Formula 360 Crossover Bowrider

I’m a natural doubter. You have to show me something for me to believe in it.

And no, I’m not from Missouri, whose unofficial slogan is The Show Me State, though it is fitting that my given first name and skeptical nature fit with the phrase doubting Thomas.

This occurred to me as I was perusing Formula’s website for details on its new 360 Crossover Bowrider, or CBR for short. The website described the boat as having an open bow with a generously sized main deck and cockpit space, which was all evident enough by the images. But it also talked about having a spacious cabin below. What?! A cabin in a bowrider? I thought the marketing team at Formula made a major goof there since, while there are models out there that have a head or small sleeping space tucked under the console, a bona-fide, truly spacious cabin is a whole other matter. So I had my doubts.

Fast forward a few days and I met up with Vic Spellberg, my go-to guy for all questions Formula and captain for my sea trial. He’s like a walking encyclopedia, who always gives it to me straight. When I shared my reservations about this boat having a legitimate cabin Vic not only assured me that there was one onboard, but added I would be surprised by its size and layout. So, after fueling up and venting out, he invited me onboard to let doubting Thomas see for himself.

The access doorway is blended into the neat design of the helm, and accessed through a sturdy door that latches to the helm console so solidly that there are no vibrations whatsoever when underway. When swung open, it reveals a three-step ladder with Corian steps for easy maintenance and color coordinating. And sure enough, stepping below I was genuinely surprised and impressed at what Formula was able to do with this space.

Maximizing storage capacity with an inspired layout, Formula has delievered magic. With appliances on the port side, including microwave, drawer fridge and dedicated storage for a slide-out coffee maker, the sink with hot and cold water sits opposite to starboard.

Forward is the door to the full head with Vacu- Flush toilet (served by a 36-gallon holding tank, no less) as well as the stand-up shower and vanity, featuring low-maintenance Corian counters and a custom molded sink. Strategically placed in the peak to better utilize the taper of the hull, the result is more storage here than what you would find in most other boats of this size range.

Aft midship, under the main deck, a full-sized berth with storage awaits. It’s a generous enough space you really can stretch out without feeling cramped. A lounge seat to starboard offers the ideal spot for savoring that first morning coffee in privacy. Wood-grain flooring, Ultrafabric materials and a cedar-lined hanging locker add to the homey feel.

And yes, I’m still writing about a bowrider. So now I get it, they did a truly great job.

Outside living

Because the 360 CBR truly is a bowrider at heart, Formula invested a lot of effort toward maximizing the onboard experience in its main deck spaces. Access to the bow, with its near full wrap-around seating, is via a fold-back windshield and door to the port side of the asymmetrical windshield. Dedicated bow cushions allow buyers to easily convert the entire space into a giant sunpad if that’s what they desire.

Midships on the main deck is a portside settee that faces the starboard-side helm, which with its own triple-wide helm seat creates an inviting social space. Moving aft, an outdoor galley to port comes complete with a grill, sink and a drawer-style refrigerator. For safety, materials above the grill are fire retardant; when not in use, the sink and grill are covered with a Corian filler adding to the usable counterspace.

Overhead, twin sunroofs open to flood the boat with fresh air and natural light.

The boat’s social hub is the U-shaped cockpit lounge, positioned immediately aft of the helm seat and facing further seating to port. There’s a dedicated self-draining storage spot for the Yeti Tundra 35 cooler, which is a thoughtful and welcome bonus. Drop-in twin tables create a useful and spacious central dining area. Once mealtime concludes, this space can also convert to a sunning and lounging area with removable filler cushions.

Haven’t yet had your fill of the sun? Step through the elegant transom gate where a triple-wide, aft-facing sun lounge with multi-position backrests awaits. It’s the ideal spot to dry off after a swim.

Sporty drive

It’s great having all of these creature comforts, but this is a Formula after all, with performance in its DNA. The 360 CBR rides on Formula’s patented FAS3Tech ventilated stepped hull for optimum control at even very low RPM and enhanced performance and seaworthiness at high speeds. As the throttles are pushed forward, the hull gets up and out of the water, as evident by watching the speed increase without giving any further throttle. With a fairly sharp entry, the boat slices through waves and we cruised effortlessly at 30 mph in a slight ocean chop. This configuration of twin Mercury 8.2L MAG 380 horsepower sterndrives tops out at nearly 50 mph, an exhilarating ride indeed — and especially for a boat with a full cabin below.

Formula has passed its design torch from their long-time in-house designer John Adams, in place since 1971, to Michael Young, who has roots in the design of F1 race cars. That styling is most notable on the hull, with a sheer line that rises as it goes aft, teardrop air intake scoops to maximize air flow to the engine room and a low-profile raked, curved windscreen reminiscent of those on race cars. Indeed the 360 CBR drives like a sports car, and it is a lot of fun being behind the wheel.

Formula’s attention to detail shines throughout, with details like precision stitching, piping and color accents in the seating, going the extra mile to use three different types of foam in the seats to maximize comfort, the thoughtful inclusion of storage cabinets and drawers everywhere, the concealed windlass and anchor gear, dedicated storage for filler cushions, AC systems for the cabin (8,000 BTU) and cockpit (16,000 BTU), a gas generator (7.5 kW), a SureShade electric awning that extends over the cockpit, a further sunshade for the bow, and lots more. With its sterndrives, Formula is able to offer a large integrated swim platform with a cool, electrically operated swim step to facilitate getting in and out of the water.

Once you see the Formula 360 CBR, you will have no doubt that Formula not only included a cabin on this boat, but also raised the level of enjoyment and comfort for yachts in this size class.

Doubting Thomas? Not anymore. Formula’s 360 CBR is a true delight.