Formula 310 OB BR Review

As one of the top names in luxury performance yachts, Formula has long been considered the best of the best when it comes to building family boats that combine absolute luxury with riveting performance. But just to prove that even the very best can always improve, the Indiana-based company recently unveiled its all-new Formula 310 OB BR, which brings a number of exciting updates to one of its best-selling models.

The most obvious change with the new 310 is its outboard power. Where the original Formula 310 rode around pushed by powerful sterndrives, the new Formula 310 OB BR offers the option of selecting outboard propulsion instead. Right off, that’s going to appeal to a lot of buyers who want to be able to tilt the engines up clear of the water when the boat’s not in use, whether to protect the drives from zebra mussels and other organic growths, or just to keep the salt water out for boaters on the coast.

Outboard power brings a wide range of advantages to the 310 BR, while retaining beloved features like the full-width swim platform and the transom shower to spray off sand and keep the boat clean.

Outboard power brings other advantages as well. Being much lighter in weight than comparable sterndrives, outboards give the boat a greater power-to-weight ratio for even more spirited performance. Complementing that, the position of the outboards behind the swim platform pus the propellers farther aft, giving the 310 BR OB enormous power on turns for even snappier handling. At the same time, shifting the engines outside of the boat opens up a huge amount of interior storage space where the motors used to be.

But there’s more to the new Formula 310 OB BR than just jaw-dropping performance. Step aboard and you’ll find the new model is even more refined and luxurious than the boat that it replaces.

Hot tub-style seating, as seen from the port-side lounger, affords tremendous versatility. Installing a removable table converts this space into an ideal dining room with a view.

For starters, Formula makes great use of that former engine bay to provide a near full-beam lounge seat with a reversing backrest that allows occupants to lounge facing aft, and enjoying its full-width swim platform, or stretch out facing forward when the boat is underway. In its forward-facing position, the lounge seat also helps create a terrific lunch spot in concert with the removable cockpit table.

From the swim platform side, the seat cushion can be lifted to reveal a cavernous storage locker that’s the perfect place to stow fenders or other bulky gear.

The cockpit of the new Formula 310 OB BR also gets significant updates over the boat it replaces, starting with the available hardtop option. Although it’s not officially a standard feature, the reality is that anyone who orders this boat is going to want it. Originally introduced on the Formula 350 and 330 models, there’s a lot more to the hardtop than a quick glance might suggest.

Formula’s attention to detail includes installing USB ports throughout the 310 OB BR, allowing everyone to keep their personal devices charged.

It’s obvious function is to provide relief from the mid-day sun, and this it most certainly does. A retractable power shade extends rearward from the hardtop to protect the entire aft end of the boat, including the sun lounger if desired. Overhead integrated LED lights provide custom-controllable illumination early or late in the day. And for those days where the sun just feels great on your skin, an enormous power sunroof can be opened to let it shine on down.

Forget your USB cord? No worry, as the 310 OB BR also includes flat charging pads.

Putting a big sunroof in a boat is no small matter, since the roof has to be sturdy enough to handle bouncing up and down in a chop, and its opening large enough to make a measurable difference in a boat that’s far, far larger than the average car. With the 310 OB BR, Formula hits this one out of the park, and it’s a big reason for the immense interest in this new boat.

A port-side wet bar features a sink with fold-down faucet, an ice tray, and space in the cabinet base for a cockpit refrigerator.

The new cockpit interior also deserves mention, with its versatile hot tub-style seating, comfy port-side lounge, exceptional fit, finish and upholstery work, and the addition of a wonderful wet bar midway up the port side with a sink, faucet, ice tray, and space for a refrigerator in its base.

Drivers will appreciate Formula’s newly updated helm console, which allows space for a 12-inch multi-function display to be flush-mounted right above the wheel. There’s also room for a second seven-inch display to the right, and there’s a flat, level dash panel above the engine binnacles that’s ideal for adding the optional joystick for precision docking control.

The stylish helm puts everything the driver needs within easy reach.

Under the helm console is a substantial storage compartment for still more gear, facing a door on the passenger console that houses the spacious head compartment – complete with a China toilet, stainless steel sink, solid-surface counter, a medicine cabinet, storage,  and opening porthole.

The head compartment is quite spacious for a 31-foot boat, and comes with every imaginable amenity including a medicine cabinet.

Bow seating on the Formula 310 OB BR is quite roomy, with matched lounge seats on each side meeting at the bow with a rear-facing, double-wide seat. Install the removable pedestal mount table here and this becomes another choice spot for lunch – or put in the available filler cushion to convert the entire space into a giant sun pad.

Bow seating makes the most of the 310’s generous beam, providing plenty of room to convert the front into another dining space.

Far forward, a small lid reveals the powered windlass, which makes raising or lowering the anchor as easy as pushing a button.

Close the walk-through windshield and the cockpit door located beneath it, and you can completely seal off the primary seating area – a wonderful feature when boating early or late in the season, or on unseasonably cold or wet days.

A power windlass makes lowering or raising the anchor push-button easy with no more dirty hands!

Weighing in at just under 12,000 pounds, the Formula 310 OB BR accommodates outboards of up to 800 total horsepower. Most buyers will likely order this boat with twin 350s, which will put the boat on plane promptly, provide excellent mid-range acceleration, and deliver a top speed in the range of 50 mph. Twin 400s will deliver a bit more low-end grunt, and a top speed in the mid-50 mph range, albeit at a higher cost.

Twin 350s will give the 310 OB BR plenty of power and allow top speeds in the 50 mph range.

The Formula 310 OB BR completely re-invents the luxury bowrider in multitude, wonderful ways. Anyone looking for a fast, comfortable and exceptionally well-appointed family runabout will find this ride more than fits the bill.