Savage 485 Bay Cruiser: Review

It’s a perennial favourite among Aussie boaters and the popularity of the 16ft runabout isn’t likely to wane anytime soon. Similarly well-known is the Savage brand, and we recently took its small runabout for a spin on a glorious day on the Gold Coast.

Maybe it’s because some of my formative years were spent zipping around Sydney with the Old Man and my brother in a 16ft runabout with a two-stroke outboard (I think it was even an Evinrude) on warm summer weekends.

Whatever the reason, I do have a soft spot for this style of boat. So I guess that’s why, at the recent Savage media event on the Gold Coast, that I was immediately attracted to the revamped Savage 485 Bay Cruiser tied to the marina.

The little Bay Cruiser was parked among a half-dozen other new boats in the range but that was my choice of boat on a beautiful Queensland day.

What you get is a well-designed hull that performs predictably and safely. There is a carpeted ply floor with two pedestal seats for the driver and passenger up front and a folding bench seat the rear.

Instrumentation is pretty basic with a speedo, tacho, fuel and trim gauges. Steering is manual non-return with a 4:1 ratio and three-spoke wheel, and there is a bank of three rocker switches for lights, bilge pump and accessories.

The windscreen is a three-part wrap-around item with the centre opening to access the roto-moulded anchor well. With this update, the dash has been extended to allow for more electronics and the middle is scalloped out to allow better access forward. There is also now provision for an optional drum anchor winch.

There’s forward storage for lifejackets and the like and side pockets for your net, boat hook, paddles and other accoutrements. Two rod holders come standard in the gunwales which have been widened in this model making them more functional and more comfortable to sit on.

Down aft, there’s a small swim platform and ladder for the kids to clamber back aboard after a swim and there are a couple of hand rails welded in to assist as well.

The overall feel is one of strength and longevity – it’d be pretty hard to damage one of these boats, and we were told at the launch that warranty claims are virtually non-existent.

The hull is Savage’s Ultra Lift hull with extended reverse chines, a sharp entry and decent deadrise which is designed to give a smooth ride and decrease spray.

All the boats are hand welded and as anyone who has been on one of the tours of the Coomera factory will attest, the quality control is excellent.

A 70-litre fuel tank is built in to the boat with a filler on the starboard-side deck.

The weight of the hull is quoted at 404kg and the overall towing weight is around 950kg so it can be towed by virtually any family car.

The height on trailer is 2.1 metres while the overall length on the trailer is 6.4 metres so it should fit in a carport.

ON THE WATER
- Predictable and safe
There are some boats on the market that can be a bit of handful for the inexperienced boater when running maximum horsepower, but this isn’t one of them. 

The 90hp Evinrude is on the limit for this boat but the hull handles it well. We had four big blokes on board for our test and with a full tank of fuel, the 90 had no trouble getting us up and on to the plane. At flat out, the Bay Cruiser felt safe and handling was smooth and sure-footed. Although the steering was manual, I found it to be reasonably light and direct. I doubt whether many owners would regret not having ticked the hydraulic steering box on the options list.

The seating position is comfortable, the ergonomics are sound and the windscreen is at the right height to deflect wind.

Although I tried to hog the helm for the whole test, I did relent and became a passenger for a while – and it was worth it.

Sitting up the back on the bench seat was more comfortable that I would have thought. The padded back rest assists, and there’s a nice big grab handle outboard on the gunwale so you can rest your elbow and hang on at the same time.

The noise level of the Evinrude is low so that a normal conversation can be had around the boat, even at speed.

In terms of performance, the 485 Bay Cruiser doesn’t hang around, even with its sub-100hp powerplant and four boofheads on board. We got a top speed of 40mph (35 knots) at 5200rpm and a fast cruise of 30mph (26 knots) at 4000rpm. For just doodling around the river, we found a nice slow cruise of 24mph (21 knots) at 3500rpm which would give you hours of running from the 70-litre tank.

VERDICT
- An inexpensive versatile craft for the small family
Maybe I’m a bit biased, but I really enjoyed my day out on the 485 Bay Cruiser. It has room enough for four, it’s nimble, quick and safe, and it’s versatile enough to go fishing, exploring, picnicking or even dragging the kids around on inflatable toys.

It’s not an expensive boat and it’d be the kind of thing that you could throw a tarp over and leave in the back yard till a nice day comes along, then hitch it up, check the fuel and battery and head for the ramp. When you’re done, hose it off and cover it up till next time.

The Bay Cruiser is a safe boat. It has high freeboard for the kids, a usable cockpit and it’s comfortable. Handling is safe even with the bigger engine. It’s easily handled by one person and a dream to tow behind the family car.

Savage is now offering a five-year warranty on the boat as well. 

Overall, a great entry to boating and lovely little all-rounder.