Formosa 480 Tomahawk Classic CC: Fishing Boat Review

The Formosa 480 Tomahawk Classic is a terrific open boat for bay, river and impoundment fishing. Built with smooth topsides and a tough plate-alloy hull, the 480 Tomahawk represents excellent value when packaged with a Suzuki 70hp four-stroke motor and Redco Sportsman trailer.

OVERVIEW
- Formosa’s ever expanding boat range
Established in 1998, Brisbane’s Formosa Marine has grown to become one of Australia’s largest manufacturers of aluminium trailerboats, and one of only a handful of brands that you can buy in every Aussie state.

The boat range has expanded in recent years, too. Boaters and fishermen can now choose from well over 60 different models spread across about 14 hull sizes and with varying levels of fit-out and equipment.

In the regular Formosa centre-console range (excluding the up-spec Sea Rod boats) there are a dozen boats to choose from, divided into the Classic and the Offshore specification models and spread across eight different hull sizes.

The Classic and Offshore models share essentially the same hulls, but the Offshores have more standard features and a welded self-draining cockpit floor. The value-driven Classic models have fewer features and a carpeted, marine-plywood internal floor. Otherwise the two different lines are identical, sharing the same 4mm and 5mm plate-alloy bottoms and smooth 4mm topsides.

For this review we have snared one of the entry centre-console boats, the 480 Tomahawk Classic, powered by Suzuki’s evergreen 70hp four-stroke outboard.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Great buying at less than $32k for the entry BMT package
The Classic models may be the entry specification boats in the Formosa range, but they are still armed with features and equipment boaters will appreciate — including the carpeted marine-ply rear cockpit and forward casting deck, bow and stern rails, a carpeted, open anchor well, folding centre console, elevated rear battery platforms, external boarding platforms, four plastic rod holders, boarding ladder, cockpit side-storage pockets, underfloor foam flotation (to Basic Standard), and Sea Star’s Xtreme non-feedback mechanical steering.

Packaged with a 70hp Suzuki four-stroke longshaft (20in) outboard and a Redco single-axle braked (mechanical over-ride) trailer, Brisbane dealer Australian Marine Centre has entry 480 Tomahawk Classic CC packages priced from $31,500.

As with all Formosa’s current models, the 480 Tomahawk is fitted with Formosa’s "Tow-Catch" towing eye at the bow. If you order the boat with a Redco or Dunbier trailer, a quick-release boat catch mechanism will be mounted to the winch post which works in conjunction with Formosa’s Tow-Catch towing eye. This then allows you to easily launch and retrieve your Formosa single handedly.

During retrieval, for example, you can drive the boat onto the trailer and the towing eye will latch into its opposite number on the winch post, locking the boat into position, and preventing it from rolling back down into the water. You can then disembark over the bow, climb into the cab of your vehicle and haul your rig out of the water.

Our test rig came on an upgraded (heavy-duty) Redco trailer fitted with the boat-catching mechanism and it worked a treat. Several other options were fitted too, including a Garmin Striker 5dv fish finder/GPS, white-coloured Suzuki outboard (instead of standard blue), underfloor kill tank, and Formosa’s deluxe bait station which incorporates a four-rod rod rack and a plumbed live-bait tank. The additions lift the price to $34,650 — but this is still wonderful value for money.

Before concluding this section of our review, we should mention that the standard boat does not come with a helm seat. Nor did the test rig. Pedestal chairs are available as an option, as is a padded helm seat box which doubles as an ice box. The latter, priced at $1100, is arguably your best option as two people can perch on the seat box (one on each side) while underway.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Deep cockpit with folding console screen and elevated casting deck forward
Like most Formosa boats, the 480 Tomahawk Classic CC has a big volume hull with stacks of interior space and plenty of freeboard.

In the rear cockpit there is a minimum of 640mm of freeboard in the transom corners, rising to 655mm along the sides. This is more than enough depth to keep anglers nicely braced while fishing, and children safely contained within the boat.

The cockpit itself is long, wide and uncluttered... bigger than you would expect from a boat of just 4.8m in length. Specifically, there is 1.56m of cockpit space aft of the helm console by 1.98m wide. The full-length of the lower cockpit, stretching from the transom forward to the casting deck is 2.0m.

Key cockpit features include elevated battery and oil tank platforms, cockpit side storage pockets, fully welded 260mm wide side coamings (which make great seats while fishing), rear coaming rails (no stern cleats), an optional underfloor fish box suitable for holding a feed of reef species, and the optional, bolt-on Formosa deluxe baitboard with rod rack and bait tank.

The bait station/bait tank is a worthwhile option with smaller Formosa models like this 480 Tomahawk, as the bait tank is big enough for a dozen small live baits and the bait board has a cutting surface, storage pockets and other useful extras, not least of which is the aft-facing rod rack.

For lure casting, fly fishing, etc., the forward casting deck is elevated around 250mm above the rear floor and measures 1.22m long by 1.94m across. There is easily enough space for two anglers to stand and fish from this bow area, and there is enough freeboard so that you will still feel quite secure fishing from the bow in choppy waters.

Beneath the casting deck there is a single storage locker with a false carpeted plywood floor. This is the best spot to stow your safety gear bag, clothing, towels, and so on, as this locker should remain dry.

Additional bow features include bow rails made from sturdy 32mm alloy tube; a beefy welded bollard; large, open anchor well (with noise dampening carpeted sides); and a newly designed bow roller assembly which has the bow roller bracket welded to the bow rails and extended further forward. With this design there is no need for a traditional bowsprit.

We noted earlier that the helm console has a folding windscreen. This is a great feature and should make it easy to fit the boat package into a regular house-hold garage. It takes only a moment to fold down too, as there are quick release clips on each side of the console, allowing the screen to then fold forward and down.

The helm console is otherwise traditional in design with a single shelf underneath and space for standard engine gauges and switching on the fascia. Your fish finder/GPS will need to be bracket-mounted on top of the dash, beneath the clear acrylic windscreen.

ON THE WATER
- Comfortable ride with rock-solid stability, easy handling
Formosa’s latest V2 vee hull shape has been many years in the making and it is proving a success for Formosa across the full range of models.

The V2 hulls do vary depending on boat size, but most models — including the 480 Tomahawk — have a fine entry forward with noticeable spray chines, coming aft to a moderate transom vee with wide, flattened outer chines. It is the latter which accounts for the Tomahawk’s excellent stability at rest.

Underway the Tomahawk 480 remains stable and is easily driven. In choppy water, the sharp entry shape cuts nicely through waves, and the heavy-duty 4mm plate bottom adds weight to help soften out the bumps.

Through slalom turns the hull hangs in nicely and feels surefooted, well mannered, and easy to control.

Our test boat was packaged with a Suzuki 70hp four-stroke outboard and this sweet little engine powered the 480 Tomahawk to a reasonable top speed of 27.5 knots. Through the mid-range, however, the boat/engine combination was lacking a bit of oomph — a result that was not unexpected given the hull is rated to carry outboards up to 115hp.

The 480 Tomahawk does not need the full 115hp, but we would consider the little Suzuki 70hp as the bare minimum. We would advocate spending a few extra dollars and upgrading to an 80 or 90hp engine.

With the Suzuki DF70 on the transom the 480 Tomahawk is certainly economical, however – burning just 7.3 l/ph hour at 3500 rpm for a sedate cruise of 14.5 knots. With these figures, the maximum range on 95 per cent of the boat’s 80l fuel supply works out to be 150.91 nautical miles.

VERDICT
- A great-value open bay-fishing boat for budget buyers
If you’re looking for an honest, capable, durable, and spacious open bay-fishing boat, you need look no further. The Formosa 480 Tomahawk Classic CC fits the bill admirably. With package pricing from $35k, the Tomahawk is also terrific value for money and one of the best boats in this size range on offer right now.

LIKES
>> Exceptional value for money
>> Smooth ride, great stability
>> Spacious interior
>> Folding console screen
>> Welded, ultra wide side coamings
>> Noise dampening carpeted anchor well

NOT SO MUCH
>> 70hp is minimum and suggest upgrade to 80-90hp.
>> No stern cleats

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.76/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.9/5.0
On the water performance: 4.7/5.0
Value for money: 4.9/5.0
X-factor: 4.7/5.0

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
3.1kts (5.7km/h) @ 1000rpm
4.0kts (7.4km/h) @ 1500rpm
4.9kts (9.1km/h) @ 2000rpm
5.7kts (10.5km/h) @ 2500rpm
7.1kts (13.1km/h) @ 3000rpm
14.5kts (26.8km/h) @ 3500rpm
17.0kts (31.4km/h) @ 4000rpm
20.5kts (37.9km/h) @ 4500rpm
24.2kts (44.8km/h) @ 5000rpm
27.5kts (50.9km/h) @ 5500rpm (WOT)

PERFORMANCE – ECONOMY
1.4 l/ph @ 1000rpm
2.3 l/ph @ 1500rpm
2.7 l/ph @ 2000rpm
4.6 l/ph @ 2500rpm
6.7 l/ph @ 3000rpm
7.3 l/ph @ 3500rpm
9.6 l/ph @ 4000rpm
12.1 l/ph @ 4500rpm
18.7 l/ph @ 5000rpm
23.8 l/ph @ 5500rpm (WOT)

MAXIMUM RANGE ON 95% OF 80l FUEL TANK: 150.91nm @ 3500rpm

Specifications: Formosa 480 Tomahawk
Price as tested: $34,650 including a Suzuki 70hp four-stroke longshaft (20”) outboard (in optional white colour) an upgraded heavy duty Redco single axle braked (mechanical over-ride) trailer, coloured hull paint, Garmin Striker 5dv fish finder/GPS, underfloor kill tank, deluxe bait station/bait tank, 12 months QLD boat and trailer registrations and an inshore safety gear pack.
Priced from: $31,500 including a Suzuki 70hp four-stroke longshaft (20”) outboard, Redco single axle braked (mechanical over-ride) trailer, 12 months QLD boat and trailer registrations and an inshore safety gear pack.

Length overall: 5.00m
Hull length: 4.80m
Beam: 2.30m
Deadrise: 13.5 degrees
Hull weight: 500kg
Weight on trailer: Approx 1000kg
Bottom & transom alloy: 4.0mm
Topsides alloy: 4.0mm
Maximum power: 115hp
Engine as tested: Suzuki 70hp four-stroke
Fuel capacity: 80lt
Flotation standard: Basic
Maximum persons: Five

Supplied by:
Australian Marine Centre
Phone: (07) 3808 7333
Email: sales@amcboats.com.au
More at Australian Marine Centre.