about boats.
As far as the shifters, it depends on what you have. If you have normal offshore style controls like pictured here they can be taken apart and configured with the levers in a number of ways. Its personal preference. A lot of people like the shifters on the outsides and throttles in the middle. |
A - you're in the right place - OSO B - take a deep breath. They aren't that complicated once you get to know them, I promise. C - congrats on your purchase! |
Keep posting comments, then get us some pics! We'll help.
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Nice boat good luck old style throttles my guess?
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Congrats on the Formula, member since 2013 and only 8 posts. What part of TN. are you in? Kuttawa (HU-B'S) has a few 357's that frequent the area. May be a place to investigate for knowledge. Good Luck
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Originally Posted by Griff
(Post 4706706)
If you want help, you are going to have to ask some specific questions. In reality, there are a lot of boaters that don't know much about boats.
As far as the shifters, it depends on what you have. If you have normal offshore style controls like pictured here https://www.offshoreonly.com/classif...57-o75654.html they can be taken apart and configured with the levers in a number of ways. Its personal preference. A lot of people like the shifters on the outsides and throttles in the middle. |
Originally Posted by GLENAMY 242SS
(Post 4706726)
Congrats on the Formula, member since 2013 and only 8 posts. What part of TN. are you in? Kuttawa (HU-B'S) has a few 357's that frequent the area. May be a place to investigate for knowledge. Good Luck
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Just push all four levers all the way forward. You’re welcome. |
Oh and the cup on the dash is where your beer goes. All you need to know. |
Originally Posted by seafordguy
(Post 4706722)
A - you're in the right place - OSO B - take a deep breath. They aren't that complicated once you get to know them, I promise. C - congrats on your purchase! |
Originally Posted by ALL_IN!
(Post 4706724)
Keep posting comments, then get us some pics! We'll help.
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Originally Posted by GLENAMY 242SS
(Post 4706726)
Congrats on the Formula, member since 2013 and only 8 posts. What part of TN. are you in? Kuttawa (HU-B'S) has a few 357's that frequent the area. May be a place to investigate for knowledge. Good Luck
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Originally Posted by payuppsucker
(Post 4706747)
Yea, what part of TN are you in?
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Originally Posted by ph1971
(Post 4706751)
Just push all four levers all the way forward. You’re welcome. |
Put that SOB on the Tennessee and go for a real boat ride, 7 days later we can grab a drink in Nashville. Hell I'll give you a ride back to your truck and trailer.
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Originally Posted by GLENAMY 242SS
(Post 4706759)
Put that SOB on the Tennessee and go for a real boat ride, 7 days later we can grab a drink in Nashville. Hell I'll give you a ride back to your truck and trailer.
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Just wait till you start breaking things lol
j/k Good luck!!! |
Originally Posted by Andyba20
(Post 4706757)
Just outside of Knoxville in Maryville. Tellico Lake, just barely big enough to turn this boat around in. |
I'd say your gut is right.
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It’s pretty much the same as you’re used to just a little more of everything. Congrats and good luck. |
Originally Posted by payuppsucker
(Post 4706769)
If you make it to Pickwick give me a shout. I'm there every weekend unless I'm somewhere else.
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Originally Posted by payuppsucker
(Post 4706769)
If you make it to Pickwick give me a shout. I'm there every weekend unless I'm somewhere else.
Originally Posted by Andyba20
(Post 4706705)
I’ll start by saying I thought I knew quite a bit about boating. Then I bought this 1988 Formula 357 and realized I don’t. I love it, but I know nothing. I am looking in every direction and seeing things I don’t even know what to call. If an artist rendered a drawing of me with this boat is would be me standing there looking at it confused with my hands on my hips. I’ve searched the forum and done some reading but still. Do any of you guys know anything about this boat? The electrical system, the TRS drives, heck I’m not so sure the previous owner didn’t change the throttle control cables (shouldn’t forward/reverse be on the left side?), but I have no context with these boats. Any Formula experts care to weigh in and give me some general operating and maintenance advice? I grew up with Mastercraft’s, Supra’s, Sea Rays, and a Chaparral cruiser, but this offshore stuff is a different animal.
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Here’s a picture of the gloriously tacky thing. [img]blob:https://www.offshoreonly.com/e04f04a3-3a6f-4d39-90f1-644974081baf[/img] |
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...31e455c10.jpeg Hose on port side just hanging out, broken. What is it? No idea. https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...800e2a328c.png Velvet drive...sounds sexy |
https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f04339e5e.jpeg Remnants of what was once the shore power receptacle? Port side storage area. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...e4547e518.jpeg Dip stick for transmission fluid? I’m asking I really don’t know. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...8e1bdc081.jpeg More remnants of shore power? This wire is right behind the 2 1/4 inch hole in the picture above. https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5dad93aab.jpeg I bought this boat for the fuel efficiency. https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...7a399c15f.jpeg Came with a backup engine. https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...329e2a0e5.jpeg Boat wants to pull to the left slightly. Talked to a really cool OSO member today named Cyrus, he mentioned an alignment. Called Firestone and they don’t do these types of alignments. Any suggestions on tutorials? |
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...65adfb859.jpeg “I’m Content” doesn’t have the same attitude to it...wouldn’t have been my first choice for a name but whatever. |
Measure prop shaft and nosecone. Depending who you ask you’ll get different responses. Make sure front and rear are as close as possible. Old school racer told me set em even. That’s how mine are. |
Originally Posted by Crude Intentions
(Post 4706848)
Measure prop shaft and nosecone. Depending who you ask you’ll get different responses. Make sure front and rear are as close as possible. Old school racer told me set em even. That’s how mine are. Pushing them. I assume this would explain why the boat naturally wants to drift port. But what mechanically would cause this? |
The large hose hanging down is for bilge ventilation. Usually, the hose bringing in fresh air is up high and the one that's connected to a fan motor goes down low. This is to suck out gas fumes since they settle at the bottom (heavier than air). You're supposed to run the fans for 5 mins before you crank eng/s and when going slow but most people don't.
A lot of times the hose bringing in fresh air is connected to louvers (on the side of the boat) that face into the wind forcing air into bilge to feed engs and provide ventilation. Louvers facing rearwards should be connected to lower hose/s to help draw out fumes when underway. That way you don't have to run the bilge fan when cruising.. |
Have no idea what was mentioned here but before you get after it I would check for transom rot and stringer rot. In one pic at the drain plug is that a rotted wood stain running out of it and down ?
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You need indicator cables - the outer is tearing apart. Also is that a white silicone bead line around the transom assemblies to transom seal ? If so that usually is a sign of a water leaking transom and the boat owner bandaide to stop the water leaking and or stop it while its for sale.
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Originally Posted by BUP
(Post 4706859)
Have no idea what was mentioned here but before you get after it I would check for transom rot and stringer rot. In one pic at the drain plug is that a rotted wood stain running out of it and down ?
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Originally Posted by BUP
(Post 4706860)
You need indicator cables - the outer is tearing apart. Also is that a white silicone bead line around the transom assemblies to transom seal ? If so that usually is a sign of a water leaking transom and the boat owner bandaide to stop the water leaking and or stop it while its for sale.
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Its had a 6 to 8 inch water line in the boat for while - brown staining all over in the engine compartment. Also in the bottom right corning check for rot in this pic. You see the brown water line in this pic as well, That bottom right corner looks like possible rot and where that hose area is coming thru.https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...fb2046e597.jpg
in the pic below |
Originally Posted by BUP
(Post 4706865)
Its had a 6 to 8 inch water line in the boat for while - brown staining all over in the engine compartment. Also in the bottom right corning check for rot in this pic. You see the brown water line in this pic as well, That bottom right corner looks like possible rot and where that hose area is coming thru.https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...fb2046e597.jpg
in the pic below |
Originally Posted by Andyba20
(Post 4706847)
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...65adfb859.jpeg “I’m Content” doesn’t have the same attitude to it...wouldn’t have been my first choice for a name but whatever. |
Originally Posted by 12meter
(Post 4706891)
park it facing up your hill and scotch it. I would want it to be able to drain otherwise may have standing water in cabin after rain |
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...3e2eacf0e.jpeg
Originally Posted by 12meter
(Post 4706891)
park it facing up your hill and scotch it. I would want it to be able to drain otherwise may have standing water in cabin after rain |
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