Whittley CW 1800

The repowered Whittley CW 1800 is timely bowrider for summer with 67.5 per cent more horsepower than it predecessor. Enjoy snappy acceleration, extra torque and towing power, not to mention sheer top-end speed

OVERVIEW
- American design enhanced and built locally
One very Melbourne boating day earlier this year we tested three locally-made Whittley trailerboats on mighty Port Phillip Bay. We have since run the test of the Cruiser 2080 SD with the latest 200hp Volvo Penta 4.3L V6 MPI engine and the accommodating Cruiser 2600 SD with the 220hp Volvo Penta D3 diesel engine upgrade.

So to the camera boat from that very Melbourne trailerboating day was the entry-level Whittley bowrider known as the CW 1800. This boat was originally a Clearwater built in America when the Melbourne-based boatbuilder bought that business almost a decade ago. Now it’s been rebadged, fine-tuned and repowered with significantly more horsepower.

PRICE AND EQUIPMENT
- Very good value for a foam-filled entry-level bowrider
Bundled (as Whittley do so well), the turnkey CW 1800 rig comes as a drive-away package on a Mackay single-axle trailer with brakes, keel rollers and spare wheel, and the 200hp 4.3-litre V6 Volvo Penta engine, for $34,999. The old drive-away bundle with the 135hp 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine cost $29,999, but that was more than five years ago.

Badged a Whittley with the CW designation, the 1800 has been given a new lease of life with the latest 200hp Volvo Penta 4.3-litre V6 with SX drive. Whittley had no choice, mind you, as Volvo Penta no longer builds the old 135hp Volvo Penta 3.0-litre four-cylinder engine.

But arguably the most useful gains are to the cruising performance, with less revs and less fuel burn than the old four-cylinder donk. And while it costs $5000 more than it did five years ago, the new rig is a lot sportier and better for hauling your family and the summer kit.

DECKS AND LAYOUT
- Good seating and trim levels
Pretty much what you see is what you get on this entry-level bowrider. Thankfully, the aft quarter seat bases have been lengthened since our initial test, as the V6 4.3-litre engine is longer than the old four-cylinder 3.0-litre and the engine box has been extended to accommodate that.

Otherwise, it’s a very standard seating setup, able to carry up to six people in lots of two between the bow, the helm buckets and the transom seats. In reality, a young family will be right at home and feeling safe thanks to the boat’s high freeboard.

Plush upholstery, an underfloor ski locker, lined side pockets, standard-issue bimini top, drink holders, and quality Alfab armour-plate glass windscreen add to the quality fitout. There’s a glove box and standard marine stereo with CD player, too.

The vinyl-wrapped dash includes a spread of Teleflex gauges and good sight lines extend form the bucket seat when driving, while full carpet throughout adds to the luxe factor underfoot.

The bow seating is enhanced by stainless-steel grab rails and sub-seat storage including a lined icebox to starboard. There is no dedicated anchor locker on this little boat, but room to stash the pick under a seat with sufficient rope for shore-based and shallow-water anchoring.

The full-width swim platform, ladder and ski hook will assist towing and swimming duties. We’re told some owners mount a cutting board for fishing and clears for greater weather protection.

But as we drove it, this little bowrider runs best, without the added windage of clears and extra appendages. Just keep it simple, throw some family, food, esky and tubes aboard and go have fun.

HULL AND ENGINEERING
- Whittley and Volvo Penta a strong pairing
The CW 1800 is made locally by Whittley using traditional handlaid and chopper 'glass, encapsulated marine-ply stringers and foam filling. The boat has been engineered for sterndrive power from the world get-go.

The Volvo Penta engine comes with Neutra-Salt and a five-year warranty. Engine access is excellent under the lift-up full-width rear seating backrest, which also serves as sound insulation. You can specify more insulation, too.

You can easily access the fuel filter, coolant bottle, though the bilge is tight. An auto bilge pump with float switch and manual dash-operated switch are provided.

Otherwise, there are no surprises, with just a little print-through evident on a few parts of the black hull.

ON THE WATER
- A snappy family bowrider
Spinning a 19in alloy three-blade prop on a standard SX sterndrive, the repowered CW 1800 returned a top speed of 47 knots (more than the benchmark 50mph) at 4800-5000rpm.

We noted the 2800-3200rpm rev range felt very smooth and the boat settled into a nice level running attitude. Smack in the middle of that, 3000rpm returned 26-27 knots.

Aqua Power Marine, the Melbourne-based Volvo Penta agents aboard for our runs, confirmed that 3200rpm is indeed a sweet cruise for the V6 200hp engine, using around 32 litres per hour.

This setting will see you scooting along at about 28 knots for that beach, bend in the river and picnic spot. With 90 litres of fuel under the floor, you will want to keep your boating within short reach of the ramp, however.

There is a bit of bow lift during acceleration from idle to planing speed, but the power of the V6 soon gets you out the other side and the boat settles down flat.

The hull holds planing speeds all the way to 2500rpm with leg-in trim for level 18 knot ski/wake speed. With crew on the aft seats you might need more revs, but the V6 has strong hauling power on call.

VERDICT
- A popular boat with more power
"We used to build 100 a year but now it’s around 20 to 30 of these boats," Alan Whittley says. "This was a super popular boat in its day and one dealer alone sold more than 90 in a year.

"It’s traditionally a volume boat for us and while there is a bit more competition from imports it remains a good little ski boat," he adds on our return to the Patterson Lake ramp in this little Whittley.

There are no surprises here and the boat is a good, honest entry-level bowrider in the 5m class. It’s got a bit more weight in the tail, launches its bow up before settling down when you plant the throttle, but it all works well enough on flat water.

A feeder boat into the namesake family, the CW1800 with V6 200hp — an increase of 67.5 per cent in horsepower over the old 3.0-litre 135 — is certainly not hanging around. Another nice thing is the factory backing and after-sales service from the established Whittley dealer network.

Specifications:
Price as tested: The CW 1800 we drove was a standard boat with the new Volvo Penta V6 200hp, Mackay trailer, safety gear and regos from the Melbourne dealer for $34,999.
Hull length: 5.3m (17.39ft)
Beam: 2.26m (7.42ft)
Boat weight (standard configuration): 940kg (20,68lbs)
Fuel capacity: 90 litres (23 gal)
Engine: Standard with Volvo Penta V6 200hp SX sterndrive