Formula’s new 500 SSC is a 60-knot flagship that will serve well as a platform for an afternoon picnic on an island beach or a week-long cruise in the Bahamas (or anywhere else).
Formula has always managed to pack in a lot of amenities and comfort in its smaller boats, as well as a turn of speed based on its double-step FAS3Tech hull. The new 50-footer simply carries these virtues to a new level, where both the living and the ride are easy.
Power for the 500 comes from four 600-hp V12 Mercury Verado state-of-the-art outboards. These not only produce head-snapping acceleration, but they also provide unusual maneuverability and top speed. They have two-speed gearboxes for seamless shifting through the speed range, and they have relatively slender housings on top and steerable gearcases under water.
They can be mounted close together on a transom, so that on the Formula 500 the swim platform can be extended on both sides for a full 4’ 6”. And they’re efficient, producing a 322-mile range at a fast cruising speed of 40 knots.
The aft deck on the new Formula could serve as a social area for family or friends for entire cruise. It has seating on both sides, and one section wraps around a table on a pedestal. On the other side, a storage area is also a cooler. One of the seatbacks folds down and acts as a platform you can step on for boarding easily. Lift a hatch and you’ll find a joystick for easy docking.
There’s also an electric grill, and an overhead extension has a shade. Two bar stools and a bar top are on the starboard side, and they can open to the galley with a cooktop, microwave, fridge and freezer. A full-width glass bulkhead separates the cockpit from the salon; it’s motorized, so you press a button to have it closed or open.
The climate-protected salon has more countertops, a pull-out bar (or wine cooler), L-shaped seating on an elevated platform, an expandable table and a giant-screen 65-inch TV. The composite dash houses Raymarine plotters, radar, and a FLIR thermal camera. Going forward, there’s U-shaped seating on the bow.
Below, there’s 6’ 7” headroom in the cabin and a complete galley at the foot of the stairs. A large U-shaped lounge is forward; the aft stateroom has a queen-sized bed, a sofa and an entertainment suite. The head has Corian surfaces and a separate shower.
Formula is a proud, family-owned company with a rich history dating back to 1962. I’ve visited the factory in Decatur, Indiana, and I’ve cruised on various Formulas from Nantucket to Havana. They are solid, comfortable, well-designed and well-built boats with more than a touch of flair.
Specs.: LOA: 53’4”; Beam: 14’6”; Draft: 4’3”; Disp.: 43,400 lbs.; Fuel: 650 gals.; Water: 100 gals.; Power: 4×600-hp Mercury V12 Verado outboards. Read more at http://formulaboats.com and see the video below:
