Express Cruiser Dilemma
 

All please help. I am debating between the following .. 2008 Fountain 38 express with 496HO. (550hrs) 2009 Formula 400 SS with 500 EFI's (50hrs)repower. 2007 Formula 400SS with volvo D6-350 diese(1100hrs) 2007 Formula 370SS with 525 EFI's (900hrs-just overhauled) All are priced within 15k of eachother and all of them up to date on all services. I will be using the boat for occasional overnight, occasional day charter , otherwise just an island hopper etc in Florida. Any recommendations or warnings with these boats or motors.

Reach out to cabana1 on here he had both a 38 fountain which unfortunately some kids decided to catch it on fire for him then he bought a 40ss with 500’s

All good choices. I have had formulas all my life but switched to the fountain for a change as well as everyone in our marina had formulas. Fountain does not have the quality of a formula but still a great boat. great looks and much faster than the formulas ride is great as well. I have a 08 express 525s and love it so far...On your list I think I would lean to either the fountain or the diesel formula. Good luck.

That Formula diesel should tell you all you need to know. 1100 original hours still going. That would be my choice.

t500hps went through the same dilemma. EVERY gas powered 400SS boat he looked at had "new Bravo drives". Wonder why that is....

He bought one with diesels and he loves it.

40 with some of the 550hp Cummins and Arneson’s would be the ticket!!

If you are going to the islands, diesel IMO

I started shopping thinking I wanted a 370ss (I've had a Formula 312 and 382 in the past). Didn't like that I couldn't trailer it and looked at the Fountain 38EC. Later inspected a 400ss.

The Fountain is faster than both Formulas and possibly trailerable.
The Fountain is noticeably SMALLER than the Formula 370ss (and of course the 400ss)
Being smaller the Fountain should get better fuel economy.
As Sydwayz stated, many of the 370/400ss models I came across for sale had recent bravo drive replacements.

I ended up with a diesel 400ss. It has all the options (hardtop, genset, cockpit AC, updated electronics/stereo, I've even installed "misters" in the rear of the hardtop). Other than the fact the previous owner completely patched to hide a major exhaust leak it has been a terrific boat.

Fuel burn at 33 mph is nearly 1.6 mpg, at 40 mph it's 1.35 mpg.
Diesel on the water is $.50 to $1.00/gal LESS than gas.
A buddy has an older (but updated) 400ss with 496's. He doesn't have the weight of the hardtop or diesels. He cruises around 35 mpg and swears he's getting .5 mpg. (factory says he should get .7 so it still sucks). Calculating fuel cost per mile and he spends 2.5X what I spend in fuel for the same trip.

I travel and use mine as a condo. Just got home tonight having left on the boat Thurs evening. I've been in the water less than 2 months and this season alone have just hit 35 hours and over 800 miles on the boat. Already have spent 14 nights on the boat.

So.....
If you want a mostly day boat, get the smaller boat. If you want to overnight, the larger frig, etc of the 400ss is a big improvement over the others. If you're going to cover a lot of ground the diesel fuel burn will make a HUGE difference (plus, I don't want to listen to BBC's while on plane.)

I have had a 370SS on LOTO for about 8 years and have put on hundreds of hours. I cannot speak for the Fountain, but the build quality of the Formula is excellent. I wanted the 370 instead of the 400 just for getting in and out of slips at the lake, but in wide open water, I'd go for the 400 in a hot minute. If you could get one with diesels, that would be better yet. A handful of years ago a 400SS in Cape Coral exploded after getting gas, and the diesels negates that. I have the Volvo package and the outdrives have been trouble free (well, unless you hit a submerged tree with BOTH of them, but that is not the drives fault). You would not regret that choice at all, at least in my opinion.

How do the outdrives hold up? I haven’t heard good things about diesels hooked to outdrives. But surprisingly the Volvo d350 somehow only has 630ft lbs of torque. Which isn’t too far off a 525.