45 Yacht Changes 2008 to 2013


R

roberthoran

New member
Good afternoon all,

I have been shopping for a few months (former Tiara, Whaler, Pursuit owner) for a mid 40 footer we can use for a few months travel each year. We recently moved to Florida and plan to travel the Bahamas, Keys, West Coat, etc. over the next few years. The 45 Yacht seems perfect for this and will be very comfortable for us (dog & cat too). Having moved from up North, I don't have any experience with them, most I have seen there were in the 30 foot range.

Boarded the 2017 45 at the Miami show and WOW, what a BOAT, You 45 owners are very lucky. After having owner a 44 Tiara I know quality when I see it and Formula makes a great boat. That in addition to everything I've read online, have plenty of time following foot surgery.

So that being said I cannot afford a new one and will be shopping for a 2007, 2008 or 2009. I know there has been some changes over the years but don't know what they are and hope you can tell me. Is there anything I should be aware of when I start looking next month. Even small items like the apparent deck sink draining to the holding tank will be helpful. I also read that the boat can't be filled with water if the dockside isn't working. Any advice would be helpful.

I know there is and IPS section but I will add it here as well. I will do a survey and a separate drive\engine inspection by Volvo. What issues should I be concerned about, I know the 2007..... have had updates to seals etc. Are they really awesome or just a very expensive maintenance nightmare as I read in places. Please be candid and help me find the perfect boat for us, we are so excited at the look, feel, comfort and quality of our next boat.

How often does the bottom need painting and especially the IPS, again new to FL. I read that Formulas don't need to be barrier coated due to the type of materials used by Formula. Boat will be in water year round.

Formula wasn't on our radar til a friend pointed one out 2 months ago and now I'm obsessed. Thank you all for taking the time.

Barney
 
Wasn't much to share. Didn't really pertain to his question of comparing 08-13. Told him he is making a good choice changing to a Formula. I said I have an 07 -45 for sale with inboards and I don't have many answers as far as what he is looking at. Didn't mean to offend or leave anyone out. If I did i'm sorry.
 
with regards to the IPS, i put my opinion on them in the IPS section, along with what to look for when shopping for a used one. there is only one post, so it shouldn't be hard to find. :) IMO, it's the only way to go.

as far as changes are concerned, they're pretty minimal. one thing that Formula gets dinged for is not refreshing the 45. it works out for those of us that don't mind buying a used boat...as you can get a great deal on a used one and get most of the features from the newer ones. :) I think 2015 is as close to a refresh as you might have had, and that just added the aft awning and the glass door to the cockpit.

formula maintains all of their old brochures online, so you can go see visually what they had for each year. pretty cool of them to do.

https://www.formulaboats.com/brochures/vintage-formula-brochures/

i have the '08, so looking at the 2013 brochure...it's again mostly cosmetic stuff. in 2013 they get different linen options, the interior doors get the inset glass, the aft of the cockpit gets the rumble seat option, the door to the bow locks into a perpendicular position, but that's about all that sticks out to me. obviously the electronics are all updated, but a 2013 is still 4 years old and some might consider those electronics to be out of date as well. :)

if i were to buy another one today, i'd look for something in the 2013-2014 range. i hate the bump out in the aft end of the hardtop that they added to accommodate the sun awning in 2015...i think it ruins the lines, but that's just me. :) and probably more importantly, my mate loves the inset glass on the doors...gotta keep the mate happy! find one with low hours, but not too low so that it was happily used, and looks mechanically sound. probably save enough cash to install new electronics and get boating! :)

IMO you can't get a better boat. we keep shopping telling ourselves we want to go up in size, but i'm having a hard time leaving our '08! the build is fantastic, and the support at Formula is even better. if you like to work on your own boat, it's the best thing you can have...and if not, it'll save you money as the folks you pay to do it will have an easier time. ;)

happy shopping! keep us updated.
warble
 
Thank you so much for the post, I have been boating over 30 years and think the Formula products are awesome. As we have a budget to try and stick to I am looking at an 07 next week, has about 500 hours, recent rebuild of pods, service records for oil changes etc seems like it may be a good fit. Will need electronics and seeing as the dash look identical on the new models with the 16 inch monitors I will do same. Sometimes it's OK to keep a hull, interior designs consistent, obviously owners aren't screaming for major changes or I think that would happen. Like you I don't care for the new rear seat but had one of the sun awning on a Tiara and it kept us out of the sun when it was overhead. I also agree that the IPS will make close quarters maneuvers so much easier, its all the negative publicity that keep us on edge. Other than newer seals on newer models there doesn't seem to be a major improvement. Volvo is also selling rebuilt one snow for 60% or new cost.

Would love an 09 but have to stick to the budget and will let ya know what we end up doing. Spring is in the air, happy boating

Barney
 
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