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The sixth Formula ICON 54 to be launched shows how a design
can mature with age when the right thought and common sense
approach is considered by the builders.
With a 5.65m beam, the Formula ICON 54 can
genuinely lay claim to being a wide bodied boat.
Since its release in late 2006, this popular model
from Formula Cruisers in Auckland has undergone quite
significant layout changes, although the basic parameters of
the hull and superstructure have not been altered.
When designer Grant Senior first conceived the ICON 54 he
wanted a high performance cruiser that could easily handle
the transition from serious sportfisher to family cruiser. One
of the most important considerations was to design a full
bodied boat that would have the size to allow head heights
to be raised.
The generous beam (the widest of any sportfisher of a similar
size - and many a lot bigger) - has meant internally there
is simply loads of space. Nothing is cramped when it comes
to important areas such as the accommodation, the galley,
saloon and even the en-suites. There is plenty of space
everywhere, right through to an 11.2sqm cockpit and a huge
enclosed flybridge. The ICON 54 has in fact more volume than
the ICON 56 that it replaced.
The latest ICON 54 is the sixth to be launched and it is
quite different internally from what has gone before. The
first thing I noticed when I stepped aboard was that there
is no external staircase to the flybridge. It wasn’t so many
years ago that stainless ladders were the norm for sportfishing
boats. These were gradually replaced by external stairways and in recent times
internal flybridge stairways
have become more popular, especially in boats over 16m.
Temptress (PMY Mar 07), the third of the ICON 54s, had an
external stairway.
According to Troy Woods, Formula Cruisers' sales & marketing
manager, the trend is 95% to internal access. “People realise
that the benefits greatly outweigh the negative aspect of
losing some internal space, but even that is negated with a
well thought out design', said Woods.
Whilst this isn’t the first internal staircase in an ICON 54,
it does shape a whole new layout concept. Firstly, there is
now the addition of a cockpit day head, complete with a
small laundry with LG washer/dryer. Surprisingly, this has
in fact opened the cockpit up even more with a little more
working space on the starboard side.
There is now a small work-station on the outer bulkhead and
a locker for the shore power cable. It is also the second ICON
54 with a large stainless steel rear door. The ICON 54 standard
cockpit layout includes teak deck, in built BBQ, live bait tanks,
sink, shower, rubbish bin and plenty of storage lockers, and
Formula Cruisers can design the cockpit to suit the cruising
owner to the serious game fisher. The cockpit on ICON 6 has a
small alfresco seating area to port with a single opening door
onto a full-with boarding platform. All the Formula ICON 54s
have the teak cockpit sole strengthened for a game chair, so
retrofitting one is not an issue.
The next ICON 54, which is a serious all-out sportfisher, has
the aft coaming reduced, toe-kicks under the coamings, a large
live-bait tank with clear facing, tuna tubes installed, plugs for
the recessed stainless cleats, the boarding platform removed
and the port side day head reduced in size and changed to a
rod locker with another small outside settee to match the one
on the port side.
Internally, the starboard settee in the saloon is now shorter
by 300mm and the three waist height under-bench fridge/
freezers have been replaced with a full size fridge/freezer with
built-in icemaker and chilled water dispenser.
Like all previous ICON 54s, the U-shaped galley is to port and
aft, with a large electrically operated glass drop-down window
in the aft bulkhead. The galley incorporates a Corian benchtop,
Blum soft-shut drawers and lockers, F&P dish drawer, an
electric oven, hob and fridge/freezer. The only change in the
new model is an improvement in the storage space below the
bench.
Another big change in the boat is that the dinette has not
been raised with a step up to the seating area. In this boat the
floor level has been maintained which provides a more socially
balanced area with the starboard settee now on the same
level. This has also enabled the inclusion of an electrically
operated multi height adjustable table. It can be used as a low
level coffee table or a full size dinette and even to make an
extra double berth. This has certainly opened the appearance
of the forward area of the saloon.
It is also hard not to notice that there is no forward
windscreen, a first for Formula on an ICON 54. In a serious
sportfishing boat the argument for the solid screen is usually
one of strength in a heavy sea, but Formula’s reasoning for a
cruising boat is one of much greater storage capacity.
With a 'conventional' glass forward screen you are left with a
large flat eyebrow, which becomes an area to toss a bit of gear
but essentially is wasted space. Formula has now integrated
the entertainment locker, an art alcove and flat screen TV.
Another advantage is the saloon is more heat controlled as
with the large glass screen forward the internal space is harder
to air-condition, something that is probably more important
in the climes of North Queensland than Auckland’s Hauraki
Gulf.
Flybridge Options
When you order an ICON 54 you have two layout choices in
the flybridge area – a forward or an aft helm. To date the most
popular has been the aft helm, which for anyone thinking
about game fishing is the only serious option. According to
Woods there is a lot more interest now in the forward helm
option, especially from cruising clients.
This is a great area on the boat and Formula has made good
use of the space, incorporating a large forward wrap around
settee (in the aft helm option) with a port side helm station
and twin Navigator helm chairs. In the forward helm layout
there is an L shape settee to port. There is storage under the
squabs, a separate drinks fridge hidden in a timber locker and
although there is air conditioning, there is also opening side
windows plus deck hatches with black out and insect screens.
Rear drop down clears can encase the whole area. There is also
the cruising package option, which has a larger flybridge, with
forward helm with a solid aft bulkhead, drop down window
and door.
The standard electronics package includes a pair of Raymarine
E120 screens, VHF, autopilot, 24nm radar, sounder and CCTV
camera on the pulpit for viewing the anchor. Being a semi
custom boat, Formula can alter the helm to suit an owner’s
electronic requirements and make the area to suit the size and
complexity of the electronics package.
The flybridge has also come in for a subtle change, with the
rear teak bench seat moved aft to provide a lot more space
behind the twin helm chairs.
Accommodation Unchanged
Formula has left the forward accommodation areas virtually
unchanged from the previous ICON 54s, although there is a
new shape in the door details and styling. Gone are the curved
moulded doors, replaced with square corners and a new trim
of dark stained walnut and gloss beech with 4mm stainless
inserts. Beech is the predominant timber throughout the boat,
although there are a variety of timber options available. The
new look has certainly modernised the styling of the detail,
shapes and upholstery of the ICON 54 giving it a contemporary
look that blends well with the overall design.
The layout has a port-side master with a walk around queen
size berth and the half-height hanging locker and vanity has
been replaced with a full height hanging locker. There are also
storage drawers under berth plus overhead and nights stands
either side.
The owners' cabin en-suite is generous in size and features
a large glass surround shower cubicle, Tecma head, Corian
bench top with raised glass bowl and a solid polished beech
timber floor with white epoxy inlay. Paffoni fittings are used
throughout the ensuites and also the galley.
The forward guest cabin and starboard bunk cabin share the
same bathroom, which features all the same fittings as the
owners’ ensuite. The guest cabin also has a queen size berth,
storage beneath and overhead and like all the cabins has
individual air conditioning with temperature controller.
The L-shaped format of the starboard guest cabin offers more
privacy between the two bunks and there is plenty of storage
under both.
The significant beam of the ICON 54 is noticeable in the
accommodation areas, where space is often a constraint on the
layout. Not so in the ICON 54, which makes good use of the
available area and the benefit of the extra volume is obvious.
Power Options
Standard power is twin MTU Series 60, 825hp engines, giving a
top speed of 32 knots and a cruise of 25 - 27 knots. With the
standard 4000-litre fuel tankage, the ICON 54 has a range of
around 500 nautical miles @ 24 knots and 1200 nautical miles
@ 10 knots. A very efficient hull shape utilising the best of
modern construction techniques means true long range cruising
is now within your reach.
The progression of the ICON 54 has been dictated by both
changing trends and owners’ input, both of which Formula
Cruisers has taken heed of. The Formula brand has been
around for 26 years and Formula Cruisers Ltd, incorporated in
January 2000, has a dedicated and loyal staff, with a total of
over 250 years of customised boatbuilding experience within
its team. Currently, the model range also includes the ICON
58, 62, 68 and there are enquiries for the as yet to be released
ICON 75.
While Formula Cruisers is concentrating its sales efforts
currently in New Zealand and Australia, Troy Woods is also
looking at other international markets.
However, while the plans are to grow the offshore market, he is
content right now to consolidate the 'local patch' and to look
further afield when conditions are suitable.
“We have a good enquiry level at the moment, with a growing
proportion in our larger boats and are looking positively to the
future”, said Woods. The ICON 54 is a boat that will certainly
handle any international scrutiny and should do well for
Formula Cruisers in the future. |
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