Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 vs Formula 310 FX5 2011 — A Close Look at Two Deep Vees
When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 and the Formula 310 FX5 2011 are deep vee designs with fiberglass construction — the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?
On paper these two are close siblings in the size department — Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 at 28,0 ft versus Formula 310 FX5 2011 at 31,0 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Formula 310 FX5 2011 tips the scales at 975 lbs — 912 lbs less than the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 at 63 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 310 FX5 2011 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Formula 310 FX5 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Formula 310 FX5 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 31,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 8 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
Model260 Sun Sport
Model310 FX5
Model Year2009
Model Year2011
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam9 ft. 6 in. (2.90 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters2.9
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches114
Bridge clearance - DetailLight Load: 5 ft. 0 in. (1.52 m) Light Load with Sport Arch: 8 ft. 3 in. (2.51 m)
Bridge clearance - Detail6 ft. (1.83 m) With Arch: 8 ft. 8 in. (2.64 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.51
Bridge clearance - Meters2.64
Bridge clearance - Inches99
Bridge clearance - Inches104
Deadrise22℃
Deadrise22℃
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (0.86 m)
Draft [max] - Detail37 in. (0.94 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Meters0.94
Draft [max] - Inches34
Draft [max] - Inches37
Weight - Detail6,300 lbs. (2,858 kg)
Weight - Detail9,750 lbs. (4,423 kg)
Weight - kg2857.63
Weight - kg4422.52
Weight - lbs.63
Weight - lbs.975
Length - Meters8.53
Length - Meters9.45
Length - Feet28
Length - Feet31
Length overall - Detail28 ft. 0 in. (8.53 m)
Length overall - Detail31 ft. (9.45 m)
Length overall - Meters8.53
Length overall - Meters9.45
Length overall - Inches336
Length overall - Inches372
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Max no of engines1
Max no of engines2
Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 Gi DP
Engine/s standardMerCruiser® Twin 8.2 MAG EC Bravo Three X
Fuel tank capacity - Detail92 gal. (348 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail130 gal. (492 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters348.26
Fuel tank capacity - Liters492.1
Fuel tank capacity - Gal92
Fuel tank capacity - Gal13
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard
Operational Info
Headroom4 ft. 5 in. (1.35 m)
Headroom5 ft. 4 in. (1.63 m)
Water capacity15 gal. (57 l)
Water capacity29 gal. (110 l)