Quintrex 490 Cruiseabout and Yamaha F90: Review

OVERVIEW
- A Quintrex bowrider makes dollars and sense
In big trailerboat markets like SE Queensland, Quintrex bowriders outsell runabouts by a decent margin. For the bowrider is the best family boat you can buy, with maximum bow-to-stern seating and cockpit space. With the 490 Cruiseabout you also get a decent pressed-aluminium hull with a 90hp rating to carry you safely out onto the bay, harbour and offshore.

Add a bimini and clears, and a bow cover if you like, and you can turn your bowrider into a quasi runabout on less-than-perfect days. Drop the enclosure and you have a really nice sporty boat with the wind in your hair for towing the kids on tubes and enjoying the sun-drenched waterways. You can have it all.

The 490 Cruiseabout is one of Quintrex's best sellers due to this versatility. The boat has the same hull as the Top Ender, a sharp Blade design that really cuts through the water, and it does feel more comfortable sluicing chop and wake compared with full-bow tinnies.

However, the transformative thing about this review of what is a timeless Quinnie bowrider is the outboard engine. The latest Yamaha F90 is perfectly suited to this 490 Cruiseabout’s maximum 90hp, a rating which you find on a lot of 5m trailerboats, and it packs a punch.

Yamaha Australia says it used 14 different 5m boat-and-prop combinations in controlled conditions to test its new big-block F90, which uses a lightweight and compact 1.8L engine with the latest technology compared with the previous 1.6L 80hp and 100hp models that is supplants.

From our test driving, we can add that the mid-range acceleration is excellent. Yep, the Yamaha F90 and Quintrex 490 Cruiseabout are perfect partners once again.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- A nicely optioned bowrider with premium engine
The 5m trailerboat market is price conscious. You can find a Quintrex 490 Cruiseabout with a direct-injection 90hp two-stroke Evinrude E-TEC with a drive-away rig $40k ticket. This rig will give you heaps of power and value.

With four-stroke combinations, you would only get a 70hp for that package price. Yamaha’s old but honest F80 added about $2k to the deal, while this latest F90 costs a few thousand more again. But it offers a more refined experience.

Broadwater Boating quoted a Quintrex 490 Cruiseabout with this new Yamaha F90 and options of transom door, black painted hull, bimini top and alloy prop on trailer and driveaway for about $45k. The F90 retails for $14,199 alone.

So there is a bit of premium here for the new F90 combo, but you are also getting a premium experience from the moment you turn the key.

Remember, a Quintrex and Yamaha combo is going to hold its value and attract a resale premium, which may in fact lessen the depreciation on your rig and, thus, pay for itself in the long run.

Five to 10-year old Quintrex 490 bowriders still command $25-$30k with old-tech carbie two-stroke motors on our sites.

LAYOUT AND EQUIPMENT
- Comfortable layout with good storage and heaps of seating
The bow of this 490 is traced by upholstered seat backs and is pretty much a totally cushioned area for the kids to ride. There is plenty of freeboard and, with the flared-bow Blade hull, it won't bang too hard. There isn’t legroom for adults to stretch out, you would have to step up to the 530 Cruiseabout to get that.

Quintrex offers plenty of standard inclusions. The 490 Cruiseabout’s bow area is fitted with a polyethylene-lined anchor and chain well that dampens the rattles, a bow sprit, big bow grab rails, nav lights, and some storage.

The opening safety-glass windscreen is held open with a simple bungee strap, which can easily be replaced is due course, and supported by alloy and plastic struts.

The so-called Maritime upholstered swivel helm seats have a good amount of cushioning compared with what we used to be dished up on tinnies.

With an upgraded Lowrance sounder and the latest Yamaha Command Link digital engine touchscreen, plus VHF radio, the dash was nicely set-up without the clutter created by analogue gauges.

Hydraulic steering is an option we’d consider only if you plan to do a lot of towing or offshore driving. In regular mixed use, the non-return mechanical steering is just fine.

The roto-moulded dash matches the moulded side panels, with a textured plastic finish. Perhaps a new solution is due with some kind of upgraded RTM or a nicer plastic product. Cars use plastic, lots of it, but it's a nice smooth finish. Of course, this might add to the cost.

There is some dry storage inside the helm console and passenger glove box, storage nets and side pockets, with bigger items stowed in the sub-floor locker or even under the folding full-width rear lounge. A swim ladder and four plastic rod holders come standard, too.

An essential option, the bimini and clears allow for all-weather boating on your bowrider. Some of the best fishing is in winter so we'd get it and covers to protect our upholstery.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Blade hull and Yamaha engine
The Quintrex Blade hull is a key selling point. Underway, it runs efficiently on its flat aft sections but is considerably smoother than some tinnies due its fine entry. The flared bow helps shed water.

Running inherently flat, the hull really tames weekend boat wake and wind waves, which will be appreciated by your kids riding in the bow.

Construction is 3mm on the bottom and 2mm on the sides, welds were smooth, and there was level floatation for five people. The paintwork and upholstery and fittings handle Aussie conditions, as older Quintrex boats and bowriders attest.

The engineering highlight is the new Yamaha F90 LB (20in shaft length), which is a compact and lightweight 162kg to 166kg engine weighing 10kg less than the F80 and F100 it supplants. It also has bigger displacement from 1596cc to 1832cc.

Using a highly efficient 16-valve Single Over Head Camshaft (SOHC) system and an ECU with knock sensor, the F90 is designed for efficient performance.

The high output alternator produces 35amp, with 28amp at 1000rpm, where there’s Variable Trolling Speed that let’s you run from 550rpm-1000rpm by adding 50rpm increments at the press of a button.

There’s a fair bit of technology in this new F90 but for us at the helm it was really very simple. The mid-range poke of this four stroke stood out, as did acceleration compared with the old-tech fours.

You can read more about this impressive 90hp four-stroke outboard in this dedicated Yamaha F90 news item.

ON THE WATER
- An efficient family bowrider with that beats and 100hp rig
Using the latest 16in GP alloy prop at 3500rpm, the official figures show a 18.5 knots smooth cruise, which is also a kid-friendly towing and skiing speed. At this most economical setting you will burn 10.4lt per hour and cover 3.29km/lt.

Nudge up to 4000pm you will use 12.85lt/hr for 22.3 knots, while 4500rpm gives 25.7 knots fast cruise for 16.8lt/hr. Top speed is 34.6 knots, which is flying for a boat like this, and actually a few klicks faster than the SS prop!

The official F90LB sea trial data was impressive compared with that for the outgoing F80 and F100.

Yamaha talks km/h — the numbers look better on paper — and on this boat the F90's top speed was 0.6km/h faster than the F100, acceleration from 0-40km/h was 0.11 of a second faster than the F100, and economy at cruise was almost 10 per cent better.

But what about our thoughts behind the wheel?

Trolling speed was typically quiet, smooth and exhaust free to our nose. Acceleration off the mark rated as great for towing. Noise levels were still low at cruise revs. From 3500rpm up, the throttle response was terrific. Above 5000rpm, the F90 roars and the 490 Cruiseabout was really quite sporty.

While we were confined to the Gold Coast's Broadwater, the rig proved predictable, comfortable, stable, forgiving, user-friendly, safe and agreeable. Just waht you want in this all-rounder league.

The 490 Cruiseabout and F90 is the kind of honest mainstream Aussie boat that will be around for decades to come.

VERDICT
- You get what you pay for with a Quintrex and Yamaha
The Quintrex 490 Cruiseabout and F90LB is a timeless combination. In fact, you could just as easily come back down the ranks and park a boat like this in your driveway as an ideal all-rounder in your retirement. Take the grand kids fishing and tubing and create a whole new generation of trailerboaters.

In short: got family, like fishing, want a tinnie, have $45k, then buy a bowrider. The Quintrex 490 Cruiseabout and F90LB are a great rig now and a smart investment down the track.

LIKES
>> Terrific versatility for family and fishing
>> Timeless layout with enduring appeal
>> Smooth and sprightly performance from Blade hull
>> Refined Yamaha F90 four-stroke engine with punch
>> Quintrex and Yamaha are top brands

NOT SO MUCH
>> No full-length side pockets for stowing longer items
>> Finish of the rotomoulded plastic dash and inserts could be refined
>> Modest 70lt fuel tank if you plan to head a way offshore

RATINGS
Overall rating: 4.5/5.0
Mechanical/equipment: 4.6/5.0
Packaging and practicality: 4.6/5.0
On the water Performance: 4.6/5.0
Value for money: 4.5/5.0
X-factor: 4.2/5.0

Specifications: Quintrex 490 Cruiseabout and Yamaha F90
Price: $45,000 with Yamaha F90LB, braked aluminium trailer, canopy and options as detailed above
Priced from: About $40,000 with 70hp Yamaha four stroke drive away

LOA: 5.21m
Beam: 2.25m
Topsides: 2mm aluminium
Bottomsides: 3mm aluminium
Weight: 525kg boat only
Engine: Yamaha F90LB mounting hole #2 with GP Alloy 13.25 x 16in prop.
Max. Rec. HP: 90
Minimum rec. HP: 40 (stated by Quintrex but we’d say 70)
Fuel: 70lt
People Day: 5 for level and basic flotation

Supplied by:
Broadwater Boating Centre
46 Brisbane Road
Labrador, QLD, 4215
Telephone: 07 5529 1777
Facsimile: 07 5529 1888
Email: info@broadwaterboating.com.au
More at Broadwater Boating Centre.