Cruise Craft 575 Outsider

It is the million-dollar (or, well, really the $50K) question: "What do I want in a boat and what will I really be using it for?"

When buying a boat, the new owner needs to ask: "Is it just for my use or will there be family and mates involved? (There'll always be mates involved!) Will it be used for fishing or leisure? Will watersports be a prime concern, or will it be a combination of all of the above?"

If you're anything like me, you want a craft that can handle a bit of everything. A boat that can accommodate a few of the boys for a day's fishing, has the power to be used heaps during the summer for towing the kids on inflatable water toys, as well as the space for lounging around doing jack.

Cruise Craft answers the call with a variety of craft. They are moderately priced, have years of heritage as a family company since 1946, and constructing fibreglass craft since 1967. If safety is a prime concern with the tin lids, Cruise Craft put your mind at ease with boats featuring foam-filled hulls for positive floatation. Plus, they're dinki-di Aussie from bimini top to keel.

At 5.712m it's a craft that is easy trailerable but light enough at around 1700kg not to need a Mack truck to tow. It can be put in the water one-out plus it is offers decent handling qualities, that like its name suggests, will let you go outside even with a big swell running. The added safety is in what you can't see with the foam-filled hull that adds to the confidence of owning a surefooted craft constructed to handle rough stuff.

In fact, it's worth noting that Cruise Craft is one of the only Australian boat companies that build their boats to CE Certification - a mammoth task to ensure every bit of equipment on the boat is quality assured, and that the boat itself is constructed to meet these incredibly strict standards.

The Cruise Craft 575 Outsider will go a long way to completely satisfying the family boat owner. TrailerBoat sourced a new 575 from Coastlife Marine at Wyong just north of Sydney, and we hooked up and headed to the Gosford boat ramp to sample the 2006 model on Brisbane Water where it flows into the lower reaches of the Hawkesbury River.

 I was keen to see how the 575 would measure up with a crew of four blokes of varying size: this straw-weight author; man mountain, Shane, our craft master from Coastlife; TB photographer Baz; and Max Wicks, who had organised the test.

COCKPIT CASTING
The 575 is the smallest of the three Outsider walkaround models, but it's certainly not short of the pedigree that's made Cruise Craft a well-respected name in Australian marine circles. The 575 possesses flexibility and features to make it a strong option for the family who wants a craft for a variety of uses.

Unless you clamber aboard via the trailer, boarding is via an access door port rear onto the spacious deck. This also makes an ideal swim platform as the two-step stainless-steel ladder is recessed into the back deck. Underneath the transom bulkhead the battery, bilge pump, deckwash pump and oil tank are hidden, and they're all easily accessible. Included in the bulkhead is a generous live bait tank than can be optioned up with plumbing and sitting proud was the deluxe baitboard with raw-water deckwash hose attached.

There are four rodholders around the gunwales and a few more on the baitboard. A rocket launcher is an option.

A cantilever-design rear seat is folded away in the transom. It doesn't intrude when not in use and swings out with two sturdy hooks attaching to points at the front of the transom. Optional padded combings along the gunwales offer more support as they are just the right size for getting purchase against your thighs when leaning over the side.

There is room under the gunwale storage racks to slide your feet for added balance and surefootedness.

Under the fully-carpeted floor is a reasonable killtank or icebox but most of the underfloor space is taken up by the centrally-located 160lt fuel tank that is accessed by a screw panel.

The prow is a moulded part of the hull as well, adding strength, while a generous stainless-steel bowrail as standard doubles as a handrail for the walkaround that is easy to negotiate.

 One convenience that is missing is a spread of drinkholders around the craft. Sure, in this age of responsible boating, manufacturers may wish to paint a positive picture by not encouraging drink-boating: but just because a drinkholder fits a can or a bottle doesn't necessarily mean it has to contain alcohol!

AT THE HELM
The helm station features two seats on aluminium pedestals, and both swivel although only the captain's backrest can be moved forward and aft. Beside each seat are two storage compartments: one for keys and phone with larger space at the bottom, next to the gunwale storage for bulkier items.

Instruments consist of large Bombardier tacho as well as trim and fuel gauges with a slanted clear space in front where a flush-mounted fishfinder and GPS combo can be fitted, directly in front of the helmsman. There are waterproof switches including bilge pump and optional bait tank plumbing and 27 Meg radio.

The four-piece wraparound screen provides plenty of protection from the elements when you're sitting in the comfortable upholstered seats while under power. The screen also allows good vision when you're giving the legs a rest. This craft had an optional bimini and Cruise Craft plans to design a set of wraparound clears that will be available shortly.

For extra support there is a moulded footrest for captain and passenger. Behind the seats are stainless-steel grabrails to provide support for passengers while standing while underway but a more comfortable option is the folding bench seat that hooks to the front of the transom.

CABIN CRUISING
A handy feature in the cabin is a removable shroud that covers the wiring for the instruments and steering. What the cabin loses in headroom it makes up for in ease of access, tidiness and for waterproofing purposes.

There is plenty of space on the vee-bed and an overnight expedition is certainly not out of the question. There's a generous hatch that big Shane proved is built for all sizes. The hatch is moulded to form a seat that comes in handing for throwing a line off the bow while your mates use the deck behind.

With its foam-filled hull the boat loses out a bit on storage space. While the foam provides peace of mind for flotation purposes, it limits the amount of gear like skis and wakeboards that you may store out of toe-tapping way, unless everything is placed on the vee-bed up front as so often happens. There is a deep storage well in the centre of the vee-berth and small sidepockets for little knick-knacks.

FAST & FISHABLE
Fitted with a 150hp Johnson two-stroke but carrying mare than 300kgs of weight just in passengers, the Outsider didn't wheeze, hesitate or burp when asked to get on the plane. It planed effortlessly and was remarkably responsive. Max Wicks explained that the strake and chine design enables this ease of motoring.

At full noise, 100kmh is attainable with the Johnson spinning over at about 5000rpm. For pleasant motoring and better fuel economy a comfortable cruise was achieved at 3000rpm at around 60kmh.

The crew was keen to demonstrate the boat's handling and it wasn't long before Shane had us pirouetting in the briny. No mater how hard he threw the 575 into a turn it tracked well and held its line with very little tendency to cavitate.

The real surprise was the lack of spray in the turn; spray isn't noticeable until the rear third of the craft with no water coming over the gunwales, even in very hard turns. Even when we hit a swell or wake, no-one in the boat copped a drop. The ride through swell, chop or wake is right up there with the best. Very smooth and no need to really brace your body as the hull absorbs the impact astoundingly well.

If you want a more fishing-orientated craft the similarly-priced sister 575 Explorer may tempt, but the Outsider is a definite option if you're after a family all-rounder. This craft isn't merely a cruiser - it can just as easily head outside to fish, drag the rellies and kids behind at pace or just relax on a calm bay.


HIGHS