Cruise Craft launches Volvo Penta Forward Drive wake boat

Long-serving Australian boatbuilder Cruise Craft is launching a daring new R6 bowrider with Volvo Penta Forward Drive, the first new boat in Australia to be launched with the cutting-edge propulsion system featuring a forward-facing 'trimmable' sterndrive.

After recently embracing all-composite construction, the traditional and long-serving boat brand is now branching out into the sport-boat market as part of its modern-day evolution.

The launch of the new six-metre R6S coincides with Cruise Craft celebrating its 70th anniversary as one of Australia’s premier boat brands. The popular bowrider model is usually paired with an outboard and this will remain the case. But the Forward Drive is an interesting new option.

"We’re known as one of the best producers of fishing boats in Australia," says Cruise Craft director, Nathan Nichols. "But we thought this would be a good chance to move into the sport-boat market for waterskiing and wakesurfing, by taking advantage of Volvo Penta’s new Forward Drive propulsion system.

"One of the great things about Forward Drive is that you can create the wake you want."

CRUISE CRAFT R6S
Cruise Craft’s new R6S boat is equipped with a 300hp Volvo Penta engine and Volvo Penta Forward Drive.

The boatbuilder produced its prototype R6S earlier this year to gauge customer feedback and launched it publicly on August 12 to coincide with the company’s landmark anniversary.

"We’ve been going for 70 years, and have been using Volvo Penta engines for around 50 years," adds Nichols from the Brisbane-based boatbuilder.

"We have many loyal customers as we have a good pedigree and heritage, and it’s exciting for us to showcase this concept boat with a new propulsion system, to cross into a new market.

"It shows that
we offer world-class boats and that we have a good partnership with Volvo Penta."

FORWARD DRIVE
Vovlo Penta's Forward Drive was launched in 2015 as a unique, dynamic propulsion system capable of big wakes, smooth cruises and everything in between.

"The leisure sport market is hugely popular in countries such as Australia, and it’s a growth market for us," says Andrew Nicholson, head of Volvo Penta Oceania.

"We spent a lot of time listening to customers to develop Forward Drive as an efficient, user-friendly engine, which can provide both comfort and an
exhilarating ride.

"It’s fantastic that Cruise Craft has decided to seize the opportunity of using Forward Drive in a new boat for the watersports market. We wish them every success for the next 70 years."

FORWARD DRIVE BENEFITS
Volvo Penta says its Forward Drive offers the best combination of the company’s sterndrive, Duoprop and IPS technology, leveraging decades of research and development.

Uniquely engineered with two forward-facing counter-rotating propellers that pull the boat through the water, rather than pushing it, the FWD is said to give small-craft leisure boaters excellent performance, efficiency, comfort and versatility.

Proven Duoprop technology provides superior grip, smooth and fast acceleration to high top speeds, and increased fuel economy, the Swedish engine maker says.

Volvo Penta says FWD gives exceptional responsiveness and directional thrust for tight, fast turns; and minimal cavitation and zero side force for all-round enhanced efficiency.

Low vibration and noise increase onboard comfort; and as exhaust fumes flow down into the prop wash rather than up around the stern, boaters can be assured of an enjoyable ride when towing.

SPORTING FUN
One of the main benefits of Volvo Penta Forward Drive is that as opposed to a fixed inboard motor, FWD’s variable trim easily adjusts upwards for enhanced watersports action.

In normal cruise operations, the boat creates a symmetrical wake, but with the power trim and enlarged trim plate deployed, the operator can customise the wake on either side, making the system versatile for many fun leisure activities such as wakeboarding or waterskiing.

The position of the forward-facing propellers and the lowered drive trim when the boat is at rest, create an appropriately safe water space behind the stern for swimming and fishing, adds Volvo Penta.

More at www.cruisecraft.com.au and www.volvopenta.com.au.