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
Not checked against public records
Boats are the Coast Guard’s, not NHTSA’s. It publishes a Cases and Campaigns file, but its model and year fields are free text and the recent entries are mostly hull-ID and capacity-label paperwork, so we have not been able to join it to a specific boat honestly yet. 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. How we decide that.
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.
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.
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
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