May be jumping ship.


S

solyluna

New member
Well Dawn has centered on a few used 500/520 cruiser's express.
It looks like it may happen. I will miss formula but the 45 did not do it for the wife.
And we all know the saying.
8)
 
I don't mean to rain on your wife...but at the recent boat show I spent a HUGE amount of time on a bigger "cruisers" boat. It was a brand new model, one of their top of the line. The SPACE was fantastic, looked awesome, etc.

But after crawling around a TON in the engine room and really looking at the fit and finish, I quickly was worried about how long it might stay looking good.

However, in some slightly OLDER models, the build, fit and finish looked WAY BETTER.

So I guess just make sure you really dig into what you get. Almost every Formula is going to be great fit and finish, however I think the competition sometimes goes up and down with the times.

best of luck!
 
Hey
I wanted formula, but the 45 did not work out.
I have the build specs worked out at the show but Dawn
did not like it. Pricing with all that we thought we would need.
Very good price new. Leaving for ohio on sunday to look at the boat.
Money in place and then i will post our 37pc for sale.
She felt the 45 was just a bigger ver. of our boat with out much gain.
We keep boats less than 10 years anyway. 8)
 
Solyluna said:
Hey
I wanted formula, but the 45 did not work out.
I have the build specs worked out at the show but Dawn
did not like it. Pricing with all that we thought we would need.
Vey good price new. Leaving for ohio on sunday to look at the boat.
Money in place and then i will post our 37pc for sale.
She felt the 45 was just a bigger ver. of our boat with out much gain.
We keep boats less than 10 years anyway. 8)
Click to expand...


One very simple but oh so revealing test of a boat is the ride. You should see if you can get a ride on one of those other boats before you pull the trigger.
We crawled around on the Monterey 400SX. It was nice and the layout seemed nice too. Looking at the specs I took the virtual ride in my mind and the next to flat 19? deadrise would not give the ride that we require. I would ride it to see for sure but I have ridden enough boats to have a good understanding of deadrise and how it impacts the ride. My expectations of the ride are not too good but it sure looks nice.

Decisions decisions.
 
We had a monterey 322 before the 37 pc it was a great boat we just went bigger. We actually missed the cockpit and the fact that the bow was a lot flatter to walk on. It rode pretty good not like the 37 but it was very good and fast with volvo gxi 280 hp. I am convinced that my daughters 34 sundancer takes large waves at speed better though. It may be the fact that the 37 puffs out in the bow area.
Just my .02 anyway.
 
I agree on the rounded bow; that will tend to plow the water rather than part it. The large flat areas make the boat seem much larger than it is which is nice but the ride takes a hit. I see Monterey uses big power and a flatter deadrise which will result in more speed too but again the ride takes a hit. The 400 is the largest boat Monterey builds so they throw everything at it that they have. Conversely, Formula makes boats bigger than the 400 so amenities are added as the sizes and models go up.
I can see what your wife means by the larger Formula just looked like the same thing but bigger. The basic layout of a Formula starting with the bowrider to the Fastech and 400SS doesn't change much. All these have that center line forward moving pattern that parts down the middle. I could see where a person might want more to change when moving up in a boat line. Of course the Formula PC and Yacht have layouts that are not parted down the middle like the other lines but they don't change much either.

With my wife's back condition the ride is a premium factor for us so the Formula is pretty much where we are comfortable. The similarities are more of a familiar comfort zone that makes us feel right at home when making a change.

Good luck with your choice.
We will want to see the pics. ;D
 
I'm curious why it is that express cruisers seem to be the design of choice. Sea Ray, Cruisers, etc...
When going up to 40' + size boats I don't hear discussions on fly bridge boats.
I'm thinking it must be a speed thing because they certainly afford you all the creature comforts.
 
IN MY OPINION, FLY BRIDGE BOATS ARE GREAT AS LONG AS YOU CAN ACCOMODATE 12 PEOPLE UP THERE. ANY TIME WE PARTY WITH FRIENDS THAT HAVE ONE, MOST PEOPLE ARE DOWNSTAIRS AWAY FROM THE CAPTAIN, AND HE IS UP THERE BY HIMSELF, AWAY FROM THE PARTY.
IF THERE WERE ONE PERFECT BOAT FOR EVERYONE, THEY WOULD OWN A FORMULA.
 
Gottcha. It's a social issue :-\
I look at it the other way. although many bridges can seat a half doesen or more comfortably. I see it as an additional and separate entertaining area. And also a place to occasionally escape to for a little solitude.
 
modelmaker said:
I'm curious why it is that express cruisers seem to be the design of choice. Sea Ray, Cruisers, etc...
When going up to 40' + size boats I don't hear discussions on fly bridge boats.
I'm thinking it must be a speed thing because they certainly afford you all the creature comforts.
Click to expand...


That I don't know at all. I have never been on a bridge to relate to the ride or interest base. I tend to think that would never be an interest for us but I guess when two-foot-itis runs its course one never knows for sure. ;D ;D ;D ;D
 
I think that tastes/desired use and styles change over time. Partly due to experiences with the past and current boats. Bridge decks don't look sexy, Formula 400SS does.
Formula 45 Yacht is not the same platform as a Cruisers. Just don't ask me to comment on a Meridian Fly Bridge. As far as I can see Beneteau and Prestige are starting to build some good looking well thought out boats in this 45-50 foot range. But I know they will use "IKEA" bulkheads and doors and cabinetry because that is what they do in sailboats (I have a Beneteau 49 sailboat, I know). Keeps the costs down, mass production capabilities and you can end up with "more" boat for the money. More space, larger head, bigger hanging closet but not a Formula...

It really is all about intended use for 90% of the time, don't buy to accommodate the 10% of the time and you might be happy.
Cheers,
Greg
 
gr8trn said:
I think that tastes/desired use and styles change over time. Partly due to experiences with the past and current boats. Bridge decks don't look sexy, Formula 400SS does.

It really is all about intended use for 90% of the time, don't buy to accommodate the 10% of the time and you might be happy.
Cheers,
Greg
Click to expand...


That sexy factor is big with me. A Fastech and a 400SS is sexy but not a bridge, I agree. ;D ;D ;D

Intended use is a problem for me and has me on the fence between range, speed, range, speed, range, speed, range, speed, range, speed ??? ??? ???

We are trying to decide on another SS in the 400 version or a 382 Fastech. It seems more and more toward the practicality of use and range but I like the speed too. ???
 
agree that most options from 34PC up to 40PC and layout are bascially the same with a few small excpetions. Then the 45 Yacht is different, but compared to the 50/52 cruisers there are more comfort options and space in the cruiser line. Spent a month next to a 52 last season, its a big boat compared to my 34! and it is nice.

However i think Formula trys to keep the most important part of the boat the as close to the same in all sizes. The Hull design! You can cruise at 18 to 20 knots in the 45 and probably the 52 cruiser. However if you need to pick up the pace, the better boat for the ride and overall performance is the Formula.

I cant imagine not having that extra get up and go when you need it. Not too many cruising style boats can put you @ss in the seat like when you mash the pedal in a fast car at 50mph! ;D I love the look on peoples faces when crusing at 32mph, i tell them to hang on and then mash the throttle, few seconds later and we are doing 50. I just grin from ear to ear. ;D

I'll say it "Happy wife Happy life" :D

Best of luck Soly!!
 
Well we are in ohio to look at it tomorrow.
Castines this boat cruises above 30 mph and dry weight is 39000 lbs top speed at 40 mph
no slouch. looking at it in the am. I will update :D
 
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