Formosa Sea-Rod 580 Centre Cabin Classic: Review

A key model in Formosa's Sea-Rod alloy-boat range is the mid-sized 580 Centre Cabin. This tough, smooth-sided alloy boat is proving very popular with coastal fishermen, thanks to its compact size, easy handling, and excellent interior fishing layout. It's also great value when packaged with a Dunbier trailer and Yamaha 130hp four-stroke outboard.

OVERVIEW
- Formosa Sea-Rod Centre Cabs proving popular Australia-wide
Brisbane's Formosa Marine has hit the sweet spot with its Sea-Rod Centre Cabin boat range. These good looking, nicely appointed plate-alloy trailerboats are proving a hit with anglers throughout Australia. The boats are well equipped, sturdily built, spacious, capable on the water and very well priced.

In the Formosa Sea-Rod range, anglers have a choice of eight different Centre Cabin models built on six different hulls sizes. The boats are available in 550, 580, 620, 660, 700, and 740 model lengths.

With the two smaller hulls you can also choose between the standard Classic or deluxe Offshore standard of fit-out. The main difference between the two is that the Classic models have a carpeted, marine plywood internal floor, whereas the Offshore models are manufactured with a fully welded self-draining aluminium floor.

With the exception of the range topping 740 Centre Cabin, all models have a moderate 18.5 degree deadrise vee hull with a fine forward entry shape, broad shoulders and very wide chines that are noticeably flattened-off at the stern.

The distinctive sheer in the deck-line and topsides is another feature which differentiates the Formosa Sea-Rods from many rival brands... and helps to direct spray away from the interior when the boats are underway.

Another stand-out feature of the Formosa Sea-Rods is the water-ballast system built into the hull.

Instead of a hollowed out keel (which is the norm for water-ballast systems), the Sea-Rods have four separate hull chambers which fill with water when the boat is at rest. This increases the displacement of the hull, allowing it to settle deeper in the water for increased stability and reduced side-to-side rocking. The water ballast drains out of the chambers once you advance the throttle and get underway.

All Formosa Sea-Rod models above 5.2m in length are equipped with the unique four-chamber water-ballasted hull design, including the subject of this review, the best selling 580 Centre Cabin Classic. We tested this pocket-sized coastal sport fishing boat rigged with Yamaha's smooth running in-line four cylinder 130hp four-stroke outboard.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Just over $50k entry price for this terrific centre-cabin sport fisher
For our sea trial on the Gold Coast Broadwater, local dealer Marine Tune supplied a neat looking 580 Sea-Rod Centre Cabin Classic with black topsides and riding on a tandem-axle Dunbier galvanised steel trailer. An extra-longshaft (25in) Yamaha 130hp four-stroke outboard was bolted to the fast-back style transom.

Pricing for this combination starts at a very competitive $51,690 and includes a wide range of standard features, such as Sea Star hydraulic steering, underfloor foam flotation (to Basic Standard), broad, fully welded side decks, 150lt fuel tank (upgradeable), tow-catch to trailer winch post, cabin seating/storage area, dual pedestal helm chairs, cockpit side pockets, bilge pump, four rod holders, carpeted plywood floor, dive/boarding ladder, and a 4mm hull bottom, transom and topsides.

Also available with the 580 Sea-Rod Centre Cabin is Formosa's Active Transom option. Standard boats come with a closed transom with rear boarding platforms, but there are three other layouts available. The first has a two-section transom wall that folds down flat to form a full width seat or casting platform. This layout is designed for maximum access over the stern.

Alternatively you can have a single transom door and inboard step alongside a three quarter width transom bulkhead or dual transom doors/platforms on either side of a central fixed transom wall/bulkhead.

Our test boat was fitted with the single transom door option, which we suspect will be the most popular. Photos of the other layouts can be viewed on the Formosa Marine website.

In addition to the Active Transom option, our test boat came with a number of additions which lift the package price to $57,490. The extras included deluxe coloured paint, a Lowrance Hook5 fish finder/GPS, GME VHF radio, folding hardtop visor with rocket-launcher rod rack, front clears, deluxe bait board/live bait tank (non-plumbed), removable underfloor kill tank, padded rear lounge, and a water separating filter.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- A shelter centre cabin with well-sized bow and stern fishing decks
It is apparent that plenty of thought and research has gone into the interior design of the Sea-Rod 580 Centre Cabin. The cabin, for example, is wide enough to provide an enclosed, sheltered seating and storage area, yet not so wide that it impinges on the walkway space outside it.

Similarly there is ample space aft to fish over the stern in the rear cockpit and the cockpit freeboard is a near perfect 645mm.

The perfectly-sized cockpit side pockets are well elevated above the floor while the optional rear bench seat has been thoughtfully designed so that it folds back completely flush against the transom wall.

At the bow, the open deck area is ideally sized for a single angler to stand and cast lures or to do battle with a fleeing game fish. As with the rear cockpit, the amount of freeboard up on the forward deck is just right.

When fishing from the bow in choppy offshore seas, or manually retrieving the anchor, you can also sit and brace yourself securely on the forward edge of the cabin structure.

The forward deck and side walkway is elevated a step-up from the rear cockpit. This serves to direct any spray and water aft should it come onboard, but also helps to maintain a similar freeboard height as the rear cockpit — keeping in mind that the coamings are higher forward due to the raised sheer in the topsides.

As noted, the centre cabin is ideally sized for the length and beam of the boat. There is a u-shaped, carpeted seating area inside but no storage space as there is flotation foam beneath the seats.

Above the cabin seats there is a full metre of headroom, which is enough to sit comfortably without your head brushing the ceiling. The side seats are short at just 1.23m in length, but they are long enough for small children to stretch out for a nap.

Seat extensions are available too. Optional panel inserts convert the side seats into full length berths. They fit to each end of the existing side seats and extend out into the foot-well space beneath the helm and passenger chairs. A useful option for regular overnighting.

The helm and passenger chairs are mounted on storage boxes and are contained within the confines of the cabin/console, as the cabin side panels extend aft to provided weather protection.

There is ample space between the two chairs for two adults to sit comfortably and the dash and windscreen is situated at the right height to provide shelter and a clear view forward and to the sides of the boat.

In the test boat, the curved acrylic windscreen was topped by a short, folding hardtop with an aft facing rod rack and clear drop curtain between the hardtop and windscreen. With the curtain clipped into place, the helm area is surprisingly well enclosed and sheltered from the elements.

Beneath the windscreen there is flat dash space for bracket-mounted electronics gear - such as the Lowrance Hook5 fitted to the test boat.

The fascia beneath is plain in design and sized to accept only engine instruments, a switch panel, VHF radio and perhaps a stereo head-unit.

The steering wheel and throttle were very well positioned so the skipper could drive the boat comfortably while seated or standing up.

Behind the helm chairs there is 1.56m of cockpit floor space back to the rear transom wall, along with an optional sub-floor kill tank and overhead bait-board work station which incorporates a live bait tank and aft facing rod rack.

Other features include extra wide (fully welded) side coamings, short rear coaming rails, optional port side transom door, and the aforementioned optional folding bench seat - behind which there is a series of general storages shelves including one at floor level for the battery.

 ON THE WATER
- A comfortable, well mannered hull with smooth, quiet Yamaha power
Formosa's Sea-Rod models from 5.2 to 6.6m in length all have 18.5 degree deadrise hulls which provide an excellent balance between ride comfort and stability at rest.

Underway, the flat aft chine flats provide lift to stiffen the boat on a lateral axis, while the moderate transom vee helps the hull to plane easily and quickly

At rest the four-chamber water-ballast system contributes to stability at rest by reducing the angle of heel and side-to-side rocking.

Through choppy water the 580 series Sea-Rod hull works pretty well, too. The ride was more comfortable than we had anticipated and the gradual slope of the stem allows the boat to ride easily and predictably out of wave troughs in a following sea.

With regard to power, the 580 Sea-Rod Centre Cabin is rated for a single extra-long-shaft outboard up to 175hp. Our test was rigged with a single 130hp Yamaha four-stroke which we would regard as the minimum power for the boat.

With the smooth running Yamaha on the transom, the test rig accelerated quite strongly from idle and through the middle RPM range (indicating the engine was well propped), but the top speed was relatively low at just 30 knots.

You can easily get away with fitting the single 130hp engine, as its mid -ange power and performance is very good, but we would advocate spending a few more dollars and upgrading to a 150hp engine. The bigger engine may weigh more, but the hull has more than enough buoyancy aft to handle the extra weight.

VERDICT
- A compact but very capable and affordable coastal offshore fishing boat
We were impressed with the Formosa Sea-Rod 580 Centre Cabin Classic. This nicely appointed, well priced boat combines 360 degree fishability with cabin shelter and storage, and a comfortable, stable and well-mannered plate-alloy hull.

We'd recommend a little more power, but otherwise this mid-sized sport fisher is a real gem. Little wonder it is one of Formosa's best selling models.

LIKES
>> Terrific value for money
>> Great layout for coastal fishing
>> Cabin shelter and storage space
>> Choice of transom layouts
>> Well mannered, comfortable riding hull
>> Sturdy 4mm plate alloy construction

NOT SO MUCH
>> Could use a little more power
>> No stern cleats

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.74/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.9/5.0
On the water performance: 4.7/5.0
Value for money: 4.8/5.0
X-factor: 4.7/5.0

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
2.5kts (4.6km/h) @ 1000rpm
4.2kts (7.8km/h) @ 1500rpm
5.1kts (9.4km/h) @ 2000rpm
6.3kts (11.6km/h) @ 2500rpm
7.0kts (12.9km/h) @ 3000rpm
13.2kts (24.4km/h) @ 3500rpm
18.2kts (33.7km/h) @ 4000rpm
20.3kts (37.5km/h) @ 4500rpm
22.8kts (42.2km/h) @ 5000rpm
25.7kts (47.5km/h) @ 5500rpm
28.0kts (51,8km/h) @ 6000rpm
30.0kts (55.5km/h) @ 6300rpm (WOT)

Specifications: Formosa Sea-Rod 580 Centre Cabin Classic
Price as tested: $57,490 including a Yamaha 130hp four-stroke extra-longshaft (25”) outboard with Sea Star hydraulic steering, trim limit switch and analogue engine gauges, Dunbier tandem axle galvanised steel trailer with mechanical brakes, deluxe coloured paint, Lowrance Hook5 fish finder/GPS, GME VHF radio, folding hardtop visor, clears, deluxe bait board/live bait tank (non-plumbed), kill tank, Active Transom Door, padded rear lounge, water separating filter, and 12 months boat and trailer registration.  
Priced from: $51,690 including a Yamaha 130hp four-stroke extra-longshaft (25”) outboard with Sea Star hydraulic steering, analogue gauges, Dunbier tandem axle galvanised steel trailer with mechanical brakes, and 12 months boat and trailer registrations.

Length overall: 6.0m
Hull length: 5.8m
Beam: 2.45m
Deadrise:  18.5 degrees
Hull weight: 820kg
Weight on trailer: Approx 1595kg
Bottom & transom alloy: 4.0mm
Topsides alloy: 4.0mm
Maximum power: 175hp
Engine as tested: Yamaha 130hp four-stroke
Fuel capacity: 150lt
Flotation standard: Basic
Maximum persons: Seven

Supplied by:
Marine Tune
Phone: (07) 5576 7388
Email: sales@marinetune.com
Website: www.marinetune.com