2020 Southern Formula fishing boat range updated

Southern Formula has rolled out running changes to its entire range to make things even better for recreational fishers wanting to take their sport to the next level.

The running changes come almost two years after the launch of the 21 and the 24. The updates reflect the same strategy rolled out at Southern Formula’s sister brand, Haines Hunter – continual improvement of the range’s features, benefits and performance.

Key to the changes is a renaming of all three models making up the current Southern Formula line; the Southern Formula 19 launched last year becomes the Southern Formula 2100, the Southern Formula 21 becomes the Southern Formula 2300, and the Southern Formula 24 renames as the Southern Formula 2500.

Builds for the Southern Formula 2500 also now include optional hardtop or enclosed cabins.

John Haber, the owner of Southern Formula and Haines Hunter, said key changes to the old 21 and 24 made the Southern Formula range even more appealing for amateur fishers.

“For 2020, with the feedback that customers have given us in regards to useability, rather than make them more commercial-friendly we’ve made them more amateur fisherman-friendly as standard,” Haber said. “This also challenges us to continue to improve our boats and deliver a superior product.

“We’ve actually found that we sell a lot more [Southern Formula boats] to amateur fishermen than to the commercial sector.

“So we’ve changed the configurations to be better suited to the amateur fisherman – so things like fuel tank sizes have changed, weight distribution has changed a little, the fuel tank positioning, floor heights, moulded fibreglass floor hatches and the accessory levels on the boats … so we’ve actually added more features to the boat as standard.”

Haber said where the twin aft kill tanks and forward fuel tank of the previous model suited commercial fishers who filled the space heavily with catch, it didn’t suit recreational fishers.

Moving the fuel tank aft for amateur fishers over the flatter part of the vee has helped to lower the boat’s centre of gravity.

Haber said this vastly improved stability at rest, making the boats better suited to general anglers. “We have done this without compromising the superior soft ride on the larger boats,” he said.

“For the amateur fisherman, who isn’t going to load the boat like a pro fisherman with half a tonne of gear and the like, the fuel cell has moved to the rear, so the stability of the boat has increased significantly – it’s increased probably by a good 30 per cent,” Haber said.

The Southern Formula range has added the Zipwake trim systems with auto feature as standard, higher quality cleats and stainless steel fittings, and higher capacity pumps among other running changes.

The boats’ floor heights are now lower, and buyers have a new colour palette to choose from to help them individualise their Southern Formula.

The Southern Formula 2500 has also added the option of a stainless steel-framed hardtop with removable clears, and an “Enclosed” version featuring a rigid wheelhouse that’s open to the cockpit at the rear – a fully enclosed locking wheelhouse is available as an option.

Haber said the Southern Formula model name changes were brought in to better reflect the lengths of the boats, ending confusion for buyers.

“The main reason for that is we’ve now actually named them for the proper length that they are,” he said.

“Our 2100 is actually 21 foot, not 19. The 19 was the original model number that we came up with, but the new 2100 is actually closer to 21 feet, it wasn’t really a 19-footer.

“That gives us the opportunity now to not confuse people, so our 2300 is genuinely a 23-foot boat, the 2100 a 21 and the 2500 a 25.

“The price hasn’t changed on the vessel [the 2100] with the exception of the newly added Zipwake system, and in fact it now appears to be even better value because you’re actually getting a lot more boat for your money,” Haber said.

More details on the 2020 Southern Formula range is available at https://www.southernformula.com.au/

Specifications
Model: Southern Formula 2500
Length: 7.5m
Beam: 2.5m
Weight: 1750kg (hull only, est)
Engines: 300hp (min)/350hp (single, rec), 150hp (dual, rec)/450hp (max)
Fuel: 380L
Transom height: 30-inch (single)/25-inch (dual)
Deadrise: 21 degrees
Passengers: 6

Model: Southern Formula 2300
Length: 7.0m
Beam: 2.5m
Weight: 1400kg (hull only, est)
Engines: 225hp (min)/250hp (single, rec), 115hp (dual, rec)/300hp (max)
Fuel: 380L
Transom height: 30-inch (single)/25-inch (dual)
Deadrise: 21 degrees
Passengers: 5

Model: Southern Formula 2100
Length: 6.4m
Beam: 2.4m
Weight: 1300kg (hull only, est)
Engines: 175hp (min)/225hp (single, rec), 115hp (dual, rec)/250hp (max)
Fuel: 280L
Transom height: 25-inch (single)/20-inch (dual)
Deadrise: 21 degrees
Passengers: 5