New Owner 26' Formula w/496. Upgrade ?
 

Im am pretty much an outboard guy. I recently bought an immaculate 2005 Formula 260 Bowrider. It has a 496 (not an HO) with a Bravo 3 outdrive. Motor has 500 hours from new and the entire boat and motor is immaculate and freshwater only used. Boat runs around 52 MPH+-. As a rule of thumb with outboards, I have always used 12-15HP upgrade per MPH. What are options or changes if I wanted to see 65MPH out of this hull?
How much HP can a Bravo 3 Handle?
Do I supercharge what I have?
Do I find a 525? Can I use existing drive? What do I need to do with exhaust?

I dont know anything about that particular hull... but I'd venture a guess and say you are way off with the top speed. Has to be something not running right or out of tune.

I have a 2007 Chaparral 256SSX with the exact same engine (Volvo Penta 375hp) and it has been 55.2 mph on the Garmin GPS... and my boat is not made for speed. At all.

That's an accurate speed for that boat/engine combo. Heavy boat. Matches what my '04 Chap 260 SSi ran with same combo. Again, mine was a heavy boat. Would sink my 6K lb lift if boat was full of gas and I stepped up onto the boat.

My bad then. I thought the Formulas were faster hulls than that.

I own and build 496/8.1L engines, but in your case I would put a 525 in it. It's a much more common platform. The 496 is fantastic in stock form, but the aftermarket parts availability and knowledge just isn't there compared to the 500/525 platform.

I operated a buddies Formula 260 with 496, unsure if mag or not. Never payed attention to top speed as was just a designated captain.
That thing was a slug all around.

Yes, a buddy had one and they are a big ol girl!

The hull for their runabouts is very similar in design to the Chaparral hull. My boat hit 54 MPH GPS once and that was on an early March day, some wind to get a nice ripple on the water, very little fuel, just me, and no gear in the boat. Most days with a normal fuel and gear load it was a 52.xMPH boat. Your current ride is doing well considering the power.

Weight on these production boats is all over the map. Had a buddy that worked at the local Rinker dealer and he installed a lot of thru-hull exhaust after the fact on boats folks bought that it didn't come with from the factory. He kept all the fiberglass cutouts on his work bench from these jobs. It was amazing how much they varied in thickness between boats and even from port to starboard on same boat (these were out of the side of the hull). I swear on my '04 Chappy they accidently kicked over a 55 gal drum of resin in the hull when they were laying it up.

280ss run near with that twin 350s. Just upgrade, you’ll be money ahead.

I have introduced many, many people to boating over the four-plus decades I've been in the sport, and I always, always tell a person considering a purchase to buy the most power he can get, as it is never enough, lol. So many times I hear something like this, "Man...I love this boat...just wish it was faster...".
You could go drop $20K - $30K into your boat and get the speed you are looking for, and if you love everything else about it and plan on keeping it for a while, that might be the best option for you. Or you could sell it and, as hogie roll, notes...just go buy a faster boat.

Bravo 3s run kinda hot. Plan on an XR upper while you are at it. I would try to like a different boat

A lot of the Formula family boats of that era are powered to run 50-55. You’ll need a lot more power to go 65. A 525 would be unique and may get you there if speed is all you are after.

I like the suggestion of spending the $ on a 280 with twin small blocks. It’s still a 52-55 mph boat though, but the that pair of bravo 3s will throw it up on plane with 14 people in it no issue.

Coming from a guy with a 25' bow rider and looking to gain more speed, these guys are on the $$$. Get another boat if that's what you're looking for speed wise.

You're going to sink a lot of $$ into that boat to gain 10 MPH.

If you're looking at an engine upgrade, are you buying new? If not, you might be buying someone else's headache. (like I did. 1 season on it, and now EVERYTHING has been replaced)

As noted, a 525 puts you on the verge of the Bravo's power limits. Have you looked into the price of an upgraded out drive? I think I saw the B3 also hits a wall at around 62 MPH? (hard to make it go faster. A Bravo 1 is more suited for speed)

Not trying to dash your dream, just being honest.

General rule of thumb is 20-25 HP per MPH gained for I/O,

Leave it be. Enjoy the stock 496 reliability. Use the $$ saved for gas and beer!

Use it for a season and then upgrade to a bigger or/and faster boat next season.

It will probably cost you 30k+ to see 65mph and the 50k boat you have will be worth 50k or less. Without stock power, a Formula 26BR will be hard to resell and most people looking at one are willing to pay a premium for bigger power.

Agree 100% in so many way's it's the biggest waist of time and money to try and make it a 65mph boat in terms of time lost on water, time spent with project, lost resale value, the prohibitive cost of project, headaches after done; just buy a boat that goes 65mph. Don't ruin a good cruising boat trying to make it a go-fast. Get yourself a 28ss or similar Donzi 28zxo, Sunsation mid cabin, etc. lots of choices out there.

Twin 6.2 280ss went a tick under 60.

https://www.boats.com/reviews/nothing-to-chance/

My early no arch 330ss went 60 with 330 MPIs.

They accelerate like crazy. Could probably go up in pitch if you aren’t loading it down.

Hard boat to push. We put a Whipple on one. 650hp on my dyno. Still just runs 70

Exactly, seems all these guys who want to haul people in an open bow boat and want to go fast in one never intended to.
They overlook the boats you mentioned, and hands down the West coast builders have had those two nailed forever with all their open bow and mid cabin offerings.
Nothing but on Havasu pretty much.

I have 2000 280br with twin 350s bravo 3s. We love it. It will do 58. Not a speed demon but good enough.

You got that right on the west coast builders. Take for instance the popular boat out here I run, the Nordic heat. Just over 28' long mid cabin open bow that runs mid 60s with a stock 496HO. I pumped mine up and am currently running mid 80s and they handle the power just fine. Several west coast brands make a similar offering. And they do good in the rough too.

Howard, Hallett, Lavey Craft, etc.

I went from a 42mph boat to a 55mph boat and it's still not enough.
Problem is, I really like the boat and am not willing to swap into a faster hull.

I will eventually repower with another 150-200hp but will keep the stock manners and just accept it as it is, regardless of top speed.

I'm a Formula fan but they are not fast boats. They ride pretty well and are very functional though. A 525 in that boat will get it to 60 and that's about it. You could keep the Bravo upper and put a B1 lower on it and likely find a mph but at the expense of getting on plane quickly.

As other stated, ride around at full throttle if you have to but leave it the way it is.

A guy from Iowa, Tyler Leyden has (I think) the same boat with same drive. I gave him intake advice for modding his MPI factory intake, I bored out his tb, provided a tune then dynoed and tuned his 540 he built. It made 655 hp and 710 ft lbs of tq, his bravo 3 boat runs mid 60s with that power and high 60s/low 70s when he puts on a bravo 1 fwiw. so to gain 15 mph with a bravo 3 from 52 is gonna be some work, Smitty

Thank you for all the insight. I also have a 27 Kryptonite Center Console that runs 75 plus all day. I may be selling it. Was looking to see what could be done with the Formula. When/if the Kryp sells I’ll buy a 21 Superboat and speed around with that. I’ll leave the Formula alone and let it do what it was meant to do. Was thinking of trying to get it all with one boat😉

Know you from over at S&F. One of the guys told me to reach out to you regarding Whipple. Would want to have the motor gone through also. This would be a project for after this season. Let’s see what happens with my Kryptonite and if I can find a 21 Super. Would love to have one do it all boat 😉Thanks for reply. Ragu

The 370ss and 400ss really impress me for the mild power