Ride comparison....23' Formula to 23' Sceptre
 

Some speak highly of older 23' Formula Cuddy ride.

Any experienced boaters to comment ?

had a 1981 Formula 233 LS with a single I/O 350

I really liked the ride even in 3-5 seas

Have not ridden on a 23 Septre yet so I can't compare, but the Formula rode great

I spent a LOT of time on a Bluewater 25 (which is essentially a fancy center console version of the 233 with a bracket). It's a great riding hull, so is the 23 SeaCraft. The 233 might be a little better straight into the chop, but you are splitting hairs again with this comparison. I know you like to fish, so I will tell you the drift of the formula hull is very tippy, where the Seacraft is much more stable.

Ah.....roll on drift is a factor. Interesting.

the 233 hull - it started it all ! lots of big name mfgs used that hull

Albemarle 24 - that's a 233 hull

24 blackfin - that's a 233 hull


better ride Bennett h,in the 233....up home,nj,a friend of mine stretched a 233,constructed the transom into a "euro bracket" - beautiful job


here's an interesting read....http://www.historicraceboats.com/pdf...rruns-v9n5.pdf

Poster refers to me as ..." Bennett H."...I once knew a man that called me that.

He was known to row a 16' wood skiff out to the tuna grounds, and come back three days later with a 500lber in the boat with 2" of freeboard due to the weight....
Haven't seen him in years.....wouldn't surprise me if he's out there alone on swordfish or marlin right now.

........by the way, got an Etec 200 HO that runs great. It's not for sale. Simple as that.......can't make it any clearer.,,,:)

I've spent a lot of hours crossing the Gulf Stream in several different 23 Formulas. Excellent boat running upwind or downwind in the Stream. Its not quite as good as my 25 Seafari, but close, which puts it in a rare class. It falls down because its WET and because it develops an incredible snap roll going slow in the wrong conditions. If you are not hanging on it will darn near through you out of the boat. Wet as in having to drive while wearing a mask and snorkel coming home with a moderate crosswind and 4-5 ft seas. This happened to us twice in conditions that would have gotten the Seafari's foredeck wet, but not much spray on the windshield.

Thanks all for experienced feedback.

I've been on both. They are very similar but the sceptre is more stable. I think the 233 formula is the best.

Just so happens I owned a 23.3 FleetCraft cuddy (Formula clone) before my Tsunami and can tell you with all certainty that Connor is spot on with his description. The Formula hull was faster by a few knots but very wet in the right seas as well as a nasty snap roll. I will also say the landing in a tight quartering gulf chop would rattle your fillings if you pushed the speed. Overall the Formula is a fantastic hull design and does some things better than the SeaCraft but the list is very narrow. All around the SeaCraft has a better ride in chop at any direction, far more stable at drift and a much dryer ride.

Here is a pick of the Fleet Craft. I took the DF250 off it and put it directly on the Tsunami so my power comparison was identical. I have to say, the Fleet Craft was a sexy cuddy.