Formula 387 CCF (2025-)

• Transferable 5-Year Formula Guard® Limited Protection Plan (USA & Canada only) w/Worldwide 10-year Structural Warranty
• FAS3TeCH® hull w/foam-filled continuous molded structural grid
• Bow thruster
• Windlass w/digital chain counter, 300´ rope & 30´ chain, polished stainless anchor & freshwater anchor washdown system
• Fiberglass hardtop w/3-piece compound curved console glass windshield w/power operated forward glass
• Integrated swim platform w/undermount telescoping swim ladders & pull-up cleats
• 120V shorepower w/fail-safe galvanic isolator & two 30-amp cords
• 10 cockpit rod holders, 7 hardtop rod holders, GEMLUX® deluxe outriggers w/18´ telescoping poles & dual rigging kit
• Cockpit leaning post w/aft-facing slide-away mezzanine bench, full Corian countertop/bait rigging station w/removable cutting board, custom-molded sink, Plano® tackle box organizer, drawer storage & dedicated fishing locker, accessory switches, YETI® Tundra® 35 cooler w/pullout drawer, custom-molded motorized slide-out cooler w/reFLEX durable foam decking, trash container & fire extinguisher/paper towel locker
• Dual forward-facing bow sun lounges w/4 rod holders in armrests, in-floor fish box or bow seating w/removable cushions
• Sea chest raw-water manifold system
• Bennett® dual-ram hydraulic trim tabs
• 8.5 KW Fischer Panda Mini 9 diesel generator w/sound shield, battery & 25-gallon tank
• Molded private head compartment w/frosted portlight, vanity, open-grain finish doors, upper & lower cabinet storage w/concealed trash container, Corian countertop, custom-molded sink w/faucet, porcelain Flush and Forget® VacuFlush® head w/25-gallon holding tank, dockside pumpout, shower exhaust fan & night light
• Mercury Digital Throttle & Shift (DTS) controls w/7˝ SmartCraft® VesselView®
• Port & starboard mid cockpit floor storage w/YETI® LoadOut 5-gallon buckets
• Port & starboard aft cockpit fish boxes w/macerator discharge

• Remote control LED searchlight
• SureShade ATF™ electric power retractable sun shade
• Bow sunshade w/telescoping carbon fiber poles
• Lumitec™ Razor LED light bar 
• Ultimate rod holder package – includes 2 additional rod holders & 10 (open bow configuration) or 6 (bow seating configuration) rod holders
• GEMLUX Bluewater outriggers w/22´ telescoping poles & triple rigging kit
• Wind-Armor® weather doors
• SiriusXM Satellite Weather & fish mapping service receiver
• Seakeeper3 gyro
• Automatic outboard flushing system
• Garmin triple 8616 GPS widescreen color chart-plotters, depth sounder & remote keypad or  Raymarine triple Axiom XL 16˝ GPS widescreen color chartplotters, depth sounder & remote keypad
• 48˝ open-array radar
• 18,000 BTU cockpit reverse cycle air conditioning
• JL Audio M6 blue LED lighted chrome-finished speakers, bow stereo remote, bow 200W subwoofer & chartplotter integrated stereo control
• Aft cockpit fish box freezer plates w/separate digitally controlled thermostats
• Aft cockpit 12V electric reel outlets (4)
• Solid teak cockpit accents
• Helm & leaning post enclosure
• Helm, leaning post & side walkways enclosure

Bow

With its complete walk around main deck setup, the Formula 387 CCF is well-suited for any kind of fishing action whether is be inshore flounder pounding with the family or taking on serious offshore, horizon-chasing big game. All the action starts up on the bow.

Helm

The centerline helm console spans enough space to allow for a trio of large touchscreens and all the necessary controls, switches, and equipment necessary for safe and efficient operation. The helm area itself is jam-packed with features to make any outing a memorable one.

Living Accommodations

Whether stretching your fishing time to an overnight layover or looking for a weekend getaway, the Formula 387 CCF will be able to accommodate your needs. 

Aft Section

With a notched out platform to accommodate the big shouldered power courtesy of triple Mercury 450R outboards, the Adams design still provided for frontal and side access.

With a long-held heritage of built-in performance DNA scoring high points in both her handling and sea-keeping abilities, it’s no surprise the Formula 387 CCF delivers on all counts.

Our test day saw us top out at 60.2 mph turning 6100 rpm with 19-pitch props. At 4000 rpm, her best cruise came in at 32.8 mph with a range of 307 sm while holding back a 10% fuel reserve. Our approximate weight was 25,276 lbs with four people on board and 66% fuel of her 500 gallon capacity. She went from 0-30 mph in 15 seconds and planed at 6.9. Test day saw air temps around 87° with 80% humidity and calm winds with a 1-foot sea state.

Grabbing the wheel, you could feel the both the power and ease of handling Formula are noted for boats throughout the model lineup. She was controlled in both tight turns and maneuvers and tracked straight and true during speed runs. While cruising along, it was a pleasure having auto-trim. Solid underfoot, we experienced no pounding or slamming during our time out on the Formula 387 CCF.

The Formula 387 CCF had no trouble joining the crowded center console field of offshore fishing platforms and affirming her rightful place. Firstly, she’s a Formula, and that name carries a lot of weight in the industry. Known for performance and quality construction techniques, Formula utilizes only the latest technology has to offer. Their Super Sport/FAS3Tech® multi-plane hull technology enables superior handling and performance. They ensure a resin-encapsulated, suspended cross-framed stringer and bulkhead system and inseparable deck and hull utilizing  a chemical Plexus bond plus stainless steel bolts through heavy backing plates, as well as a myriad selection of other methods and systems, all. This is overseen by formula’s exclusive designer, John Adams and the entire team of the company’s expert craftspeople. 

While she has been designed and engineered as a no-nonsense, offshore fishing boat, the Formula 387 CCF easily can provide exciting days out on the water with family and friends. She does have her luxurious side as well, with accents and décor both above and below decks as one look around the bow, helm, cockpit, exterior, and cabin space will confirm. And with a long list of standard and premium, must-have optional equipment, your Formula 387 CCF can easily deliver a personal statement of ownership. 

Remember, life is better on a boat!

Experts and Boat Owners

What has set BoatTEST apart from the many video-makers currently on the Internet and Social Media is the fact that for 26 years, only USCG-Licensed captains and experienced boat owners have tested and written our reports and made our videos. We believe that to provide boat owners the information they deserve, only other boat owners – who know the challenges of ownership -- can accurately report on it.  It is that level of expertise and ownership experience that goes into every video and Captain’s Report that we publish.  Because we know what it is like owning and operating a boat, we can pass-on the information that prospective boat buyers need to know.

Capt. Dave East

Dave is a 30-year veteran of the Marine Industry, having started two boat companies, and most recently sold his fishing catamaran brand Eastward. He co-founding Twin Vee and was a designer for several other boat manufacturers and is still a marine industry consultant. He is a former boating magazine editor, and has written hundreds of articles on boats, how-to guides, DIY and safety. For four years, he hosted Florida Sportsman’s Best Boat TV series and tested boats from small flats boats to long range cruising motoryachts. Dave is a lifelong fresh and saltwater fisherman. He is a private pilot with multiple ratings, and is an Open Water PADI-Certified SCUBA diver. He currently lives in Stuart, FL. He feels equally comfortable on anything from a 16’ flats boat to an 85’ long range cruiser.

Capt. Ken Kreisler

Capt. Ken Kreisler is a well-known figure in the marine industry, with extensive experience testing boats for major boating magazines. He has held USCG 100-Ton License for 40 years and has served as a delivery and charter fishboat captain, project manager for two small passenger ferry catamarans, making sure every details met USCG build standards. Capt. Ken is an accomplished writer, having received several BWI awards and the John Burroughs Association certificate of commendation for his children's book, "NATURE SPY," published by Macmillan. He resides with his family on the Shrewsbury River in Monmouth Beach, NJ, where he enjoys boating on his 24-foot Grady White Explorer.

Brand Background

Captain Trip stated the brand's positioning: "For the past 70 years, Formula has been on the cutting edge of performance offshore boating, and for the last 40 years or so, it has arguably been building the most luxurious day boats built in America." He described this model as applying that expertise to create "one of the most capable and comfortable 30-something center consoles on the market... it incorporated virtually all of the best fishing features found on the saltiest large center consoles, plus added a few new ones of its own in a luxurious package that has no peer."

Hardtop

Captain Boomie noted the hardtop's size directly: "This is like the biggest hardtop on a center console of this size. So it's super wide." She explained Formula's design process: "The guys at Formula, they really mock this up with plywood before they finalize the design on it." Captain Trip added the functional intent: the coverage provides shade for multiple people while still allowing access to fight a fish from the side without a rod contacting the hardtop's gel coat finish.

Aft Console / Seating Area — Amenities

Sound system: A dedicated zone/source at the bow, independent from the rest of the boat — allowing different audio in different areas simultaneously.

Charging/storage: Multiple cup holders and a dedicated cell phone storage spot.

Bow storage compartment: Houses a filler board that spans across to create one large sun pad when combined with filler cushions. The compartment itself is an insulated, total cooler.

Additional storage: Present on both sides, with shelving inside — Captain Boomie praised this specifically: "More boats should do shelves in their storage... the stuff just gathers all in the bottom, and you're like, what is in here? And you just open it, and it just makes a total mess."

Additional amenities noted at a second lounge spot: More cup holders, more chargers, and rod holders on each side — Captain Boomie's assessment: "There's so many [chargers] on the boat. I can charge my phone anywhere." Captain Trip's summary of the dual-purpose design: "It seems pretty unusual to me that a hardcore fishing boat has so much lounge space."

Drainage Engineering (Console Detail)

Captain Trip highlighted a specific drainage detail: a small compartment with a drain hole feeds into the console; when tilted, it drains down and is piped under the deck, exiting the side — the same path used by rod holder drains. His assessment: "Nothing's going into the bilge or in the cabin... that's a fantastic little bitty thing that they thought of, and had to probably think about a lot to engineer that all over the boat."

Weather Protection

Helm hatch: Closes via a single push-button.

"Wind Armor" weather doors: Used earlier in the outing while running, described by Captain Trip as effectively blocking wind from reaching passengers gathered in the cockpit while underway.

Enclosure option: Zip-in points for eisenglass allow full enclosure of the space.

Climate control (enclosed mode): AC vents at the back of the helm allow the enclosed space to be conditioned "like a pilot house." Captain Trip clarified the systems are heat pumps — reversible for either air conditioning or heat, making the boat usable both in southern and northern climates.

Elevated Seating (Aft, Above Sink)

A pull-out elevated seat is provided above the sink area; footrests deploy so the user's feet aren't left dangling.

Cooler/bracket: Captain Trip noted a substantial custom-built (by Formula) cooler bracket, recalling a stated weight capacity around 100 lbs, confirming it remains stable even when stood on while loaded with ice and drinks.

Rocket Launchers / Hardtop-Mounted Storage

Positioned high on the hardtop specifically because of the electric SureShade mechanism added to shade the aft cockpit — described by both captains as providing substantial shade coverage.

Side Door / Boarding

A side door with a flip-up top provides three cup holders when in use. A flip-down step provides two-step boarding access for higher docks, or the door opens directly for boarding at a floating dock positioned at a convenient height. This location is also well suited to bringing large fish aboard.

Adjacent stowage: Swim ladder storage using keyhole slot mounting, plus a dive door complete with a grab handle just aft of this area.

Port Side (Aft)

Additional storage with two drawers, described by Captain Boomie as loaded and "ready to fish." An electric Kenyon grill is mounted just above this storage.

Convertible Seat Mechanism

Captain Boomie highlighted a seat that raises from a lower, in-line position to an elevated position via a mechanical lift, calling it: "So formula" — noting the thoughtfulness behind the design.

Grab Handles (ABYC Compliance)

Grab handles are fitted at each seat, explained as satisfying an ABYC compliance requirement that every seat have a handhold.

Closing Reflections

Captain Trip's favorite moment of the outing: "Probably cutting through the mangroves with the triple Mercury 400s on this thing. That was a good time for sure."

Captain Boomie's favorite moment: "It has to be fishing, and actually being able to cast a line for once."

Related Content Referenced

Companion in-depth performance and feature inspection videos are referenced for the Formula 387 Center Console Fish and 387 Center Console Sport models, with the closing note: "There's really nothing on the water quite like them."

Overview

Captain Dave’s opening assessment: “I have to admit, luxurious is typically a word that I would not use to describe a center console fishing boat. But you know what? This is Formula, and when they decided to re-enter the center console fishing boat market, they didn’t just raise the bar, they reset it for the entire industry. But don’t be fooled. Beneath this luxurious fit and finish and expert craftsmanship beats the heart of a solid offshore racing competitor.” He noted that offshore racing is “where Formula cut their teeth.”

The boat was tested in South Florida in very calm conditions, with the optional upper helm station that Formula calls a tower.

Specifications (Test Boat)

Length overall: 38 feet, 7 inches

Beam: 12 feet

Dry weight: 22,500 pounds, before the optional upper helm station

Optional upper helm station: adds 3,000 pounds

Fuel capacity: 500 gallons

Test weight: an estimated 27,943 pounds, with the fuel tank half full, a full tank of diesel for the generator, full water, and three people aboard with gear

Weight-to-power ratio: 21.9 to 1

Upper Helm Station: Weight and Windage

Captain Dave on the optional upper station: “That added an extra 3,000 pounds and a lot of extra windage, plus raised her CG.” The test was meant to show how much slower she runs than her sister ship without the upper helm.

Power

Triple Mercury 425 V10 outboards. Formula offers five power choices.

Performance Numbers

Top speed: 51.3 mph, which is 7.8 mph slower than the 387 without the upper helm

Best cruise: 29.5 mph at 4,500 RPM, burning 55 gallons per hour, for a range of 240 statute miles with a 10% fuel reserve

Comparison to the 387 Without Upper Helm

Compared with BoatTEST’s test of the 387 without the upper helm the year before, Captain Dave found the flybridge version is “4.4 miles per hour slower at best cruise, burns slightly more fuel, and has a reduction in range of only 37 statute miles, 240 compared to 277 without the upper helm.”

Visibility From the Upper Helm

Captain Dave on the trade-off: “That’s the price an owner pays to increase his visibility 79% of the surrounding sea area. Serious anglers know the higher you are, the further you can see, and the more apt you are to pick up the telltale clues of where game fish may be found.”

He described what the height helps an angler spot:

• “Low-flying frigate birds chase baitfish being pushed up by something big.”
• “Terns hovering and dipping often mean tuna or dolphin are beneath baitfish.”
• “From the upper helm, you’re more likely to see weed lines, current shears with different colored water, and rips.”

On sea state: “In a four-foot sea from a low helm, swells hide everything between you and the horizon. From the bridge, you’re looking over the troughs. A steeper look-down angle punches through the surface glare that the low eye can’t beat. In any real sea state, this is the single biggest gain.”

Captain Dave’s verdict: “If you don’t need the extra 30 miles of range, I think the performance penalty of a flying bridge is well worth it.”

Acceleration

0 to 10 mph: 4.3 seconds

0 to 20 mph: 8.1 seconds

0 to 30 mph: 16.7 seconds

Handling

Captain Dave noted the calm conditions: “23,000-pound [hull], so we really don’t feel any of the waves because it’s very calm out here today.” His handling assessment: “Her handling, very docile, easy in the turns.”

On getting on plane: “Coming up on plane, got to be a little patient because this is a big boat. Watch your electronic controls. They take just a little time to catch up. So once you put the input, just give it a few seconds.”

On the ride: “I got to say, the ride is fantastic. Extremely stable, extremely predictable.”

In hard turns: “She leans into the turn solid, predictable. You don’t have any slide at all. You can feel the speed lead off just a little bit, but not much when you get into a steep turn like this. Those three Mercurys in the back, they power right through a sharp turn, no issue.”

Stepped Hull

The hull has double steps. Captain Dave explained that the steps bring air under the hull, reduce friction, and free up wetted surface so the boat runs more efficiently. What impressed him most: “With most stepped boats, there’s that transition period where the boat’s climbing and then the steps release and she takes off. This Formula 387 CCF, you don’t feel any of that. She’s just up. The steps clear. You can see it in your fuel burn numbers. They improve drastically, but you don’t feel it.”

On passenger comfort: “The guy driving the boat, the captain, he might anticipate it, but when you’ve got friends, family on board, they’re not going to know.”

Seakeeper Ride

Captain Dave said much of the boat’s composure in turns comes from the Seakeeper Ride system. It makes small adjustments to the trim tabs and the gyro to keep the boat level. His assessment: “It makes them look like a really much better captain than they are because the boat’s making all the adjustments that you don’t have to make yourself.”

The system can be overridden manually. Captain Dave said doing so “you might get another couple of miles an hour out of it on a wide-open throttle. For me, let the Seakeeper ride do its job and just enjoy driving the boat.”

Upper Station Underway

Captain Dave ran the boat from the upper station earlier in the test. “To call it an upper station really doesn’t do it justice. It’s more of a fly bridge of a sport fishing boat. That’s the feel it gives you. It’s big, it’s stable. There’s no rattling, there’s no moving around.”

Windlass and Anchor (Bow)

The windlass is a Lewmar, mounted under a bow hatch. It comes with a plow anchor, chain, and 300 feet of rope. Also under the hatch:

• windlass controls
• a freshwater washdown
• a cleat for taking the strain off the windlass once anchored
• two safety tie-offs so the anchor cannot deploy accidentally underway

Captain Dave’s preference: “My experience is that a horizontal windlass coils the line better and is generally more trouble-free.”

Fender Storage

There are two fender storage compartments, with push-pull fender clip receivers next to them. The clips stow in the same compartments as the fenders.

Wind Armor

These are pull-out wings that lock in place at the console. Captain Dave’s assessment: “Absolutely cuts the wind out when you’re standing behind the helm. One of those mornings you run and it’s a little bit misty, or if you’re running in a rainstorm, this makes a huge difference.” With the wings out and the windscreen closed: “You’ve pretty much made almost the protection of a small pilot house under here.”

Helm Seating

The helm is on the centerline, with seating on either side. The center seat adjusts fore and aft as standard. Adjustable passenger seats are optional. Captain Dave on that option: “I don’t know why you wouldn’t do it because it just adds to the comfort of the boat.” There is a built-in footrest, which he described as “super, super comfortable” for long runs, adding: “Ergonomics is everything.”

Helm Displays and Controls

• Compass on the centerline of the helm. Captain Dave: “Exactly where it should be.”
• Tilt helm
• Mercury electronic controls
• Mercury joystick with Skyhook
• Phone chargers, port and starboard
• Two Garmin screens
• Push-button switches for systems
• Seakeeper Ride control
• Bow thruster control
• Fusion stereo control

On Skyhook: “You pull up to a fuel dock, you’re by yourself, you hit the Skyhook, the boat’s going to pretty much stay where it’s at, give you plenty of time to tie your lines and get secure to the dock without the wind and the current moving the boat around.”

On the push-button switches: “You get this boat out in a saltwater environment, I want to know what’s on and off. I want to be able to turn it on and off. Quick access without scrolling through a screen, so good job, Formula. This is how, in my opinion, every boat needs to be set up.”

On the bow thruster: “Bow thruster makes all the difference in the world.” On the helm overall: “Everything you need at your fingertips, and it’s clean. It’s not cluttered.”

Below-Helm Access

There are three hatches below the seating area, leading to electrical components and the AC. Captain Dave: “It’s a big deal when you want to maintain the boat yourself.”

Access to the Upper Station

You step up on the cooler, then use a step pad and treads that lead to a hatch. Captain Dave: “So many boats I see in this size range, you’re climbing up the side of the boat. That’s okay if it’s calm, but if it’s rough, not the best place to be. Center of the boat, very stable, very safe.”

Upper Station: Detailed Review

Captain Dave on the station Formula calls its tower: “Now that I’ve driven the boat, this feels a lot more like the flybridge of a sport fisherman. It’s not your normal tower that you would see on a center console fishing boat. It’s a lot bigger. It’s much more robust.”

Features:

• Hardtop
• Canvas on the bottom
• Full captain’s chair
• Garmin screen, joystick control, and engine monitor, replicating the lower helm’s controls

On stability: “This boat underway up here, I feel just as stable as downstairs.”

Systems Access and Bilge

Captain Dave’s broader view: “For me, an important thing on any boat is systems access. The easier it is to get to it, the more chance you have of maintaining it. The bilge layout in here is absolutely gorgeous.”

Construction details:

• Hoses run horizontally and vertically
• A seachest feeds all of the boat’s systems, with only two through-hulls and multiple seacocks coming off it. Captain Dave: “Safety feature, and really with a stepped [hull] you have to run a seachest anyway.”
• All pumps are easy to reach
• Hose clamps are tabbed at the end so they won’t cut hands during maintenance

Generator

An 8.5 kW diesel generator in a soundproof box. Captain Dave said it has plenty of power to run anything on the boat, including the AC. On the fuel choice: “This is a diesel generator, not a gasoline one. This is an important safety decision because gasoline generators can produce dangerous levels of carbon monoxide.”

Seakeeper

A Seakeeper 4, mounted on the centerline as low in the hull as possible. It has its own dedicated batteries. Captain Dave: “The worst that can happen, it’ll drain these two batteries, but it won’t affect the rest of the systems in the boat.”

Chill Plates

A Dometic controller for the chill plates is located on the port side.

Shore Power and Dockside Connections

These are located just aft of the port side door:

• Two 30-amp shore power plugs with stainless steel Hubbell receptacles
• Four breakers under stainless steel covers
• A pressurized water hookup, so the freshwater tank isn’t used while dockside
• Two flush ports that flush the outboards and all of the boat’s saltwater systems without going out on the platform

Engine Bracket

Captain Dave on the bracket: “It’s not just a bracket that’s bolted to the boat. It’s an actual extension of the hull.” The sections on either side of the engines add some displacement at rest and protect the engines from pilings when docking. “Your engines are protected from the side and the front. The only thing that’s vulnerable is right at the back.”

There is a transom door and a small walkway forward of the engines for crossing port to starboard.

Transom Trim Control

A separate Mercury trim control at the transom lets you trim the engines all together or individually without going out onto the platform.

Closing Assessment

Captain Dave’s summary: “I have to tell you, this boat is amazing. I was truly impressed in her handling and seakeeping ability, and we got some fantastic test numbers.”