Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Formula 290 Bowrider 2012 vs Formula 350 Sun Sport 2008 — Which Modified Vee Fits Your Needs?
When two boats share the same hull type — in this case both the Formula 290 Bowrider 2012 and the Formula 350 Sun Sport 2008 are modified 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?
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Formula 350 Sun Sport 2008 measures 35,0 feet overall (2008), giving it roughly 6,0 additional feet of deck space compared to the Formula 290 Bowrider 2012 at 29,0 feet (2012). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Formula 350 Sun Sport 2008 tips the scales at 1 295 lbs — 400 lbs less than the Formula 290 Bowrider 2012 at 895 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 350 Sun Sport 2008 is rated for 10 passengers, while the Formula 290 Bowrider 2012 caps at 8. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Formula 350 Sun Sport 2008 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Formula 350 Sun Sport 2008 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 10 passengers and at 35,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Formula 290 Bowrider 2012 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
Model290 Bowrider
Model350 Sun Sport
Model Year2012
Model Year2008
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam9 ft. (2.74 m)
Beam10 ft. 9 in. (3.28 m)
Beam - Meters2.74
Beam - Meters3.28
Beam - Inches108
Beam - Inches129
Bridge clearance - Detail5 ft. 10 in. (1.77 m) With Arch: 8 ft. 2 in. (2.49 m)
Bridge clearance - DetailLight Load: 6 ft. 10 in. (2.08 m) Light Load w/ Arch: 9 ft. 5 in. (2.87 m)
Bridge clearance - Meters2.49
Bridge clearance - Meters2.87
Bridge clearance - Inches98
Bridge clearance - Inches113
Deadrise22°
Deadrise21℃
Draft [max] - Detail40 in. (1.02 m)
Draft [max] - Detail39 in. (0.99 m)
Draft [max] - Meters1.02
Draft [max] - Meters0.99
Draft [max] - Inches4
Draft [max] - Inches39
Weight - Detail8,950 lbs. (4,060 kg)
Weight - Detail12,950 lbs. (5,874 kg)
Weight - kg4059.65
Weight - kg5874.02
Weight - lbs.895
Weight - lbs.1295
Length - Feet29
Length - Feet35
Length overall - Detail29 ft. (8.84 m)
Length overall - Detail35 ft. 0 in. (10.67 m)
Length overall - Meters8.84
Length overall - Meters10.67
Length overall - Inches348
Length overall - Inches42
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Meters10.67
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeModified Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardMerCruiser® Single 8.2 MAG EC Bravo Three X
Engine/s standardMerCruiser? Twin 377 MAG/MX 6.2 MPI Bravo Three
Fuel tank capacity - Detail122 gal. (461 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail175 gal. (662 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters461.82
Fuel tank capacity - Liters662.45
Fuel tank capacity - Gal122
Fuel tank capacity - Gal175
Fuel typeGas
Fuel typeGas or diesel
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Drive typeInboard
Operational Info
Water capacity20 gal. (76 l)
Water capacity30 gal. (113 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail22.5 gal. (85 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail37 gal. (140 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters87.06
Holding tank capacity - Liters140.06
Holding tank capacity - Gal22.5
Holding tank capacity - Gal37
Headroomnot available
Headroom5 ft. 10 in. (1.77 m)