Celebrating two-thirds of a century of advancements in marine manufacturing, Formula Boats since 1976 has been owned and managed by the family of the late Victor B. Porter, whose children and grandchildren now direct the firm.

Formula had been founded in Miami in 1962 by Don Aronow, who created the original offshore-race-winning deep-V hull—a design impact that is still evident in Formula’s famed Fas3Tech hull.  

The Porter family, meanwhile, had been a pioneer in the manufacture of fiberglass boats, focusing on product improvement throughout the line, from the smallest bowrider to the superlative 500 SSC (Super Sport Crossover).

Formula 457 CC Fish

As its name suggests, the new Formula 457 CC (Center Console) Fish is angling-­focused, designed to roam far in comfort in pursuit of fun and fishing success. The 22-degree-­deadrise Fas3Tech hull delivers speeds up to 60 mph, powered by triple Mercury 600 hp  Verado V-12 outboards.

Aft, the boat houses twin 50-gallon pressurized livewells, macerated fish boxes with available freezer plates, and below-deck storage. The gunwales, transom, and hardtop are ringed with standard and optional rod and drink holders, with outriggers standard. 

Beneath the wide hardtop, electrically adjusted triple helm seats feature sit/stand/rest positions. The standard Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer eliminates up to 95 percent of boat roll. A full upper helm station is optional.  

The 457 CCF offers second-­row seating and a midstation with an aft-facing mezzanine bench that slides away to reveal a countertop, sink and cutting board. 

The open bow features dual forward-facing sun lounges, and an additional bench seat folds out from the sun lounges for dining in the round. 

The console cabin has 6.5 feet of headroom, U-shaped lounge/double berth, head compartment, galley, and dual-­height wood dining table and filler cushion. 

Port and starboard side doors, plus a starboard transom door, provide easy cockpit ­access for boating a catch or taking a swim. (Note the dedicated space for eight dive tanks!)

Playful touches in the Formula 457 CC Fish include multicolored LED lighting throughout and up to 29 music-synched, lighted drink holders.

Editor’s Note

The 457 CCF rides on Formula’s Fas3Tech hull featuring twin steps that aerate the water while underway to improve lift and enhance efficiency. This hull design also maintains a consistent trim angle with little input needed from the helmsman. -Jim Hendricks

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Mercury 600 hp Verado V-12 outboards
• Test Prop: Mercury V-12 propset 27.5″/26″/27.5″ pitch
• Test Load: 8,375 lb.
• Test Speed: 35.6 mph at 4,500 rpm
• Max Range: 277 miles

Specifications

Formula Boats – Decatur, Indiana; formulaboats.com

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Since 1976, Formula has been 100 percent owned and managed by the Porter family, and focused on continual product improvement throughout the line, from the smallest bowrider to the massive 500 SSC. 

The family and company value responsive customer service, and address issues through dealerships,
authorized service centers and a technical assistance team at its 575,000-square-foot powerboat manufacturing facility. Production, corporate and sales departments are located under one roof there. 

Formula’s FormulaFlex ­approach offers boat personalization: a wide range of graphic and color choices; upholstery base color, fabric, accent and piping selections; options in electronics choices and positioning; and cockpit, cabin and cabinetry details.

Formula 457 CCF

Formula’s new 457 CCF (Fish) and CCS (Sport) models, sharing a FAS3TECH hull, are powered by triple Mercury 600 Verados, directed by Mercury Digital Throttle and Shift controls w/7-inch SmartCraft VesselView displays, Mercury Joystick Piloting and a ­Bennett trim tab system. 

The 457 CCF’s rich standard feature list includes dual 50-gallon pressurized baitwells and 10 rod/drink holders (with options up to 42, including 9 on the hardtop). An upper helm station with its own controls and electronics is also an option. The CCF has aft port and starboard fish boxes with macerators and available freezer plates, and premium Gemlux outriggers. 

Its cockpit rigging station/wet bar features an aft-facing slide-away mezzanine bench, deep drawer storage and a dedicated fishing locker. Additional side-wall and cockpit deck storage abounds.  

The two platforms share a triple 22-inch monitor dash, air-conditioned three-­position helm seating, and bow seating with a sun lounge, wraparound seating and a power-adjust table. You also can add AC to the second row and aft-facing seating.  

The 457 CCF’s  cabin has 6 feet, 6 inches of headroom and features a galley with a microwave, a fridge, a sink and a TV, plus a U-shaped lounge seating area and a table that converts to a two-person berth. A head features a separate stand-up shower. 

Editor’s Tip 

A flybridge is standard equipment on sport-fishers, and for good reason. While you can spot diving birds or breaking fish from the deck, it’s much harder to see the subtle hints that can make or break a day of fishing. Having an elevated platform makes it much easier to spot color breaks, surface irregularities or floating debris. Add a second station, some electronics and a pair of gyrostabilized binos, and the world is your oyster. -Joe Albanese, Executive Editor Salt Water Sportsman

Specifications

Formula Boats – Decatur, Indiana; formulaboats.com

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Formula, whose parent company, Thunderbird Products, traces its history to 1956, and which itself was founded just six years later, has been a pioneer and an icon in racing and offshore fishing boats, Its early deep-V roots still evident in its highly successful Fas³Tech super-sport hull.

Formula has been owned and managed solely by the Porter family—lifelong boaters—since 1976. The family’s second, third and fourth generations are building Formulas at the company’s headquarters and plant in Decatur, Indiana. 

Formula 387 CCF

The 387 CCF (Center Console Fish) is one of two new canyon-ready platforms created on the same center-console Formula Fas³Tech hull, the Fish model to complement its CCS (Sport) fraternal (versus identical) twin.

The 387 CCF features custom triple helm seats, the center seat electrically adjustable. Dual 40-gallon pressurized livewells are aft, along with port and starboard fish boxes. 

Rod holders abound—10 in the cockpit alone—along with sidewall and cockpit storage, and washdown pumps and hoses. Premium Gemlux outriggers are standard, and there’s a choice of an in-floor fish box or a bow seating/table package. 

The leaning post’s aft-facing mezzanine bench slides away to reveal a Corian countertop, bait-rigging station with cutting board and sink, tackle storage, and pullout and slide-out coolers.

The helm offers twin Garmin or Raymarine 16-inch color displays, Mercury digital throttle and shift controls, SmartCraft VesselView, Mercury Joystick Piloting, and Bennett trim-tab system, plus any of a long list of upgrades.

Power comes exclusively from Mercury—ranging from triple 350 Verados to the newly introduced V10’s and twin power with the V12 600’s.

Manufacturer’s Remark

The 387 CCF has all the fishability you would expect in a fishboat with the undeniable Formula quality and styling.

Performance Data

• Test Power: Triple Mercury 450R outboards
• Test Props: Rev 4 19” 
• Test Load: 2,6000 lb., including two people, 250 gal. fuel, 50 gal. water, 50 lb. test gear
• Test Speed: 62.7 mph at 6,300 rpm
• Max Range: 335 miles (0.7 mpg, 40.6 mph, 4,500 rpm)

Specs

Editor Says

It’s been awhile since Indiana’s premium luxury performance, cruiser and runabout company entered the center-console arena, but its new 387 CC absolutely nailed the market’s expectations with fishability features, performance and Formula’s unique, luxury style. -Randy Vance, Editor-at-Large Boating and Fishing Group

More Info

formulaboats.com

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