Ask Capt. Steve - Any Ideas?

“I Need a 20,000 lb., 2x outboard bowrider cabin cruiser -- Any Ideas?”

boats

I’m looking for an outboard powered (preferably twin) vessel that can be an all-season cruiser. It should be a bowrider with coupe or cabin model, plus have overnighting capabilities and weigh less than 20,000 lbs. Any Ideas?  --V.G.

Your requirements pretty much narrow your selection down to modern dayboats/weekenders that have been popular the last few years.  Typically, these boats are now classified as “crossovers” as they “cross over” between day boats and what we call express cruisers with below decks sleeping accommodations. 

Here is a selection of them that we have tested —

    *Aquila 32

    *Aquila 36

    *Axopar 37

    *Axopar 28 Cabin

    *Boston Whaler 325 Conquest

    *Boston Whaler 345 Conquest

    *Eastern Boats Coastal 30

    *Galeon 325 GTO

    *Hinckley 35

    *Nimbus C11

The boats above pretty much run the gambit from catamarans to fishing boats to more traditional bowriders to picnic boats – and all price points as well.  The biggest inhibiting factory is the relationship between 20,000 lbs. and twin engines. The requirement that the boat be “all-weather” is another limiting factor – not surprisingly, 5 of the 7 brands come from northern latitudes. 



                                                 --Capt. Steve