I would go for a test run to make sure you are happy. Don't know how they label a 4.8m tinny as offshore though

 Yeah a test run is prob the best , try before you buy , but all the tests seem good , they are a very solid boat , a couple of sites list 

 hull weight as 550kgs plus , and its rated for a 115 four stroke , so its not exactly a quinnie or a pressed stacer.

 And I say some  well designed 5metre boats could be better than a poor 6 metre in a following sea or challenging conditions , I think the 4.8 

 your looking at have floatation and a self draining deck , so potentially it could go offshore within limits.

 delete plz.

 Cheers guys.

No real chance to take for a test run as there are none in the state.

A mate in Qld has one that he swears by, and I have been in that both on the Noosa River and up at Tin Can Bay and 1770. Sea was up a little off 1770 and it handled it well.

For what I want out of a boat the size is good, about the furtherest I would go out is to Rotto in summer, and the only issue would be the retrun in a stong following sea breeze. But it is a high sided deep boat.

Starting to seriously think of signing on the bottom line.

For 50k, with a bunch of fruit including intergrated Lowrance Elite-7 HDI (accommodates honda motor display) boat and trailer licensed as well as all the safety gear for 5 people, it is a price hard to beat.

 Having just bought a 2nd hand haines after being boatless for over a decade , I feel your pain , do you sign up or wait till you see something better, 

 more suitable , cheaper , better deal etc etc etc , how do you go for warranty in WA , is there a dealer here that will stand by the boat and fitout?

 Ultimately all you can do is go by your gut and throw some brain in there for good measure , if your sure its for you , then theres your answer , dont 

 forget they will be there next week and the next , so if theres no rush have a bit more of a think about it and do what suits you., cheers .

I looked at a few boats when i was boat shopping  such as the formosa and seajay but.

 I question any boat that claims to be a plate boat but still has a unsealed deck/ply floor.Much rather a full welded,sealed deck.Adds alot of rigidity and the safety aspect.

I settled a coraline 525 plate boat.While it does look agricultral its built like a tank and im very happy with it and would not hesiate to tackle most conditions.

I got change out of 50k with a full aluminium trailer.Pot winch/tipper and few other opions. 

 Yeah its ply on the classic model it says , but all offshore models say fully welded sealed ali deck , with under floor tank and flotation.

 And reading on the site the 4.8metre offshore jobbie old mate is looking at is 125kg heavier than the standard classic model.

 .

 Maybe keep you cheque book in your pocket for now and have a look around the boat show, as it's only a couple of weeks away, you might see something else that meets your needs or just to confirm your current thinking.

 just dont go for 1 of those chinese made trailcraft they are chunks of shit  , i made the mistake of buying 1 and got rid of it after 6 months 

 I have an 1851 seaswirl, they come in a cc, I rekon you will miss the ride of the glass boat  and the features of the American boat 

 I thought about waiting for the boat show, but the fact is this has already been 6 months in the process from looking for a new boat till now, and I want a custom boat this side of Xmas with the extras I want.

If I had five bucks for every boat I have seen, and every salesman that claimed what he was flogging was the best, I could have paid for the boat lol.

All the local boat yard boats (4) I have tested on the water, nearly all with a bigger price tag that what I am paying for the same amount of fruit, were much of a muchness.

With the Formosa, I could have gone to the ACT and paid less, but with a couple of grand in fuel there and back, along with being told that warranty is not by any dealer Aust wide I thought better of it.

Size wise the 480 (4.9mts) is plenty big enough, it was a toss up between the 480 and the 520 (only a grand difference in price) and the 480 won out.

So, thanks for all the input gents.

I have decided to go ahead with the deal.

The only thing to resolve is colour lol.

Do I go with royal blue sides, of colour code it to my Nissan Patrol, which is desert gold.

 Just saw this post, I have a 550 Formosa centre cab and I love it. I think you'll be happy with your purchase, they are a very beamy boat and very stable at rest. I got mine just over a year ago from mike at seasport marine. They were great to deal with.

 Cheers XF347.

I am also going through Mike at Seaport.

 You can get a Northbank 550 with a sounder for that money. Much nicer riding boat.

 Had glass boats, don't want another.

Does not fit what I want out of a boat.

 Mate i looked at them but for the money i went for the 499 fish hunter cc , locally mate buy bullet boats for midway marine & it,s as tough as nails. 

Have you been to Millard Marine in Bunbury, they stock Formosa boats

Have a few in stock, perhaps check out their website.

I have the Formosa 550 Territory with Yammie 150.
Great boat for the money and well built.
My work colleagues has the 480 SC with a Suzi 90 on it. It handles well and has been up the Buccaneer Archipelego without issue. As with any open boat travelling with a side-on sea is a wet experience!!
The ride difference between the Formosa 480 and a Stessl 500 Truck is chalk and cheese. The Formosa feels and handles like a bigger boat whilst the Stessl was like a tinny!
I would be very surprised if you receive your boat before Xmas. Mine took approx. 5 mths as did others who have ordered from the factory.

 Cheers Tamery, good to hear your comments.

The Stessco I went for a run in was not a Stessl Truck, but still a "pressed" boat, not a plate, and I would go a quintex before anything like a pressed ally boat, and I would only consider one of those after I had sold my first born and then committed ritual hari kari lol.

As for getting wet, I got wet on my 28ft seaswirl on a side on sea, which was a blessing really, it was the first and last time the wife came fishing with me. Too much "ohh, it's bumpy, you're going to fast" and "can we just go in for lunch" we were 15k's west north west of rotto at the time... :(