SUBJECT: # 24227: Formula/ Thunderbird Boats/ Any Good?? Dunk??

Submitted by Ron (65.83.87.128) from FLORIDA on 8/20/2002 12:24:00 PM

I'm thinking about purchasing a 1976 Formula/Thunderbird 24 foot sport fish (forward cuddy with solid fiberglass bow top and through hatch). The boat was completely refurbed in 1999 (re-painted inside and out, new transom, stringers, etc. etc.). Solid transome with an outboard bracket added during 1999 refurb and it is powered with 2 1999 Yammy 150 carb. engines (added new during refurb). The engines have 300 hrs on them. It has a new Radar, electronics, custom aluminum T-Top. Sits on brand new tandem aluminum trailer. The boat has been owned and was refurbed in 1999 by the owner of a reputable outboard mechanic facility in our area. He will accept $25,000.00 for the boat. Was asking 26,500. Does anyone know anything about this boat? Seawortiness?? Ride?? Quality?? It will be used for offshore fishing and diving. What do you think about the price?? Thanks very much for the info. Ron.

1. 8/20/2002 4:26:00 PM Submitted by Hawkeye (68.49.128.86) from VA says I got one
   I got a 1970. I think a 1976 has more cabin and less cockpit then my 1970. Mine is 12' from the transom to the helm bulkhead. Ride is fantastic with trim tabs, without them it seemed to lean the wrong way in cross chop for a good ride. Think that aplies to a lot of boats. Quality is ok, some hulls are thiner then others, some coring could be trouble over the front deck and gunwhales. Very seaworthy. Will take a lot of water for its size. That power is just right for that boat as I have a single 225 and shes a little weak IMO but my range is good with a 100 gal tank. If al the repairs were done right then it should be a good boat. 25K is about right but the book values arn't in your favor for resale later. If you plan on keeping it a while then it will work out to be a good boat for the money. here is a link to some pictures of mine. Look in the boat album or any other if you want.

   http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/formula2332000?d&.intl=us&.flabel=fld3&.src=ph

   Hawkeye

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2. 8/20/2002 5:12:00 PM Submitted by Ron (65.83.87.128) from FL says Thanks Hawkeye. Any others??? Hawkeye.......
   Hawkeye, great looking boat. did you refurb yourself?? What the biggest seas you've been in and how did it handle. I've owned and fished a cat (glacier bay) for some years now; however, looking for another 2nd boat with much more speed and a sleeker profile. The Formulas look like mini Bertrams.This boat is dealer maintained and is in top notch condition. Top speed is 49 knots loaded per gps. It has fuel management and the 1999 yammies are in superb condition (like they came off the showroom floor). Ironically, it's rigged much like your boat.

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3. 8/20/2002 7:40:00 PM Submitted by Hawkeye (68.49.128.86) from VA says Backyard project for me
   I did all of mine except the hardtop. The 2000 225 suzy - 10,900, hardtop/riggers - 4800, trailer 2700 and electronics 2500. Had at least another 5000 in supplies for the glass work and hardware. Thats what one is faced with on a ground up project boat or new boat for that matter. Thats where the money goes. I could see him wanting 25k. It sounds like a good deal to me but the ? is whats is it worth to you for your use. About the formula. One thing I noticed right off the bat was the ease the hull goes thru the water over my old 20' grady at displacement speeds. Makes for a very effcient trolling hull up to 8mph. It only takes 16 to 1800 rpm to get 7 or 8 mph and tracks straight and easy. Those twins probally 13 to 1500. You would need 23 2500 in my old grady and have to fight it for the same speed.One thing to think about is the 24 albemarle is the same hull and will bring better resale. Not many bracket 2 ob models but they did make some. The single I/o's are the norm and are well respected with there owners. I think Albemarle put more glass into the hull then Formula did. My hull is only 5/16 to 3/8" thick max and was light for a 24'er. I added a lot of weight with all the recoring, extra glass, fish box and hardtop. The boat/gear, 35 gal of fuel and trailer was 5960 and the trailer is about 1100 of it. So she aint light now but will do 46 mph with just me and 1/3 tank of fuel. Roughest water I was in was 8 to 10' off Hatteras. A strong dry wind front moved thru way earlier and about 15 to 20 more mph wind then forcasted that morning. Water slick til about 11 am and that about the time way started getting into fish. We stayed about 20 min too long catching fish. Mistake for sure. We were 30 miles out and 10 to 12 miles into the current. The wind was n/w running into a 3 to 4 kt current, current was flying that day. Problem was we had to run head on the whole way home. At times and slowed to 8 or 9 mph in the worst cause of the closeness of the swells. There were calmer spots you could get 14 for a few seconds. Inside the GS the seas were a steady 4 to 6 and with a little help for the Good Times we crusied in the last 16 miles with ease at 16 mph. Everybody on the boat was happy the way the boat handled the heavy sea's although they were much happier to set foot on land that day. Those 15o Yamaha's are about as built proff as they come. My Yamaha guy all ways says to prop them to the max side and a little and they will live for 1000's of hrs. My suzuki guy says the same thing. Yamaha guy was right in my case but the jury is still out on the Suzuki.

   Hawkeye

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4. 8/20/2002 10:46:00 PM Submitted by Ron (67.33.26.159) from FL says Thanks, Man.
   Hawkeye, that explanation is what I'm looking for. Thanks for taking the time. Owner needs a sale and will take 23,000.00 cash. Seems like a deal too good to pass up. The motors are worth 14K. I rarely fish more than four and usually am diving out of it. Compared to some of the fiberglass junk thats coming off of the assembly line these days, I think this old rig will be bullet proof. Thanks again and good luck on the water. Ron.

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5. 8/20/2002 11:00:00 PM Submitted by Ron (67.33.26.159) from FL says P.S.--- about your Suzuki...
   I almost forgot. I wanted to tell you that I had a 1998 Suzuki 225 EFI on one of my company's work boats. We battered the motor. Put 921 hours on her the first year servicing wells off the Texas coast and only changed a throttle position sensor and one water pump. We sold it to one of my employees this past March. He wasn't shy of its 1220 hours and we let him have it for $800.00. When I last spoke to him in June, it was still running strong on his 24 Sea Ox. I also have a 1999 200 EFI on a 21 foot fresh water skiff (bought it from the same dealer). She has about 420 hours and has been simply flawless. The dual water pick ups have saved my butt more than once in the skinny water of South Florida. I also have a place here in Louisiana and trailer her down to fish the muddy marshes here. Finally, I was so impressed with the Suzuki product that I bought a small four stroke (2001) for my duck hunting boat. Stumps, mud, sand and she runs well and strong. Hope your luck with Suzuki is as good as mine.

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6. 8/21/2002 8:56:00 AM Submitted by Hawkeye (129.86.240.203) from VA says Seen the add
   That looks like a good deal and the boat looks to be in great shape. You are right about the fg junk out there today. I don't buy all this wood free stuff either. What tickles me is most mfg wont warrenty stress cracks on newer boats. The only stress crack I could find on mine was along one stringer b4 I redid the stringers. No other stress cracks anywhere on this 32 year old boat.

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7. 8/21/2002 1:51:00 PM Submitted by Ancient Mariner (204.2.54.185) from TX says Formula
   I owned 2 Formula 233's that were late '70's boats. I found them exceptional for offshore running and fishing. Ride is better than most boats that size, smooth and dry. I've been in 12' seas (not by choice) in one of them and it handled it very well. I didn't have tabs on either of mine but I can see where they would help. I used to have to move my buddies around for ballast and tabs solve this problem. They're a little deep for our shallow bays but I really miss them for running out 40 or 50 miles and back. I believe you'll be happy although I never had one with o/b's. Both mine were i/o's, one a big single and the other twin 140's. I guess I didn't know they had made a 24'. Both mine were 23' 3" and the next step was, I believe, a 26 in those days.

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8. 8/21/2002 8:29:00 PM Submitted by WarrenR (209.240.198.63) from CA says Another One
   Just got the Pennysaver out of the mailbox, and lo and behold I see an ad for a '72 Formula and trailer for $4K. No other details. Couldn't resist posting this after reading Hawkeye's saga about his project. I agree that some tough boats were built in the early '70s. WarrenR

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9. 8/22/2002 12:09:00 PM Submitted by Shane (66.139.229.33) from TX says Forumla Quality
   My dad had a 60's 23' CC Thunderbird/Formula with twin inline 6 cyl. I/O's. In 1971, after engine trouble while jettie fishing, (radiator hose blew, got points wet, etc..) were washed onto nearby Galveston Jetties. The boat was on the jetties for 45 min from the time the Coast Guard got the maday call till they pulled them off the jetties and rescued them. The Coast Guard said they pull about 2-3 boats a month off the jetties, and they usually break up after 15 min. or so. They said this was on HELL of a boat to stay together for that long. My dad was/is very grateful to Formula for laying that extra bit of glass at the factory....

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10. 2/25/2003 4:10:00 PM Submitted by martin (141.154.53.104) from MA says formula
    formula is the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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11. 3/8/2003 1:32:00 AM Submitted by therodz (66.109.193.192) from WA says 24, foot.,formula thunderbird 68,model
    I would like some information on flat bottoms -preference:kurtis,500 model/year 1975. V-drive-price check and

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12. 7/4/2003 3:30:00 AM Submitted by ken (172.160.237.17) from TX says where would I find the boats serial or vin #?
    I just bought an old thunderbird boat for $100.00. Its 23ft and has 2 120hp Gm motors. Pretty nice boat, it just need some TLC. I am planning to fix it up and eventually take it offshore. My Question is where is the vin # or serial number. I looked everywhere, but I couldnt find it. Maybe it was taken off. THis boat has a tri hull. Does anybody know how it handles the open sea? I would appreciate it if someone could get back with me on these 2 questions. Thanks

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13. 11/22/2005 11:50:00 PM Submitted by tom keith (68.88.237.216) from TX says infomatoin
    do you have any info on a 1984 formula thunderbird? 20 ft.

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14. 12/8/2005 8:23:00 AM Submitted by tom keith (68.88.237.216) from TX says 1984 formula fierbird 20ft boat
    pictures

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