So, I Bought A Boat.

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Been wanting another larger twin engine boat for a while and saw this one locally (Tahoe) before my LOTO trip. We messaged a little while I was out there but then got caught up in all the shoot out action so kind of forgot about it. Then yesterday, I got a notification that he lowered the price so arranged to look at it this morning.

1996 Formula 336 SR1 with built 502 Mags by Honker Cut Marine in Sac. Extension boxes and Bravo's with XR internals. She's a little rough and definitely a project but mostly cosmetic stuff. It was painted white over the factory blue and yellow Imron so hoping I can strip it back to original. If not I'll probably wrap it. Have to do a rub rail too.

Needs a serious clean up and detail of inside and out. Has a cranking stereo, Gaffrig gauges, Lawrence GPS. Trailer looks kind of rough but is solid with electric brakes and new LED lighting. Wheels and tires are 1 year old.

So this will be in my shop all winter while I get her cleaned up and do some maintenance on her. New impellers as a PM measure, change all fluids, service the drives, and then start the clean up / detail. It will need to have the back seat either redone or hopefully I can get an upholstery guy to just tighten up the vinyl. Same with the engine hatch cover.

This was not exactly the boat I was looking for. I had wanted something between 27 and 30 feet with twins. A 270 T Hallett, 292 FasTec, 29 Outlaw, 28 Pantera, or something along those lines. My ideal boat would have been a Cigarette Vice but they didn't make many of them and they are quite pricey if you can find one for sale. This boat is a little larger being almost 34' and I prefer a flat transom instead of the built in swim step, but the hull is solid, has good components, and is a Formula and being a previous Formula owner I know the build quality. The cabin is also quite large and nicely equipped. It was also priced accordingly for the work that it needs.

I'll be posting progress photos of it as I start work on it. Now I need to sell my little jet boat. I have to take a trip to AZ but when I get back I'll have it listed for sale (shameless plug ).

 

[Romans9]

Great project.

Looking for one soon…..

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Also, a couple of photos of the lake in case anyone is not familiar with it. We are currently looking into renting an AirBnB house in the Tahoe Keys with boat dock for next summer. Maybe make it an RDP event?

 

[monkeyswrench]

Congrats on the boat! That'll be fun for you.

Tahoe is a place I've wanted to take the family to for a few years now. Went there years ago, with my parents as a kid. Always stuck out to me as being one of the most beautiful places out west.

 

[Tank]

Congrats Al!! That’s fuckin awesome man!! I kinda like it all White but I do see upon closer look it needs some attention (and a rub rail). Great boat though bro. Great lines. That thing is gonna crush water.

Looking forward to watching you give er a little TLC.

 

[Andy B.]

Nice!

 

[BUDMAN]

She is a biggie. Congrats. Looking forward to the posts with updates.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Congrats Al!! That’s fuckin awesome man!! I kinda like it all White but I do see upon closer look it needs some attention (and a rub rail). Great boat though bro. Great lines. That thing is gonna crush water.

Looking forward to watching you give er a little TLC.

Thanks Tank! Should handle big water pretty well. She is solid.

I like the white as well. I might try to buff it out and see what it looks like. The nice thing about white is it is easy to do touch ups and color match.

I think it would need a splash of color though. Maybe a stripe down the side like this.

 

[Tank]

Thanks Tank! Should handle big water pretty well. She is solid.

I like the white as well. I might try to buff it out and see what it looks like. The nice thing about white is it is easy to do touch ups and color match.

I think it would need a splash of color though. Maybe a stripe down the side like this.

View attachment 1431379 View attachment 1431380

Yeah. Little touch of color is nice.

A wrap would be cool too. Mostly solid color. Satin pearl white with grey “Formula” at the water line near the back would be cool.

 

[FROGMAN524]

Beautiful! Love the lines on those Formulas. Tahoe was made for Big Vs.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Yeah. Little touch of color is nice.

A wrap would be cool too. Mostly solid color. Satin pearl white with grey “Formula” at the water line near the back would be cool.

The neat thing about a wrap is the options are endless. I might be tempted to go with something wild like newer boats but I think this old school boat should be simpler and understated like what you suggested.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Beautiful! Love the lines on those Formulas. Tahoe was made for Big Vs.

View attachment 1431384

Nice! 300 Hallett? Do you live up this way?

 

[FROGMAN524]

Nice! 300 Hallett? Do you live up this way?

Hallett 335, this was 2022. Wife’s uncle, aunt and cousins live on the water in Tahoe City, CA.

 

[Tank]

The neat thing about a wrap is the options are endless. I might be tempted to go with something wild like newer boats but I think this old school boat should be simpler and understated like what you suggested.

That’s what I did with our last top gun. Eventually just wished I’d don’t somthing more subtle. Something solid and classy would be nice.

 

[Cray Paper]

Keep it classic, white with minimal accents. Nice boat and that wave crusher should have no problem on a lake! Wish I had the room to store one of these things, would make it much easier to talk the wife in to buying one for San Juan trips.

 

[rivermobster]

Congrats!

 

[whiteworks]

Cool boat, I’d run it just like that and not stress one bit over any of it. Always like those formulas

 

[NicPaus]

I like it all white. You could ad a color from the rub rail down a few inches to the next line. Then ad a stainless rub rail. Just a little color to break it up.

Was this the one another member was also talking about?

 

[28Eliminator]

Very nice!!…. Did I hear something about a Tahoe trip?

 

[poncho]

Congrats Buddy, nice wave crusher.

 

[n2otoofast4u]

White is right!!!

 

[C-Ya]

An old captain once said……… “There are only 2 colors of boat……. White and Wrong”

However, I see boats all the time…….

If you wrap it metallic blue, (flat chrome)…….. It will then look a look like a lot of the modern boats. Same color as Tom Brady’s 55’ Wyjer. Then ad tan sea deck for flooring. It will look new and modern.

It looks great as it is……. A hint of red could also go along ways.

I know you are going to enjoy it!!! Great find

 

[Paradox]

Congrats. Great looking (and capable) boat.

If you’re up for it, PM me the details on your jet. I’m in the market and have been looking.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

An old captain once said……… “There are only 2 colors of boat……. White and Wrong”

However, I see boats all the time…….

If you wrap it metallic blue, (flat chrome)…….. It will then look a look like a lot of the modern boats. Same color as Tom Brady’s 55’ Wyjer. Then ad tan sea deck for flooring. It will look new and modern.

It looks great as it is……. A hint of red could also go along ways.

I know you are going to enjoy it!!! Great find

Thanks.

Yeah, wrap with blue would look good. Maybe something like this but with out the hockey sticks.

Or these:

I will be adding Seadek to the swim step and maybe the cockpit floor. I think I'll have the windshield tinted too.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Congrats. Great looking (and capable) boat.

If you’re up for it, PM me the details on your jet. I’m in the market and have been looking.

PM sent. The ad is in the Boats For Sale section now.

1979 Sunwest Mini Day Cruiser 20' Berkeley Jet - $7500

Bought a big boat so putting this fun little jet boat up for sale. Built 460 Ford with Berkeley jet. Place diverter. Runs great, 55 GPS MPH on Lake Mead. Nice trailer with swing away tongue and spare tire. Bimini top. Includes full boat cover. $7500. Located in northern NV (Carson / Tahoe area).

www.riverdavesplace.com

 

[C-Ya]

Thanks.

Yeah, wrap with blue would look good. Maybe something like this but with out the hockey sticks.

View attachment 1432042

Or these:

View attachment 1432044 View attachment 1432045

I will be adding Seadek to the swim step and maybe the cockpit floor. I think I'll have the windshield tinted too.

Those look good. The 3rd boat (Donzi) looks the best.

I am taking my boat for a cruise and to lunch today. If I see something colorful and interesting, that I think would look good on your boat, I will click a pic. Just to give you some ideas.

We have a lot of wrapped boats in SoFlo.

Tinting the windshield looks great too!

But……… It looks good now. But we both know it could look better, with just some small upgrades.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Those look good. The 3rd boat (Donzi) looks the best.

I am taking my boat for a cruise and to lunch today. If I see something colorful and interesting, that I think would look good on your boat, I will click a pic. Just to give you some ideas.

We have a lot of wrapped boats in SoFlo.

Tinting the windshield looks great too!

But……… It looks good now. But we both know it could look better, with just some small upgrades.

Thanks. I agree that the Donzi looks best. Very subtle and classy and timeless

I would leave it all white like it is and just add a stripe or two if the current paint wasn't so crappy. I think someone just did a quickie paint job on it to hide it as it was supposedly a drug runner boat at one time. It might buff out but there are several spots where it is flaking off and would need to be touched up.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Cool boat, I’d run it just like that and not stress one bit over any of it. Always like those formulas

Thanks. I'm going to get it all cleaned up and then make sure everything mechanical is sorted before I worry about the paint. It's a bit of a dock knocker now and I kind of like having a boat I don't have to constantly worry about. In fact, I might named it the "Dock Knocker"!

 

[C-Ya]

Thanks. I agree that the Donzi looks best. Very subtle and classy and timeless

I would leave it all white like it is and just add a stripe or two if the current paint wasn't so crappy. I think someone just did a quickie paint job on it to hide it as it was supposedly a drug runner boat at one time. It might buff out but there are several spots where it is flaking off and would need to be touched up.

That’s the nice thing about wrapping the boat. It is much cheaper than painting.

Lots of options.

I am hoping I can find an example that fits your boat today…….. I will be on a mission! lol

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

Congrats Buddy, nice wave crusher.

Thanks Kenny.

 

[C-Ya]

Thanks. I'm going to get it all cleaned up and then make sure everything mechanical is sorted before I worry about the paint. It's a bit of a dock knocker now and I kind of like having a boat I don't have to constantly worry about. In fact, I might named it the "Dock Knocker"!

I like your attitude…….

Sometimes I feel sorry for the guys with…….. Sparkle Rockets

 

[Tank]

Thanks.

Yeah, wrap with blue would look good. Maybe something like this but with out the hockey sticks.

View attachment 1432042

Or these:

View attachment 1432044 View attachment 1432045

I will be adding Seadek to the swim step and maybe the cockpit floor. I think I'll have the windshield tinted too.

The donzi paint would look nice.

That gladiator is bad ass though. Has Ford power in it. Dudes out of Washington state.

 

[ChiliPepperGarage]

The donzi paint would look nice.

That gladiator is bad ass though. Has Ford power in it. Dudes out of Washington state.

Yeah, I love that Gladiator. I've had that photo on my computer since 2006!

 

[28Eliminator]

Thanks.

Yeah, wrap with blue would look good. Maybe something like this but with out the hockey sticks.

Don't be hating on the hockey Sticks.. There's a lot of us out there

 

[SOCALCRICKETT]

Good thing about formulas is that they are white underlying gel with imron sprayed over the white gel base...


My formula is the same way

 

[Cooter01]

Congrats on the new boat! I agree a simple pin stripe would set it off.

 

[C-Ya]

I took a few pics for you today……..

I will post them in morning. Phone is dead and I am going to MNF.

I do have a color scheme idea to sell you…….. lol (I have pics that will show an example)