Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 boat specs
Formula
Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012
2012
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VS
Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 boat specs
Formula
Formula 40 Cruiser 2006
2006
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Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 vs Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 — Same Brand, Different Boat

The Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 vs Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 measures 42,0 feet overall (2006), giving it roughly 18,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 at 24,0 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 tips the scales at 19 704 lbs — 19 699 lbs less than the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 at 5 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 caps at 7. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 12 passengers and at 42,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 7 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeFormula
MakeFormula
Model240 Bowrider Sport
Model40 Cruiser
Model Year2012
Model Year2006
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam12 ft. 8 in. (3.86 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters3.86
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches152
Bridge clearance - Detail4 ft. 8 in. (1.42 m)
Bridge clearance - DetailLight Load: 11 ft. 10 in. (3.61 m) Light Load & Mast Light: 12 ft. 4 in. (3.76 m) Light Load w/ Radar & Mast Light: 14 ft. 6 in. (4.28 m) Light Load w/ Hardtop & Mast Light: 14 ft. 11 in. (4.55 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters1.42
Bridge clearance - Meters4.55
Bridge clearance - Inches56
Bridge clearance - Inches179
Deadrise20℃
Deadrise18℃
Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (0.91 m)
Draft [max] - Detail40 in. (1.02 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Meters1.02
Draft [max] - Inches36
Draft [max] - Inches4
Weight - Detail5,000 lbs. (2,268 kg)
Weight - DetailGas: 18,510 lbs. (8,396 kg) Diesel: 19,304 lbs. (8,756 kg) w/ Hardtop - Gas: 18,910 lbs. (8,577 kg) w/ Hardtop - Diesel: 19,704 lbs. (8,938 kg)
Weight - kg2267.96
Weight - kg8937.58
Weight - lbs.5
Weight - lbs.19704
Length - Meters7.32
Length - Meters12.98
Length - Feet24
Length - Feet42
Length overall - Detail24 ft. (7.32 m)
Length overall - Detail42 ft. 7 in. (12.98 m) Less Bow Platform: 40 ft. 10 in. (12.45 m)
Length overall - Meters7.32
Length overall - Meters12.98
Length overall - Inches288
Length overall - Inches511
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches7
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialnot available
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typenot available
Engine and Drivetrain
Max no of engines1
Max no of enginesnot available
Engine/s standardMerCruiser? Single 5.0 MPI EC Bravo Three
Engine/s standardMerCruiser? Twin 8.1 S High Output w/CWC
Fuel tank capacity - Detail60 gal. (227 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail250 gal. (946 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters227.12
Fuel tank capacity - Liters946.35
Fuel tank capacity - Gal6
Fuel tank capacity - Gal25
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard
Operational Info
Water capacity10 gal. (38 l)
Water capacity55 gal. (208 l)
Headroomnot available
Headroom6 ft. 9 in. (2.06 m)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail57 gal. (216 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters215.77
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal57

Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 vs Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 or the Formula 40 Cruiser 2006?
The Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 is the longer of the two at 42,0 feet overall. The Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 comes in at 24,0 feet, making it roughly 18,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 or the Formula 40 Cruiser 2006?
For trailering, the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 has the edge at 5 lbs dry weight versus 19 704 lbs for the Formula 40 Cruiser 2006. Add a motor (typically 300–500 lbs for an outboard in this class), gear, and a partial fuel load and the difference grows. Lighter is friendlier on smaller tow vehicles and on fuel economy while hauling.
How many people can each boat hold?
The Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 is Coast Guard rated for 7 passengers, while the Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 is certified for 12. Note that legal capacity and comfortable capacity aren't always the same thing — on a full day out, most experienced boaters aim for about 80% of the rated number to keep things comfortable.
Which boat is wider, and does it affect trailering?
The Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 measures 152" wide, compared to 102" for the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012. The US standard-width towing limit is 8’6" (102") in most states — anything over that may need a wide-load permit. Confirm your specific route requirements with each state's DOT.
Which boat has the larger fuel tank — the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 or the Formula 40 Cruiser 2006?
The Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 has the bigger tank at 25 gallons, versus 6 gallons on the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012. That 19-gallon difference translates to roughly 57–95 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 and Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Formula 240 Bowrider Sport 2012 and the Formula 40 Cruiser 2006 are built by Formula. That means shared dealer networks, common parts availability, and consistent build quality across the line. The choice between them is essentially a question of how much boat you need, not which brand you trust.