With Volvo's diesel joystick system, this cruiser lets the skipper work smarter, not harder.
By Jeanne Craig
Formula's 400 Super Sport isn't new, but it's been changed up recently, and the upgrades go a long way toward enhancing the core mission of this very handsome boat, which is to offer exceptional performance in a premium family cruiser. One of the most exciting improvements is at the helm. To starboard, where a stainless-steel cup holder used to be, is a joystick, and it operates the new Volvo joystick for sterndrives just introduced for diesel power.
The 400 SS we tested is one of the first production boats to showcase the new diesel system, which, not surprisingly, operates a lot like the company's joystick setup for gas sterndrives. In a nutshell, it gives the skipper incredible close-quarters maneuverability. Just move the stick forward and gently twist its top with your fingertips to get the bow headed in the direction you want it to go. That's all there is to it. Even with a stiff wind pushing us off the dock on test day, we were able to bring in this 41-footer beam-to with no fuss, and by that I mean with one hand on the stick and the other hand in a trouser pocket. The days of busily working both hands between the throttles and the wheel while drifting down on a slip are over for diesel sterndrive fans who opt for this Volvo package. In the long run, that's just going to make boating more enjoyable. "When docking is stressful, that last 15 minutes on board can ruin a whole day of cruising," says Vic Spellberg of Formula, who was there for the test.
Aside from the joystick, other additions to the Formula 400 SS include air conditioning in the cockpit, an upgraded electronics suite (the Widescreen series from Raymarine is now an option) and a new décor package that is understated and elegant. Features that haven't changed include the cabin that sleeps four, a social layout in the cockpit and the fastidious detail that Formula is known for, from the gleaming and artfully shaped supports for the hardtop to the sturdy piano hinges you'll find on almost every hatch and door.
Formula; www.formulaboats.com
Other Sea Trials featured this month:
- More Electronics from past issues.
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