You know you're in Miami when you idle down a canal, glance over at a boat tethered to a dock, and see a 5-foot-long iguana on the foredeck with a smaller one on the pulpit. Neither are pets, just a pair of locals catching some rays. Hmmm ... that sounds like a plan. The theme of this trip is "filling in the gaps," and Formula's new 310 Sun Sport contributes by eliminating the void between its 280 and 330 models - and does so with a new-generation Formula that features sleek styling, a fully integrated swim platform and bold, yet tasteful Imron Elite graphics (optional). For the author, the trip will fill the one missing final gap in his Florida travel experience: the stretch of coastline running from North Miami to Key Largo.

Not many places can offer as many day-cruising possibilities as Miami. Key Largo is only 50 miles away, the same distance as Bimini in the Bahamas, but to get to either and still have time to do anything, you need a seaworthy boat in case the seas kick up, and one that can get you there pronto. Powering Formula's newest is a pair of MerCruiser 6.2L MPI V8s that crank out 320 hp apiece. Appropriately, the 6.2L is also MerCruiser's newest engine, which replaces the venerable 7.4L big block, which was heavier and produced 10 less horsepower. The pair fits into the 310 Sun Sport's engine bay, which, when opened by the push of a rocker switch, reveals plenty of room that allows owners and mechanics to perform maintenance without undue claustrophobia-related swearing. 

Sitting at the helm station of the 310 SS, you'll find a driver-friendly environment with a hybrid offshore racer/cruiser setup. Putting your hands on the Livorsi performance controls and the Dino sport wheel, which features the same rich-looking burl wood accents as the dash, you survey your surroundings. The only unusual feature you notice is that the tachometers and speedometer are low and off to the left side, while the fuel gauge, the battery gauge and a small Ritchie compass are given top billing high and up front. This unusual arrangement does make plenty of room available for big-screen electronics like the optional RayMarine E80 multifunctional navigation display with radar ($6,000), featuring an 8.4-inch screen. Just to the left are the extra-wide steps and a jumbo handrail, allowing you to easily transit the walkthrough windshield, which has a clever connection rod between the two hasps for you to open both with one twist. Up front you have non-skid on the foredeck and a tall bow rail to keep you secure when setting the anchor. 

Cruising pass the rich and famous on Star and Fisher Islands, the 310 Sun Sport puts its nose into the open water of Biscayne Bay, and the throttles are pushed to their stops. The 31-footer gets on plane in 4.5 seconds and reaches 30 mph two  ticks later. Even tankered up with nearly 130 gallons of fuel, the 310 hits a top speed of 51 mph - not  bad for a 5-ton-plus vessel. It's a beautiful day for a cruise with sub-1-foot seas gently ruffling the surface, so the Formula settles into a rapid cruise speed of 45 mph, and everyone gets a beverage from the optional brushed, stainless-steel cockpit refrigerator ($1,260). Located in the portside refreshment center, it features a wet bar with a Corian countertop and four stainless-steel cup holders for easy beverage assembly.

During the run south, the crew undertakes a highly scientific study to find the most comfortable seat for  iguana-style basking. First up is the L-shaped lounge in the cockpit, which  is flawlessly upholstered and features an accent stripe emblazoned with the SS logo; what you can't see underneath is the Dri-Fast foam that allows any water to quickly pass through it, thus avoiding the "squishies" when you sit down after a downpour. For sightseeing, you can't beat the driver's companion seat that - unlike most doublewide helm seats - has a divider between the two, allowing even two larger folks to sit side-by-side without getting too chummy. Both crew members get wide, independent flip-up bolsters to get their heads above the windshield if they choose, or they can sit low and be completely protected from the wind. But for serious lounging, nothing beats the rearward-facing portside recliner seat, which has plenty of backrest angle for comfort. At first, you might wonder if the grabrail next to the seat will intrude on your comfort, but anyone smaller than a champion pie eater won't be affected.

Off to the right, you can see the towers of the Turkey River nuclear plant, which supports a healthy population of full-grown and rare American crocodiles in its network of cooling canals. And no, they don't glow and haven't mutated to grow much larger than 15 feet long (thank goodness). As land approaches, the Formula passes beneath the 65-foot-high Card Sound Bridge and into Barnes Sound. From there, the channel narrows, and you're surrounded by mangroves abutting the Everglades National Park as you approach the Jewfish Creek Bridge. It's high tide, so the radio antenna has to be un-deployed, but the optional radar arch ($5,840) limbos underneath with about a foot to spare.

The unassuming destination comes into view on the starboard side in the form of a run-down motel and a raggedy local's tiki bar, named Gilbert's, which just happens to have one of the best fish sandwiches in the Keys. Sadly, this low-cost motel, which gives you a boat dock just outside your door, is scheduled for demolition within the year to make room for, you guessed it, more multimillion-dollar condos.

After lunch, it's time to chill out on one of the more unique features of the 310 Sun Sport: the multi-position stern sunpad, which is set into the rearward-facing, put-your-feet-up, lounge seat position. In seconds, you can flip the angled backrest down to form a sunpad, or you can just sit on the edge with your feet on the swim platform. For boaters that like to hang out on the stern at anchor, Formula gives you a standard pair of rearward-facing, 6-inch speakers, driven by a Kenwood stereo that features a remote control on both the stern and the dash (where there's also an iPod/MP3 player input). This boat is equipped with the optional 720-watt Kenwood stereo ($1,865), which has a subwoofer to give it some thump.

On the return voyage, you check  out the 310 SS's nimble handling as  you dodge rafts of floating clumps of Sargasso weed, which conceal hidden "nasties" like bottles or prop-eating chunks of wood. The Formula doesn't require a lot of trim to run at a proper cruising attitude, and it's responsive to even a small amount of correction from the standard Bennett trim tabs, which have position indicator lights. The 310 doesn't feature the double-stepped, Fas3Tech hull that Formula uses on its Super Sport cruisers and high performance lineup, but no one who drives this boat will complain about its handling. Cranking the wheel hard over in an extreme turn reveals a tracking ability uncommon in other 30-something boats. It's also stable, whether you're carving a sharp U-turn or blasting along at top speed. With a 22-degree deadrise at the stern, the 310 SS is  able to carve smoothly over choppy seas, and even launching over large cruiser wakes demonstrates a solidly built hull with no rattles or flexing, except for a slight wobble of the windshield when wave bashing.

After cruising past Stiltsville - a motley collection of seven of the original 27 stilt houses surviving in Biscayne Bay - it's time to check out the cabin. To preserve the sport boat look, the cabin's headroom measures 5 feet 4 inches, which requires taller guests to crouch a bit, but despite this, the cabin's interior is inviting, with warm cherry veneer cabinetry, optional wood flooring and plenty of ambient light, thanks to the two Bomar hatches and four functioning portholes with screens on either side. Sliding into the lounge seat, which converts to a V-berth, prompts an involuntary "Ooooh" because of the unbelievably soft Ultraleather upholstery. Although there's no stove option available, you can equip it with a microwave. It's well appointed with standard features, such as a stainless-steel refrigerator and a beautiful solid wood dining table. In the head compartment, there's a vanity with a sink and spigot, VacuFlush head with  a 36-gallon holding tank and pump-out, and a handheld shower.

Like other Formulas, the 310 Sun Sport requires a significant investment to own it, with a base price of $168,800 when equipped with twin MerCruiser 5.0L engines and twin-prop Bravo III outdrives. An "off-the-rack" 310 SS is  a well-equipped boat, giving you plenty of standard features. Moving up to the 320-hp, 6.2L powerplants bumps up  the base price to $180,400, and loaded  with options, the test boat runs a cool $219,270. But this is truly a case of  getting what you pay for. 

The rest of the run is made offshore, and the 310 Sun Sport easily enters Haulover Inlet, which is usually a treacherous passage. Today seems to be their lucky day, but then again, pretty much any day aboard a Formula will make it seem that way.

Formula 310 Sun Sport Specifications:

LOA 31'
Beam 9'6"
Weight 9,750 lbs.
Fuel 130 gal.
Maximum HP 640
Base Price $168,800
(w/twin 260-hp, 5.0L MerCruiser MPI Bravo IIIs)
Price As Tested $219,270
(w/twin 320-hp, 6.2L MerCruiser MPI V8s)
Hull Warranty 10-year transferable
NMMA Certified? Yes

Formula Boats
2200 W. Monroe St.
Decatur, IN 46733
(800) 736-7685
www.formulaboats.com

Test Data
Performance data was gathered with twin 320-hp, 6.2L MerCruiser MPI V8 engines, three people on board and 130 gallons of fuel.

Top Speed 51.1 mph
Time To Plane 4.5 seconds
0-30 mph 6.5 seconds
Decibels @ Idle 60 dB-A
Decibels @ 30 mph 80 dB-A
Decibels @ WOT 89 dB-A

Standard Features
Ultraleather™ U-shaped forward dinette lounge/double berth w/high-gloss solid wood table and filler cushions, entertainment center in high-gloss deep cherry finish w/storage and hardwood dovetailed drawer, full Corian countertop w/polished stainless-steel sink, 12V stainless-steel refrigerator and in-counter trash receptacle, molded fiberglass vanity and stainless-steel sink, molded head compartment w/Vacuflush head unit, iPod™/MP3 port, port lounge w/integrated dive tank storage, cockpit table w/four polished cup holders, 36-quart Igloo® cooler.

Options
Captain's Call™ exhaust diverter, 120V shorepower system, water heater, 7000-BTU reverse cycle air conditioner, 15-inch LCD TV/monitor/DVD player, DTS digital throttle and shift control system.