Cruise Craft Resort 6 Bowrider: Review

Not that Cruise Craft has been slow to adapt. One of the strengths of this surviving local yard is its walkaround sportfishers and bowriders launched in reply to the waves of American-made imports.

Since 1979, Cruise Craft has built bowriders and the aptly named Resort has remained popular ever since. As if to prove as much, there was a 1998 model for $20k listed for sale on our sites at the time of writing.

The Resort 6 was and is today the flagship of the namesake bowrider range. It still has the same all-round 20 degree hull, and the same basic deck and bowrider layout, only some key things have changed — for the better — as part of the modernisation of Cruise Craft.

The old two-stroke carbie outboard has been replaced with a four-stroke, probably from Yamaha since Cruise Craft offers factory rigging of these motors, with digital throttle and shift for greater response, a digital LCD multifunction gauge on the dash instead of an array of analogues and, as we said, full composite construction.

With the present exchange rate favouring Australian-built boats again, the re-released and revamped Resort 55 and 6 are back in vogue, benefiting for the reduced competition from high-priced imported bowriders.

With all the planets aligning and summer knocking on the door, we figured it was time to join the party and head back to the Resort 6 for some timeless pleasure boating. The Yamaha Australia crew helped make our twin test happen, but for now we’ll share our thoughts on the R6 first.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- A Broadwater Boating rig perfectly set-up for family boating
Our Cruise Craft R6 rolled down the ramp looking like the proverbial ‘million dollars’ with a cool custom blue-lightning wrap adding extra sparkle to the package. While the boats are factory pre-rigged, Broadwater Boating deserves some credit for the completion of the rig. As part of the Hinterland Group, one of the largest motor vehicle industry organisations on the Gold Coast, it brings auto-experience to the table.

Priced at $99,990, the R6 package included the maximum Yamaha F225 V6 four-stroke outboard with digital electronic controls, hydraulic steering and adjustable helm, high definition Command Link 6YC (onboard video) colour multifunction gauge, matched Cruise Craft trailer with brakes and latch, custom bimini top with stainless steel fittings and extension, bowrider wind-dam or door, and that hot wrap.

There was a Fusion RA70N Bluetooth stereo and four speakers, a ski pole, plus inshore safety kit and full rig registrations. Among the neat extras fitted by Broadwater, were a StressFree drum winch and stainless anchor for hands-free anchoring, 12V fridge, Lowrance HDS-7 sounder, and luxury SeaDek foam flooring.

The final rig was a beautiful loaded bowrider with a great fit and finish and plenty of fruit to make it well suited for inshore boating, bay boating and touring the big sand islands off the Gold Coast and Brisbane. This was a $104,990 R6 package and the quality was commensurate with the ticket.

LAYOUT AND DESIGN
- A classic bowrider with comfortable seating and great storage
The Resort 6 doesn’t break the design mould, however, the generous sizing, plush upholstery, storage and ergonomics boost the comfort levels well beyond the old Resorts. Additionally, that Yamaha F225 generates hot performance that makes the old generation outboards seem positively uncouth.

We also like the nice deep anchor well and the anchor winch, the fact that the bow has a heap of freeboard and legroom so two adults can easily ride up front, and that the plush backrests are supportive, with stainless grab rails nearby. Of course, the underseat storage is useful for stashing safety gear. But now the seat swabs are King Starboard instead of ply, so they won’t hold water or rot.

Although there’s not a forward ladder, a little bit of non-skid around the bow mightn’t go astray when unloading crew at the beach. I’d hate to see a kid slip and land on that bow roller. Throughout the boat, the grey SeaDek foam flooring feels great underfoot and won’t burn your feet on a mid-summer’s day.

Our R6 had an Isotherm 12V fridge under the passenger console to keep the drinks cold. The walkthrough from bow to cockpit is nice and wide to allow the fridge door to open and facilitate freedom of movement throughout the boat. Of course, the windscreen is an armour-plate glass number and it’s held up by stainless steel struts.

There’s a nice fitout ahead of the co-pilot with glove box and grab rails, Fusion stereo and 12V charging plugs for devices. The hip-hugging pedestal bucket seats are supportive, while the upholstery throughout has been improved with new perforated panels.

The helm is wonderfully simple thanks to Yamaha’s Command Link 6YC colour screen taking care of all the engine functions. This leaves the Lowrance HDS-7 for serious fish finding. The switch panel near the throttle was neatly installed, too.

Storage comes via side pockets, separate pockets for the rear passengers, a sub-floor ski locker, but also in a moulded icebox under the transom lounge, where there’s room left over for stashing more stuff out of the way.

This wrap-around rear lounge is really comfy and, with the moulded table plonked on the pedestal base and the helm seats swivelled aft, you have a family lunch setting under the bimini top. Drink holders abound.

Our boat had twin batteries fitted under the transom and there was great access via the fold-back central lounge base to the fuel filter and bilge. It’s all very serviceable on this R6.

The Yamaha pre-rigging means everything just works and with the matching trailer with latch your boating escapades will be a cinch. The capacity plate says this 20-footer will carry seven people and, while that’s an unlikely load, there’s seating for them, sufficient cockpit space to pull it off, plenty of freeboard for safety, and the V6 Yamaha V225 has the grunt to shunt a big load.

Given the comfort, lifted fit and finish, and the fun on the run, you might find boating freeloaders, family and friends lining up. Therein the advantage of the maximum horsepower on a rig like this — torque talks and you get skiing grunt.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Complete Composite Construction and Yamaha technology
The hull on the Cruise Craft R6 goes back a while, but when you are on a good thing, y’know. The proven formula includes 20 degrees of deadrise, pronounced chines, and a legally towable 2.45m beam. It’s the same basic hull from the chine down as the 625 Offshore.

The big refinement is what Cruise Craft calls 3C, short for Complete Composite Construction. See the photo of Nathan Nichols, fourth-generation family boat builder, holding the composite sub-floor grid now used by Cruise Craft in the gallery above. No chance of rot down the track.

Meantime, Yamaha adds to the refinement with the maximum rated 225hp V6 four-stroke outboard. Originally launched in late 2009, Yamaha’s 4.2 litre V6 range of F225, F250 and F300 four-strokes replaced the long-standing 3.3L V6 models, presenting a torque rich, fuel efficient and lighter option for offshore boaters, the local Yamaha team explains.

Specifically, the 4.2L V6 range utilises plasma-lined sleeveless bores instead of conventional steel liners, giving added strength, increased capacity and lighter weight. Variable Camshaft Timing dramatically increases power and throttle response in the low- to mid-rpm range, resulting in superior hole-shot performance. Yes, this boat launches!

The F225 weighs 253kg, while generating 70 amps of charging power to the boat’s dual battery system, which is plenty of juice to run the Lowrance HDS-7, Fusion stereo, 12V fridge and other accessories.

The F225 is controlled by the Yamaha Command Link Control system, which is a digital shift and throttle that precisely and efficiently controls the outboard from the helm. The outboard was hooked up to that 6YC Command Link LCD screen, a virtual information centre that relays all the key data on one easy-to-read 5in display and gets rid of analogue gauge cluster of yore.

Specifically, the 6YC Command Link LCD screen displays shift position, engine rpm, boat speed, engine trim level, available fuel in litres, fuel level (up to four tanks), fuel flow, fuel economy, trip, and up to three vital engine functions of your preference (e.g. oil pressure, engine temperature and battery voltage). All measurements are displayed in easy-to-read bar graphs. There is also a night-vision mode, as well as water depth and water temperature monitoring.

Between all these things, and the lifted fit and finish, the trusty Cruise Craft Resort 6 — which we first announced in a news item in November 1997 and reviewed alongside the R55 sister bowrider in 2003 — is a much-improved and modernised bowrider. It is also a timely release for summer and doubly so while the exchange rate disadvantages imported competition.

ON THE WATER
- Traditional and predictable ride with plenty of power in reserve
The inherently quiet and smooth V6 Yamaha F225, the foam-filled hull, with SeaDek flooring and plush upholstery, all work to keep noise levels down and you don’t need to shout to be heard while crafting your R6 cruise.

Sightlines through the windscreen are great, while the wind whips across your hair but not your eyes. Digital throttle response is absolutely snappy and so instantaneous that it can come as a surprise. There’s no lag at all; the engine answers in a millisecond, as the hull launches straight out of that hole to fast planing speeds in an exhilarating but predictable way.

According to the Yamaha Performance Bulletins, spinning a 21in prop you can expect 5500rpm at wide-open throttle for a top speed of 92 km/h or right on 50 knots. That’s fast but the boat doesn’t chine walk or get unstable up there.

Due to the big 4.2lt displacement, there’s a huge cruising band anywhere from 21-42 knots. As the boat planes freely, you have some great options at very low revs, where the F225 is frugal, quiet and the family cruising experience is really pleasant.

Fast cruise at 4500rpm gives 42 knots for 61lt/hr, 4000rpm cruise produces a 37.5 knot boat for 46-47lt/hr, while 3500rpm returns 31-32 knots for 35.25 lt/hr, whereupon it’s safe to say your range from the 160lt tank is at least 130nm.

Maximum efficiency is right back at just 2500rpm and 21 knots, which sees a fuel burn of 18.15lt/hr (2.15km/lt or 1.16nm/lt) for a range of 166nm from 90 per cent of the available fuel. But, really, this isn’t so much about range as a really fun and comfortable social Sunday cruiser for the Broadwater, Pittwater, Sydney Harbour, Port Hacking, that big bay and beyond.

All the while, the R6 was dry, sporty and safe. There might be smoother riding hulls out there, but this 20 degree formula is a terrific all-rounder with class-leading stability at rest where other more deeply-veed boats will teeter.

We took a look outside the Gold Coast Sea Way and the boat imparted a great sense of security. No whales, but it got me thinking — you could easily drop in some rod holders or a rocket launcher and create a crossover Cruise Craft X6.

VERDICT
- A timeless Australian bowrider
With the Broadwater sparkling, the R6 looked hot in its wrap, and the Yamaha F225 had power to burn. As we left the ramp, it was hard not getting a tad excited. Yet this bowrider from Cruise Craft has been on offer for more than five years.

Only now there’s some added refinement. With the complete composite construction, high quality upholstery, brand backing and resale, and the Broadwater Boating auto-like purchasing experience, it all adds up to real pleasure boating.

Mind you, Cruise Craft never really fell off the radar, but it is now back in the spotlight. Given the quality of the boat, the new hull construction and proven engine, this R6 may well become a family heirloom enjoyed by generations of happy boaters.

LIKES
>> Great mouldings, exact fit and smart finish
>> Complete Composite Construction with no wood
>> The grunt of the Yamaha F225, a great V6 four stroke
>> Onboard comforts from SeaDek flooring to 12V fridge
>> Brand and dealer backing and overall high quality

NOT SO MUCH
>> Non-skid around the bow mouldings would assist disembarkation
>> The styling is timeless but not dazzling
>> A premium price for an albeit premium boat
>> How about a crossover fishing version?

RATINGS
Overall: 4.60/5.0
Mechanical: 4.7/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.8/5.0
On water performance: 4.5/5.0
Value for money: 4.6/5.0
X-factor: 4.5/5.0

Specifications: Cruise Craft Resort 6
Price as Tested: $104,990 with 12V fridge, SeaDek flooring, maximum Yamaha F225 V6 four-stroke outboard with digital electronic controls, hydraulic steering and adjustable helm, high definition Command Link 6YC colour multifunction gauge, matched Cruise Craft trailer with brakes and latch, custom bimini top with stainless frame, Fusion stereo, ski pole, drive away and more.

Priced From: $99,990 with the maximum Yamaha F225 V6 as complete on-trailer driveaway rig with most of the above options

Hull Length: 6.095m
Beam: 2.45 m
Deadrise: 20 degrees
Weight: About 2000kg on road rig
Height on Trailer: About 1.945m
Length on Trailer: About 7.70m
Engine: Yamaha F225 four-stroke extra-long shaft
Fuel: 160lt
People Day: 7

Supplied by:
Broadwater Boating Centre
46 Brisbane Road
Labrador, QLD, 4215
Phone: (07) 5529 1777
Website: www.broadwaterboating.com.au

Cruise Craft Boats Pty Ltd
1308 Lytton Road
Hemmant, QLD, 4174
Ph. (07) 3390 4877
Website: www.cruisecraft.com.au

Credit: Photos also taken by Mark Harman from Yamaha