Both the Formosa Marine SRT 525 Side Console 2026 and the Formosa Marine SRT 565 Centre Console 2027 are V-hull designs, both built in aluminium, so the buying decision usually comes down to a handful of practical questions: how many people are you putting on the water, how far do you trailer, and what does your tow vehicle weigh?

On paper these two are close siblings in the size department - Formosa Marine SRT 525 Side Console 2026 at 17,3 ft versus Formosa Marine SRT 565 Centre Console 2027 at 18,7 ft. Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Formosa Marine SRT 565 Centre Console 2027 tips the scales at 1 938 lbs - 326 lbs less than the Formosa Marine SRT 525 Side Console 2026 at 1 612 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.

The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 175 hp, the Formosa Marine SRT 565 Centre Console 2027 has a 25-hp advantage over the Formosa Marine SRT 525 Side Console 2026's 150-hp ceiling - enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Formosa Marine SRT 565 Centre Console 2027 carries 40 gallons versus 30 gallons in the Formosa Marine SRT 525 Side Console 2026. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.

For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Formosa Marine SRT 565 Centre Console 2027 is rated for 6 passengers, while the Formosa Marine SRT 525 Side Console 2026 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Formosa Marine SRT 565 Centre Console 2027 could be the deciding factor.