2018 Cruise Craft Explorer 685 HT review

The Cruise Craft Explorer 685 launched more than a decade ago in the wake of the arrival of the similar-sized Outsider centre cabin model.

The two shared the same 20-degree deep vee hull, but the deck, cabin and interior layouts differed. The Outsider was more family orientated with a larger cabin and more family-friendly features. The new Explorer targeted offshore anglers with a bigger cockpit and a slightly smaller cabin.

The two boats were built side-by-side for several years, but the Explorer proved to be the clear leader on the sales charts, so the Outsider model eventually was dropped.

Today, the Explorer 685 stands as the flagship of the Cruise Craft range and one of five Explorer models - nine if you count the hardtop versions as separate models.

The first version of the Explorer was available only with a stainless steel framed soft-top bimini. An open hardtop boat followed, and finally, the latest hardtop model with deck-to-hardtop tempered glass windscreen and sliding side windows to semi-enclose the helm station.

The Explorer 685 has always been available with single or dual outboard engines. Early models were available with different outboard brands, dealer fitted. Today, the boats are factory rigged exclusively with Yamaha four-stroke outboards, ensuring each boat leaving the factory is set up perfectly.

The test boat for this latest review was paired with dual Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboards in the extra-longshaft (25-inch) configuration.

Brisbane's Wynnum Marine has Cruise Craft 685 Hardtop package prices starting from around $140K with a single Yamaha 250hp four-stroke outboard and a Redco tandem axle galvanised steel trailer.

The package includes hydraulic steering, digital engine gauges, digital throttle and shift, as well as the hardtop with full-height glass windscreen and sliding side windows.

You also get a foam-filled, composite cored hull (no timber), a lockable forward cabin with dual side berths, deluxe pedestal helm chairs on stainless steel frames, a large dash and fascia to take big electronics displays, a vast, carpeted rear cockpit, padded coaming bolsters, full length, above-floor side pockets, transom door, boarding ladder, EPIRB, fire extinguisher, six stainless steel rod holders, and more.

Our test boat also came with a heap of options, lifting the package price to a substantial $218K. The upgraded boat was paired with dual Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboard engines, along with a deluxe Easy-Tow tandem-axle alloy trailer with electric-hydraulic break-away brakes and mag wheels.

The test rig added a Furuno NavNet TZTL-15 touchscreen multifunction display (combining a fish finder, GPS Plotter and auto-pilot), Furuno VHF and 27 MHz radios, Fusion RA55 stereo, Stressfree anchor winch, coloured hull sides, hardtop canopy extension, triple batteries with voltage-sensitive relay and charger, SeaDek flooring, premium bait board, bait tank plumbing, folding rear lounge, raw and freshwater deck wash, centre cabin bunk cushion, a pair of removable 110-litre iceboxes with cushions, port side windscreen wiper, plumbing to bait tank, insulated kill tanks, storm cover, and more.

The Cruise Craft Explorer 685 is a good-looking boat, made more attractive with the addition of the hardtop and semi-enclosed helm station.

Tacking a hardtop onto a half cabin boat can make it look a bit odd, but that isn't the case here as the shape of the hardtop, side windows and windscreen integrates nicely.

The Explorer hardtop is also functional. There is ample space underneath to stand at the helm with an unrestricted view, and the hardtop, windscreen and side windows provide full shelter from the weather.

The hardtop also acts as a base for LED lighting, radio aerials, and a rocket launcher rod rack.

The boat can also come with a stainless steel-framed canopy that slides easily out over the cockpit from the base of the hardtop.
The helm and dash is upgraded in the latest Explorer 685. The fascia is now large enough to take two small displays, or one monster-size display such as the Furuno NavNet TZTL-15 fitted to our test rig.

There is also provision above the main fascia, via a separate panel, for a Yamaha Command Link-Plus digital engine display, along with a compass, switch panels, etc.

A radio box in the ceiling houses the GME marine radios and a Fusion stereo head unit.

The steering wheel and binnacle-mounted throttle box is within a comfortable reach of the skipper, either while standing or seated in the deluxe bucket helm chairs.

The latter are mounted on stainless steel frames with space underneath for two optional 110-litre removable iceboxes, as fitted to the test boat.

An angled foot rest beneath the steering wheel provides additional comfort and support.

Over on the port side there is a storage recess on top of the dash, along with a large, two-shelf glove box, and a passenger side storage pocket with cup holder.

The forward twin-berth cabin is behind a lockable fibreglass sliding door. It has a twin-berth configuration with a stepped central companionway leading forward to a large deck hatch.

Families will find there is ample headroom above each of the two permanent berths, along with safety gear storage lockers under them.

An optional infill board and two cushions reconfigures the two single berths into a double bed.

There's also provision underneath (on the companionway step) to mount an electric toilet, along with upholstered side storage pockets, carpet lining to the ceiling, and a wiring box cover behind the helm.

Climbing up through the hatch puts you standing before the large anchor well and bowsprit. Our test boat was fitted with an optional Stressfree drum electric anchor winch, though you could anchor the boat manually easily enough.

Most Explorer 685 HT buyers are fishermen, and there is a very good reason for that. The rear cockpit and transom layout in this big Cruise Craft are superb for sport and game fishing.

The cockpit is not just long and wide, but uncluttered and deep - with 750mm of freeboard.

Anglers can stand up against nicely padded coaming bolsters, feet braced under the elevated side storage pockets (or under the folding rear bench seat) to fish securely and safely in choppy offshore seas.

There is not the space here to detail all of the great features. However, the photos reveal recessed coaming rails and pop-up stern cleats, the dual, mackerel-size underfloor kill tanks, starboard side transom live bait tank, six standard stainless steel rod holders (with nylon inserts to protect rod butts), horizontal under-gunnel rod racks, and optional SeaDek foam rubber flooring.

An optional bait board mounted over the transom is a top-class unit, ideal for reef fishing trips and for pilchard cubing from a still boat. If you want clear decks for lure trolling you can remove it.

Other features on the test boat included a transom-mounted switch panel, port side transom door with sheltered battery box underneath, optional raw water and freshwater deck wash, and the three-quarter width cushioned bench seat that folds neatly out from the transom wall.

The Cruise Craft Explorer 685 is a proven sea boat, the 20-degree vee hull providing a comfortable, stable and dry ride.

Offshore, the hull is well mannered, predictable and well balanced. It handles inshore bay chop with aplomb, and the boat is rock solid at rest inshore and offshore.

Lenco trim tabs were fitted to our test rig, but they are only needed to balance up the boat in a stiff cross breeze. Otherwise, the hull responds quickly to fore and aft engine trim, allowing the boat to be set up nicely for the prevailing sea conditions.

With dual Yamaha engines on the transom, in addition to the trim tabs, the skipper has the tools to set the boat beautifully for any situation, and to maximise the ride comfort and performance of the deep vee hull.

Plenty of these big Explorers have sold with a single 250hp or 300hp Yamaha four-stroke outboard, but we reckon dual engines are the go for offshore fishing applications. With the duals, the Explorer has a big, cruiser-like feel to it, whilst maintaining the handling and agility of the single engine rig.

The extra motor may also come in handy should you have trouble with one of them when fishing two dozen miles or more offshore. Being able to get back home under your own steam is certainly preferable to having to call up the Coast Guard or VMR.

Dual engines may also be preferable for lure trolling as you can switch one engine off and alternate the engines throughout the fishing day, thereby reducing the engine hours on each motor and conserving fuel in the process.

In short, 300hp is a realistic maximum power recommendation for the Explorer 685 as our test boat was agile and quick from idle through to a wide open throttle top speed of 42.7 knots.

We found the boat/engine combination to be most economical whilst burning 37.1L/h at 3500rpm for a boat speed of 22.5 knots. This combination yields a maximum range on 95% of the 310L fuel supply of 178.60 nautical miles.

The Cruise Craft Explorer 685 HT is an excellent all-weather offshore sport and game fishing boat, and a very competent family cruiser. It is superbly designed, wonderfully appointed, safe, seaworthy and comfortable.

Combine these attributes with world class build quality, and the popularity of the Cruise Craft Explorer 685 going forward seems assured. More than 300 have sold to date, and we expect many more to roll out of the Cruise Craft factory in coming years.

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
4.3kt (8.0km/h) @ 1000rpm
6.1kt (11.3km/h) @ 1500rpm
7.3kt (13.5km/h) @ 2000rpm
10.1kt (18.7km/h) @ 2500rpm
16.8kt (31.2km/h) @ 3000rpm
22.5kt (41.7km/h) @ 3500rpm
27.4kt (50.7km/h) @ 4000rpm
31.7kt (58.7km/h) @ 4500rpm
35.6kt (65.9km/h) @ 5000rpm
39.4kt (72.9km/h) @ 5500rpm
42.7kt (79.1km/h) @ 5900rpm (WOT)

PERFORMANCE – ECONOMY (BOTH ENGINES)
6.2L/h @ 1000rpm
10.1L/h @ 1500rpm
17.0L/h @ 2000rpm
23.2L/h @ 2500rpm
29.0L/h @ 3000rpm
37.1L/h @ 3500rpm
46.7L/h @ 4000rpm
60.9L/h @ 4500rpm
78.3L/h @ 5000rpm
99.9L/h @ 5500rpm
117.2L/h @ 5900rpm (WOT)

MAXIMUM RANGE ON 95% OF 310L FUEL TANK: 178.60nm @ 3500rpm

SPECIFICATIONS: Cruise Craft Explorer 685 HT
Price: $217,789 including dual Yamaha 150hp extra-longshaft (25-inch) in-line four-stroke outboards with hydraulic steering, digital controls, an Easy-Tow tandem axle aluminium trailer with hydraulic break-away brakes, Furuno NavNet TZTL-15 touchscreen multifunction display ($26K pack incorporating fish finder, GPS Plotter, auto-pilot and more), Furuno VHF and 27MHz radios, Fusion RA55 stereo, Stressfree anchor winch, coloured hull sides, hardtop canopy extension, Lenco trim tabs, triple batteries with VSR and charger, SeaDek flooring, premium bait board, bait tank plumbing, folding rear lounge, raw and freshwater deck wash, centre cabin bunk cushion, dual removable 110L iceboxes with cushions, port side windscreen wiper, plumbing to bait tank, insulated kill tanks, storm cover and more.

$140,000 with a single Yamaha 250hp extra-longshaft (25-inch) V6 four-stroke outboard with hydraulic steering and digital controls, tandem axle Cruise Craft galvanised steel trailer, and the fibreglass hardtop with full-height tempered glass windscreen and sliding side windows.

SPECIFICATIONS: Cruise Craft Explorer 685 HT
Length overall: 7.20m
Hull length: 6.85m
Beam: 2.5m
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Hull weight: 1830kg (est)
Weight on trailer: 3420kg (wet, est)
Maximum power: 300hp
Engines as tested: Dual Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboards
Fuel: 310L
Water: 60L
Bait tank: 49L
Flotation: Basic standard
Maximum persons: 7

Supplied by: Wynnum Marine