I'm looking at older 31' repowered low hour twin big block performance boats for sale. I like the formula 311s but open to any input. I was looking at the 311 called the "TRAMP" anyone know this boat?

That boat was brokered by Grand Sport Center which is in Lake of the Hills, IL. If I remember right the owner died and the boat was sold. I know there are a few guys on here that know the boat. If they don't come forward, give Grand Sport a call, I'm sure they could help answer some questions. Also do some searching on here, I know the current owner posted about the boat. I also believe he recently had the cockpit vinyl redone.

In general the 311 is a great boat, and Formula's are very well made boats. They are not the fastest due to their deep drives of that vintage, but so long as it's not a TRS boat, that can be changed easily.

It is a trs boat. I realize the 311s aren't the fastest boat because of there size weight on non-stepped hull. But I'm hearing they are good in the rough water. That formula has been recently repowered with dart m blocks 498ci that are dynoed at 622hp each at 6000rpm. I plan on wrenching on my own boat for maintenance and or when need be. I guess I just question the reliability of the built engines. Owner has receipts for all the good parts that went into them.

If it has good parts assembled well it should last many hours. How many hours are on the builds now?
The TRS can handle 700HP just fine so those builds are not a problem for the drives. They shift nice and last well.

If you want to run the rough the more length you have the better.

The engines are said to have 10 hours but probably more now like 15-20 as the boat is another year older. I don't believe the boat is run that much in a season.

Here is a thread about the boat you are talking about:

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/c...ml#post4279075

The 311 is a great boat. Well balanced and timeless lines. They shift like butter with TRS drives. If that boat doesn't have hydraulic steering by now it should be added, it's way too fast for cable steering. Check it over for rot, especially the bulkheads. My biggest gripe with the 311 was working in the engine compartment, it was tight for a 6'0 guy. Winterizing was miserable for me, but most years I just pulled the motors anyhow.

Thanks for the link to the fresh make over thread. The formula has not been upgraded to hydraulic steering yet. What happens with cable steering at a certain mph?

Don't be scared of a TRS boat there are plenty of drives out there for sale, plus they can handle more hp then a Bravo boat.

Good to hear that. The TRS drives supposedly had some work done to them such as an additional clutch pack or two added when rebuilt. I like how smooth they shift in and out of gear when I went for a test ride.

TRS I would prefer in a 311, Bravo ones don't ride as good, they ride decent with some rattles, but overall a great boat. TRS are claimed to be good for 700 HP, but most cases after 550-600 become time bombs, lower gears are the weak link in them, not much upgrading to do to the drives besides a hard ship, kind of a must for Higher HP going through them..the extra clutch would be in the trans not drive, they may have went 8 or 10 disc, that's a good thing.

look at bulkhead under cabin step, also if you have spider cracking in front of Starboard windshield you may have stringer issues, the head flexing area is a giveaway.

great first offshore boat for sure! good luck!!