Which Cruise Craft boat should I buy?

Cruise Craft is an iconic Australian trailer boat manufacturer. Since 1967 this family-owned company has been producing cutting-edge, Aussie-centric fibreglass boats for fishing and family boating applications.

Cruise Craft has produced so many classic boats over the years that it’s hard to pick out just a handful of the best boats from the rest.

Golden oldies like the V18 Reef Ranger, Reef Raider 166, and the entry Rogue and Rapide runabouts will always be hot property on the secondhand boat market.

But what are the most popular, most sought-after Cruise Craft boats right now?

Should you be checking out the older clinker-paneled 1970s models? Or are the more current, smooth-sided boats are better choice?

Here’s our guide to the five most popular Cruise Craft boats that people are searching for on boatsales…

Launched in the year 2000, the Cruise Craft Outsider 685 was for many years the flagship of the Cruise Craft boat range.

The Outsider 685’s centre cabin layout was designed to provide fishing access to the bow but with minimal compromise to the lower cabin space.

Indeed, the lock-up cabin is expansive, with permanent berths for two adults, plenty of headroom, and a toilet set up between the berths.

Above decks the Outsider 685 has a large fishing cockpit, plenty of freeboard, transom door access, and a full-width outboard well designed to accept single or twin outboard engines to a maximum of 250hp.

Underway, the Outsider feels large and comfortable; the deep-vee hull makes short work of most sea conditions, providing a smooth and stable ride.

Known formerly as the 685 Explorer, the Explorer 720HT is the current flagship of the Cruise Craft boat range.

This behemoth of a fibreglass trailer boat is an exceptional offshore fishing boat with the space, seating and accommodation for it to double up as a family cruiser.

This big Explorer model has a large, lock-up vee-berth cabin, and an even bigger rear cockpit with high freeboard, and soft-feel foam rubber flooring.

For seating, the Explorer has a folding rear bench seat, as well as deluxe helm chairs mounted on stainless steel frames.

Fishing features include dual underfloor kill tanks, a transom live well, multiple rod holders, side pocket gaff racks, etc.

The 720HT powers to 42.7 knots when paired with dual Yamaha 150hp outboards.

The 360M is the larger of two centre consoles in the Cruise Craft boat range, and the best-equipped model for coastal offshore sport fishing.

This large, open deck boat has a two-person-wide centre console helm station positioned forward of amidships, along with a padded bench helm lean seat.

Anglers will love the elevated front casting deck, beneath which there are safety gear storage lockers and an insulated ice box.

The aft cockpit is loaded with fishing features – including high sides for safety, multiple rod holders and recess rails, toe rails beneath the full-length cockpit side pockets, and a transom bait tank.

When paired with a Yamaha 175hp motor, the 360M achieves a top speed of 39.9 knots.

The very latest release from Cruise Craft is the E695HT.

At a glance, the stand-out feature of this full-shelter new model is the overhead hardtop with the one-piece ‘CCB PanaView’ front windscreen – which provides a clear and unrestricted view out over the bow of the boat.

Wrap-around side windows also open to ventilate the helm and cabin with fresh air.

The E695 is a half-cabin model with a vee-berth front cabin with full bulkhead and lockable sliding door.

Above decks the helm station is graced with deluxe chairs on stainless steel frames and a very large dash and fascia panel to accept flush-fitted displays.

Similar to other Cruise Craft fishing boats, the E695HT has a wide, high freeboard rear cockpit stretching aft to a full-width transom with a central fold-down bench seat, transom live bait tank, transom door, and more.

The classic Cruise Craft Rover launched around 1974 as the Rover 219 with petrol sterndrive power.

Similar to other early Cruise Craft models, the Rover had clinker-panelled fibreglass topsides, a deep-vee hull, and a spacious half-cabin interior dressed with lots of varnished timber (cabin doors, bulkheads, hatch covers etc).

The Rover was produced for well over a decade, the final models rebadged as the Rover 663 and available with outboard (pod-mounted) and sterndrive power.

The Cruise Craft Rover was outfitted with everything you need for day cruising and overnighting.

The large, two-berth cabin came equipped with a toilet, sink and galley facilities, along with stacks of storage space for cooking gear, plates and utensils, etc.

Most Rovers on the used boat market will have MerCruiser petrol sterndrive power.