Buyer Research

2019 Formula 400 Super Sport — Should You Buy One?

Typical asking price: $380,000–$520,000. There is 1 high-severity known issue you need to know before handing over a check.

Kestrel Take

The Formula 400 SS is pure American excess in the best possible way — massive cockpit, twin V8s, 40+ knots when you want it. This is a day boat and weekend boat, not an offshore passage boat. The fuel cost is not a problem; it's the price of admission. Verify drive synchronization and engine hours match. If the numbers line up, this is peak fun.

What we checked

No public record to reconcile against

We don't yet have a public record to check this one against. Boats and personal watercraft are not in NHTSA’s database — that is the Coast Guard, which publishes recalls but no owner-complaint record. What follows is our own write-up, and it has not been reconciled against an official record. Treat it as a starting point, not a verdict.

Known Issues for the 2019 Formula 400 Super Sport

Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.

Twin sterndrive synchronizationHigh — wallet impact

Twin MerCruiser sterndrives require synchronized shift cables and throttle response. Out-of-sync drives stress the drivetrain under power and cause handling asymmetry. Verify synchronization during sea trial.

Repair cost (estimate): $500–$2,000 to synchronize; more if damage has occurred

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Fuel consumption reality checkMedium

At cruise speed (30–35 knots), the twin V8s burn 40–50 gallons per hour combined. This isn't a defect — it's the cost of 750+ horsepower. Many buyers are shocked by fuel bills. Budget accordingly.

Repair cost (estimate): $200–$300 per hour of cruise running costs

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Cockpit refrigeration compressor failureLow

The cockpit entertainment refrigeration unit's compressor is exposed to vibration and salt air. Units over 3 years old frequently need compressor replacement.

Repair cost (estimate): $800–$2,000

Source: not yet checked against public records.

Walk-Away Red Flags

✗Drive synchronization feels off during sea trial — handles crabwise or pulls
✗Engine hours over 300 on one drive and under 100 on the other — something happened to one engine
✗No hull warranty documents if purchased from dealer — Formula offers hull warranty
✗Previous offshore use in rough water without inspection records

Good Signs

✓Low engine hours (under 200) on matched twin drives
✓Drives serviced simultaneously with records
✓Freshwater use only, stored on lift
✓Formula Boats dealer inspection history

Found a specific Formula 400 Super Sport?

This page covers what goes wrong on the 2019 Formula 400 Super Sport in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.

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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.

Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.