With 850 horsepower in the engine compartment, the 37-footer ran 58 mph in the Gulf of Mexico.

With 850 horsepower in the engine compartment, the 37-footer ran 58 mph in the Gulf of Mexico.



Anyone who has shopped for a house in Southern California—or reads a newspaper—in the past year can attest to the insane real estate prices. Tear-down homes in some communities are fetching as much as $800,000. We have an idea to save potential home buyers some major bucks. Consider investing in Formula's 370 Super Sport, our pick for 2004 Sport Cruiser of the Year.

With a retail price of $328,000, buyers will get to live in luxury and be nearly a half-million dollars ahead. Plus, if the Big One ever hits Southern California, you can just roll with it in the marina.

For the money, you get a "home" that runs 58 mph on a pair of MerCruiser 496 Mag HO engines and an air-conditioned cabin complete with a galley, a shower and a vacuum head.

Belowdeck is where the 370 Super Sport stood out. The boat had a spacious convertible lounge done in UltraLeather and more sleeping accommodations were in an aft cabin.

Formula put the galley on the port side, which included a microwave, a single burner stove set in the Corian countertop and cabinets done in a cherry-wood veneer. On the opposite side, the head compartment featured a small sink and a shower.

While enjoying the 12,000 BTU air conditioning (which is standard), you can sit and watch the 13-inch television and play movies on the DVD player in the entertainment center. The cabin also was equipped with a Kenwood AM/FM/CD stereo that comes with a one-year subscription to Sirius satellite radio.

Up in the cockpit the amenities continued. A wet bar had a Corian countertop, a refrigerator, a large Igloo cooler and an in-counter trash receptacle. The wet bar was in easy reach of the U-shape lounge where a table could be set up for a meal.

Other touches in the cockpit were the Berber carpet on the sole and the gauges at the helm set in burl-wood panels.

A boat this nice shouldn't spend all of its time in the marina. With 850 horsepower in the engine compartment, the 37-footer ran 58 mph in the Gulf of Mexico. Impressive considering that it weighed nearly 7 tons. Even more impressive was how it handled during slalom drills and turns at cruise speeds. During acceleration tests, the boat reached 48 mph in 20 seconds where the pair of MerCruiser engines were running a comfortable 4,800 rpm.

From the stunning black Imron paint work to the posh cabin, the 370 Super Sport is proof a home can be more than stucco and wood.

Formula 370 Super Sport Performance Test Results
Centerline37'
Beam10'6"
Weight as tested14,400 pounds
Price as tested$328,010
Engine model and horsepower(2) MerCruiser 496 Mag HO/425
PropellersMercury Bravo Three 15 1/4" x 26" and 14" x 26"
Acceleration : zero to 15 seconds43 mph
Top speed58 mph at 5100 rpm
Manufacturer contact260-724-9111, www.formulaboats.com

For the Performance Report on the Formula 370 Super Sport, see "Luxury Home," January 2004, Page 100.

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