Cruise Craft Lure 470

It's not surprising to see several of the major manufacturers of fibreglass boats starting to target the huge freshwater and inshore sportsfishing market.

Stocking of many major freshwater impoundments has seen good numbers of native and introduced species available to be readily caught on baits and lures.

Weather conditions don't tend to hamper the freshwater and inshore fishing scene, and smaller craft are generally adequate, making it accessible to more people.

In the past, the aluminium boat industry has well and truly 'owned' this growing market. Indeed, the bigger names have several models directed squarely at this market. In comparison, the fibreglass makers have tended to stick with the family boating and offshore fishing market - but it looks like times are changing.

SMOOTH AS SILK
The Trailer Boat crew looked over a couple of fibreglass inshore prototypes at this year's Brisbane Boat Show, and it seems their quality and features are going to start attracting the interest of a few aluminium boat buyers.

The first one that we've had the chance to take out on the water is Cruise Craft's 470 Lure. As the name suggests the Lure has been designed to cater for the lure casting and trolling market, whether it be around the estuaries, rivers or impoundments.

At 4.72m, the Lure has the size to fish a couple of anglers without bother and to handle a variety of fishing situations around the country.

The first and most obvious thing that you notice about this boat is how soft the ride is in a bit of a chop and the quietness of the hull as it powers through the water.

With the fibreglass rig being a little heavier than alloy, you won't be able to get away with the small motors that you can with an open tinny. In this case, the maximum is a 70hp and I don't think you'd be too happy with anything less than a 40hp. The optimum is a 50-60hp engine.

As far as a four-stroke outboard goes, the manufacturer suggests that a 50hp is as big as you want to go here due to the weight factor. Our testboat was fitted with a 60hp Johnson which was more than adequate.

Due to the main two seats being towards the aft end of the boat along with a 90lt underfloor fuel tank, there is quite a bit of weight aft. The boat actually comes standard with a small outboard foil which does the job of levelling the ride nicely so the rig is not too aft heavy.

No matter which dealer you buy the package from, Cruise Craft has already fitted the appropriate foil, so there is no need for you to worry about trying to get the ride right. In fact, this rig is particularly well balanced with easy, smooth and level acceleration.

One advantage of fibreglass is that once satisfied with the original mould, manufacturers can produce nice characteristics in the hull and layout which are not easily attainable in alloy.

This flexibility is obvious when you take a look at the shape of the hull on the Lure - there are generous outer chines for stability and reduced spray, and planing strakes to aid performance.

What you end up with is a soft riding hull which powers smartly out on the water.

KEEP YOUR OPTIONS OPEN
As with most boats of a similar category, the features and options available are predictable. It is the way they are put together and their position in the boat that varies.

As you would hope to see in a boat that is designed to do a fair bit of lure casting, there is a raised casting platform at the bow. Here you will find a removable pedestal seat which has two other positions on the lower deck aside from the driver's position. Hence, there is the option to sit and cast or stand and cast.

Something that Cruise Craft has done differently here is to have a cut-out section in the casting platform which an 85lt Baileys icebox slides into. It's covered by a carpeted hinged lid forming part of the casting deck. This is a very practical position for the icebox - not just for space efficiency and practicality but for balancing the load. Storage is available aft of the icebox and there are two side lockers where all sorts of gear can be stashed. These could also be easily converted into two tackle hatches.

The layout of the main deck area is that of a side console. You'll find three seating positions in this area - and all use the two demountable swivel seats that come standard.

There is the position behind the side console, a passenger position next to this and one centrally positioned forward on the lower deck, with the fourth position mentioned earlier up on the casting platform.

Wherever you sit, there's room to move and the rodholders in the gunwales are easily accessible.

Most of the space available under the floor is taken up by the 90lt fuel tank. Behind the tank, however, there is a lift-up section in the floor, where you can store a few more items - but none that you want to keep dry!

With the space in the esky and the hatches under the deck you don't really need any more space, though the foot room under the side console could be used to store an average size tacklebox.

The transom has two livebait wells in it, a cutting board across the motor well and an auxiliary bracket for an electric outboard if required. A number of rodholders are positioned around the boat, and purchasers can choose exactly where they want to place them.

Of course, the Lure isn't for every one. Some fishos, especially flycasters, may lament the lack of a flush-deck casting section. But then again it is called the Lure, not the Fly!

As a first-up effort for this style of rig, the Lure 470 is impressive. It will be interesting to see how the big name alloy boys react...