cruise craft explorer

Australia’s
GREATEST
BOATS
CRUISE CRAFT
EXPLORER
685HT
It might not be an all-new
model, but the addition of
a hard top has produced a
unique Cruise Craft model, and
a potent fishing boat at that.
BR
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LA
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S S FIS HI N G
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AUSTRALIA’s
GREATEST
BOATS
T
he multi-generational
Queensland boat builder
Cruise Craft has spoiled the
Australian public for well
over 50 years. Cruise Craft’s owners,
the Nichols family, has exemplified
the good-looking Australian image by
quietly going about its business through
thick and thin. It has never bowed to
commercial pressures by reducing the
company ethic of maintaining nothing
but a premium level of quality in its
products. Its boats have always been
honest, strong and well presented, also
displaying excellent sea-keeping abilities.
The new generation at Cruise Craft has
pumped energy into the traditional ethic
and with it has come new-age design and
contemporary construction techniques.
Above all, there is exemplary flair to
the streamlined mouldings, producing
beautiful products that can only be
described as nautical eye candy.
Cruise Craft broke the mould with
the release of its 685 Explorer in 2009,
and it followed it up last year with the
hard-top addition to this already popular
model. The timing of the release hit the
bull’s-eye. Our sports fishos are travelling
further and further offshore in search of
pelagic prey, and the latest generation
of frugal outboards has extended their
range considerably. The big trailerable
“How can I knock it?
Very, very
comfortable.”
– John Willis
Explorer is just the platform to pacify the
swell and bring you home safely.
The hard top makes a great boat
even better. Its curvy design is simply
delicious, as well as practical. It protects
the occupants from the extremes of
climate while also conveying a real sense
of strength and security.
The 685 Explorer’s beautiful, modern
appeal is enhanced by a spacious layout.
You won’t feel confined by the huge deck
area and generous cabin space — instead
you will imagine yourself as the king of
the ocean, an image helped along by the
high freeboard, dash and transom.
Cruise Craft has given due
consideration to every conceivable
accessory and where to fit them. As
with all Cruise Craft products, the list
of standard features is a mile long. It
simply doesn’t want its customers to find
themselves being delivered a package
that is lacking in any way.The dashboard
moulding is specifically attuned to our
large 12in colour navigation and sonar
screens and affords fingertip control for
all other controls and instruments.
The 685 is more than just a great
fishing platform. Its functional,
ergonomic demeanor is simply sublime.
Its curves are sensuous and its internals
are soft, comfortable and appealing.
She socialises proudly among the latest
euro-designed sports cruisers and it’s a
family-friendly option. However, above
all, she’s really fishable — and that’s what
this competition is all about.
The judges’ notepad
JEFF STRANG: “And so the game
commences — I knew from the moment
I stood on it that I was going to love
it. Of the boats I tested today it’s the
offshore fishing package with class.
It’s got so much detail — the livebait tank
is fantastic, the killtank is fantastic, the
electronics are fantastic. The latter has
a triple back-up electrical system — I
ENGINE
The Yamaha 300hp four-stoke is an amazing piece of machinery. During
AGB I was amazed at how easy it was to drive this boat — the engine
has so much power you can leave it trimmed out when accelerating
onto the plane and just let that fat torque curve strut it’s stuff.
While the Yammie is all about the grunt , in idle it purrs like a refined
sportscar and at trolling speeds it’s barely audible. But it never stops
teasing, almost willing the driver to put the hammer down. Lucky for it
we were happy to oblige....over and over again.
The balance of this package is spot on. At no stage did the hull seem
overwhelmed by the engine and the big Yamaha responded instantly to
whatever command it was given. The clunk-free gear shift and digital
multi function display enhanced the experience no end.
Jack Murphy
Anti-clockwise from left: Everything about
this boat exudes quality and attention to
detail — Cruise Craft enjoys the reputation
it does for good reason; There’s no shortage
of room for fancy electronics; It might be
opulent, but it’s also a very potent fishing
boat, with a heap of useable deck space and
quality fish-fighting facilities;With 300 angry
horses champing at the bit, the Explorer
packs one almighty wallop; A forward hatch
provides easy access to the bow, the latter
complete with quality anchor winch.
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AUSTRALIA’s
GREATEST
BOATS
The attractive hard top has transformed the
Explorer’s personality — southern fishos in
particular will love the added protection.
JOHN WILLIS: “How can I knock
it? Very, very comfortable. The boat
just handles. Good, solid ride. A great
combination of stability and vee.
Quality through and through. Cruise
Craft has fitted everything you could
possible want into this package —
nothing is left to the imagination.”
TRAILERBOAT RATES
CRUISECRAFT
685 HARDTOP
San Giorgio
– Kevin Smith
1 Fishing suitability
2 Innovation
3 Design and layout
4 Quality of finish
5 Handling and ride
6 Stability at rest
7 Ergonomics
8 Standard equipment
9 Value for money
10 X-Factor
– Jeff Strang
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OVERALL
“Of the boats I tested today
it’s the offshore fishing
package with class”
STRANG
SMITH
JOHN FORD: “It’s a pleasure to drive.
It’s a fantastic boat that does nothing
wrong. The hard top is superb and it kept
us warm and dry. It handles the chop
KEVIN SMITH: “It’s not a completely
new model but it has the new hard-top
addition that completely changes its
character. I know these boats really well
as they are built in my backyard. They
are genuine fishing boats, designed by
fishermen for fishermen. It’s got great
ergonomics — everything just works.
It’s perhaps not the fastest boat on the
water, but that’s not my scene when I’m
offshore. It sits exceptionally well at
around 18-25kts and that’s where I travel.
It’s really comfortable with excellent
stability. You can put three big blokes
on one side and it doesn’t roll over. I
certainly prefer the new HT, particularly
the fully-enclosed model. There is
another version available with detachable
front and side clears. I’m a Queenslander,
so when subjected to Victoria’s winter I
was very thankful for the hard top. It’s a
very dry and very impressive boat.”
“It has the new hard-top
addition that completely
changes its character”
WILLIS
ANGELO SAN GIORGIO: “It’s Cruise
Craft’s flagship and I reckon it got it just
right. This actual boat was set up for
Cruise Craft’s doyen, Kevin Nichols, and
it’s blinged out to the max. New Furuno
gear, 300hp Yammie — it’s done really
well with an impeccable finish. The hard
top is brilliant, but it’s only outdone by
the hull. The way the hull functions, it
does things you just don’t expect. I can’t
believe it stops without a following wave
slapping up over the transom — it’s quite
unique. The seamless hard top and full
glass windscreen kept us dry and warm,
and was very welcome considering the
extreme conditions we experienced.”
really well. It’s a fantastic boat. It’s like a
rocketship with the big 300hp Yammie
powering through the chop at 35kts.
Great boat to fish out of. It’s very stable
and has loads of room in the cockpit.
It’s a superb fishing boat. Really well set
up for fishing with its big livebait tank
and killtank set in the floor. Good cabin
to get out of the weather. Electronics
package on this one is a bit over the top,
but a modern showcase nonetheless.
This is a first-class boat I would be really
proud to have in my backyard.”
FORD
haven’t even seen a set-up like that before
and I test 40-footers and up for a living!
Absolutely superb boat. If you are going
20, 30 or even 50 miles offshore, it’s the
boat for me today.”
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BOATS
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– Jeff Strang
O
FI
AT
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“... I knew from the moment I stood
on it that I was going to love it”
S S FIS HI N G
B
CRUISE CRAFT
explorer
685HT
“It does things you just
don’t expect.”
– Angelo San Giorgio
“Quality through and through.”
– John Willis
“It’s like a rocketship with
the big 300hp Yammie”
– John Ford
“You can put three big blokes on
one side and it doesn’t roll over.”
– Kevin Smith
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