Wow let me say thanks for letting me be the first post. Now for the question. I would like some info on the 280SS with single engine, I like the 260 but my wife likes the enclosed head on a 280. We would use it for basic cruising and I have young kids so tubing and skiing. I know its not a ski boat, but I need an overall boat and I like the formula ride.
280 SS
- Thread starter jdsdls
- Start date
#1 rule. If the wife wants something on a boat, GET IT! Happy wife Happy Life :
The head will come in handy with the kids. Secondly the extra 2 feet will be a big bonus.
As for Tubing and Skiing, I pull Tubes and Skiiers (get up on 2 and drop1 ski) behind my 31 PC!!
Go for it! ;D
The head will come in handy with the kids. Secondly the extra 2 feet will be a big bonus.As for Tubing and Skiing, I pull Tubes and Skiiers (get up on 2 and drop1 ski) behind my 31 PC!!
Go for it! ;D
I looked at the 28SS and it is a beautiful boat with great layout and room, I would go with twins on it since it is a heavier boat. i had a 27' Crownline Bowrider with single 5.7 320HP Volvo and that handled very well but is about 3000lbs lighter than the Formula 28SS.
casrines, I want to also do some water sports with my 31PC. How well does that work for you and how often did you do it? Any hints as to the best way to do tubing with such a large boat with twins?
casrines, I want to also do some water sports with my 31PC. How well does that work for you and how often did you do it? Any hints as to the best way to do tubing with such a large boat with twins?
I here different opinions on towing. I heard that if you own the boat and trailer and tow vehicle that you dont need a permit. with that said i towed my 31PC 10 miles home. I only do it 2 times a year, knock on wood.
If you do go with the twins, I had an 99 27 PC with T 4.3L EFI 210 HP each. Pushed the 27 along at 42 MPH (GPS) WOT and about 32 MHP at 3300 rpm. This cruise at 3300 burned 15 gallons per hour.
If you do go with the twins, I had an 99 27 PC with T 4.3L EFI 210 HP each. Pushed the 27 along at 42 MPH (GPS) WOT and about 32 MHP at 3300 rpm. This cruise at 3300 burned 15 gallons per hour.
Tube was easy, Skiing was a little tough. You need to have expierence on skis, not a good beginer, or learner setup. Also most of the time its a one way pull. No u turns on the river. The wake in the begining is huge, but cruise speed is perfect 31 32 mph.
As far as getting them up, tabs down, hammer down.
As far as getting them up, tabs down, hammer down.
Following the birth of my daughter, the summer of 2004 signaled the end of my go-fast days. My wife and I had a 1987 Donzi Z-29 with twin 454's which I dearly loved but it just did not fit the bill--we needed much more interior room for the little one and thru-hull exhaust did not mix in with nap time very well.
Last winter/spring, I e-mailed Robert Nelems @ Nelems Marine in Jasper (the world's greatest Formula dealer) and explained our predicament and told we were THINKING about looking at a 280SS and to be on the lookout. Much to my horror, he emailed me back that very day and told me that he had our boat and we needed to come pick it up and take it home. 1999 280SS with twin MPI 350s owned by a doctor who had put only 77 hours on it and needed to sell. Major cleanup needed but he had it priced to move. He knew what our needs were and guaranteed us we would be happy.
One short trip later we owned a boat and have never had the first regret. The layout of the boat is absolutlely PERFECT for our needs. Dual seat under the helm gives me plenty of room to lay out all my crap next to me (GPS, radio, binoculars, ....). Dual seat to the port is a great place for my wife to sit and hold the baby. Back bench area turns into a sun deck that my baby loves and has plenty of room for the two of them to lay down on long trips or drop the cushions and there's room for 6 or more people to sit. With the HUGE bimini (sorry Cuda) we can boat throughout the summer and not fear cooking Stella (baby). When it's nap time, we'll make a bed out of the v-berth and roll the bimini up and enjoy the sun.
Ours has Bravo III o/d and comes right out of the water. I've never towed anyone but can not see how it could be a problem except for the rather sizeable wake.
I have a hard time believing that a single engine would be satisfactory with this boat as it's a load. Top end on ours is upper 50's and might hit 60 if we tried real hard. We typically poke around at 2500 to 2700 RPMs at around 25 mph or so. I would think that a single would be taxed to push this boat and getting out of the hole would be a chore.
Towing has not been a problem. When I finally sold the Donzi, I swapped trailers as the Donzi trailer seemed to do better with the Formula. The highway from Jasper to Cullman is a curvy 2 lane and we had no problems and have also trailered to Guntersville, AL which is also 2 lane with no problems at all.
I find absolutley NO FAULTS with this boat when it comes to meeting our family needs. Of course, it won't run 70 and is very very very very quiet and it bugs me that there's nothing that ever breaks so I have nothing to tinker with. It's a pleasure to drive and is wonderful if you have a crowd that wants to take a cruise. We've had 15 in the boat (counting children) and had plenty of room.
Robert has a 1995 for sale with twin 4.3's. He sold the boat new and is friends with the prior owner. I think it's a heck of a boat. His website is www.nelems.com and his numbers are listed. He's a great guy to talk to.
Good luck and I'd be glad to tell you anything else I have learned.
Steve
Last winter/spring, I e-mailed Robert Nelems @ Nelems Marine in Jasper (the world's greatest Formula dealer) and explained our predicament and told we were THINKING about looking at a 280SS and to be on the lookout. Much to my horror, he emailed me back that very day and told me that he had our boat and we needed to come pick it up and take it home. 1999 280SS with twin MPI 350s owned by a doctor who had put only 77 hours on it and needed to sell. Major cleanup needed but he had it priced to move. He knew what our needs were and guaranteed us we would be happy.
One short trip later we owned a boat and have never had the first regret. The layout of the boat is absolutlely PERFECT for our needs. Dual seat under the helm gives me plenty of room to lay out all my crap next to me (GPS, radio, binoculars, ....). Dual seat to the port is a great place for my wife to sit and hold the baby. Back bench area turns into a sun deck that my baby loves and has plenty of room for the two of them to lay down on long trips or drop the cushions and there's room for 6 or more people to sit. With the HUGE bimini (sorry Cuda) we can boat throughout the summer and not fear cooking Stella (baby). When it's nap time, we'll make a bed out of the v-berth and roll the bimini up and enjoy the sun.
Ours has Bravo III o/d and comes right out of the water. I've never towed anyone but can not see how it could be a problem except for the rather sizeable wake.
I have a hard time believing that a single engine would be satisfactory with this boat as it's a load. Top end on ours is upper 50's and might hit 60 if we tried real hard. We typically poke around at 2500 to 2700 RPMs at around 25 mph or so. I would think that a single would be taxed to push this boat and getting out of the hole would be a chore.
Towing has not been a problem. When I finally sold the Donzi, I swapped trailers as the Donzi trailer seemed to do better with the Formula. The highway from Jasper to Cullman is a curvy 2 lane and we had no problems and have also trailered to Guntersville, AL which is also 2 lane with no problems at all.
I find absolutley NO FAULTS with this boat when it comes to meeting our family needs. Of course, it won't run 70 and is very very very very quiet and it bugs me that there's nothing that ever breaks so I have nothing to tinker with. It's a pleasure to drive and is wonderful if you have a crowd that wants to take a cruise. We've had 15 in the boat (counting children) and had plenty of room.
Robert has a 1995 for sale with twin 4.3's. He sold the boat new and is friends with the prior owner. I think it's a heck of a boat. His website is www.nelems.com and his numbers are listed. He's a great guy to talk to.
Good luck and I'd be glad to tell you anything else I have learned.
Steve
Cuda said:2biguns, I was looking at that same 280 that Robert had. A bimini is acceptable on a day cruiser.
I swear I think I felt a slight tremmor when you gave the "OK" on biminis!!!
We live on the same lake as Robert and I have seen the 1995 on the water. Immaculate. Would be a great buy for someone and I really think that the 4.3s would be a good match for the boat if cruising is your goal.
i have a 2001 w/twin 5.7 efis b/3's
someone in my marina had one with a single (can't remember what engine)i went for a ride with him it was OK,if you had a full tank and a lot of people it might be a dog
i guess it depends on what you are looking.
I'm happy with the boat thinking of trading up to a 37 SS
someone in my marina had one with a single (can't remember what engine)i went for a ride with him it was OK,if you had a full tank and a lot of people it might be a dog
i guess it depends on what you are looking.
I'm happy with the boat thinking of trading up to a 37 SS
islandtime2
New member
I have a 1995 280ss w/ twin 260s,love everything about the boat except it doesn't have the flip up helm seat,& I like to drive standing up, which you can't do comfortably. make sure you get one with the flip up seat,sorry no info on the single, good luck
Kent
Kent
Magicfloat
New member
We sold a couple of single engine 280 in the old days,used one as a demo for awhile. The single engine has to work VERY hard,not a good choice IMHO. Formula actually builds very few single engine 280's. Twins are the power of choice in a 280. If a customer wanted to order a single engine 280 I woulld do my best to talk him out of it. I want my Formula buyers to be completely happy.