Formosa 660 Tomahawk Offshore Hardtop: Fishing Trailerboat Review

Formosa's plate-alloy boat range continues to expand in size and popularity. This Brisbane-based boatbuilder now offers a full range of hull sizes and configurations stretching through to 7.4m. The larger models are finding favour with offshore anglers and family boaters. One of the best right now is the 660 Tomahawk Offshore Hardtop.

OVERVIEW
- All-weather hardtop cabin trailerboats a hit with offshore anglers
Semi-enclosed hardtop cabin trailerboats with an integrated, full-height windscreen are proving very popular in the market-place right now. Once quite rare on regular production boats, and for reasons that have always escaped me, enclosed cabin/helm station trailerboats are now de rigueur.

Increased interest in hardtop boats with an enclosed, or partially enclosed helm and saloon should be no surprise really, as this configuration provides all-weather shelter and protection for anglers and families fishing wide offshore.

A well-designed hardtop/enclosed saloon design needs to provide weather protection but without impinging on the space in the rear cockpit. In craft that are partially enclosed and don't have a rear bulkhead, the design should allow anglers to fish the full length of the cockpit, right forward to the back of the helm chairs — and without overhead obstruction from the trailing edge of the hardtop.

Most leading Aussie boat brands now offer customers at least one model with a hardtop and sheltered saloon area, including Brisbane plate-alloy boatbuilder Formosa Marine. This expanding plate-alloy boat manufacturer has several well-designed hardtop models, including the subject of this review, the 660 Tomahawk Offshore, powered by a Suzuki V6 200hp four-stroke outboard.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Big value at $90k for a turn-key offshore fishing rig
With its imposing, yet well-proportioned hardtop and cabin design and Formosa's trademark smooth topsides and rising deck sheer-line, the 660 Tomahawk Offshore is a striking boat. It's presence on the boat ramp and on the water commands attention, drawing admiring glances from anglers.

The boat has a moderate, 18.5-degree transom deadrise hull with high sides, wide, reverse chines, a couple of half-length lifting/planing strakes and a fine cutting entry shape at the bow.

Our test boat was the Offshore model as opposing to the Classic version. The two differ mainly in that the higher specification Offshore series has a fully welded, self-draining alloy cockpit floor. The Classic model makes do with a carpeted timber floor.

Both are built with a box-section plate-alloy rib structure underfloor and with a 5.0mm hull bottom and transom with 4.0mm topsides.

Whether in the Offshore or Classic guise, the 660 Offshore is nicely equipped.

Standard features include a large, open forward cabin with double berth and standard infill cushion, alloy hardtop with deck-to-hardtop toughened glass windscreen and sliding side windows, a large, flat dash area, deluxe helm chairs on storage boxes, folding rear lounge, wide side coamings, sub-floor and side pocket storage, rear battery shelves, underfloor foam flotation (to Basic Standard), hydraulic steering, bilge pump, navigation lights, transom door, and a rear boarding platform and ladder.

Entry 660 Tomahawk Offshore Hardtop packages are available from Brisbane's Australian Marine Centre for $82,750. The package also includes a smooth-running Suzuki 175hp extra-longshaft (25in) four-stroke outboard with Sea Star hydraulic steering and analogue gauges, a tandem-axle Dunbier galvanised-steel braked trailer, offshore safety gear, and 12 months' QLD boat and trailer registrations.

Our test rig was priced a little higher at $90,900 but this was for a turnkey ready-to-fish package with electronics and a larger 200hp V6 Suzuki four-stroke outboard.

Just over $90k for a fully-kitted trailerable offshore sportfishing boat is exceptional value in my book.

The higher price also included a deluxe Redco/Tinka Classic tandem-axle aluminium braked trailer, digital engine instruments, a Garmin EchoMap 95sv fish finder/GPS, GME VHF radio, deluxe bait board/live bait tank (plumbed), kill tank, dual batteries, and deluxe-coloured hull paint.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Spacious, open-plan interior with a huge rear cockpit, ample freeboard
The Formosa 660 Tomahawk Offshore has a traditional open cockpit and open forward cabin layout but with an overhead hardtop and full-height, deck-to-hardtop windscreen for weather protection.

The hardtop is the ideal base for radio aerials, radar domes, outrigger mounts and navigation lights.

There is ample height underneath the hardtop for taller skippers, and there is a very useful rocket-launcher rod rack to keep your rod/reel outfits clear of the rear decks.

On each side of the hardtop there is a sturdy grab rail to hold onto so you can climb around the cabin to the foredeck with some security. You can also reach the foredeck and spacious anchor well by ducking into the cabin and out the clear ceiling ventilation and access hatch.

Family boaters will appreciate the berth and storage space in the cabin along with the option to fit a chemical toilet under the starboard-side bunk cushion. There is storage space beneath the port-side bunk opposite.

An infill board and matching vinyl-upholstered cushion is standard so you can reconfigure the cabin layout to create a large double berth.

There is no cover over the wiring in the cabin, behind the helm, but it is neatly configured and taped/cable tied securely.

The helm position itself is pretty straight forward in design but functional. The steering wheel and side-mount throttle are suitably positioned so you can drive the boat while standing or seated — and the skipper has a clear view through the twin-pane safety-glass windscreen and surrounding side windows, which open up for ventilation.

The helm chairs are mounted on storage boxes which have an aft facing padded squab seat. There is additional seating across the stern in the form of a fold-down, three quarter width padded bench seat.

The arm-rest equipped helm chairs swivel and slide fore and aft for maximum comfort. They are also have a back-rest grab rail for standing crew members to hold on to during the run out to the fishing grounds.

On the helm fascia surrounding the steering wheel there is space for engine instruments, a switch panel and flush-fitted radios, although there is an overhead radio box for this purchase.

The fascia is not designed for a flush-fitted electronics display but there is ample flat dash space for large, bracket-mounted displays, like the Garmin unit fitted to the test boat.

For car keys, phones, wallets and the like, there is a lockable glovebox on the dash over on the port side, beneath another great hand rail.

For stowing deck lines, fenders, and fishing gear the rear cockpit has full-length side-storage pockets under the gunwales.

There's also a kill tank under the rear cockpit floor, and an elevated storage shelf alongside the battery, behind the removable aft folding bench seat.

Anglers will love the huge rear cockpit. The overall length is 3.1m from the helm aft to the transom wall, with 2.6m x 2.1m of uncluttered space behind the helm seat boxes.

Other features include extra wide side and rear coamings, rear transom door, 725mm of cockpit freeboard, transom corner scuppers for the self-draining system, four plastic rod holders (which you would likely swap-out for sturdier alloy or stainless-steel versions) and Formosa's deluxe bait station.

The latter is a cleverly designed, bolt-on item incorporating a moderate-sized plumbed livebait tank, an aft facing four-rod rod rack, and a hinged bait board with tackle storage bin underneath.

ON THE WATER
- A well-balanced, stable, capable offshore fishing boat
Formosa Marine hulls are generally conservative in shape to ensure the boats are safe, stable and sure-footed. The 18.5 degree deadrise vee hull under the 660 Hardtop is no exception. This big, wide beam plate rig is very stable at rest and has a heap of lift in the stern so it gets up on plane quickly and easily.

Underway, the hull also rides easily through swell and wave chop, while the high topsides and heavy chines combine to deflect spray away from boat.

The hull feels nicely balanced at speed and through slalom turns, and responds quickly to steering (Sea-Star hydraulic) and throttle input.

The 660 Hardtop is rated for single extra longshaft (25in) outboards up to 225hp, but will perform to speeds of around 32-34 knots with outboards in the 150-175hp power range.

Our test boat was rigged with a smooth-running Suzuki 200hp four-stroke outboard. This big displacement V6 four-stroke delivered plenty of power throughout the RPM range, pushing the big Formosa to a top speed of 37.7 knots, which is plenty for an offshore fishing rig.

The boat-and-engine combination was most economical with the Suzuki ticking over at 3500rpm at a boat speed of 20.9 knots. This combination yields a maximum range of 169.3 nautical miles on 95 per cent of the boat's standard 220lt fuel supply. Importantly, if a 170nm range isn't not going to be sufficient, you can optional the boat with a bigger fuel tank.

VERDICT
- A budget-beating offshore game fishing boat and family cruiser
The Formosa Tomahawk 660 Offshore Hardtop is a well-built, safe, seaworthy plate-alloy boat with excellent performance from single outboards in the 150-200hp size range.

The easy-care interior is designed and outfitted mainly for offshore fishing but the boat can easily double as a family cruiser, especially with the addition of the optional toilet and a privacy curtain.

Our test boat package was priced at around $90,900, but entry pricing for this tough looking rig starts at less than $80k... and that's exceptional value for a full-featured fishing/family boat that is just shy of 7.0m length.

LIKES
>> Strong build, striking looks
>> All-weather hardtop shelter
>> Exceptional value for money
>> Large, uncluttered self-draining cockpit
>> Effortless power from Suzuki V6 outboard

NOT SO MUCH
>> No wiring cover
>> No stern cleats

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.78/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.9/5.0
On the water performance: 4.6/5.0
Value for money: 5.0/5.0
X-factor: 4.8/5.0

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
4.6kts (8.5km/h) @ 1000rpm
5.6kts (10.4km/h) @ 1500rpm
6.6kts (12.2km/h) @ 2000rpm
8.2kts (15.2km/h) @ 2500rpm
15.6kts (28.9km/h) @ 3000rpm
20.9kts (38.7km/h) @ 3500rpm
25.9kts (47.9km/h) @ 4000rpm
29.8kts (55.1km/h) @ 4500rpm
33.5kts (62.0km/h) @ 5000rpm
36.8kts (68.1km/h) @ 5500rpm
37.7kts (69.7km/h) @ 6000rpm (WOT)

PERFORMANCE – ECONOMY
4.0 l/ph @ 1000rpm
5.6 l/ph @ 1500rpm
8.3 l/ph @ 2000rpm
13.6 l/ph @ 2500rpm
19.5 l/ph @ 3000rpm
25.8 l/ph @ 3500rpm
33.3 l/ph @ 4000rpm
44.1 l/ph @ 4500rpm
52.7 l/ph @ 5000rpm
65.1 l/ph @ 5500rpm
67.3 l/ph @ 6000rpm (WOT)
MAXIMUM RANGE ON 95% OF 220l FUEL TANK: 169.31nm @ 3500rpm

Specifications: Formosa 660 Tomahawk Offshore Hardtop
Price as tested: $90,900 including a Suzuki 200hp extra-longshaft (25in) four-stroke outboard with Sea Star hydraulic steering and digital instrumentation, Redco Tinka Classic tandem-axle aluminium braked trailer, Garmin EchoMap 95sv fish finder/GPS, GME VHF radio, deluxe bait board/live bait tank (plumbed), kill tank, dual batteries, deluxe coloured paint, offshore safety gear, and 12 months' QLD boat and trailer registration.

Priced from: $82,750 including a Suzuki 175hp extra-longshaft (25in) four-stroke outboard with Sea Star hydraulic steering and analogue gauges, white-coloured hull, tandem-axle braked trailer, offshore safety gear, and 12 months' QLD boat and trailer registration.
Length overall: 6.8m
Beam: 2.5m
Deadrise: 18.5 degrees
Hull weight: 1100kg
Weight on Trailer: Approx 1950kg (dry)
Bottom and Transom Alloy: 5.0mm
Topsides Alloy: 4.0mm
Maximum Power: 225hp
Engine as Tested: Suzuki 200hp V6 four-stroke
Fuel Capacity: 220lt
Flotation standard: Basic
Maximum persons: Seven