The show was great! Saw alot of nice boats...stayed away from all of the gadgets. I really liked the 330 Dancer. The wife liked the fold down seat over the swim platform. My favorite boat however was not a SeaRay. I was very impressed with the Formula 34PC with the hardtop. Great fit and finish and a big price to go along with it. Does anyone have any experience with any of the Formula Cruisers?
who's going to the NYC boat show?
- Thread starter Turtlesboat
- Start date
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
Ok, besides those things, it was pretty nice. But how can you not like the back lit bed of love??? It reminded me of something that would be in a James Bond Movie.
Robski97
Well-Known Member
LOL... looked like it belonged in a cat house!!! Was very amusing... Forgot about that.
Rob
Rob
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
I think Gary has the same thing in his boat, hence the litter of kids.
- Nov 12, 2006
- 5,334
- Boat Info
- 1999 Sea Ray 330DA
Twin 7.4 MPI (310 propshaft HP) V-drives
- Engines
- Twin Mercury Marine marinized 7.4L L-29 V8s
Cast iron block w 4-bolt mains
My wife and I went to the show yesterday. The boat show was not crowded at all. On the downside there was a motorcycle show there. My wife was looking the wrong way as we were walking and almost got run down by a bunch of hells angels types who don't think they need to yield to pedestrians in a crossing. It was a bit more that just a little uncomfortable walking into the show with all the trailer trash out front and in the main lobby around the show. Where were the police to keep things safe?
Saw some interesting boats, some attractive ones, some ugly ones, and a few "what were they thinking?" boats. In the 40 to mid 40 foot range there were a few nice cruisers. There were also a few laughable ones, like the Monterey 40. Looks like they just recycled their 24 footer into a 40 footer without thinking that buyers of small boats and larger boats are totally different. We also looked at a couple of bridge boats but my wife decided that they don't make sense for us. We do our entertaining outside, not inside, so the cockpit is more important than the salon. My Marine Max salesman was at the Meridian booth, we stopped to say hi to John, but didn't look at the Bayliners, err, I mean Meridians.
We did look at the Cruisers 420 and 460. The 420 is a dumb design. It has no midcabin. So it's a one stateroom boat with a pull out sofa in the salon and only a single head. Their 460 is a better cabin design with the master in the mid cabin and a nice VIP up forward. The interior is done nicely, but it's not as attractive as the Sea Ray. The real killer was the helm design. I'm stature challenged. (5' 6" untall specifically) When seated at the helm, I could barely see over the top of the dash. My feet also did not touch the sole when sitting in the helm seat. I guess they designed the boat strictly for men over 6' tall. Women? Cruisers designers much be anti-women because my wife couldn't see over the dash at all. The helm designer must have been thinking "f@#$ the women who want to run this boat." Maybe I'm supposed to operate it under IFR? BTW, the one Cruisers dealer still sucks, and I don't mean Staten Island Yacht Sales.
The Regal 4460 is a nice boat. The cabin and cockpit both have a decent design. They did an overall good job. There is nothing that is revolutionary, and there's really nothing that's bad either. Overall, it's well thought out.
The Sea Ray 44DA is still a really nice boat. They only minus we found was the the forward seat cushion is not very deep. The seat is pretty far forward and is uncomfortable since the lower cushion has little thigh support and the seat back is very upright. Since my wife usually rides in that position, she's not favorably impressed. Actually, she said "No" to getting that boat. She was that uncomfortable sitting in that seat while on the show floor. Can't imagine she will like it better in a seaway.
I saw a few Zeus units at the show. Still not favorably impressed. Because Merc stuck with aft facing props and underwater exhausts, the props have huge hubs to pass the large volume of exhaust gases from a diesel. So unless Merc want to make the prop diameter equally huge, they're force to reduce blade area. So I'm still not impressed with the unit's engineering. Generally, it seems when something hits the props, they need to be replaced or repaired. Aft facing has not prevented prop damage in the past, so I don't see where forward facing is a huge detriment.
I also need to buy a new PWC. Unfortunately, I didn't find any factory representatives at the show. Curiously, while both Kawasaki and Sea Doo have 250 horsepower craft, neither company's top performance machine is faster than their next most powerful craft. I sure would like an explanation where that extra 50 or so horsepower is going when the engine hits its top end.
Best regards,
Frank
Saw some interesting boats, some attractive ones, some ugly ones, and a few "what were they thinking?" boats. In the 40 to mid 40 foot range there were a few nice cruisers. There were also a few laughable ones, like the Monterey 40. Looks like they just recycled their 24 footer into a 40 footer without thinking that buyers of small boats and larger boats are totally different. We also looked at a couple of bridge boats but my wife decided that they don't make sense for us. We do our entertaining outside, not inside, so the cockpit is more important than the salon. My Marine Max salesman was at the Meridian booth, we stopped to say hi to John, but didn't look at the Bayliners, err, I mean Meridians.
We did look at the Cruisers 420 and 460. The 420 is a dumb design. It has no midcabin. So it's a one stateroom boat with a pull out sofa in the salon and only a single head. Their 460 is a better cabin design with the master in the mid cabin and a nice VIP up forward. The interior is done nicely, but it's not as attractive as the Sea Ray. The real killer was the helm design. I'm stature challenged. (5' 6" untall specifically) When seated at the helm, I could barely see over the top of the dash. My feet also did not touch the sole when sitting in the helm seat. I guess they designed the boat strictly for men over 6' tall. Women? Cruisers designers much be anti-women because my wife couldn't see over the dash at all. The helm designer must have been thinking "f@#$ the women who want to run this boat." Maybe I'm supposed to operate it under IFR? BTW, the one Cruisers dealer still sucks, and I don't mean Staten Island Yacht Sales.
The Regal 4460 is a nice boat. The cabin and cockpit both have a decent design. They did an overall good job. There is nothing that is revolutionary, and there's really nothing that's bad either. Overall, it's well thought out.
The Sea Ray 44DA is still a really nice boat. They only minus we found was the the forward seat cushion is not very deep. The seat is pretty far forward and is uncomfortable since the lower cushion has little thigh support and the seat back is very upright. Since my wife usually rides in that position, she's not favorably impressed. Actually, she said "No" to getting that boat. She was that uncomfortable sitting in that seat while on the show floor. Can't imagine she will like it better in a seaway.
I saw a few Zeus units at the show. Still not favorably impressed. Because Merc stuck with aft facing props and underwater exhausts, the props have huge hubs to pass the large volume of exhaust gases from a diesel. So unless Merc want to make the prop diameter equally huge, they're force to reduce blade area. So I'm still not impressed with the unit's engineering. Generally, it seems when something hits the props, they need to be replaced or repaired. Aft facing has not prevented prop damage in the past, so I don't see where forward facing is a huge detriment.
I also need to buy a new PWC. Unfortunately, I didn't find any factory representatives at the show. Curiously, while both Kawasaki and Sea Doo have 250 horsepower craft, neither company's top performance machine is faster than their next most powerful craft. I sure would like an explanation where that extra 50 or so horsepower is going when the engine hits its top end.
Best regards,
Frank
Last edited:
dcwjd
Active Member
I went to the show yesterday with my wife. We really liked the 330 dancer but not the 229k they were asking for it. They really jacked the price of the 340 dancer all the way to 279k. The Formula 34pc was gorgeous with the hardtop. The fit and finish of that boat was second to none but it's big bucks. Overall the show was very quiet and Marinemax only sold 4 boats for the day. The salesmen for all the various companies looked bored. I think this year will be an off year for boat sales.
- Nov 12, 2006
- 5,334
- Boat Info
- 1999 Sea Ray 330DA
Twin 7.4 MPI (310 propshaft HP) V-drives
- Engines
- Twin Mercury Marine marinized 7.4L L-29 V8s
Cast iron block w 4-bolt mains
Formula prices their boats at a very high level so they can play finance games with their "Formula Advantage" zero percent stuff. You pay more for the boat, they take the extra money and pay down the loan's interest. What fun! What a scam! They do make a nice boat. But the numbers are all messed up.
Best regards,
Frank
Best regards,
Frank
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
It must be me, I don't get the formula boats. I look at them and nothing seems special. Then you look at the price tag and it just doesn't make any sense.
What I was noticing on a lot of boats, were wood floors in the cabin. just little accent pieces. pretty cool, now I just have to find a few sources to lay some down in my boat.
I also saw the new transom door on the 280 DA's. That's a cool door. If anyone know who the supplier is, let me know.
What I was noticing on a lot of boats, were wood floors in the cabin. just little accent pieces. pretty cool, now I just have to find a few sources to lay some down in my boat.
I also saw the new transom door on the 280 DA's. That's a cool door. If anyone know who the supplier is, let me know.
Robski97
Well-Known Member
Ok mike ur scaring me .... I too am not a formula fan. I dislike the dash...Very plain. For that kinda money it should be something of awe....
I think it was the 33 dancer I tripped on the transom door. In the open position it sticks into the cockpit to much. Of course having a really short skirt in my sight didnt help... Her legs went all the way to the floor ... was a thing of beauty...
Rob
I think it was the 33 dancer I tripped on the transom door. In the open position it sticks into the cockpit to much. Of course having a really short skirt in my sight didnt help... Her legs went all the way to the floor ... was a thing of beauty...
Rob
boatrboy
Well-Known Member
This was a topic of conversation among my buddies and me at the show and the Regional sales manager overheard us and came over to talk about this. He explained that they ran 2 identical boats aground, one with the Zeus, and the other without (I think he said v-drives) and they wanted to compare the damage. The zeus lower fin is a two piece and was sheared off but the drive suffered less that 2 k worth of damage and the other boat had something like 13k of damage he said. Their video at the booth showed a log bumping the nose and missing the actual prop (you have to love Hollywood). I personally have no real interest in these drives other than general interest, but the sales guy shared the above with us.
Mark
- Feb 4, 2007
- 7,251
- Boat Info
- 1996 450DA, TNT, Caribe dink w/15hp OB.
- Engines
- 3126 427HP TD transmissions
on the 280DA, it opens against the gunwale so no sticking out syndrome. I didn't see many cute girls at the show, most were healthy eaters.
