2018 Formosa Sea-Rod 520 Classic SC review

Formosa's side console boats are not just available in a range of model sizes, but also with different levels of fit-out. The entry models are the Formosa Classics. These boats have Formosa's reverse chine "V2" series 18.5-degree deadrise hull, coupled with a carpeted timber floor inside.

You can then move up to the Formosa Offshore boats that have the same hull, but with a fully sealed, self draining alloy cockpit floor.

They also come standard with hydraulic steering and are made with high-tensile 5083 grade marine alloy instead of the standard marine stuff.

These Classic and Offshore variations are also available with Formosa's Sea-Rod range. These models have the same V2-shaped hull bottom, but the Sea-Rods also have Formosa's unique four-chamber water ballast system for increased stability at rest and to reduce side-to-side rocking.

Also unique to the Sea-Rod is Formosa's "Active Transom" that lets customers choose from three different folding transom door set-ups for improved rear boarding and fishing access.

Which Formosa do you pick? Ultimately it will come down to individual preference and your budget. The higher specification Sea-Rod models do cost a bit more than the standard rigs, but they boast a few more features.

Our test rig this week is one of these excellent Formosa Sea-Rods, the versatile 520 Side Console in the Classic configuration with the carpeted timber cockpit floor. The Gold Coast Boating Centre paired this ripper new boat with a Yamaha 90hp four-stroke outboard and a Dunbier single-axle braked trailer.

With a smaller Yamaha 75hp outboard and the Dunbier galvanised steel trailer, package prices for the Formosa Sea-Rod 520 Classic SC start from $40K. You get a bunch of cool features, including the aforementioned four-chamber water-ballasted V2 series hull.

The boat also comes with a forward casting deck with storage, fully welded side decks, a wide side console helm station, 4mm alloy hull bottom, transom and topsides, two pedestal chairs with four floor socket (two on the forward deck, two aft), bow and stern rails, dual transom transducer mounts, Sea-Star Xtreme mechanical steering, four rod holders, side pocket and transom storage areas, a bilge pump and more.

Our test boat was priced a little higher at $44,285, due largely to the upgrade to Yamaha's sweet and strong 1.8-litre in-line four-cylinder, four-stroke 90hp outboard.

The 520 SC test boat package also gained two-tone coloured hull paint, a Lowrance Hook 7 fish finder/GPS display, GME VHF radio, Active Transom with a full access two-piece folding transom, electric trolling motor plate, removable icebox/cooler, underfloor kill tank, deluxe bait station/bait tank, battery and isolator, and 12 months of Queensland registration.

Side consoles are ideal for fishing, as the starboard side offset helm station allows anglers to fish the full length of the port side of the boat. If the console is low enough –
like it is in the Formosa 520 SC – then you can also fish over the top of it on the starboard side.

You can learn lots more about the pros and cons of the side console layout here.

Our test boat also has a big forward casting deck, upon which you can mount one, or both of the included pedestal chairs. Personally, I would buy a third chair so I could leave two chairs aft for the skipper and first mate.

The casting deck is about 1.23m long with a maximum width of 2.25m. It is also a substantial 560mm above the rear cockpit. This makes it a decent step-up from the stern of the boat, but this height allows for more casting deck storage space, enough to fit an optional, removable icebox/cooler.

There is space for an electric trolling motor battery underfloor to accompany the optional trolling motor mounting plate that extends off the port side bow.

Access to the underfloor space is via one large and one smaller hatch. Both are painted to protect against rot and mildew.

Alongside the electric motor plate is a spacious, carpeted anchor well, a welded bollard and a heavy duty bow roller that is welded to the forward bow rail.

Moving aft, dropping down from the bow deck, there is a useful space in front of the console where you can stand and fish, secure behind wide side decks that are 660-680mm above the cockpit floor.

The console itself has a simple, but practical design incorporating a short acrylic windscreen secured to a braced rail that can be used as a hand-hold. It is not ideal because you can't fit your fingers between the rail and the windscreen – it would be more functional if the top rail extended up higher than the windscreen.

The console has space for bracket-mounted electronics displays on the dash and engine instruments on the relatively narrow fascia. There is also provision for a switch panel, marine radios, etc.

The Formosa Sea-Ryd 520 Classic SC’s helm is best suited to driving while seated. The pedestal chair is close to the console so you can easily reach the steering wheel and side-mounted throttle. There is ample foot-well space beneath to tuck feet in.

Aft of the helm console there is a relatively short 1.34m of space to the transom wall, but the overall cockpit length to the casting deck is a substantial 2.23m long by roughly 2.08m wide. That's lots of open fishing space!

Flanking the cockpit are 265mm fully welded side coamings that can easily accommodate additional flush-fitted rod holders.

An elevated, two-level side storage pocket on the port side and a single side pocket opposite, stretching between the console and the transom, are ideal for stowing deck lines, fishing tackle, and other small items.

Our Formosa Sea-Rod 520 Classic SC was optioned with Formosa's "full access" Active Transom, a two-piece transom wall that folds forward and down into the cockpit. This effectively removes the transom wall for easy stern access, and creates a wide step that doubles as a stern casting platform.

Also fitted was Formosa's optional bolt-on bait station/live well. This is a neat and desirable feature, but I am not sure it works well in combination with the full access transom as it tends to get in the way. That said, if I expected to spend a lot of time lure casting while standing on the Active Transom platform, I'd probably unbolt the bait station and leave it at home.

Powering our test boat was one of Yamaha's most recent, and most impressive new engines, the F90B. Launched early in 2017, this big capacity 1.8L in-line four cylinder, four-stroke is a terrific outboard engine. It's lightweight, compact, powerful, smooth, economical and reliable. What more can you ask for in an outboard engine?

This little, but powerful Yamaha outboard certainly worked well in combination with our test boat. The Formosa Sea-Rod 520 Classic SC is rated for single extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboards up to 140hp, yet we were able to achieve 30 knot-plus performance with the Yamaha 90hp. That's no mean feat as the Formosa 520 is a big lump of a boat.

If you need a higher top speed you would consider moving up to Yamaha's 115hp outboard engine, but we found there was no shortage of low- and mid-range power from the F90B. It accelerated the 520 Formosa onto the plane easily and there was plenty of throttle response and punch in the mid-range.

In terms of handling and ride, we could not really fault the Formosa Sea-Rod 520 SC. It's water ballasted, 18.5-degree deadrise vee hull is exceptionally stable, easy to power, safe and sure-footed.

The hull takes hard turns and figure eights with ease, and climbs over short, sharp chop without much effort. You might have to knock the speed back a little in heavy chop, but the Formosa is otherwise smooth, dry and a pleasure to drive.

3.4kt (6.3km/h) @ 1000rpm
4.5kt (8.3km/h) @ 1500rpm
5.6kt (10.4km/h) @ 2000rpm
6.2kt (11.5km/h) @ 2500rpm
9.7kt (17.9km/h) @ 3000rpm
16.2kt (30.0km/h) @ 3500rpm
20.6kt (38.1km/h) @ 4000rpm
23.5kt (43.5km/h) @ 4500rpm
26.6kt (49.2km/h) @ 5000rpm
29.5kt (54.6km/h) @ 5500rpm
30.7kt (56.8km/h) @ 5700rpm (WOT)

The Formosa Sea-Rod 520 Classic Side Console is another terrific model from Formosa Marine. It combines a compact, easy to tow, easy to stow size with a tough, stable plate alloy hull that is easily capable of fishing coastal offshore waters.

Packaged with a Yamaha 90hp outboard and a Dunbier trailer, this Sea-Rod 520 SC is mighty fine value too. Its $44K price is excellent for a fully fitted, turnkey 5.2m fishing boat.

Priced from: $39,990 including a Yamaha 75hp four-stroke extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard, Dunbier single-axle braked (mechanical over-ride) trailer, white hull paint, and 12 months boat and trailer registrations.

Price as tested: $44,285 including a Yamaha 90hp four-stroke extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard. Dunbier single-axle braked (mechanical over-ride) trailer, two-tone coloured hull paint, Lowrance Hook 7 fishfinder/GPS combination display, GME VHF radio, Active Transom with two-piece folding transom, electric trolling motor plate, removable icebox/cooler, underfloor kill tank, deluxe bait station/bait tank, navigation lights, battery and isolator, and 12 months Queensland registration.

Length overall: 5.4m
Hull length: 5.2m
Beam: 2.40m
Deadrise: 18.5 degrees
Hull weight: 650kg
Weight on trailer: 1195kg (est)
Bottom and transom alloy: 4.0mm
Topsides alloy: 4.0mm
Maximum power: 140hp
Engine as tested: Yamaha 90hp four-stroke
Fuel capacity: 115L
Flotation standard: Basic
Maximum persons: Five

Supplied by: Gold Coast Boating Centre