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MeredithMan · 04-26-2017, 11:37 AM

....3 great choices you have narrowed your search to. I can't comment specifically on the SeaRay, but I can give you my perspective on the Cobalt and Formula.

Many moons ago, before children, we had a SeaRay 250 Cuddy Cabin. It was a great boat, albeit underpowered. Kids came along, and The Supreme Leader said the boat had to go, ("my babies won't be safe...").

Fast forward to 2012....kids are teenagers and we were fortunate enough to snag a place on the water. The Supreme Leader decrees that we can have a boat again. We decided to go the used route and found an awesome Cobalt 250 Bowrider, with 430HP Big Block and Captain's Call exhaust. It was a rocket ship. We loved that boat. Ride was excellent in the rough water and the fit-and-finish of the interior was top-notch. It also had the extended swim platform, which came in really handy for water activities. Being a bowrider, it also allowed us to have a lot of freeloading friends and relatives on board for a ride.

After a 4 years with the Cobalt, The Supreme Leader was hooked on boating again and last year ordered her serf to find something "just a bit bigger". Our finalists ended up being the Cobalt R7 and the Formula 270BR. It was a tough decision, but The Supreme Leader and her serf opted for the Formula. Cockpit layout was key....seat-backs at the helm and on Port side adjust forward and backward, allowing for either front-facing seating, or aft-facing seating, allowing you to be part of the gang. Fit-and-finish in the cockpit was slightly nicer than the Cobalt, we thought. The Formula is also heavier than the Cobalt and you really notice that benefit in the rough water. Imron paint on the Formula was also a decision point. The fact that it will (almost) never fade was a huge selling point. The extended swim platform on the Formula was also a big draw. It is much bigger than what is available on the other boats. And, we found a 2015 leftover in 2016, which allowed us to get a very good deal.

I have only seen and been in the SLX at the boat show. It looks snazzy, but that's about all I can offer on that model. In a shameless plug for Paugus Bay Marina, I will say that they are great to deal with and I am sure they would do their best to help you get into a Formula, (I know they have a 2016 leftover 270BR they are anxious to move....)

Choosing between those 3 boats is a great problem to have! Good luck!

04-26-2017, 11:37 AM	#4
MeredithMan Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: Bedford, NH; Meredith, NH Posts: 1,007 Thanks: 264 Thanked 830 Times in 347 Posts	All Great Choices.... ....3 great choices you have narrowed your search to. I can't comment specifically on the SeaRay, but I can give you my perspective on the Cobalt and Formula. Many moons ago, before children, we had a SeaRay 250 Cuddy Cabin. It was a great boat, albeit underpowered. Kids came along, and The Supreme Leader said the boat had to go, ("my babies won't be safe..."). Fast forward to 2012....kids are teenagers and we were fortunate enough to snag a place on the water. The Supreme Leader decrees that we can have a boat again. We decided to go the used route and found an awesome Cobalt 250 Bowrider, with 430HP Big Block and Captain's Call exhaust. It was a rocket ship. We loved that boat. Ride was excellent in the rough water and the fit-and-finish of the interior was top-notch. It also had the extended swim platform, which came in really handy for water activities. Being a bowrider, it also allowed us to have a lot of freeloading friends and relatives on board for a ride. After a 4 years with the Cobalt, The Supreme Leader was hooked on boating again and last year ordered her serf to find something "just a bit bigger". Our finalists ended up being the Cobalt R7 and the Formula 270BR. It was a tough decision, but The Supreme Leader and her serf opted for the Formula. Cockpit layout was key....seat-backs at the helm and on Port side adjust forward and backward, allowing for either front-facing seating, or aft-facing seating, allowing you to be part of the gang. Fit-and-finish in the cockpit was slightly nicer than the Cobalt, we thought. The Formula is also heavier than the Cobalt and you really notice that benefit in the rough water. Imron paint on the Formula was also a decision point. The fact that it will (almost) never fade was a huge selling point. The extended swim platform on the Formula was also a big draw. It is much bigger than what is available on the other boats. And, we found a 2015 leftover in 2016, which allowed us to get a very good deal. I have only seen and been in the SLX at the boat show. It looks snazzy, but that's about all I can offer on that model. In a shameless plug for Paugus Bay Marina, I will say that they are great to deal with and I am sure they would do their best to help you get into a Formula, (I know they have a 2016 leftover 270BR they are anxious to move....) Choosing between those 3 boats is a great problem to have! Good luck!

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