This Newest Crossover May Be The Best One Yet!
Formula continues to define their definition of a ‘do-it-all’ boat with the intro-duction of the fifth, and the newest model, in their Crossover series, the all-new Formula 400 Super Sport.
The 400 SSC rides atop Formula’s FASTech3 hull. Its stepped design aerates the water directly below the hull to break suction and reduce drag. The wide chines add lift and improve stability, especially when cornering. The bow angle is sharp to help smooth running on rough water and the transom manages to keep a respectable 21-degrees of deadrise.
Standard power on the Formula 400 SSC is a set of four Mercury Verado 300-horsepower outboards, equipped with Joystick Piloting. For maximum performance, this crossover can be outfitted with four 350-horsepower Verados. In this configuration, the Formula 400 will hit plane in just over four seconds and top out over 60 miles-per-hour.
The entertaining space stretches 37 feet from the spacious convertible bow area, through the cockpit, under the hardtop, back to the full-width swim platform in front of the quad outboards. The designers at Formula have organized this space into SmartZones, which they tell us allows for the entertaining space to be divided into distinct areas for different activities while allowing all the passengers to remain connected.
The bow area is separated from the cockpit by the full-height windscreen, but a sliding section on the port side allows easy access between the two areas. A small door is included to stem airflow, but it’s transparent to allow light to pass and keep the cockpit feeling airy and open.
The cockpit features a full hardtop for shelter from the elements. A retractable section opens up to allow sunlight to enter and small quarter-windows open forwards to encourage air flow through the cockpit while run-ning. Visibility is excellent and the tall, single-piece windscreen offers great sightlines.
The helm is an impressive collection of 12-inch Raymarine Axiom displays, Mercury SmartCraft VesselView instruments and Joystick Piloting controls, topped off with a leather-wrapped steering wheel. If you need more screen space, the 12-inch units can be swapped out with 16 or 19-inch models. In addition to chart plotting features, the Raymarine touchscreen can also control most of the electronic switching for the boat, including lights, sunroof, climate control and more. The helm station features a triple-wide seating area with individual bolsters and plenty of grab rails for safety when underway.
The main entertaining space includes a U-shaped seating area and an outdoor galley along the port side. The countertops are Corian and the stainless steel pull-out fridge keeps food and drink cold. The gal-ley is outfitted with a Cuisinart blender and can be optioned with a 35-gallon cooler that slides out from under the helm seat for additional cold storage. Cooking duties on deck can be handled with the available Kenyon electric grill.
Of course, a crossover wouldn’t be complete without a below-decks sleeping space. The cabin of the 400 SSC offers a forward dinette that converts into a sleeping space. There’s also an aft sleeping area. Separating the sleeping areas are the main galley opposite an enclosed head.
By Steve Sansford