Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 boat specs
Formula
Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009
2009
View full specs →
VS
Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 boat specs
Formula
Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008
2008
View full specs →

Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 vs Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 — Same Brand, Different Boat

Matching a deep vee Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 against a modified vee Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.

Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 measures 34,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 at 28,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 tips the scales at 1 691 lbs — 1 628 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 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 is rated for 10 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 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 could be the deciding factor.

Bottom line: Choose the Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 34,0 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
MakeFormula
MakeFormula
Model260 Sun Sport
Model34 Performance Cruiser
Model Year2009
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Beam11 ft. 6 in. (3.51 m)
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Meters3.51
Beam - Inches102
Beam - Inches138
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 - DetailLight Load: 11 ft. 4 in. (3.45 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.51
Bridge clearance - Meters3.45
Bridge clearance - Inches99
Bridge clearance - Inches136
Deadrise22℃
Deadrise18℃
Draft [max] - Detail34 in. (0.86 m)
Draft [max] - Detail36 in. (0.91 m)
Draft [max] - Meters0.86
Draft [max] - Meters0.91
Draft [max] - Inches34
Draft [max] - Inches36
Weight - Detail6,300 lbs. (2,858 kg)
Weight - DetailGas: 15,710 lbs. (7,126 kg) Diesel: 16,110 lbs. (7,307 kg) w/ Hardtop - Gas: 16,510 (7,489 kg) w/ Hardtop - Diesel: 16,910 lbs. (7,670 kg)
Weight - kg2857.63
Weight - kg7670.24
Weight - lbs.63
Weight - lbs.1691
Length - Meters8.53
Length - Meters10.44
Length - Feet28
Length - Feet34
Length overall - Detail28 ft. 0 in. (8.53 m)
Length overall - Detail34 ft. 3 in. (10.44 m)
Length overall - Meters8.53
Length overall - Meters10.44
Length overall - Inches336
Length overall - Inches411
Length - Inchesnot available
Length - Inches3
Length [over all with swim platform]not available
Length [over all with swim platform]35 ft. 7 in. (10.85 m)
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Max no of engines1
Max no of enginesnot available
Engine/s standardVolvo Penta 5.7 Gi DP
Engine/s standardMerCruiser? Twin 496 MAG Bravo Three
Fuel tank capacity - Detail92 gal. (348 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail206 gal. (780 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters348.26
Fuel tank capacity - Liters779.79
Fuel tank capacity - Gal92
Fuel tank capacity - Gal206
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or Diesel
Drive typeInboard
Drive typeInboard
Operational Info
Headroom4 ft. 5 in. (1.35 m)
Headroom6 ft. 8 in. (2.03 m)
Water capacity15 gal. (57 l)
Water capacity55 gal. (208 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detailnot available
Holding tank capacity - Detail40 gal. (151 l)
Holding tank capacity - Litersnot available
Holding tank capacity - Liters151.42
Holding tank capacity - Galnot available
Holding tank capacity - Gal4

Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 vs Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 — Common Questions

Which is the larger boat — the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 or the Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008?
The Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 is the longer of the two at 34,0 feet overall. The Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 comes in at 28,0 feet, making it roughly 6,0 ft shorter — a meaningful difference in deck room and overall on-water presence.
Which is easier to trailer — the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 or the Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008?
For trailering, the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 has the edge at 63 lbs dry weight versus 1 691 lbs for the Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008. 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 260 Sun Sport 2009 is Coast Guard rated for 8 passengers, while the Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 is certified for 10. 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 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 measures 138" wide, compared to 102" for the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009. 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 260 Sun Sport 2009 or the Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008?
The Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 has the bigger tank at 206 gallons, versus 92 gallons on the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009. That 114-gallon difference translates to roughly 342–570 nautical miles of additional range at cruising speed, depending on motor, load, and conditions.
Are the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 and Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 from the same manufacturer?
Yes — both the Formula 260 Sun Sport 2009 and the Formula 34 Performance Cruiser 2008 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.