Formosa 520 Classic Half Cabin: Review

Brisbane’s Formosa Marine has emerged as a leader in aluminium trailerboat manufacturing in recent years, offering the public a wide range of quality products with excellent pricing and backup from a large, nation-wide dealer network. For families, Formosa has plenty of runabouts, bowriders and half cabins. This week we take a look at one of the entry half cabins, the 520 Classic powered by a Suzuki 100hp four-stroke.

OVERVIEW
- From strength to strength
In recent years, while several aluminium boat brands have floundered, Brisbane based Formosa Marine has flourished, expanding both its boat range and its dealer network. Formosa is very much a national brand, with representation in all Australian states. Formosa is, arguably, the only brand giving alloy manufacturing giant Telwater any real competition.

Formosa has a boat range which now numbers more than 50 models – across its Formosa Classic, Tomahawk, and Formosa Sea-Rod brand names. The company has certainly come a long way since it launched back in 1998.

The original and entry models in the Formosa range are the Classics. These great-value boats don’t have some of the features of the Tomahawks and Sea-Rods (such as the welded self-draining alloy floor and flooded keel ballast system) but they are more than a match for many competitor craft – thanks to the smooth external plate alloy construction, extra wide beams, spacious interiors, and underfloor longitudinal stringer construction system.

For families and fishermen on a budget, the Formosa Classics are ideal – and one of the best is the subject of this test, the 520 Classic Half Cabin.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- More boat for your money
Formosa’s continued success can be attributed to giving its customers great value for money, but in combination with sound construction and safe, reliable on-water performance. The boats are generally over-sized for their designated length (when compared with competitor brands) with wide beams, high topsides and heaps of interior space.

The Classics are not loaded with standard features but the designs are practical, efficient, and you can option the boats to your specific requirements – so you can spend as little or as much as you want to create your perfect boat.

The test rig, supplied by Brisbane’s Australian Marine Centre, had only a few optional extras. They included two-tone paint, an excellent bait board/live-bait tank, lift-out underfloor alloy kill tank, and a port-side transom door. With these additions, and packaged with a Suzuki 100hp four-stroke outboard, Redco single axle braked trailer, registrations and safety gear, the test boat is outstanding value at $43,200.

Lose the options and package with a Suzuki DF90 outboard, and the price drops to a very affordable $39,500.

For the record, some of the standard gear includes 4mm plate alloy bottom and topsides, carpet over plywood floor (with the plywood treated against mould), a wide beam, reverse chine hull with 17 degree deadrise and distinctive raised sheer-line, vee berth cabin, swiveling and sliding pedestal helm chairs, fully welded side decks, rear folding and removable lounge, underfloor foam (to Basic Standard), bilge pump, elevated battery platforms, mechanical steering (hydraulic upgrade optional), two rod holders and drink holders, dive ladder, and transom transducer mounting brackets.

As noted, there are plenty of options – including various seating designs, and fishing accessories such as rod racks and rocket launchers, live-bait tanks, kill tanks, storm covers and more.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Big, beamy, high-volume interior
The amount of interior space in the 520 Classic half cabin certainly belies its modest 5.2m hull length. From the cockpit, the boat feels larger, thanks to the 2.4m maximum beam along with the high, topsides and full-height (670mm along the sides) cockpit freeboard.

In length, the cockpit measures 2.2m from the cabin back to the rear transom wall by 2.15m wide. Behind the pedestal helm chairs there is 1.45m of space.

The short, above floor side pockets are 1.0m long by 160mm wide and deep; ideal for terminal tackle, deck lines, etc.

The fully welded (as opposed to stitch welded) side coamings are enormous at 250mm across – and can easily double as seats to lean on while fishing from the rear cockpit. They are also great for installing flush-fit rod holders, outriggers, downriggers, etc.

With regard to seats, the very comfy three-quarter width bench seat situated against the transom wall is designed to fold down – or be removed for more fishing room. Behind it there is provision for the battery and oil tank, fuel filter and master switch in an elevated and readily accessible locker. Full credit for this excellent design.

The test boat was fitted with the optional transom door situated in the port side rear corner, leading out to a boarding platform with an excellent two-step ladder.

Other external transom features include twin transducer/pump mounts and grab rails – but no stern cleats.

Standard fishing features are limited to the two rod holders, but there are plenty of options, including the superb bait board with live bait tank, and the lift-out underfloor alloy kill tank.

In contrast to the rear cockpit and the rest of the boat, the cabin in the 520 Classic is not as large as it first appears. With around 815mm of space between the berth cushions and the ceiling there is not quite enough headroom to sit fully upright – at least without ducking your head slightly.

At 1.45m in length the berth cushions are not long enough for adults, but young children will easily be able to stretch out for nap during a long day on the water.

There is plenty of storage space underneath the berths/seats, but there are no cabin side storage pockets.

The wiring behind the helm station was very neat and tidy, but did not have a protective cover.

A large acrylic hatch in the forward part of the cabin ceiling provides excellent access to the bow for anchoring. The anchor well is large and lined with carpet to suppress anchor chain rattle, etc. The anchor well is also constructed so that it provides additional strength and rigidity to the bow of the boat.

The helm configuration in the 520 Classic is great for driving the boat while seated and standing. The steering wheel and throttle are perfectly placed and the windscreen provides shelter from wind and spray.

The dash/fascia is plain, somewhat old fashioned in design – as there is no flat panel space for flush-fitting a modern fish finder/GPS. Electronics will need to be bracket-mounted and offset to port, alongside the designated instrument panel.

ON THE WATER
- Solid performance with stability and economy
On the water, the Formosa 520 Classic is a very smart looking package, and the hull works as well as it looks. The very fine entry forward cuts nicely through chop, while the strongly reversed chines suppress spray and provide excellent stability at rest – when combined with the wide waterline beam.

The hull responds quite well to trim, and as with most planing hulls, it works best and most efficiently with the drive leg trimmed out and the bow running nice and high. The only time you would trim the hull into the water is when attacking some heavy chop or big swells.

The 520 Classic is rated for a single extra-longshaft (25”) outboard up to 115hp – and performs adequately with the test rig’s Suzuki 100hp four-stroke. We achieved a top speed of 31.5 knots with two adults onboard. A low 30 knot top speed is nothing to be sneezed at, but for best performance we would recommend the maximum power outboard.

VERDICT
- A great value bay and coastal family all-rounder
The 520 Classic is the smallest of the Formosa Classic cabin boats, but arguably the most versatile. It is big enough for fishing and family boating in bay and coastal waters, yet it needs only a single axle trailer and can be towed comfortably behind a family car. It’s a great looking package with heaps of interior space and a safe, seaworthy hull.

LIKES
>> Solid performance
>> Great value 
>> Excellent helm position
>> Large cabin hatch
>> Carpeted anchor well
>> Plenty of cockpit freeboard

NOT SO MUCH
>> Cabin headroom at a premium
>> No cabin side pockets
>> Rudimentary/plain dash/fascia set-up
>> No wiring cover
>> No stern cleats

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.68/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On the water performance: 4.6/5.0
Value for money: 4.9/5.0
X-factor: 4.5/5.0

Specifications:
Price as tested: $43,200 including a Suzuki 100hp extra-longshaft (25”) four-stroke outboard, Redco single-axle braked trailer, two-tone paint, bait board/live bait tank, lift-out kill tank, transom door, inshore safety kit for five adults, and boat and trailer registrations.
Priced from: $39,500 including a Suzuki 90hp extra-longshaft (25”) four-stroke outboard, Redco single axle braked trailer, inshore safety kit, and boat and trailer registrations.
Length overall: 5.35m
Hull length: 5.2m
Beam: 2.40m
Hull weight: 660kg
Towing weight: Approx 1,270kg
Deadrise: 17 degrees
Bottom alloy: 4mm
Topsides alloy: 4mm
Maximum power: 115hp
Engine as tested: Suzuki 100hp four-stroke outboard
Fuel: 115 litres
Maximum Persons: Five

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