Formosa Sea-Rod: Gold Coast Boating Centre worked closely with Formosa Marine to develop and design the new Sea-Rod 7.4m hard top half cabin with a lockable roller door. Launched at the recent Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, it is the first of its kind and offers many unique innovations.
Scott Mahon, dealer principal of Gold Coast Boating Centre said, “The amount of interest in the Formosa 740 was endorsement that this is going to be one of our most popular models. We signed several orders at the show, and more during the following weeks.”
The new 740 enclosed is ideal for offshore fishing and offers great protection from the elements with your family on board. Scott pointed out, “The 20-degree deadrise hull design with raised sheer and chine line, has been carefully engineered to ensure a balance of performance, speed, stability, handling, fuel economy, and comfort. This provides optimal performance in varying water conditions. With a 300L fuel tank, you can certainly go places on those long offshore trips.”
The Formosa Sea-Rod boats are built to endure the harsh Australian environment. The company are very conscious to keep the boats affordable. The list of standard features and options on the 740 that Scott notes, are impressive. “There are comforts such as a toilet, stove, full cabin berth, and outriggers. Other standard features include heavy-duty dive ladder, kill tank, well-designed bait board, 32mm handrails, and a 60lt fresh deck wash. These features and more truly present a strong robust vessel that ticks all the boxes. There is even provision to fit a sink and refrigerator, if required.”
Formosa Marine is known for the quality of build, safety and performance. The Sea-Rod brand has been developed to meet customer demand with unique 4-chamber water ballast, deep-sided, wide beam hull, giving extra stability at rest. “It boasts 5mm bottom sheets and 4mm sides, and a self-draining deck with one way scuppers. The massive deck space aft creates additional space underfloor for auxiliary water or another fuel tank,” said Scott.
The 740 is fitted with the SeaStar Hydraulic Steering System, to ensure easy handling of the outboard and provide that extra margin of muscle when needed to perform at maximum capacity. “If you want the absolute best ride possible, consider ordering the optional state-of-the-art trim system. These boats can be fitted with the fully automatic Zipwake Trim Control System. During our sea trial, the system significantly enhanced the boat’s performance, fuel economy, comfort and stability. This outstanding feature alone attracted a lot of interest at the show,” Scott explained.
The boat can be easily deployed solo, and retrieved at the boat ramp utilising the unique Tow-Catch™, a hook-and-eye design welded to the keel, and is a standard feature giving you the option to install a quick release boat catch onto a suitable trailer. Confirming this boat’s muscle, Scott stated, “The standard, boat-motor-trailer package deal combines a powerful Yamaha 300HP 24 valve DOHC V6 4 stroke motor fitted with stainless steel prop. During our sea trials, the boat reached speeds of almost 80km/h. The digital gauge fuel management system with fly-by-wire optical controls indicated a cruising fuel consumption of 1.55 km-per-litre at 3000rpm, with two crew on board. Overall, this boat was most impressive and performed beyond expectations.”
Gold Coast Boating Centre is Formosa’s Dealer of the Year for 2017 and is an authorised Yamaha service centre.
READY TO TOW AWAY THIS SUMMER
Gold Coast Boating Centre sells Yamaha outboards, Horizon, Formosa, Stessl and Stessco boats. With the best of the boating season just ahead, they have over 80 new and used boats in stock ready for immediate delivery this summer.
The experienced team has the knowledge to guide you through the decision process to find a perfectly suited boat package, outboard, trailer or piece of boat and safety equipment. Gold Coast Boat Centre endeavour to give customers that extra bit of personalised service.
A few years ago, David Edwards and Scott Mahon took ownership of the long-established Marine Tune in West Burleigh. The pair saw the potential to develop the business into an integrated boating centre and three years later they are proud to announce their vision is now a reality. “The fact that we now have all the sales and service facilities in the one location is the catalyst for the new name change to GOLD COAST BOATING CENTRE, which better describes the business as the one-stop boating centre that it is today,” David explains.
SALES AND SERVICE FACILITIES
Gold Coast Boating Centre recently increased their showroom space within their sales and service location, to display many popular boat brands. Scott says, “This increase in capabilities creates a total of 3000 sq. metres of floor space over three indoor showrooms and an outdoor yard within the centre.”
The new workshop expansion enables scheduled servicing and repairs of up to 10 boats at any one time. The workshop team comprise qualified factory trained technicians with over 50 years of combined outboard experience. “The service centre is an authorised Yamaha outboard service centre. We can also conduct annual service and repairs to all brands of outboard motors.” There is also a chandlery and a genuine Yamaha parts facilities, as well as an area devoted to late model quality used boats, which are sold with a comprehensive workshop inspection report, for peace of mind.
BEST BRAND PARTNERSHIPS ARE REASONS FOR LONG STANDING SUCCESS
Gold Coast Boating Centre has been servicing Gold Coast boaties for over 20 years. In that time, the business has established itself as one of the top three Yamaha outboard marine dealers in Australia. The long-running commitment to the remarkable Yamaha range of engines bolsters Gold Coast Boating Centre’s line-up of class leading mid-range outboards and boats.
Dunbier Trailers has awarded the company as Queensland’s only “Elite Dealer” in appreciation of excellent sales and customer service. David affirms, “This recognition also provides Gold Coast Boating Centre with trading privileges, such as highest priority production and best possible discount structure on trailers and parts, and ongoing support, which can all be passed on to our customers.”
If you want to get into boating or to upgrade an existing boat, Gold Coast Boating Centre stocks all sizes, ranging from small 3m cartopper tinnies to the larger aluminium-plate-built boats longer than 7m. Dedicated staff will advise and explain all types of configurations available for viewing.
David leaves you with one important thought that guarantees your family’s safety and happiness on the water. “Once you have purchased a boat from Gold Coast Boating Centre, you can rest assured that our professionally trained technicians will be servicing your boat in one of the largest and most expertly equipped workshops in Queensland. Your boat will provide best performance in any conditions at sea.”
For more information call (07) 5576 7388. www.goldcoastboatingcentre.com.au
Editorial by Andy Kancachian
