FALL IN - Crestliner

ON THE
WATER
Story & Photos: John Ford
W
FALL IN
LINE
Crestliner’s 1850 Sportfish SST
is playing for keeps, blurring the
line between alloy and ’glass
once and for all.
WEATHER
CONDITIONS
Wind: 0kts
Sea: Flat
38 trailerboat.com.au
hen Crestliner boats
hit our shores last year,
they came as a surprise
to Australian boaties fed
on a diet of knockabout tinnies. Quite
simply, these American imports set a
new benchmark in finish and features,
and presented a real challenge for local
manufacturers.
Just as surprised were the judges in
TrailerBoat’s 2012 Australia’s Greatest
Boat (myself included) mega test, where
the little Crestliner 1650 Fish Hawk
scored highly against the best the
Australasian boatbuilders had to offer.
Not only do Crestliner’s boats look
sensational, but their ride and handling is
better than even some fibreglass designs.
With the 1850 Sportfish SST,
Crestliner has taken elegance in metal
construction to new heights. The
smooth, flowing lines and faultless finish
of the hull could be easily mistaken for
something laid up in a mould, rather than
something welded together on a jig.
For our test of the boat on Berowra
Waters in northern Sydney we were
accompanied by Crestliner president Ben
Cast and product manager Christine Bush,
a keen angler who quickly agreed to dangle
a line for our pictures. Ben explained that
our test boat came as sold in the ’States
but changes are being made to the bow
to incorporate a “proper” anchor well, to
better suit local expectations.
Ben said the 1850 Sportfish SST
will the company’s flagship model in
their Australian line-up with familyfriendly features that make it popular
as a general-purpose runabout with
upmarket appeal. In that context, the
name Sportfish suggests the boat has
a dual fishing and fun role, and isn’t
oriented towards traditional bait and
burley merchants – although they might
be quite surprised at how well they too
are accommodated.
trailerboat.com.au 39
on the
water
DRESSED TO IMPRESS
Step aboard, and the first thing you
notice is the stability of the boat at rest,
achieved by the wide 2.44m beam and
buoyancy built into the deep side sections
underwater. Also obvious is the smart use
of space, along with the dual role of many
fittings. The finish of the boat is superb.
From the rolled side deck to the vinylcovered floor, the whole boat belies its
metal construction. All aluminium surfaces
are either painted in a thick gloss finish or
covered in quality vinyl upholstery.
The vinyl can be easily hosed down after
a fishing trip and the level of comfort
and space is still there for family outings.
This boat’s good looks and easy ride will
pass muster with the family but it can also
convert to a mildly serious fishing platform
that a few mates can enjoy.
The stern is unlike Crestliners
previously seen here, as the Space Saving
Transom (SST) is full width and high
enough for bluewater expeditions. Up till
now we’ve seen Crestliner transoms not
much higher than deck level, more suited
to inland waters and bays.
THE LAYOUT
Up front, the casting platform has sections
that easily convert to a couple of sidefacing seats, below which is a storage bin
with a drain to starboard and a livebait
well to port. Other features include a small
anchor locker, an LED courtesy light, two
cup holders and pull-up cleats.
At the helm are the most comfortable
seats I’ve found on a trailerboat. The
padding is thick enough to give the
impression of the seats being air assisted,
while armrests and reclining seat backs
bring an extra degree of luxury to the
small boat market. Ample fore and aft
adjustment will satisfy a wide range of
driver heights, and full rotation allows
mingling with the crew at rest.
A tall Taylor Made toughened glass
windscreen is split into three sections
with the folding central panel allowing
access to the bow. Its raked angle and
sculptured, rounded lines soften its
generally bulky look, but while the frame
is solidly built some may prefer a sturdier
grabrail at the top of the ’screen.
Driver and passenger each get a separate
moulded plastic dash separated by the
void in the bow walkthrough. A raised
binnacle for the driver houses round Faria
instruments for revs, speed, voltage, trim
and fuel. Showing its family orientation,
space is limited to smaller-sized
navigation electronics to be mounted on
the dash, but an upmarket Sony stereo is
fitted to blast out music on the go.
It seems like an obvious inclusion, but
the slide-out drawer below the dash on
the passenger side is an unusual fitting
on a trailerboat. It’s deep and lockable,
making for valuable storage in a space
that is rarely put to such good use.
For even more storage there is a dark
timber-look glovebox. Passengers get the
same style of chair as the captain, with a
side-mounted grab handle to hang onto
in sharp turns.
Between the seats is a floor-mounted
locker that can hold five rods up to 7ft
2in in a rack that can be removed to
make room for water toys and picnic
hampers. Another four-rod rack is
secured in a locking compartment located
along the port side, while to starboard is
an open storage pocket. Both side lockers
are built well clear of the floor, providing
good toeholds for fishing.
At the stern a full-width lounge folds
out to create a rear casting platform that
still allows easy access to the bilge and
battery compartment. The SST transom
has a well large enough to mount engines
up to 175hp, although the 150 Mercury
four-stroke was a willing performer
capable of around 50kts (92.6kmh), so
more seems unnecessary. The latest fourstrokes are getting increasingly compact
– the current 150 is only 11kg heavier
than a two-stroke OptiMax.
PERFORMANCE
That big, comfortable helm chair begs
you to drive while seated. On the move
I found it even more accommodating,
wrapping my generous posterior in
its deep comfort, tucked behind the
tall ’screen with the wind flowing way
TrailerBoat RATEs THE
crestliner 1850
sportfish sst
1 Fun factor
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
OVERALL
overhead. Controls fall easily to hand
and mercifully the Mercury trim control
is on the left (unlike in some boats from
other manufacturers, where it’s on the
right — an awkward position for those of
us not brought up on an exercise regime
of ambidextrous phone texting!).
In the flat reaches of Berowra Waters
there was ample opportunity to throw the
boat around and have some fun, even with
the big brass from Crestliner aboard and
taking note. The 150hp Mercury — from
a sister company to Crestliner in the giant
Brunswick corporation — had plenty of
torque to lift the nose well into the air
momentarily when the throttle was planted,
but it got us planing quickly at around
12kts (22kmh). The boat needs only a small
amount of trim once it’s moving and it soon
settled into a comfortable cruise of 26kts
(48kmh) at 3500rpm.
“Crestliner has taken
elegance in metal
construction to
new heights”
Left: Brilliant helm position and the driver’s
seat with more adjustment than my LazyBoy
was a nice touch.
Below: Attention to detail abounds and the
fit and finish is the most integrated I’ve seen
– it’s almost car-like. Rattles and squeaks
were uncannily absent.
On thevepuslaenofe.sp..ace
✔ I nnovati
finish
✔ High quality of
ride
✔ Soft, rattle-free
at for the
bo
e
os
rp
✔ A dual-pu
whole family
✔ Superb seating
e chainke..r.
Dragginangiseth
d” anchor loc
✘ “ Australi
is on its way
40 trailerboat.com.au
trailerboat.com.au 41
on the
water
PERFORMANCE
(Data taken from speedo)
12kts (22kmh) @ 2000rpm
— on the plane
15kts (27kmh) @ 2500rpm
20kts (37kmh) @ 3000rpm
26kts (48kmh) @ 3500rpm
32kts (60kmh) @ 4000rpm
38kts (70kmh) @ 4500rpm
41kts (75kmh) @ 5000rpm
48kts (75kmh) @ 5500rpm
50kts (93kmh) @ 5800rpm
— wide open throttle
Top: Now this is my idea of a convertible –
the Crestliner is a fishing boat / ski boat all
wrapped up in one pretty sweet package.
Centre: The partioned storage compartments
feature quality “slam-shut” locks.
Above: An “Australianised” anchorwell will
take up residence below the carpeted trim
panel on the bow in future.
While the water in the estuary was
mirror smooth, the wake behind some
of the bigger-displacement boats was
high enough to get a feel for how the
boat handled in a seaway, and it did
not disappoint.
At 30kts (55.6kmh) across the waves
the hull lapped up the conditions, with
no suggestion of banging from the hull
and no noise whatsoever to give away its
aluminium construction. Landings were
soft and the SeaStar hydraulic steering
was both light and direct.
Trimmed down into sharp turns
the boat goes where it is pointed,
only showing some cavitation in the
most extreme full-throttle, full-lock
manoeuvres — where it threatening
more to eject passengers than to let go.
Full-throttle passes registered just
on 50kts (92.6kmh) and that’s certainly
getting along in anyone’s language.
At full noise it needs a bit more trim out
and the steering starts to get a little light
as the hull lifts higher in the water —
while it still feels safe and predictable,
I doubt that more horsepower would
be of much advantage, as it is probably
close to terminal hull speed with the 150
on the back.
THE WRAP
For those not previously acquainted with
the Crestliner range, the Sportfish will be
a real eye-opener, as this boat is nothing
like the tinnies we know and love. And
those who are familiar with the brand
will not be disappointed in this latest
release. It takes Crestliner’s signature
design concepts and quality of finish to
a whole new level level.
The worrying thing for the local
industry is that the boat represents the
norm in American boatbuilding, but it is
well ahead of anything produced here in
terms of fit-out and innovation. Aussie
boatbuilders need to be even more aware
of what is happening on the world stage.
While many produce extremely capable
hulls, the gap in finish has widened even
more. Crestliner’s 1850 Sportfish SST is
the new benchmark.
CRESTLINER 1850 SPORTFISH SST
HOW MUCH?
Price as tested: $63,790
Options fitted: As displayed
GENERAL
Type: Monohull
Material: Aluminium
Length: 5.8m
Beam: 2.44m
Weight: 689kg
Deadrise: 17°
CAPACITIES
People: 7
Rec. HP: 150
Max. HP: 175
Fuel: 125lt
Water: N/A
42 trailerboat.com.au
ENGINE
MANUFACTURED BY
Make/model: Mercury 150hp
four-stroke
Type: Fuel-injected, SOHC,
in-line four-cylinder
Weight: 206kg
Displacement: 3000cc
Gear ratio: 1.92:1
Propeller: Inertia 18"
Crestliner
Little Falls, Minnesota
USA
SUPPLIED BY
Avante Marine
210 Silverwater Road
Silverwater NSW 2128
Tel: 1300 282 638
Web: www.avantemarine.
com.au