My dad made a trip to the boat show last week with no intention at all of buying a boat. He came back owning a new 400 SS. Woooo hooo! I can't wait to see the thing. I thought he'd have his '83 272 for life.

Anyone know what a 400 SS with 496 HOs (425hp) will run? 52, 53 mph? If so that's really not much slower than the old 272 with twin 260s and a helluva a lot more boat.

I couldn't believe how low he said the payments were either. Now, I'm itching to go trade my 357 on a new Formula. If only the wife saw things the same way.

Remember it is often times easier to ask for forgiveness then get permision!!!!

The 400SS has alot more creature comforts and a shower in the head.....

Nice ride. Just take her out on you pop's new boat a couple times ... she'll come around fast! So maybe you'll have to settle for just the 37 S.S. with some 525's at 60 m.p.h. Oh, well!

[QUOTE=bford1]I couldn't believe how low he said the payments were either. [QUOTE]

Yeah, I'll bet they're just as affordable as hell!!

Wish those payments seemed that low to me.

I could definitely "settle" for a 370 with 425s and 60mph. I'm am assuming that the 400 will go a tick over 50mph.

What I was so surprised about was the model my dad bought. When he said he bought a new Formula I was expecting a 31 Express Cruiser or something like that. I couldn't believe he went for the big SS. I was drooling over the one in the latest Power Boat magazine the day before he told me. I knew if he bought another boat it would be a Formula. His '83 272 LS has over 1500 hours with the original motors, drives and all original rigging. It still starts right up and runs great. Formula really does make an incredible boat.

On the payments - Of course, it's still like a house payment. But, considering the price of the boat I was surprised at how low they were. With the 0% for 18 months and then 5.5% after that the actual APR is closer to 4% if you're flipping boats every 5 years. 4% on $350,000 isn't exactly free money. But, it is a lot better than the 9.9% or whaterever they'll give you on a older used boat. You'll always have a boat payment but you'll also always have a new boat. I had never before considered getting a new boat when I upgrade from my 357. Now, I'm not so sure.

Go for some speed! Check this out (remember reading this one day, found it again)
“Named Blown Sleeper, the 15,000-pound boat [Formula 400 Ss cruiser] was clocked by radar at an un-cruiser like 66 mph. With a pair of stock MerCruiser 502 Mag MPI engines...and a ProCharger Stage I [M-1] system bolted to each engine...it turned more than a few heads”.
– Boating, March 2000, p. 155

They have kits for the 496 HO's that will push them as far as 625hp. That would probably make that thing hit close to 70mph !

http://www.procharger.com/marine/M_496.shtml

Here is a before / after chart, said the boat did 53 mph stock, 66 after the supercharger was added.

http://www.procharger.com/M_profiles.shtml

I would go with the cheapest 496 Mag and the new Bravo 3 XR ITS or Bravo I XR ITS if You want speeds over 60 MPH (if the factory does not deliver this package - your dealer will change the drives)and save the money to bigger engines for a couple of raylars largest kits for the 496 Mercruiser engines
575 reliable HP without blowers
should be good including Bravo 1 XR ITS for 65 - 68 MPH on a 400 SS and over 70 MPH on a 370 SS
look here
www.raylarengine.com

i think most people would not like superchargers on a 370 or 400 and would opt for engines with less maintence

regards

goofy