The biggest ever Formosa is even bigger value
The Sea Rod 7400 walkaround is the biggest ever Formosa boat and exceptional value for moneyBrisbane’s Formosa Marine has launched a new flagship model, called the Sea-Rod 740 Centre Cabin Offshore. The boat started out as a special order for a customer, but Formosa’s design team were so happy with the finished product they have now made it a regular production model.
At-a-glance the new boat appears to be a longer version of Formosa’s 7.0m Centre Cabin, but it actually has a new hull design with a 20 degree transom-vee, replacing the more moderate 18.5 degree deadrise used with Formosa’s smaller models.
The new 7.4 m hull is big, wide and impressive. The fine entry now retains quite a strong vee shape running aft, improving ride comfort in choppy water, while retaining excellent stability thanks to the broad 2.5m beam, flattened chines and Formosa’s unique four chamber water-ballasted hull.
With regard to construction, the big 740 Centre Cabin has a 5mm 5083 marine grade alloy hull bottom and transom, and 4mm topsides in combination with a full underfloor-stringer grid. Internally, the Sea-Rod has a 3mm fully welded self-draining cockpit.
COMPACT CENTRE CABIN
Offshore fishermen will love the layout of the Sea-Rod 740 Centre Cab because the cabin is relatively small in relation to the surrounding fishing decks. In fact, the cab and sheltered helm station is just wide enough to accommodate two box mounted helm chairs side by side, leaving plenty of space outside the cab structure to walk to and from the bow fishing areas.
Within the cabin you’ll find a Vee-shaped berth/seating area with a storage box in the forepeak. The side seats are only 1.6m long, but you can fit optional extension boards (between the existing berths and the helm seat boxes) to create two full-length berths. An infill cushion and board also slots into place between the berths to create a single double bed.
MASSIVE REAR COCKPIT
The tread-plate self-draining cockpit in the new Sea-Rod 740 is huge, measuring 2.74m from the helm seats back to the transom wall by 2.1m wide.
The cockpit also has plenty of freeboard (610mm minimum above the transom door), and the included rear bench seat is cleverly designed so that it folds up completely flush against the transom wall so you can stand and fish over the transom unimpeded.
Storage platforms/shelves are situated beneath the transom coaming, while elevated side storage pockets stretch nearly three quarters of the boat’s length, extending up past the cabin sides.
Other cockpit and transom features include stern rails, fully welded side coamings, underfloor 300L fuel tank, boarding ladder, six plastic rod holders, and a port side transom door that turns into a step when it is folded open,
TOP VALUE
The new Formosa Sea-Rod 740 Centre Cabin Offshore is a ripper new boat for coastal and offshore sport fishing — and great value to boot. Gold Coast dealer, Marine Tune has entry Sea-Rod 740 Centre Cabin Offshore package prices starting at just $88,990 with a Yamaha 200hp four-stroke outboard and tandem axle Dunbier trailer. With pricing this sharp, we reckon this big plate alloy trailerboat will be a hit this coming summer.
Our full offshore test of this top-value maxi centre cabin drops later in the week. Meantime, more at Formosa Marine.
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