Formula 233 --- Numero Uno

I started messing about in boats at the age of seven or eight years old. (I served in the Coast Guard in a variety of boats and positions) and my next boating adventure was as first mate on a 150' catamaran schooner in the Bahama Islands taking passengers on 10-day island hopping jaunts.

In 1964, I went to work at a marina in Norwalk, Connecticut, as a broker, and it was there that I had my first exposure to Formula. We sold the 23 Standard, the 23 Deluxe Short Deck and the 23 Deluxe Long Deck.

Having been around so many boats, when I went to buy one in 1979, I made a list of boats that would meet my criteria. The Formula 233 F was numero uno on that list. She was in Stuart, Florida, at the owner's home. I made arrangements to fly down and meet the surveyor to look at the boat. She was in pretty shoddy condition. Nonetheless, she was the boat I wanted, and even though the price was a bit more than I should have paid, I bought her anyway. She wasloaded on a flatbed truck on her trailer and sent north to a boat works in Connecticut who did hull paint. The arch was added after that, and the following year the deck and cockpit were awlgripped.The green hull paint has been touched up and recoated with clear coat once, but that's the 1979 paint job you see in the pictures taken in June of '08.

In 1998 the original OMC engine and drive were removed and replaced with a Mercruiser 454 cu in 300 HP unit with a Bravo One outdrive including all-new steering and Faria gauges. This year, a Floscan meter replaced the analog tachometer.

Thanks,

Bill Chantland