Quintrex 530 Cruiseabout: Review

Quintrex needs no introduction. Hey, neither does its Cruiseabout, especially this 530 model that is widely regarded as the most versatile boat in the range. A bowrider, the Cruiseabout is as comfortable carrying a family for a Sunday picnic as it is some anglers as the sun comes up. With the new Yamaha F130 four-stroke outboard on the tail, this popular boat also runs beautifully and, with a recent cosmetic and interior tweak, it’s a better all-rounder than even before.

OVERVIEW
- Family and family is the name of the game
Some years ago, one of my old mates called out of the blue to say he wanted to buy a boat. He had two young kids, but he still loved fishing as we had done together as fearless warriors for many of our crazy teenage years. So I said: "Buy a brand you can resell, get an all-rounder that’s easy to single-handedly tow and launch, and make it a tinny with a new-generation outboard. Can’t go wrong".

My mate bought a Quintrex 510 bowrider, he caught plenty of fish and his family was as happy as the Brady Bunch. He fished from his bowrider, his wife and the kiddies went pleasure boating to Pittwater beaches, and then he started towing the kids on tubes. A genuine Australian story and a top all-round Aussie boat.

So here we are again, only this time we are testing the popular Quintrex 530 Cruiseabout with the latest Yamaha F130A, which is the maximum HP for this hull.

We tested the Quintrex 530 Cruiseabout back in mid-2013 with a 130hp Evinrude ETEC on the tail. That engine is of course a direct-injection two stroke configuration and a strong one at that. So it was an interesting comparison with the Yamaha four-stroke F130A.

Additionally, the 530 Cruiseabout received an upgrade when we last saw the boat at the 2015 Quintrex new-model launch. The helm consoles have been pushed back slightly to gain 62 per cent more room in the bow Adults can now ride up front.

With summer approaching, we reckon the revamped Quintrex 530 Cruiseabout could be the answer to a whole lot of problems of which pleasure boating for everyone ain’t going to be one of them.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Loaded $50K summer boat with the latest Yamaha F130A
Our test boat was a demonstrator at the 2015 Yamaha F130A outboard launch day on the Gold Coast. Don’t tell anyone, but your scribe zipped away el pronto and ran up and down the Broadwater longer than we should with a view to testing this complete rig.

The local dealer, Broadwater Boating Centre, had put together a very smart package with just a few extras to boost the 530 Cruiseabout’s utility. Along with the Yamaha F130A, our test boat had upgraded fuel-management gauges from Yamaha — with the standard non-return mechanical steering which was fine — a pretty neat optional transom door to improve water access, two-tone paint that looked smart, and a custom matching Sunbrella bimini and ‘sock.’

That said, these factory-rolled Quintrex rigs are actually very complete boats in standard guise. The 530 Cruiseabout is bundled with a GME marine radio, swim ladder, a couple of basic rod holders, swivel helm seats, a decent folding rear lounge (as shown), and a 95-litre underfloor fuel tank. The roto-moulded polyethylene dash and side pockets add to the boat’s overall design integration and lifted finish.

If you want to create more of a fishing boat or tow-sports rig, the factory has the means to that. You can, say, add options like a convertible casting platform in the bow, then a chopping board, burley bucket and live-bait tank back aft. Or you can add a ski pole, CD stereo with speaker upgrade, hydraulic steering and sporty vinyl wrap and go towing.

At this point, we should let you know that the 530 Cruiseabout has had a factory upgrade from what you see here. The carpet is a new hookless variety, the helm seats have stainless steel pedestal bases, and there is more room and longer seats in the bow. The cargo nets for storage under the helm consoles are now storage bins. Just evolutionary stuff really.

None of this alters the performance of the 2015-model we tested, although we this helm pulled back aft a tad you might get a touch more trim range.

What we drove was a very smart rig as tested for $51,990 on the latest 1400kg capacity aluminium braked trailer. On road the rig will tip the scales around 1 tonne or a smidge over (hull 590kg dry + 178kg F130A + trailer), so it’s an easy tow and launch for dad.

If you want to talk base boats, Broadwater Boating Centre can do the latest Quintrex 530 Cruiseabout with a 100hp Yamaha four-stroke on trailer ready to roll for about $46,990. Our test boat and the base boat mentioned here both needed a fishfinder, but that’s about it and, hey, they aren’t costly items any more.

LAYOUT AND APPLICATION
- The all-rounder just got even more versatile
With a substantial gain in legroom, the bow area of this popular bowrider has got even more useful and accommodating of a couple of adults as well as just the kids or an angler.

There is handy under-seat lined storage in the bow and the boat has two underfloor storage hatches, one big enough for skis and the like, the other useful as a wet well for fish or drinks.

The walk-through windscreen, bow sprit with roller, big cleat and standard polyethylene-lined rebated anchor well, which subdues the rattles when underway, make the task of dropping the pick and pull it up again a snap.

Dad can leave the helm and have this boat anchored in no time. We also like the freeboard up front to support crew weight, the surrounding alloy grab rail, and the upholstered backrests tracing the entire bow seating area.

It really is quite a soft and safe play and ride area for the kids, with nothing sharp to slash little feet and hands. Fishos can cast lures at schooling fish, set a spread of rods when drift fishing by using a rail-mounted rod holder up front, and just kick back without fishing on top of your mate(s) back aft.

The co-pilot and helm consoles are both roto-moulded and this lifts the fit and finish much like the old fibreglass decks on those Cruiseabouts of old. The co-pilot gets a lidded glovebox and an open recessed area with a lip for storing personal effects like sunscreen and sunnies and the must-have phone for the grab-and-grin fish pics.

The deck around the helm, upon which the windscreen is mounted, is a robust plastic material and ergonomically mindful. It includes internal ledges that act as armrests, while the new pedestal Maritime bucket seats are more comfortable than before (previous test complaint that the seats are too low has been addressed) and have bolsters for more legroom when standing.

Keeping things simple, the dash panel had just two multifunction Yammie digital gauges and the marine radio. As touched on, the boat awaited a fishfinder fit-up, but there was plenty of room for that just behind and to the side of the sports wheel.

Aided by the black hull, the low-profile wraparound windscreen gives a quite sporty line to this bowrider. It is raised for wind protection but not too upright and cumbersome. The wire stays for the canopy on the test boat hit the windscreen frame and over time it could wear. Relocation was in order or add some protective tubing on the wire cable.

Meantime, the roto-moulded side pockets add to the boat’s comfortable and rather un-tinny-like interior. They include drink holders, nooks for safety gear, and decent larger area for the paddles and so forth. They haven’t the storage space of simple open full-length side pockets, but they are much smarter and they will prevent your boat looking like a tip.

The fold down transom lounge was excellent for up to three people. The fuel primer bulb and clear fuel filter were easily accessible below. The bilge is a bit harder to reach. With the lounge folded down, we stood as if to fish and it was all very promising.

The starboard side transom door certainly helps with landing fish, reaching the water and accessing the boat from the trailer via the fold-down swim ladder. Only really hardcore anglers might prefer no door, but for them there are other Quinnie models.

The all-important cockpit space was pretty decent on this boat, so the extra 180mm added internally to this model the last time around is a real bonus. With the bow area enlarged, this bowrider is even more accommodating.

The general level of trim was above that of many factory-rolled tinnies and we felt the 530 Cruiseabout we drove honoured the Quintrex badge and all that goodwill built up over the years. This was a premium bowrider with a good price and a strong resale value, as evidenced by the fact Quintrex is the most-searched boat brand at BoatPoint and boatsales.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Reliable Quintrex quality and longevity with three-year warranty
With a 4mm bottom and 2mm sides, level flotation and seven-adult carrying capacity, not that you would have that many mind you, this is a safe boat. The rating is for five while remaining level, but I think the 530 will excel with a family of four on the water. You could easily run two families to the beach to set-up the picnic and take turns with towing.

What was noticeable by its absence was the old humming and vibration associated with tinnies. Running noise and drumming has been dampened and it’s quite a sophisticated little bowrider on the water. The 95 litres of fuel is plenty for the Yamaha F130A, giving a range of 150nm (272km) from 95 per cent of that supply at the optimum cruise setting.

There’s not a lot else to add to the engineering department, but the bottom line is that this rig is likely to outlive you and it’s probably over-engineered for the average 50 engine-hour operation of the average Aussie pleasure boater.

ON THE WATER
- Very nicely balanced rig
Although bowriders, the Quintrex Cruiseabout family is pretty seaworthy. Andrew “ET” Ettingshausen uses the 570 Cruiseabout model for his fishing show, running offshore without any doubts, and heading out on weekends with the family around his local Port Hacking. You could fish offshore on this 530 without any trouble and boat a marlin in summer along the 30 fathom line.

The Blade hull is true to name, slicing nicely during our test over lots of colleagues’ boat wakes on the Broadwater. The boat runs flat, the fine bow cuts how you want it, while the spray goes out and back, not up. That flared bow will add lift in a big seaway at trolling speeds and when plunging into a trough on the way back home, while also helping keep you dry, obviously.

Even trimmed out, ‘our’ 530 Cruiseabout still ran pretty flat and banked around without cavitation. We expect the boat to run a tad freer with the helm now pulled back aft a touch. On the second mounting hole, the Yamaha F130A was well setup. This made for virtual autopilot trimming and there wasn’t much the novice boater could do here to come unstuck.

Hole shot was very good for towing, even with the 18in prop, but it was the smooth cruise that won us over. Yamaha had a hard set of performance data on this test rig. With an 18in prop polished K Series three-blader, WOT was 6000rpm and top speed clocked at 39-40 knots, whereas the ETEC 130hp on our previous test hit 5600rpm for 32 knots, according to our tester Rick Huckstepp. ED 18/11/2016: Clearly, this stated top speed of 32 knots with a 130hp is too low. It's more likely to be 42 knots, so I believe this printed speed was a typo. That would put the ETEC slightly ahead. You should expect 42 knots light ship with the 130hp Evinrude ETEC v 40 knots with the Yamaha F130 four stroke.

At 2500rpm, the Quintrex 530 Cruiseabout planed along at 11 knots, while 3500rpm and a carefree 17.25 knots gave the best range of 150nm for 1.625nm/litre. This was in fact the most economical of the four boats test driven with this new Yamaha F130A.

Shifting up, the happy 4000rpm cruise gave 21-22 knots (47km/h). This was the same cruise at these revs as the 130hp ETEC and a good carefree speed it is too with a young family aboard. At 5000rpm we got a fast 33 knots (almost 61km/h) so hold on, and 6000rpm returned the 39-40 knots (72.45km/h) fast top speed. You could get away with a 100hp on this boat.

The 18in polished stainless-steel K Series prop certainly assisted top end speed. There were two adults aboard, full fuel and flat water. So with a family and gear you might get 10 per cent less performance, but it will remain a little rocket with the 130 and we recommend families go for this power match.

VERDICT
- A little ripper for mainstream Aussie boating
This Quintrex 530 Cruiseabout rig was agreeable and quiet, with amazingly low vibration for a fabricated aluminium boat and great comfort levels at cruise speeds. The well-matched rig we tested from Broadwater Boating Centre shows how far tinnies have come.

"We call it the compromise boat perfect for fishing and family. Perhaps as many as 90 per cent are bought by fishermen who take their family out," explained Damien Duncan, Director of Marketing and Sales at parent company Telwater, when we chatted back on land.

As ever, this writer would happily tip a family fishing man into the Quintrex 530 Cruiseabout. We’d add a live-bait tank, a funky wrap and the forward casting platform. I think I could get away with that and the repayments won't break the bank.

LIKES
>> Smooth and quiet ride from Blade hull
>> Yamaha F130A adds to the refinement
>> Quintessential general-purpose layout
>> Lifted fit and finish in this latest Quintrex Cruiseabout

NOT SO MUCH
>> Canopy stays rubbed windscreen frame
>> Hard to fault, as it meets its intended purpose

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:
Price: $51,990 with Yamaha F130A, braked aluminium trailer, canopy and options
Priced from: $46,990 with 100hp Yamaha four stroke driveaway, as per dealer below.
LOA: 5.5m
Beam: 2.25m
Topsides: 2mm aluminium
Bottomsides: 4mm aluminium
Weight: 590kg boat only
Engine: Yamaha F130A
Max. Rec. HP: 130
Minimum rec. HP: 75
Fuel: 95 litres
Berths: nil
People Day: Seven

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