Formula 457 CCS (2024-)

Overview

The Formula 457 CCS (Center Console Sport) is Formula’s luxury sport center console, built for entertaining family and friends. BoatTEST’s Captains tested her in South Florida with triple Mercury 600-hp V12 Verado outboards, custom painted to match the boat.

“Being a 35,000 lb boat... it really handled pretty well, and you can tell with that weight she was really stable in the water and would really sit down in those turns and carve out a good, smooth turn. I was impressed.”

Mission And Intended Owner

• Built To Do: Day cruising and entertaining small and large groups, with options for a couple to overnight
• Designed For: Families and friends who want the ultimate go-anywhere dayboat
• Locus Of Operation: Coastal waters

Design Overview

• Deadrise: 22 degrees
• Helm Dash: Slopes down toward the bow for better visibility, covered in vinyl to reduce glare
• Windshield: The forward pane opens completely and can run at any speed and any height
• Mechanical Space: Fits a Seakeeper 6, electrical system, generator, sea chest and shore cord tub in a center console hull

Specifications

• Beam: 13 feet, 9 inches
• Draft: 54 inches
• Deadrise: 22 degrees
• Approximate Weight: 33,200 pounds
• Fuel Capacity: 700 gallons
• Stabilizer: Seakeeper 6
• Helm Decking: 3/4-inch thick cushioned performance decking

Test Conditions And Test Weight

• Location: South Florida, near Stiltsville
• Load: 390 gallons of fuel and five people
• Test Weight: 36,670 pounds
• Method: Each data run was performed three times and averaged

Performance

• Tested Power: Triple Mercury 600-hp V12 Verados
• Top Speed: 62 mph at 6,345 rpm
• Best Cruise: 40.2 mph at 4,500 rpm, burning 81.2 gph
• Fuel Economy At Best Cruise: 0.5 mpg
• Sound Level: About 69 dBA at 2,000 rpm

Acceleration:

1. 0–20 mph: 6.5 seconds
2. 0–30 mph: 17.1 seconds

Sea Trial And Handling

• Stability: Very stable in the water because of her weight
• Turns: Sits down and carves smooth turns
• Bow Rise: Slamming the throttle produced a decent amount of bow rise; with trim tabs set, Active Trim on and a slow throttle increase, bow rise was nothing to worry about
• Comfort: After about an hour standing at the helm, feet still felt good thanks to the cushioned decking
• Docking: Mercury Joystick Piloting synced with the Side-Power bow thruster made docking a breeze

“If we just slammed the throttle forward then there was a decent amount of bow rise, but if we slowed it down, made sure that the trim tabs were in the right position and active trim was on, and did a nice, slow increase in throttle, then bow rise was really nothing to worry about.”

“With the bow thrusters integrated with a joystick, docking this boat is a breeze.”

Engine Room Or Mechanical Compartment

• Contents: Seakeeper 6, electrical system, generator, sea chest and shore cord tub
• Hose Clamps: Plastic ends on all clamps so you won’t catch yourself on them
• Wiring: Secured with insulated clamps, with few zip ties
• Pump Access: A hinged floor gives access to all pumps for flushing the air conditioners
• Electrical Panel: Clean and well laid out behind the helm panel

“Formula has done a really good job on thinking this through and fitting everything down here.”

Helm

• Displays: Three 22-inch screens with redundant tactile buttons below
• Charging: Induction chargers port and starboard, plus one beside the wheel
• Climate: AC and heat vents, including two in the center for the helmsman
• Controls: Joystick, trim tabs and engine controls
• Seat Adjustment: Tactile fore-and-aft buttons, plus USBs
• Wheel: Tilt base
• Bow Thruster: Side-Power controls
• Audio: Stereo head unit
• Storage: Drawers port and starboard
• Overhead: JL Audio speakers, spotlight controls, Mercury gauges, Seakeeper panel and VHF
• Seats: Heavy-duty armrests and flip-up bolsters

“This whole helm area is very ergonomically laid out, and I don’t think you could fit another inch of screen in that dash.”

Overview

The 457 CCS is built for family and friends, to get out on the water and entertain small and large groups comfortably. BoatTEST’s Captains described her as the ultimate go-anywhere dayboat.

“This boat is truly something special.”

Fit And Finish

• Paint: Among the best in the industry
• Screws: All aligned vertically, showing true attention to detail
• Gutters: Rainwater funnels aft and off the boat, never into the bilge
• Hatches: Finished undersides, foam-covered lids that seal and insulate, and rubber-covered magnetic catches

Boarding Amenities

• Boarding Gates: Full gates on both sides with sturdy handles
• Reboarding Platform: Formula’s submerged reboarding platform deploys at the push of a button
• Shower: Hot and cold, on the swim platform rather than in the cockpit
• Seabob Compartment: Specially made, with a Seabob aboard

Cockpit Arrangement And Equipment

• Storage: Containers on each side
• Tables: Lightweight tabletops that set into two pedestal bases, with matched wood grain
• Dual-Purpose Platform: Rolls out at the push of a button, serving as a seat and a self-draining ice chest with split lids
• Beverage Storage: Drawers for bottles and glasses in the console, plus space under the forward-facing seats to keep drinks cold without ice
• Sunshade: Overhead
• Grill: Electric, under a port-side hatch, with a cutting board and built-in utensil slots
• TV: Stored underneath, with a hidden panel for power and cable hookups
• Refrigerator: Isotherm bin-type fridge under the port guest seats
• Tackle Storage: Aft
• Trash Bin: Large, to starboard

Helm Deck Seating

• Climate: AC and heat vents under each seat
• Second Row: Large bench that converts to single seats with flip-down armrests
• Passenger Amenities: Induction chargers, AC vents and four cup holders
• Storage: Three floor bins and one under the seat
• Helm Platform: 8 inches elevated, with storage below
• Weather Doors: Full-size weather doors with electric controls at the helm; Formula was the first to offer them
• Hardtop Liner: Vinyl upholstered, with RGB lighting all around
• T-Top Supports: Extrusions with a half-inch aluminum plate, removed and rebolted after RGB lighting is installed behind it
• Handholds: Forward and above on the cabin top

“They deployed those weather doors and it made a big difference.”

Bow Arrangement

• Freeboard: 36 inches
• Gunwales: 15 inches wide, with 24 inches of side-deck space
• Bolsters: Thick, on the gunwales
• Cup Holders: 36 aboard, lighted and draining overboard
• Chaise Lounge: Contoured, seating three large adults, with cup holders and power
• Table: Electrically raised, with toggle switches; lowers with a filler cushion to form a big sun pad
• Flip-Out Seat: For more seating around the table
• Trash Storage: Dedicated, below
• Audio: JL Audio system, a Rockford head unit and a 12-inch subwoofer, one of three aboard
• Lighting: Pop-up puck lights
• Grab Handles: Everywhere you’d want one

Anchor Locker And Ground Tackle

• Windlass Controls: Push-button toggles at the windlass and at the helm
• Washdown: Freshwater hose
• Rode: About 30 feet of chain, with rope for the rest
• Cleats: Conveniently located for different anchoring situations

Interior Spaces

Cabin:

• Layout: Large open area with a small galley, surround seating that converts to a bed, and a head
• Berth Conversion: Flip down the backrests and slide out a forward drawer holding the cushions and tabletop
• Storage: Under all the benches, plus a small overhead cabinet
• TV: Large
• Amenities: Cup holders, USBs and audio controls forward
• Windows: Long port windows on both sides with pull-down screens
• Skylights: Two large skylights with vinyl sun covers
• AC Power: Access behind the port backrest

Galley:

• Sink, with a cover that stows in a cabinet below
• Drawers, a refrigerator and a pantry drawer
• Microwave and cabinet above

Head:

• New For The 457: A larger head with a dedicated shower, no longer a wet head
• Storage: Cabinetry, plus storage under the steps and a dedicated trash can spot on the top step

Advantages And Disadvantages

Advantages

• Very stable, carving smooth turns despite her weight
• 62 mph top speed and a 40.2 mph best cruise
• Joystick synced with the bow thruster makes docking a breeze
• Forward windshield opens fully at any speed
• Comfortable cushioned helm decking for long hours standing
• Outstanding fit and finish, from paint to vertically aligned screws
• Full-size electric weather doors
• Submerged reboarding platform and a Seabob compartment
• Roll-out seat and ice chest platform with cockpit tables
• Separate shower in the head
• Well-organized mechanical space with protected hose clamps and insulated wiring clamps

Disadvantages

• A decent amount of bow rise if the throttle is slammed forward
• 0–30 mph took 17.1 seconds
• 0.5 mpg at best cruise
• Small galley