Cruise Craft E770HT 2025 Review

Renowned Aussie trailer boat builder, Cruise Craft, has launched a new range-topping model to replace the long-running, hugely popular Explorer 685/720.

The Cruise Craft E770HT is a completely new model, designed using CAD/CAM technology with a new deck/cabin structure and a deeper vee hull for a smoother ride in choppy water.

The E770 is also the largest fishing boat Cruise Craft has produced to date, but it retains a road-legal 2.5m beam so it can be trailered without towing restrictions.

The new, hardtop-equipped Cruise Craft flagship is powered exclusively by Yamaha.

The launch model E770HT we tested was paired with the maximum-power Yamaha XTO450 Offshore V8 four-stroke outboard.

The new Cruise Craft is loaded with good gear and equipment.

Key standard features include the vee-berth front cabin, fibreglass hardtop, semi-enclosed hardtop saloon/helm station with one-piece 'Panavision' front windshield, huge dash and fascia panel, large rear cockpit with SeaDek flooring, elevated side pockets, wide side decks with padded coaming bolsters, twin sub-floor kill tanks, huge live well, recessed coaming rails and cleats, multiple rod holders, two transom doors, dive-door, boarding platform with external ladder, and much more.

Our test boat was heavily optioned for display and testing purposes. You can view all the extra gear at the bottom of this review, but some of the notable items include Yamaha’s full Helm Master EX navigation system with joystick control, three Garmin GPSMap multi-function displays (with radar, sonar, GPS), Fusion RA-210 stereo upgrade, Stressfree Free Fall drum winch with Sarca anchor, 110L 12V fridge/freezer, 110L ice box, electric-flush toilet, upgrade to Sea Keeper 450mm Ride auto trim system, Reelax outriggers, and Reelax slimy tubes.

With all of the above kit (and heaps more), and riding on an Easytow 4500kg tandem-axle alloy electric braked trailer, the E770HT is priced around $426K.

Entry packages can be purchased from $275,491 when the boat is paired with a Yamaha 350hp V6 four-stroke outboard.

The Cruise Craft E770HT is a fine-looking craft which combines a low-profile front cabin with a smooth-sided, deep-vee hull with a pronounced sheer to the deck line.

Nicely integrated into the overall boat design – as opposed to looking like an add-on – is the fibreglass hardtop suspended above the stylish single-piece Panavision toughened glass front windshield, which was designed in collaboration with glazing specialist company ALFAB Australia.

The Panavision front windshield looks great and provides the skipper with an unrestricted view.

A starboard-side windscreen wiper is included in the standard boat package, though our test boat was optioned with a pair of wipers, and twin washers.

Siding cabin side windows ventilate the cabin at rest and when underway.

The E770HT is primarily designed for fishing but it easily doubles as a family overnighter, thanks to the double-berth front cabin with optional electric-flush toilet.

Slide open the lockable port-side cabin door and you gain entry by stepping down into the cabin.

Inside there is a traditional vee-berth above storage compartments, and beneath wide, wrap-around side storage pockets.

Optional infill boards and cushions convert the two full-length single berths into a large double bed.

There’s also a front ventilation hatch and provision for an optional bow thruster.

The new Cruise Craft has a thoroughly modern helm station with a massive, two-tier fascia panel to accept several flush-fitted electronics displays.

Our test boat was optioned with two Garmin GPSMap 8416xsv 40.6cm (16-inch) displays beneath a smaller Garmin 8412xsv, and a Yamaha Command Link engine display.

Alternatively, you might choose to fit a single, massive 56cm (22-inch) display on the larger panel to starboard with a second 30.5cm (12-inch) unit alongside to port.

Notably, the dash/fascia is blacked out to reduce glare with a dark, carbon-fibre finish.

Surrounding features include cup holders, a moulded side shelf for the throttle box and Helm Master joystick, driver’s footrest, and recesses for the EPIRB, fire extinguisher and optional pie oven.

The included Garmin VHF radio and Fusion stereo head units are flush-mounted overhead, beneath the hardtop.

The deluxe bucket helm chairs in the E770HT are mounted above stainless steel frames to make space beneath for the optional, slide-out 110L fridge/freezer, and a separate, equally large Evakool cooler/ice box.

Offshore fishermen will appreciate the plethora of fishing features, options and accessories.

The uncluttered cockpit stretches 2.75m from the cabin bulkhead back to the large centre-transom plumbed live well and bait preparation centre.

The cockpit is flanked by 710mm-high, 220mm-wide side deck coamings which are fitted with multiple stainless steel rod holders, cup holders and vinyl padded bolsters.

A full-length, elevated sided storage pocket (with toe-holds underneath) is situated beneath the port-side coaming, whilst opposite there is a heavy-duty dive/entry/fish door, Master switch panel/recess, and a rear cockpit transom door.

Other cool features include port-side gaff racks, recessed coaming rails, optional salt and freshwater deck wash (with 70L water tank), hardtop rocket launcher rod rack, enclosed battery cupboards, and a second transom door to port.

The Cruise Craft E770HT has an excellent 20-degree deep-vee hull – made using fibreglass and fibreglass composite materials for both strength and durability.

As noted earlier, the entry shape at the bow has been sharpened to provide a smoother ride in choppy water than its predecessor.

There was not a great deal of wave action on Brisbane’s Moreton Bay to test the extent of the hull improvements, but I did find the E770HT to be smooth and comfortable when crossing mild chop and large boat wakes.

Our test boat was upgraded with the Sea Keeper Ride 450 pitch and roll attitude control automatic trim tabs, which balance the boat pretty much every which way to keep it running level to maximise hull performance and ride comfort.

Regular trim tabs are included with the E770HT, but the Sea Keeper Ride 450 system is next level.

If you’ve got budget to spare you might also consider optioning the boat with the full Sea Keeper Gyro stabiliser system.

However, the Sea Keeper gear is by no means necessary, as the hull beneath the E770HT is a ripper – inherently soft, dry and exceptionally stable.

With regard to performance, our test boat was rigged with Yamaha’s flagship motor, the 450hp V8 four-stroke, in the extra-longshaft (25-inch) configuration.

With so much power bolted out back, the test rig was unsurprisingly very fast, accelerating without pause through to a top speed of 48 knots (89km/h).

A better, less costly engine option to my way of thinking would be a single 350hp V6 Yamaha for a more than adequate top speed of 42.9 knots (79.5km/h).

You might also consider a twin-rig set-up with a pair of Yamaha F200s.

Range on 95% of the optional 500L fuel supply at 3500rpm: 286.3nm

The new Cruise Craft E770HT is the best Australian-made fibreglass trailer boat I have tested in years. It’s a superb new offshore fishing/family boat and a world-class marine product.

The E770HT is not cheap but, if you have the means and the desire, you need to check out this stunning new Cruise Craft model.

Model: Cruise Craft E770HT
Hull length: 7.7m
Beam: 2.5m
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Hull weight: 2050kg approx (dry, std. boat)
Towing weight: 3759kg (as tested)
Maximum power: 450hp (single) 400hp (twins)
Engine as tested: Yamaha XTO450 Offshore V8 four-stroke outboard
Fuel: 400L (std); 500L (opt)
Water: 70L
Passengers: 8
Price from: $275,491 including a Yamaha 350hp V6 four-stroke extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard engine and a dual-axle Easy-Tow aluminium trailer (4500kg capacity) with electric break-away brakes.
Price as tested: $426,000. As above but with a Yamaha 450hp V8 four-stroke extra-longshaft (25-inch) outboard engine, full Yamaha Helm Master EX navigation system with joystick control, two x Garmin GPSMap 8416xsv multi-function (GMR Fantom 24 mile radar, sonar, GPS chart plotting) one x Garmin GPSMap 8412xsv display, Fusion RA-210 stereo upgrade with speakers, Stressfree Free Fall drum winch with Sarca anchor and rode, 110L 12V fridge/freezer, 110L Evakool ice box, ice box cushions, electric-flush toilet with macerator (no holding tank) Travel Buddy pie oven, port-side windscreen wiper, dual freshwater windscreen washers, upgrade to Sea Keeper 450mm Ride auto trim system, hardtop hand rails, upgrade switch panels, rear seat with storage box, Phender Pro Quick Release fender mounts, hardtop cockpit sliding extension, Sunbrella storm cover, cabin centre bunk infill and cushions, coloured hardtop underside (black), coloured hull (Mist Grey), Sionyx Nightwave thermal camera, bait board tap, plumbed underfloor kill tanks (pair), live bait tank plumbing, bait tank blue light, port-side tap with push-button timer, rocket launcher LED flood lights, recessed stainless-steel drink holders, underwater lights, light bar, Enerdrive dual battery charge system, fresh and raw water deck wash, Reelax outriggers, plumbed Reelax slimy tubes, and more!
Supplied by: Cruise Craft