Caribbean 32 Sports

I haven't got the statistics to prove the point, but frequent scrutiny of marinas suggests Australia's most popular cruiser has a flybridge. This is hardly surprising given that the big two, Riviera and Caribbean, have sold flybridge cruisers for almost as long as Ford and Holden have flogged their family sedans.

But like the fickle car industry, the boating market is never stagnant for long. On the waterways, the cruiser making inroads is the bridgedeck. A kind of hybrid somewhere between a sportscruiser and a flybridge boat, the bridgedeck caters very well to the Australian way of life.

A bridgedeck hasn't the division between the flybridge, where the skipper sits, and the saloon and cockpit, where guests hide. Ultimately, this makes for congenial cruising and arguably a better boat when it's time to entertain a crowd.

Sensing the shift in consumer tastes, Caribbean has broken its flybridge-only mould and released a new cruiser with a bridgedeck.

The Caribbean 32 Sports promises single-level travel and a cockpit where you can assemble a teak table and chairs, do al fresco meals, entertain on the run, or reel in a whopper.

Caribbean's clever concept cruiser is ready for the great outdoors with an amenities centre, seating for at least six guests, as well as incorporating handy accommodation down below for overnighting.

However, the company hasn't turned its back on its tradition of making fishing boats. Add a half tower, plumb the bait tank, recess some rodholders, add riggers and electronics... What d'ya know, a 'Cabo-style' sportsfisher where the skipper and crew can fish as one.

Indeed, one shouldn't underestimate the seaworthiness of the bridgedeck boat. While you haven't got the outlook gained from a flybridge, you are high enough off the water to see navigation hazards, lures dancing in the wake and to gain a sense of control.

The other thing bridgedeck boats typically provide is a sure-footed ride. They get this from their low centre of gravity. Under a canopy and behind clears, most skippers will drive their bridgedecks seated rather than standing.

GREAT OUTDOORS
A truly useful cockpit is the first thing that jumped out at me on Caribbean's daring new 32. Based on the same hull as the 32 flybridge boat, the new 'bridgie' has a broad, deep and high cockpit for security and floor space.

Unlike so many imported sportscruisers with built-in moulded seating, which works just fine till you need to stand, the Caribbean's cockpit is unobstructed. This detail alone should endear it to not only the Bacardi Breezer set, but to hardcore fishos.

The cockpit has a big two-stage transom door that opens outwards and deck hardware including solid hawsepipes and under-gunwale cleats, big aft scuppers, twin in-transom bait tanks, long sidepockets and a hot/cold deck shower.

A fibreglass fuel tank sits between an infloor hatch to the bilge and steering gear and another big hatch to a huge central lazarette, where you could easily stow assorted gear like an outboard motor, duckie, tubs of hardware, bait and berley, and more.

The amenities centre (or bait-rigging station) forms a division between the cockpit and bridgedeck. It is in fact better than you will find on the Caribbean 32 with flybridge.

In one big moulded unit is a huge icebox or baitbox with a eutectic or 12V fridge option, plus a sink with hot and cold water.

On the other side of the companionway is a second moulded unit with Engel fridge and storage locker. Access to the engines is gained by unclipping the aforementioned moulded sink and swinging it open.

A small ladder leads down to the engines and shoulder room at the entrance is tight. But things like the strainers, fuel filters and dipsticks quickly reveal themselves. The exhausts are straight-through designs, but there is good sound insulation on the walls.

The twin 220hp Cummins straight sixes haven't the greatest amount of servicing room, but enough. The boat has a watertight aft bulkhead, but needs an engineroom bilge pump with high-water alarm.

A 30lt hot-water system and 200lt of water in a tank on the centreline, between the engines, will cater for weekends away. There is room to fit a small genset, although the standard-issue inverter will provide enough power.

BRIDGING THE GAP
You can move from the cockpit to the bridgedeck freely and, thanks to the width of the companionway, the boat encourages travel between the two outdoor areas. The helm benchseat has room for two to cruise arm-in-arm and is tremendously accommodating when you lay side-saddle. A footrest finds the soles when assuming the normal driving position.

Three guests can ride on the L-shaped lounge to port and on informal seats such as the lid of the moulded icebox, the step up to the bridgedeck, the coamings in the cockpit. Storage exists under the helmseat and in a sidepocket for the personals.

The moulded grey dash accommodates a full spread of Cummins gauges. There is a Clarion remote for the sound system and room to flush-mount serious electronics. SeaStar steering and single-lever controls - split them in the half-tower station for serious backing-up - make for easy driving, as does the high screen with lots of glass and wipers.

The 32 fly and bridgedeck are identical in the areas of sidedecks and foredecks. There are wide coamings, moulded steps leading from the cockpit, a solid stainless bowrail and siderails, and a foredeck topped in tread-pattern. The foredeck is safe to access at sea, set a line, stage dolphin cruises, even sunbake at anchor.

But it is the bridgedeck that is the centrepiece, with protection under the canopy, room to drive or cruise standing if you want, while maintaining a conversation with the crew. All the while, a cold drink is close at hand and the cockpit awaits whatever outdoor diversions take your fancy.

OVERNIGHTERS
Don't expect a lot of accommodation in bridgedeck boats, but count on them pampering a romantically-inclined couple or a bunch of boaties during the day. This, it seems, is the trend in cruisers. Owners are over hosting mass sleep-outs, preferring instead to slip away alone.

Under the steps down is the boat's control panel. Descend further and you'll gain headroom in a handy-sized, open-plan interior. The big teak facia to starboard, which houses the Clarion sound system, is a tad overdone, but otherwise the boat has a contemporary rather than caravan feel.

There is a small galley to port with moulded Granicoat benchtops and sink, Engel 12V fridge, two-burner electric stove with fiddle rail, NEC microwave oven, three storage lockers, a dedicated cutlery drawer and a pantry-style shelf.

A U-shaped lounge big enough to seat three is set around a compact dinette. Priority has been given to the head, which is perfect for entertaining and doing overnighters. The big moulded insert has a full shower stall, electric Jabsco loo, extractor fan and slick bathroom fittings.

Owners should sleep well on the offset double berth in the bow, topped here with a butterscotch-coloured spread. There is a small dressing lounge nearby, storage lockers, a big hold under the mattress, a hanging locker and sidepockets.

Compared with some Caribbeans, this 32 seemed better finished. Its soft carpeted headliners, high-gloss joinery, and vinyl trim were in keeping with current-day demands. A small television was about the only detail lacking.

BEHIND THE WHEEL
Though it doesn't have big motors, the Caribbean 32 gets along quite well. With four-bladed props, it will be even smoother and gain an extra couple of knots to boot. Trim tabs were to be added by the dealer at a later stage.

With fuel at a quarter of capacity, the boat cruises at around 20kt at 2200rpm and had a top speed around 27-28kt. There is talk of dealers offering Yanmar motor options, which could make this boat a sporty 30-plus knotter. Manoeuvrability is good enough to match frisky marlin.

While it is early days, current trends suggest Caribbean's 32 Sports has a future. It is a practical overnighter for two people, a social boat for six or more, and a potential canyon runner in which four anglers could nail a trophy fish.

Expect to see more bridgedeck boats moored alongside the traditional flybridge cruisers at your marina. Only time will tell whether they become the definitive Great Australian Cruiser, but the potential is there.

HIGHS

LOWS