Restored Formula

[Capt Chuck]

Here's a thread from "THT" of a restored Formula. Very clean work. Might give some ideas to you guys with the Sceptre/Tsunami/Seafari models [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

23' Formula

[Finster]

Very pretty work. And I am sure a very painfull ride....

OK, I'll shut up now...

[strick]

Very pretty work. And I am sure a very painfull ride....

OK, I'll shut up now...

No keep going... everyone brags on how the 23 formulas are such a sweet riding boat.... and the hull is still being produced today so there has to be something good about them? Yes I've heard that they roll a little at rest because of the steep deadrise. I've never rode in one of them so I dont know much about the ride. Unlike seacrafts that hull is not uncommon in California and I have considered that as a possible restoration project as they have a cuddy and right now I want something with a cuddy to tinker with. Dont worry the seacraft is going nowere. I know were I can get two right now one at $500 and the other probably for free thats been sitting for a very loooong time. One thing I'll say is the boat has an ugly profile from the side.. it looks like a torpedo.. at a quartering away angle it dont look so bad. I'd say a total make over would be in order for one of those. Anyone know what other manufacturers had spin offs of the 23 formula beside Albermarle and the early contender 23? They did a great job on that restoration....but I think they should have raised the floor a couple inches like Albermarle did.

Strick

[Finster]

It looks to me to be identical to the searay hulls as well.
Don't get me wrong I like the Albi, I looking at one as I write. I just not a big fan of bowriders. I've had them and it's a trade off between lots of cockpit space and having the helm so far foward that you get beat to death when it kicks up a little.

[gbf03]

I recently bought one for $300 that had an i/o that still ran than sold it for $700. I think that contender donzi ultra and sea vee all used that hull at one point.

[ScottM]

It looks to me to be identical to the searay hulls as well.

Bite your tongue man!! [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

Strick - My 23' Seabird is very similar to the Formula hull.

[ocuyler]

Strick,

Stick with the Seafari plan...

[optiguy]

Strick and others:
Formula, Wellcraft, Bertram and a slew of others all have the same basic design. The Deep Vee as we know it today was the brainchild of C. Raymond Hunt. Simply put, a 22 to 24 degree deadrise hull is a Deep Vee. There are some subtle differences between each manufacturers design, but nothing major. As far as ride quality, all Deep Vee's ride the same given two important criterion. One is overall weight and two is balance point. If you take any group of boats with the same deadrise, weight and balance point there will be no difference in ride quality. Over the years many people have fallen in love with older restored Deep Vee's because of there smooth ride. The truth is the older boats are heavier than today's models. If you take a 70's Seacraft and rebuilt it super light it will ride like crap. And before anybody starts flaming me, it has been done and it is true. The boat I manage is from a Seacraft mold and it is nearly 1000 lbs lighter than a 70's vintage boat. Running with it empty of gear, 30 gals of fuel and one person, it lays over on it's side when running straight. She jumps way too much over waves rather than slicing through them. And rolls like a round bottom boat when standing still. But she will go 35 knots. Now loaded with all the gear, 200 gal of fuel and 400 pounds of ice and 2 people. She is perfect, just like her older sisters. And she goes 34 knots. The reason in this example is that the boat was built for Giant Tuna fishing. You leave the dock heavy with fuel, ice and bait and retun heavy with Tuna(hopefully).I guess my point here is that a welll designed boat properly built will meet or exceed her owners expectations with reguard to ride quality. And this is only a quick set of thoughts on the subject. I could site more examples of misconceptions on design, ride, performance, and such than space and meager typing abilities allow.
Bill

[FELLOW-SHIP]

Ha Bill
I appreciate your input regarding weight in boats. It seams that most boat builders today want to brag about how light their boats are and are always looking for light materials or methods to shave off more weight. I am from the old school that says weight is a good thing and properly distributed is a very good thing. I know that the greater the deadrise the less water resistance there is to the boat reentering into the next wave but at rest they will have a terrible rock to the boat because of that same deadrise. I know that most of the boats you mentioned have a straight 22-24 degree deadrise but the SeaCraft has a verable deadrise with longitudinal steps which in my opinion has the best of both worlds in the stern the deadrise is only 20 degrees providing excellent efficiently running and at rest less rock. The deadrise in the bow is even greater that 24 degrees providing the ability to cut through on coming waves in a excellent manner and the longitudinal steps provide a reentry second to non plus aids in cutting down rock at rest and totally eliminates chine walking that can be found in some of the go fast models of today. It seems that the Regulator Boat Co. is the only boat builder that wants to brag about weight now a days. They must have some old school guys still there.
FellowShip [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Bigshrimpin]

PickledRic - I'm almost positive that the Formula/Thunderbird 233 was built before well before the Lancer. The boat which became the formula 233 with a 24 degree V was raced by Jim Wynne in the 1960 Miami to Nassau. The Stern Drive Formula/Thunderbird 233 was built commercially in 1962.

Chris Craft Lancers were also designed by Jim Wynne, but I believe that he didn't work for Chris Craft until 1966.