Jeanneau Cap Cammarat 10.5 WA: Review

The big hooks are outboards rather than inboards, from 225s up to the biggest available twin Yamaha 350hp V8s we had on test, an open-plan layout that caters for day-boating, truly useful weekending accommodation for four below decks, and irrefutable hull pedigree for exciting performance.

The extraordinary twin-step tunnel hull from Michael Peters is a derivation of his 40ft US Coastguard commission. It’s designed to run fast but in control and, due to its centre tunnel, it turns as if on rails.

The outboards are mounted on an integrated pod arrangement that maximises the hull’s waterline length for ride comfort. You can read our stand-alone story on the Stepped-Vee Ventilated Tunnel Hull here.

With this well-bred walkaround, Jeanneau is now boxing in the big outboard bluewater league. This battlefield has previously been the preserve of American centre-console marques. But while the French are out to capture some of that bustling global business, the performance of this boat remains predictable and accessible in the true Jeanneau mould.

Indeed, Jeanneau provides a suite of amenities for family time and weekending away on its new flagship Cap Cammarat. In other words, it’s not being preclusive or too specialised.

At the press conference we attended in France, Jeanneau said 80 per cent of its outboard-powered Cap Cammarat boats are used for family pursuits. Down below, we could have easily spent the rest of our fleeting visit to France in the big beds following a hot shower. The interior, accommodation and amenities make this 10.5 WA a true multi-tasker...

ENGINE TALK
- Twin 350hp V8s and Yamaha’s Helm Master
The twin 350hp V8 Yamaha outboards were an upgrade from the 300hp V6 Yamaha models, which Jeanneau mentions in its specs, and the 225hp base outboards on the local 10.5 WA package we've put together at the foot of this test. You will still be enjoying low- to mid-30 knots cruise with those V6s.

But we must say, the Yamaha’s 350hp V8s are a buzz. They’re the largest-capacity naturally-aspirated outboard engines on the market today. The 350s share the same V8 engine platform as what's found under the bonnet of the Volvo S60 and the (modified) Volvo V8 Supercar.

On the water, the new flagship Cap Cammarat 10.5 WA came about due to the fast-evolving outboard engine segment. Why are outboards hot to trot? You get less maintenance, easier servicing and better accessibility to beaches and shallow waterways. You also get greatly improved reliability and longevity from not having sterndrive legs living in saltwater.

Jeanneau also says this boat is intended to capture owners moving from inboard to outboard, which is happening with a downsizing movement in the USA.

Additionally, the new 10.5 WA flagship responds to growing demand for 7-8m walkarounds rather than the 6m Cap Cammarat models a few years ago. When you consider the attributes and accommodation of the bigger walkarounds you can see why they appeal. You get much greater utility.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Lots of upgrades on the French test boat
Jeanneau tends to spec'-up its demo boats at its press events. Besides the big V8s, we also had the optional Yamaha Helm Master docking system and multifunction control box on test. With independently articulating outboard engines and Joystick, you could move this walkaround boat in ways that would otherwise be impossible.

But with just the cost-effective bow thruster you still have reassuring manoeuvrability. Customised to the dynamics of each boat, the Helm Master is a luxury near-$20k item. You are probably better off spending that money in other ways. So we went to local Jeanneau dealer Matt Willet Marine to package up this rig in a suitable and cost-effective way for local boating.

The local 10.5 WA package tallied a very impressive $291,963 with twin 225hp V6 Yamaha outboards, shorepower and charger, hot water, windlass, Lowrance and Fusion packages, live-bait tank, foredeck sunpad backrests, cockpit fridge and grill, freshwater toilet, teak cockpit floor, and more.

Given the big ticket of the gun American centre consoles with racks of big outboards these days, this 10.5 WA is a price-competitive, multipurpose European alternative.

LAYOUT AND ACCOMMODATION
- Offshore warrior is a weekender in disguise
The extended boarding platforms either side of the outboard engines provide terrific access to the water and marina when stepping aboard. The cockpit has flip-up side seating for eight in total around a teak folding table that creates the lunch setting.

It’s a very social layout and the aft lounge is a terrifically comfortable spot when cruising. But perhaps a flip-up transom lounge would better than the moulded number for fishing. As it was, rod holders were dotted about the decks along with drink holders and grab rails in key areas.

Underfloor is an absolutely massive lazarette for storing a roll-up tender, barbecue, dive tanks and fishing gear, you name it. If you go for the generator option it’s mounted back here. We don’t think you need to worry about that on this boat in Australia.

The central amenities centre has an inbuilt barbecue and fridge option, plus sink and handy storage. This moulded unit sits behind triple race-like helm seats and forms their backrest when you drop the seat bases for driving three abreast on your feet.

The centre cabin and helm is mounted asymmetrically. There is easy access forward either side, but you get a bit more room along the port walkaround to the bow and foredeck sunpad with optional flip-up backrests. Remove the cushions up here and you could create a quasi casting deck. Tip: if you are blasting offshore, keep the cushions down below.

Below decks is a surprise by way of fore and aft double beds that sleep a family of four. The forward double is formed by converting the dinette table and surround bow lounge. The bow area is bathed in natural light through big hull windows with opening portlights. There’s a real sense of space.

The nearby galley has a stove and fridge, the bathroom has a shower over the toilet hiding under a GRP hood, while the walnut joinery adds to the look of the interior. Thanks to the deep hull, there is full headroom in this cabin.

Essentially, you have the same sleeping capacity and amenities as a 30ft sportscruiser.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Simplicity is the key in this global build
The hull is solid GRP below the waterline and the construction and engineering are of course to key global standards like CE. The cockpit is self-draining, the bilge is easily accessible and there are hatches to the top of the fuel tanks to the senders and so on. The 160 litres of water will last a long weekend.

The stainless deck gear is heavy duty and the boat felt well built with less fitout and squeaks and rattles than the sportscruisers of similar value with more interior. A really good rail-mounted gas barbecue would be a neat addition, leaving the 240v cooktops for when you are hooked up to shorepower at the motorboat club or rafted up with generator friends.

ON THE WATER
- Not just for the Med’
For our photo shoot, we had typically calm conditions where the Med’ was gently heaving and this boat, trimmed out, was carving up to mid-40 knots on its flat aft hull sections with 12 degrees of deadrise. But a few days later for our hands-on drive, we had rough water for a real test.

At idle, under the sparkling French spring sun, the ‘bronzing areas’ and outdoor lifestyle zones on the open decks certainly called the idle pleasure seeker. The new factory-made moulded hardtop will be a great addition to this boat during Australian summers (see slide above).

Underway, spinning 19in three-blade Saltwater Series stainless-steel props, top speed is officially 44 knots, but I received reports of 48 knots for a light ship. We cracked 40-something knots downwind in 30-35 knots of wind with white horses whipped up on the Med’. Acceleration is brisk but in a deliberate four-stroke outboard way and not like a V8 inboard or two I'm afraid.

Cruise of 4000rpm and 25-26 knots was convincing and there was no banging like you might expect from a production boat. Consumption from these twin V8 outboards was about 105lt/hr or 4lt/nm for a 200nm range at these cruise speeds.

Heading home, 18-22 knots proved the sensible speed setting when we punched back into it. The Yamaha Helm Master system has an auto-trim assist function to make performance driving accessible to everyone and, once set, you can forget. To me, however, it removes one of the joys and skills of driving a boat and that is trimming.

Sound reverberation from the bow and cabin area wasn’t an issue bounding through the broken water, spray deflection was excellent and, in the rather testing conditions, this was about as comfortable as open boating gets.

The joystick controlling the outboards helped take care of docking straight back upwind and a colleague from Finland seemed impressed as he slotted it home. A hose off, a tug of some covers, and we could have headed back to our villa. This is easy boating.

VERDICT
- Perfect for active pursuits with reliable outboard power
The 10.5 WA caters for active pursuits such as fishing, diving and watersports, offshore cruising and fun social times on deck. The boat looks sporty, but it has been designed for weekends away and family time.

Over recent years, our drives of big multi-outboard centre consoles from American stables have often been with rigs destined for pleasure-boating use on Sydney Harbour or the Gold Coast. Fact is, buyers like this style of boat but not everyone wants to fish hard.

This big walkaround would be perfect for these multipurpose sportsboaters and, with a hardtop recently designed and drawn-up by Jeanneau, you will get some shade and an even more complete look. You could also create a helm enclosure with clears for more southerly latitudes.

Either way, this 10.5 WA is the most up-to-speed Jeanneau we’ve been aboard and is pitched squarely at today’s turnkey weekend warriors who are stepping out of sportscruisers and into smart outboard-powered boats.

Pricing is keen on home turf, with a drive-away rig with twin 225hp V6 Yamaha outboards and options for under $300k. Jeanneau has really stepped up with a neat step hull with walkaround weekender layout.

LIKES
>> Outboard-powered walkaround for multipurpose pursuits
>> Full weekending amenities on deck and down below
>> Comfortably sleeps a family of four
>> Michael Peters twin-step hull
>> Yamaha V8 outboards and Helm Master control centre

NOT SO MUCH
>> Inbuilt transom seating impedes fishing — flip up seat would be better
>> Tracks on the forward sunpads needed when blasting at sea
>> Twin V8 outboards consume about 100ltrs at 24-25 knot cruise

Specifications: Cap Cammarat 10.5 WA
Price for local package: $291,963 with 225hp V6 Yamaha outboards, shorepower and charger, hot water, windlass, Lowrance and Fusion packages, live-bait tank, foredeck sunpad backrests, cockpit fridge and grill, freshwater toilet, teak cockpit floor and more.
LOA: 10.57m
Beam: 3.21m
Weight: 4250kg hull only
Fuel: 2 x 400lt
Water: 160lt
Sleeping: 4/5
Engines on Test: 2 x F350 Yamaha four-stroke outboards
Engine Configuration: 32-valve DOHC 60 degree V8 with 5.33lt displacement and 5000-6000 WOT.
Speed: WOT 6000rpm/44.1 knots
More on all the Jeanneau boats including this Cap Cammarat 10.5 WA from Matt Willett Marine.