Force 26 Cross Over: Review

Force boats and their builder Rod Bickerton are no strangers to going fast. The awarded ski-race boats feature on the winner's dais more often than not. Using that performance pedigree in a centre console boat powered by the new Mercury Verado 400R race outboard has created a new 105km/h social boat with mind-boggling potential.

OVERVIEW
- A centre console sportsboat with race pedigree
It's pretty obvious when you're on the water these days, many affluent boaties are going for big, fast, centre console sportsboat. And the reasoning is simple – the open-style craft perfectly suits their needs especially in summer and particularly if they own a waterfront dock.

Big consoles certainly maximise the available space for a given length and are great for taking a bunch of people out, plus fun to drive and look good on the water. The 360-degree walk-around isn't half bad for fishing either.

So far, this niche has been filled by imported US craft, but now they're getting some local competition. This Force 26 Cross Over is a new Aussie design that ticks this box nicely.

The Force 26 Cross Over is a cross-over design with racing pedigree, doubly so with the new Mercury 400hp 'monster' Verado outboard making its Australian debut on the transom.

This is the 400R race motor and some of its features include a water-cooled supercharger that reduces intake air temperature and therefore means greater engine torque and unmatched acceleration.

The Verado 400R is an in-line six-cylinder engine block of 2.6-litre capacity. It comes standard with  SmartCraft Digital Throttle and Shift provides smooth, instantaneous, predictable and quiet shifting, as well as ultra-responsive throttle control. True Power Steering delivers precision steering without undesirable steering torque.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Big ticket but you're paying for a hand-built racer with a 400hp Verado
The price of this rig as tested was $168,000 including Smartcraft instrumentation, navigation lights and safety gear.

A custom-made hydraulic-brake trailer adds $22,110. This is offered because the Force 26 Cross Over is legally trailerable on Australian roads due to her 2.5m beam.

Standard kit includes a ski pole, rod holders, two in-floor kill tanks and has a 45-litre fresh water tank for the deck wash/shower. There is a boarding ladder and transom door access as part of the standard package.

As for the motor, this latest Verado super-charged four-stroke leaves other 'normal' four-strokes for dead on acceleration and outright performance. This new generation Verado is also way more fuel-efficient than its predecessor.

The 400R XL in standard black has a recommended retail price of $45,763 with full rigging, steering, propeller and VesselView 7 screen. Mercury tells us that it does have available stock in standard models but intending owners should check the availability for specific variants like the white models which are ordered from the US.

Demand has been stronger than expectations, says Mercury, with many customers repowering from 300 and 350s. The repowers include a good mix of single, dual and triple rigs, both in standard Mercury black and also the new white.

The console itself provides two very comfortable seats and there's another two seater lounge aft. So in all there's seating for up to nine people.

The Force 26 Cross Over is rated for up to 12 people, so allowing for a bit 'standing room' it's great for raft-up parties in summer.

There are plenty of recessed drink holders at all seat positions plus speakers for the classy sound system.

Other refinements include concealed LED floor lighting and fold-down mooring cleats.

All deck gear is top-class stainless steel and there is a proper anchor locker up front including the deck wash.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Adopting proven raceboat building technology to a social boat
Built by the Sydney yard that also creates high performance ski-race boats, the Force 26 Cross Over blends performance features in a more all-round craft that can be used for lots of activities. It has a variable deep-vee hull with 21-degree transom angle and 'steps' in the bottom to reduce drag at speed.

The user-friendly, moulded interior is ideal for summer inshore boating in places like Sydney Harbour but will be good offshore as well. The styling of the Force is sensational with its sleek black hull, minimal deck structure and the fighter-jet style console nestled into a deep cockpit.

The boat is rated to 600hp with twin 300hp outboards, however, with the single 400hp Mercury Verado four-stroke top speed is 65mph (56 knots+) or almost 105km/h. That's darn fast on water and should only be attempted by experienced drivers.

Amazingly, you don't get blown about at this speed thanks to the great aerodynamics of the console. the wind seems to go over you and around you, while you stay secure and comfortable within the deep-backed padded seats.

Hull construction is high-end hand-laid using the very best vinylester resins and advanced vacuum-bagged, resin-infusion methods. The topsides and deck have high-density foam coring, however, the bottom is solid fibreglass. The attention to detail is impressive and the result is a boat that's lighter than most 26-footers but very strong.

Safe handling is a key point in the Force 26 Cross Over and includes a self-flooding keel tank of about 200-litre capacity to help at-rest stability. There's a second a water ballast tank in the bows with controllable scoop so the driver can control boat trim at speed.

A side benefit is the Force 26 Cross Over is surprisingly stable when fishing.

ON THE WATER
- The need for speed can be shared with your crew
The 'Black Beauty' slipped onto the plane effortlessly and in no time at all we were doing a speed of 40mph or about 35 knots. This doesn't feel that fast thanks to the smooth ride and aerodynamics of the Force.

However, as Rod applied the power, we literally were pressed back into the seat and the scenery started to blur as we hit the 65mph mark.

The Verado 400R is a much higher revving motor than other four-strokes and tops out at 7000rpm.

The big Verado allowed us to glide through turns easily and without drama. The hull seemed to cut through any sort of wash without any resistance and the whole experience was akin to a spin in a top-class sportscar on water.

VERDICT
- Happy wife, happy life
As you might have gathered, this is no ordinary production craft. It's really a limited-edition sportsboat for the boating connoisseur.

My guess is the people who buy this are very serious about performance whether it's cars or boats. At the end of the day this a craft for driving fast but safe and making a statement.

Each Force is custom built by Rod Bickerton to meet the owner's needs and personal boating tastes. The next one off the line has twin Mercury 300hp OptiMax outboards and will be a genuine 80mph speedster.

However, Rod says it's quite possible to go down in power to a 350hp motor and still achieve pretty quick speeds. Alternatively, he has a MerCruiser sterndrive (1350hp) version in the works for owners who are game to go seriously fast.

"We wanted a smooth, fast, rough-water, all-round boat," says Bickerton.

"The owner's been involved in this boat's construction and he wanted the concept of the open boat to take the kids skiing, to burn through the harbour with a heap of friends, and he likes the full walkaround and not being constrained by anything on the sides.

"It's the owner's best boat, but he's just the passenger. His wife is the driver. She's grown up with family ski boats and had everything right through the range up to our boats. She's saying this is by far the best boat she's driven," Bickerton says. Happy wife and happy life.

The Force 26 Cross Over has now attracted interest from the US, Bickerton adds.

Performance and fuel consumption:
4000rpm, 29mph, 27 litres/hour
4500rpm, 35mph, 47 litres/hour
5000rpm, 41mph, 57 litres/hour
5500rpm, 49mph, 70 litres/hour
6000rpm, 54mph, 76 litres/hour
6500rpm, 60mph, 120 litres/hour
7000rpm, 65mph, 145 litres/hour

Supplied by:
Force Boats
Lower Portland NSW 2756
Phone: (02) 4575 4038