The Formula 457 CCF Fishing Boat

Trophy Catch. The feature-filled Formula 457 CCF is much more than a fishing boat.

By Charlie Levine

October 25, 2024

When you don’t have a lot of time on your side, it’s nice to have three 600-hp Mercury Verado outboards and a 50-gallon bait well stocked full of frisky pilchards. Such was the case when I stepped aboard the Formula 457 CCF. It was well past 9 a.m. and if we wanted any chance at finding some life along the edge of the reef, we had to hustle.

Whenever I sea trial a new Formula, I feel like I’m on a scavenger hunt for interesting features, smart use of space and other clever touches from the design team. I found my first pleasant surprise as I stepped on the boat. The 457 CCF was tied up broadside to a bulkhead. The gunwale above the portside dive door was folded over to make it easier to board the boat. Halfway down the dive door, a flip-out step made it easier to get into the cockpit. It kind of reminded me of the flip-out footrest on an old-school barber chair. A simple element and a smart use of space.

Based on all the fishing features in the 457 CCF, you’d hardly expect the boat was built in Decatur, Indiana, far from any mahi mahi, striped bass or tuna. The company has done its homework, and that clearly showed when Formula debuted its 387 in 2022. It was the first center console Formula had built in decades. Available in fish or sport packages, the 387 was a hit with owners and a proven fish raiser. Abe Haines, Formula’s product specialist, had been running the 387 in Florida-based fishing tournaments. Haines and crew put up solid showings, even taking home some prize money. All of that fishing paid off in the form of useful tweaks to the boat to help it fish and cruise more efficiently. The Formula team has taken what it learned on the 387 and incorporated it into this new flagship, with more space on deck, more seating, more fuel, more power, more cold storage, more range, more everything.

We fired up the outboards and headed for Miami’s Haulover Inlet. The plan was basic: run offshore to about 800 feet of water, roughly four miles, and work our way south. Hopefully we’d find some weed lines or diving birds—any signs of fish would be welcome. I had to be back at the dock by 2:30 p.m. to catch a train.

The 457 is not a light boat; she weighs 36,000 pounds so you don’t jump right out of the hole. It took roughly 15 seconds to get up to cruising speed, but you do get a comfortable, soft ride, which was quickly evident as we were greeted by a 2- to 4-foot chop. The boat came off a few decent waves but never shuddered, slammed or took on spray. We ran comfortably at 37 knots getting .43 mpg. But don’t be fooled, this boat can hold its own: She tops out close to 50 knots. Haines told me he recently ran from Bimini to Miami in an hour and 20 minutes.

The twin-step FAS3Tech hull runs straight and stable. There was no bow steering or wandering. You could hold a heading with only two fingers on the steering wheel. The boat holds tight in a turn as well. It is a pleasure to drive. Once we picked a waypoint, I engaged the autopilot, controlled via the Mercury joystick, sat back and enjoyed the AC pouring out of the dash and the backrest of my seat.

The next design feature that caught my eyes (and ears) were the Wind-Armor weather doors that open electronically, extending from the side of the console to the gunwale. The amount of wind dampening they produced was incredible and because I was able to open and close them with a button I never had to leave the helm. With the weather doors open, it certainly didn’t feel like we were cruising along at nearly 40 knots. It was quiet enough to have a normal conversation and there was no worry of a hat flying off.

The helm on centerline offered unimpeded visibility through a massive one-piece windshield that opens on electric rams. We kept it open while idling in the ICW but closed it up when we got out of the no-wake zone. We put the three 22-inch Garmin screens to use, with navigation and fish finder on one screen, engine data on the other, and a live video of the engines behind us via a FLIR camera on the third. I like the safety aspect of having this video playing at the helm. You can keep an eye on your guests or kids without turning your head. This is the same helm set up as the 457 sport, but the fish model has a second row of captain’s chairs as opposed to a bench.

What’s the biggest difference between the 457 fish and sport models? Just look up to find it. Situated on the 18-foot-long hardtop is an upper station that feels more like a flybridge than a half-tower, which is found on many center console models in this size range. There is room for four passengers up top. The helm is to starboard and a bit lower than I’m accustomed to. Formula integrated smart storage into the seating for things like canvas and electronics covers. The views are wide open. The antennas are on a motorized mount that folds down if you need to slide under a bridge. A power-out cooler with enough space for a tailgate party worth of beer is used as a step to make your way up to the bridge.

The transom layout on the 457 CCF also varies from the sport model. It has two 50-gallon live wells, one of which has an insert to hold dive tanks. There’s an electric grill on the portside. A transom door to starboard provides access to the aft deck around the outboards. The area around the engines is sizable and offers easy access from the water if you’re taking a swim or snorkel.

The in-deck fish box had an ice maker that dropped 20-plus pounds of ice an hour. Formula definitely doesn’t want the fish going bad. The fish box had freezer plates as well. The cockpit felt roomy thanks to a foldaway aft bench. The leaning post doubles as a workstation with tackle drawers and storage. There is a rod holder within arm’s reach from just about anywhere on the boat, including a rocket launcher above the extendable aft shade that sprouts out of the hardtop. Standing on the cooler makes it easy to reach them. There’s a sea of cupholders; they’re lighted and synch up with the seriously powerful JL Audio system so you can go full disco mode. And if your phone dies on this boat, that’s on you. There are close to 40 charging ports. A large hatch provides access to the bilge, where the Seakeeper 6 and Fisher Panda genset live. The bilge is a thing of beauty, as it’s clean and accessible.

The cabin and bow seating on the 457 Sport and Fish mirror one another. The air-conditioned cabin has a U-shaped lounge that converts to a double berth, a galley with fridge and microwave, and a head equipped with a stand-up shower. Formula integrated skylights for natural lighting.

The 457 CCF holds 700 gallons of fuel for a range that’s close to 270 miles at cruise. That opens up a lot of water for your next adventure. A run to the Bahamas, a night drifting baits at the canyons or rocking out with friends and family, whatever you’re in the mood for, this boat can accommodate.