I just bought a 98 33 Outlaw,I had a 25.One thing that is really cool about the 33 is the cockpit,we were out at Smoke On The Water with six people on board and had plenty of room,it is nice to be able to move around and not feel like you're in a sardine can,and still go 70mph.

I just demo'd a 383 Formula and a 36 Baja. I bought the Baja. Hands down the Baja rode sooooo much better. Its great that the Formula would be 10 mph faster with the stepped hull and a higher X dimension, but in 3-4' chop I got the $#!& kicked out of me in it at 65 mph where as the Baja can cruise pretty damn comfortable at top speed of almost 80 in the same conditions. The smaller the boat, the bigger this difference too. I'd go for the 33 Outlaw.

I do not see any comparison between a 382 and a 36 Outlaw. Not even close on construction, fit and finish and for sure price. These boats are at substantially different price points and are designed for and marketed to totally different demographic groups.

Having been around boating for sometime, the Formula will stay in better condition longer and be worth quite a bit more on trade. Baja's are fine boats, but not in the same class as Formula.

i agree with both testdrv321 and h20warrior with the comparison between the 382 and the 36 outlaw. testdrv321 you left out things like cockpit space, and usable storage. why does formula insist on putting the frig. right in the middle of the only closet? I (and iam sure with the boat that testdrv321 just bought) can afford either the 382 or the 36 and we both chose the 36. I really get tired of people bashing baja's, is it the best out there? no iam not nuts but the 36 is one heck of a ride. I don't remember the formula's being 10 mph faster with the same power either.

the formula you are looking at is 27 feet the baja is 33, if you were deciding between a 353 (have two friends with them, much better balanced boat than the 382) and a 33 that would be a tougher call but i would go with the formula. but with what you are looking at the baja is much more boat.

Baja / Ha ha .....kinda like a the difference between a Hyndai and Vette. Think resale!!!

the baja bad rap true or not will hurt resale...3yrs money wise formula all the way... the rest is objective and up to you

I'll have what he's drinking

Thanks for all the comments.

Was the Formula a 353 or a 382? Having a 382 myself, I find it hard to believe you experienced a rough ride in 3-4's in a 382. Frankly I have to say "bull....". This boat weighs well over 11,000 lbs even when light on fuel. I ran a straight bottom 311 for 12 years before the 382, and the 382 walks through stuff that I would have had to back off in with the 311. It even seems like the steps and air under the hull cushion the landings.

The stepped hulls seem like they are much more sensative to trim. I think drivers new to stepped hulls tend to trim out too much, loosing both speed and ride quality. IMHO, if you had a rough ride in a 382 in 3-4's, you were probably not driving it correctly.

We've had 3 Bajas and now we are on our third Formula and would nver go back. Formula is just an overall stronger boat.