Karnic 2050 Bluewater: Review

The Karnic 2050 Bluewater is one of several walkaround cabin boats from this Cyprus, Eastern Mediterranean based fibreglass boat manufacturer. Well equipped, and built using state of the art materials and technology, the 2050 Bluewater is priced to compete with locally made craft and performs strongly with Yamaha 150hp outboard power.

OVERVIEW
- Clever designs, innovative styling, excellent build quality
Karnic Powerboats Ltd is a fibreglass boat manufacturer based on the island nation of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. Established in 1993, Karnic Powerboats has grown to become a leader in its region, exporting craft to many countries around the world, including Australia.

Safety and build quality are key features of Karnic boats. All hulls are foam filled and exceed our Positive Flotation standards, while the underfloor stringer grid is made from foam injected fibreglass. Cad-Cam technology and the use of the latest in composite construction materials and techniques has refined the production process and maximised attention to detail during fabrication and assembly.

The Karnic boat range numbers close to 20 models from the entry 4.9m Smart1-48 centre console through to the flagship Cruiser 2965. The latter is an enclosed-cabin, wide-bodied family cruiser, but the majority of Karnic models are trailerable, including the subject of this test, the 2050 Bluewater.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Smartly priced, plenty of features and equipment
The 2050 is the entry model in the Karnic Bluewater range and is best described as a compact twenty footer as there is less space inside than you might expect from a craft with an overall length of 5.95m. Part of this is due to the fully moulded interior (which tends to eat up space) as well as the length of the outboard well/ boarding platform area, and the walkaround cabin foot well space.

Having made this observation, there is no shortage of storage space or seating. The 2050 Bluewater can accommodate six adults seated comfortably in the helm and cockpit area – thanks to the helm seat/storage boxes with aft facing seat squabs and the removable padded seat cushions in the transom corners.

The Karnic 2050 Bluewater is heavy with standard features and represents remarkably good value with a package price starting from just $58,600 with a Yamaha 115hp four-stroke outboard, Aussie made Oceanic tandem axle braked trailer, inshore safety gear pack and registrations.

You might think the package a little under-done with a 115hp outboard on the transom, but the test package was able to pull close to 40 knots with a Yamaha 150hp – so you could reasonably expect low 30 knot performance with a smaller 115hp outboard engine.

In addition to the Yamaha 150hp outboard, the test boat was equipped with several options – including a Garmin GPSMap 820XS GPS/fish finder, electric anchor winch, bait board, and Yamaha fuel management gauges. The extra kit lifts the price of the package to $66,895 at Stefan Boating World on the Gold Coast. This is still a relative bargain compared with many other craft in this size range.

INTERIOR LAYOUT
- Helm needs work, but cabin/cockpit layout is practical
As part of Karnic’s Bluewater boat range, we expected the 2050 test rig to be designed and set-up for coastal and offshore fishing – but in reality it is more of family all-rounder. The interior layout and feature set may suit anglers overseas, but Aussies like less seating, more open cockpit space, higher freeboard, and more fishing features.

The optional bait board is a neat unit, but there are no standard rod holders or rod racks, and the moulded well/box in the stern is suitable as an ice box – and not really large enough to rig as a live bait tank.

So, for fishing, the layout of the 2050 Bluewater is not ideal – but it works very well as a family all-rounder. The lock-up forward cabin has full length berths and provision for a toilet, while the helm and cockpit area has seating for six and dry storage space under the moulded helm seat boxes.

The 2050 Bluewater is also one of the safest boats on the market at present, thanks to its self-draining cockpit, automatic bilge pump, and in-hull foam flotation which exceeds our Positive or Level Flotation standards.

As noted earlier, the Karnic Bluewater also has foam-injected fibreglass stringers underfloor, along with a non-slip fibreglass finish to all decks and walkways, stainless steel deck hardware throughout, European CE Certification, and a 10 year structural warranty.

For overnighting and weekend cruising, the 2050 Bluewater has a full lock-up cabin with two x 2.0m long cloth-covered berths, carpet-lined ceiling and surrounds, side storage pockets and a ventilation hatch forward. Two infill cushions slot into position above the central companionway (above the optional chemical toilet) and convert the two single berths into a very large, and comfortable double berth.

The test rig was equipped with an electric anchor winch in the good-sized anchor well, but if you needed to lower the anchor the old fashioned way, the walkway trench surrounding the cabin provides easy access from the cockpit area forward to the bow.

The helm area, a step up from the lower cabin, is compact but wide enough to accommodate two very comfortable bucket chairs mounted above moulded storage boxes.

Dash space on the port side is limited due to the cabin entryway and door, but there is a dash/fascia moulding on the starboard side to accommodate the sporty steering wheel along with engine gauges, switch panel and electronics. That said, the design of this helm fascia moulding needs a bit of a re-think because the pad for flush-fitting a sounder/gps is too horizontal – which will make the display difficult to read from a seated driving position. The owner of the test boat had opted to bracket mount his Garmin fish finder/GPS – but this made it hard to see the engine instruments while seated.

The 2050 Bluewater was quite comfortable to drive while seated, but the throttle position was a little too low while standing, and the low windscreen did not offer any shelter from the wind. We also found the foot well space a little cramped while standing at the helm as our heels were hard up against the front of the moulded seat box.

Moving aft, the rear cockpit is modest in size with an overall length of 2.13m from the cabin bulkhead to the transom, and 1.15m behind the moulded helm seat boxes. Big, wide, surprisingly comfortable padded quarter seats can be easily removed to provide access into the transom corners.

The batteries, master switch, engine and pump plumbing, fuel filters, etc., and the bilge area are accessed via hatches in the transom wall on both port and starboard sides.

Short side pockets in the cockpit provide minimal storage for fishing gear and ground tackle – and due to the inner moulded cockpit liner, there is no toe-under foot well space to help brace and support you when fishing in choppy water.

There is sufficient cockpit freeboard along each side of the 2050 Bluewater at 660mm, but this height drops to around 500mm at the lowest point alongside the outboard well.

General features of note include the boarding platforms with excellent telescopic stainless steel ladder, ice box/bait well, recessed stern cleats, and the optional bait board with two aft facing rod holders.

ON THE WATER
- Moderate vee hull for a stable, surefooted ride and excellent performance
The Karnic 2050 Bluewater is a good looking boat and has a solid presence on the water. The hull has a distinctive European look, with a curving sheer-line, pronounced shoulders, and a full, almost bullish bow shape. There is a moderate, 18 degrees of deadrise at the transom, but the forefoot is sharp and quite vertical – well suited to softening out heavy chop.

In a seaway, the Karnic Bluewater performs very well; the ride is generally soft and quiet, thanks to the foam in the hull which dampens hull patter noise as well providing strength, rigidity and flotation.

The 2050 Bluewater is solid, stable and sure-footed underway and handles easily through turns, though the hydraulic steering could have been a little smoother.

Entry models of the 2050 Bluewater are packaged with a single extra-longshaft (25”) 115hp outboard, but 140 – 150hp is recommended to make the most of the hull’s excellent performance.

With a Yamaha 150hp four-stroke on the test rig we achieved a top speed of 38.4  knots at  6,000 rpm and an easy cruise of 20 knots at 3500 rpm.

VERDICT
- A welcome and well-priced addition to the local trailerboat market
Karnic boats have been available locally for a few years and are just now starting to make an impression. The 2050 Bluewater is what we consider to be one of the more conventional of Karnic’s designs, and as such, is likely to find broad appeal with Aussie boat buyers and families.

The 2050 Bluewater is a solid, safe, well finished trailerboat, with good manners at sea and excellent performance from 130 – 150hp four-stroke outboard engines.

LIKES
>> Comfortable, quiet ride (dampened by hull foam)
>> Sporty performance with Yamaha 150hp four-stroke
>> Neat interior mouldings S/S deck hardware
>> Full length lock-up cabin with provision for toilet
>> Foam flotation to Level Standard
>> Ample seating

NOT SO MUCH
>> Helm layout/design could be improved
>> Modest interior space
>> Not enough fishing features/fixtures
>> Little under-berth storage space due to foam

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.68/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.6/5.0
On the water performance: 4.7/5.0
Value for money: 4.9/5.0
X-factor: 4.6/5.0

PERFORMANCE - SPEED
5.0kts (9.2km/h) @ 1500rpm
6.2kts (11.5km/h) @ 2000rpm
6.9kts (12.8km/h) @ 2500rpm
12.9kts (23.9km/h) @ 3000rpm
19.8kts (36.6km/h) @ 3500rpm
24.3kts (36.4km/h) @ 4000rpm
28.6kts (52.9km/h) @ 4500rpm
32.0kts (59.2km/h) @ 5000rpm
34.7kts (64.2km/h) @ 5500rpm
38.4kts (71.0km/h) @ 6000rpm (WOT)

Specifications:
Price as tested: $66,895 including a Yamaha 150hp extra-longshaft (25”) four-stroke outboard, Oceanic tandem axle braked trailer, Garmin GPSMap 820XS GPS/fish finder, electric anchor winch, fuel management gauges, bait board, inshore safety gear pack, boat and trailer registrations.

Priced from: $58,600 including a Yamaha 115hp extra-longshaft (25”) four-stroke outboard, Oceanic tandem axle braked trailer, inshore safety gear pack, and boat and trailer registrations.
Length overall: 5.95m
Hull length: 5.90m
Beam: 2.45m
Hull weight: 860kg
Towing weight: Approx 1650kg
Deadrise: 18 degrees
Maximum power: 150hp
Engine as tested: Yamaha 150hp four-stroke outboard
Fuel: 135 litres
Maximum Persons: Six

Supplied by:
Stefan Boating World
Phone: (07) 5665 8400
Email: email@stefanboatingworld.com.au
Website: www.stefanboatingworld.com.au