Hey all! I have been looking for a SR1 style Formula for about a year+ and I stumbled on a BEAUTIFUL 1986 (rounded windshield style) Formula 311 with KAAMA Surface Drives (can you say Rooster Tail) a few months ago! I worked out a deal with a dealer in MI.
Of course the sale was contingent on a survey, so I hired a really reputable surveyor in the area that the dealer actually knew and trusted. So, I consummated the deal and had the surveyor survey the boat; so excited to get my new to me Formula! Well, come
to find out, the surveyor calls me to tell me the hull has SERIOUS delamination issues under the gas tank area and also that the TRANSOM was repaired before (substandard) and will need to be tended to soon. So, of course, I cancelled the transaction based on the
survey. HOWEVER, later, on a desperate search for another fresh water Formula, I found the same, exact boat listed for AUCTION at an auction site in MI. So, of course being a beautiful example of a Formula, it sells at auction for all the money. NOW, it is for sale in MI at a dealer for BIG $$.
The reason I am posting this is to make sure that any prospective older Formula 311 buyer sees this boat better have a survey done on this boat and does his/her due diligence on the beautiful vessel before they realize later that in addition to the initial sales price, plus tax title dealer fee and registration, they will need to have the stringers under the gas tank done and the transom done before they should use the boat safely.

what color was it? just curious really as it appears to be in my area. back in the 80's there was a 311 with Kaama's in my home town that was one of the boats responsible for lighting the fire in me for this hobby . . . . it was a Palm Beach color scheme with the name "Ripped" down the sides. I remember seeing the rooster tail as it went down the river . . . that sticks with ya

Dennis Beal do the survey?

My Cig had some delamination in the bilge, not sure how that compares to the formula. I had it patched the first time, but it didn`t hold. Lake Michigan has a way of putting some extra stress on the hull

This time I went all the way up with the repair and put in some supports

My buddy Awesome Dave The Glass man Taylor said kinda common to see.

Maybe it`s not a big deal?

Anyone buying ANY boat should do their due diligence and thoroughly check it out. That would include a complete survey by a reputable surveyor. The Formula you are referring to there is over 30 years old, so it doesn't seem unreasonable that it might need some work on the hull at this point. Who knows how long it sat in the water...?!

The boat is black and red. I, too, was dreaming of shooting a nice rooster tail while cruising the ICW. Not now, UGH.

I saw that boat listed on a Miedema online auction in GR Michigan about a month ago and I think I remember it selling for a touch over 12k. Not to many that look like that with Kaamas. Thats really unfortunate to hear of the issues your surveyor found as it used to be a damn nice boat back when I owned it 15 years ago. I was actually considering throwing a bid on it if it was cheap enough. At the time I had a 357 Kaama and that 311 Kaama and was torn on what one to sell. I think the 311 with the Kaama set up was balanced really well and the surface drives complement that hull.

Wow, small world. That is the one! I contemplated renegotiating the deal after I found out the about the delamination and transom issues, but I wasn't sure about who I could get to do the work without it becoming a permanent project rather than a boat I could use.

Hey Dave,

I think "Ripped 2" was Terry Baird's Palm Beach 311 with bravos. He was tight with Tom Penny who had an older 302 with low fairing and Kaamas that was "Runnin' Wild" ...??? They always ran together, I rarely remember seeing one without the other. Did Terry have a Kaama boat before R2?

<br /><br />You know Chris now that you mention it your right. I might have morphed them together in my head but I seem too remember the Palm Beach one with Kaamas . . . . I may have also discovered weed that year to though lol. I use to ride my bike down to the Rossford marina when I was done with my paper route and watch those guys go out, also the guy with the yellow and white Magnum yeah I remember runnin wild as well. . . . Scarab II called Thumper . . . That Hustler with the Arnesons the was one of the first in the area to hit a hundred . . . . Remember a Python named Vertigo?

I remember the Scarab II Thumper sitting on a trailer outside at a storage facility in Ottawa Lake, Mi for years. The red Hustler 40 with Arnesons was owned by (Don?) Ratliff from out in Walbridge. Vaguely remember the yellow Magnum. I also remember a guy in Toledo who got a boat, his girlfriend didn't much like it. The more he was on it the less she liked it. She finally gave him an ultimatum ,,, chose the boat, or me. He kept the boat and named it "Split Decision".