Formula has combined a sporty express cruiser with the luxury of a yacht with their 45 yacht.

By adding the IPS600 system to the 45 Yacht this year as standard, Formula has taken an existing model and given it a lot more utility. This big yacht now has the handling of a runabout so the cruising couple that isn’t comfortable with a boat this size -- or just doesn’t want to sweat parking in tight slips with a crowd watching -- doesn’t have to consider their skill level as a deterrent. The cost can also be a positive with the IPS600 system, both in acquisition and maintenance. It takes less work to install during the build, and you gain more space to maintain the engine and drives. Formula could have taken the extra space gained for more interior room but elected to keep it in the engine spaces so you don’t have to be a gnome to comfortably work in there.



Formula has taken the smaller space required for IPS and kept it where it came from… in the engine bay, rather than allocate it to living space.

At the Bow

The 45 comes standard with a concealed anchor davit with electric windlass with chain counter, 200’ of chain, and a polished stainless steel anchor. The high 316L stainless bow rails have mid-mounted life lines for added security. Two DriFast loungers are on the bow for enjoyment at anchor, and these have multi-position backs. Bomar hatches allow light and air into the master suite.



Dual sunpads with multiple position backrests will be the right stuff for sun worshipers. Notice the roomy walkthrough windshield.

The hardtop coupe has a full-standing windshield and dual wipers with washer spray nozzles on the blades. The windshield has optional multiple defrosters which means you will be able pilot the boat in foggy, misty or heavy rain conditions without having to have a cloth in your hand to de-fog the windscreen. This is a level of boat-building that you rarely see in this class of yacht. It means that Formula knows its owners are using their boats in all sorts of conditions, and not just to run across the sound on sunny days to get a mojito.

The ventilation comes with the optional 30,000 btu cockpit air to further extend the comfort season in the hot climates or cold ones. The hardtop has a standard electric sunroof to allow you to flood the cockpit with air and light or just observe the stars at night.

At the Helm

The helm seat is a split bench with dual bolsters and Ultraleather upholstery with deep comfortable cushions. Between the seats is a box to store the electronics covers. The dash has dual monitoring gauges for the engines, burl wood accent panels and power-assist hydraulic steering with a genuine mahogany tilt wheel. Bennett trim tabs with indicators are standard. To starboard and on top of the side panel are the IPS Joystick and Volvo Electronic Throttle and Shift controls for complete ease of operation.



Check out the side window vent and convenient grab rail. The seat is double wide with twin flip up bolsters and storage in the middle armrest. We like the burl wood instrument panel.

Across on the port side is a large lounger for the family to join you as you head to your next destination. Under the seat is a large storage compartment with more storage under the aft end. Seventeen stainless steel drink holders are peppered around to manage the drinks. Throw pillows are tethered to keep them on the lounger.



The roomy lounge seat to starboard shares the same great views as the helm. The pillows are tethered to the seat to keep them from blowing away. Note the open storage tray just abaft of the helm seat and hand railing for going up through the windshield.

The Bar Is Open

Behind the helm is the cockpit wet bar/galley. Within easy reach of the helm is an open storage tray across the back that usually gets filled with charts and cruising guides. The Corian top has a concealed sink, trash bin and carry-on cooler for clean ice to keep the drinks fresh. I really liked how the covers for the sink and cooler are hinged, two fewer items needing to be stowed. Our model had a Gaggenau electric cockpit grill and U-line cockpit ice maker added in the starboard side cabinet of the galley. An aft canvas curtain separates the chilled bridge deck from the aft cockpit seating, and opening it up really brings the outdoors in.



Dining alfresco has never been so good as on the Formula 45 Yacht. There are grab rails everywhere, and the sink covers (by his left hand) are hinged so you don’t have to find a home for them.

The aft seats form a large port U-shaped lounge with tons of room and removable table that converts to a sunpad. There’s a day hatch to the engines in the deck. The electric engine hatch switch is tucked under the corner cushion. The starboard transom door has a magnetic catch as well as a safety switch to keep you from accidentally opening the engine hatch with this closed. In the walk through is a handy hot and cold swim shower.



The aft cockpit seating converts easily to a sunpad.

Cabin Amenities

The centerline cabin entry has beautiful wood steps with rubber anti-skid treads leading into the salon. The port side galley is gourmet-quality with rich deep gloss cherry cabinetry with furniture-grade dovetailed drawers and Corian counters. There is plenty of room to store food and dry goods, including a sole locker. Galley equipment includes a double-burner stove with vent fan, convection microwave oven, brushed stainless steel sink, coffeemaker and upright refrigerator/freezer. In the end of the cabinet is a handy clear cover wine glass rack.

An 11.5 kw generator with sound shield drives the 18,000 btu reverse cycle A/C and heating system. Both are standard equipment.



This galley is an exciting combination of light-wood cherry cabinets above and dark wood below, and check out the lighted glass rack at the end of the cabinets. Clearly, this galley does not lack for storage.

The salon has a large lounger with solid wood table and two bar stools. Deep gloss cherry cabinets surround the lounger, housing storage space and the entertainment center, including a Bose Lifestyle surround sound home theater system for the 37” widescreen LCD TV (in our case a Dell HDTV screen).



The salon seating converts to another berth if needed. 37” flat screen is standard. Notice the Bose lifestyle speakers in the upper corners.

The guest stateroom has twin beds with storage under the steps, a drawer in the end of the forward bed and a quick-fill, flip-over filler to convert this into one large bed. An aft LCD TV has a DVD player mounted in the hanging locker, which also has dedicated storage for the cockpit TV. There is standing headroom between the bunks, at least for my 5’8.5” height. This stateroom has its own separate combination head and shower with “Flush and Forget” VacuFlush head. The vanity and sink are in the room on the port side. The power distribution panel is in a wall closet just as you enter the room.



Twin berths easily convert to a queen. Notice the full length mirror on the closet door.

Master Stateroom

The entry to the master stateroom is via a space-saving pocket door. The centerline bed has a step up and matching port and starboard hanging lockers. Our test model had a safe mounted in the port locker and the stereo CD stacker and iPod cradle mounted in the starboard locker. The in-room LCD/TV with DVD player is mounted on the starboard side for private night-time entertainment. The Bose sound system has a zone system to pipe the surround sound into your private space. This stateroom also has a separate shower and head compartment so you don’t tie up the head while taking a shower.



Note the steps to either side of the island berth to ease getting in and out. The cabin could use some overhead storage over the curtains, as well as forward and behind them.

Performance

We tested on a rather calm day and found the IPS600 system a joy to operate, making this a simple boat to drive. The twin Volvo Penta diesels have 435-hp each and these engines were designed specifically for marine applications with pod drives. Out in the channel, she crossed wakes and took the chop without hesitation or noisy crashes and bangs. Hard turns were smoothed out nicely and recovery to full speed was quick. She displaces 32,500 lbs. (12,772.7 kgs.) which means she’s got the beef to handle the big stuff and give you a good ride.



I found she tops out at 37.9 mph and has a cruise speed around 31.9 mph for a range of 320 miles. She takes 10.1 seconds to reach plane and 14 seconds to reach 30 mph.

The suggested retail price of the standard boat is $968,150 for a loaded boat. All you need to do is add some electronics and go.

If you thought the previous 45 was a great boat but a bit too much too handle, think again now that the IPS has arrived on this model. It has the luxury to take clients and the family out for entertaining, and the guts to take you on the cruise you have dreamed of.

• Top speed for the Formula 45 Yacht w/ IPS (2007-2010) is 37.9 mph (61 kph), burning 41.8 gallons per hour (gph) or 158.21 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Formula 45 Yacht w/ IPS (2007-2010) is 31.9 mph (51.3 kph), and the boat gets 1.01 miles per gallon (mpg) or 0.43 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 320 miles (514.99 kilometers).


• Tested power is 2 x 435-hp Volvo Penta IPS600 - Diesel.