Cruisers Yachts 470 Sports Coupe (2010-)

Brief Summary

Every once in awhile a visitor to a boat building factory is able to sneak out with some surreptitiously-taken pictures of a new boat in its earliest stages of creation and send them to us. We love publishing these “espionage” pictures. Such is the case this week with snap shots of the Crusiers Yachts 470 which were taken a few weeks ago in the company’s factory in Oconto, Wisconsin and smuggled out. Like many builders this year, progress on the 470 was slowed because of the Great Recession, but we are glad to see that work has resumed on it. We think that the Cruisers Yachts 470 is sure to be a benchmark in it’s class for a number of reasons.

Specifications

Length Overall	48' 6'' / 14.8 m
Beam	14' 6'' 4.4 m
Dry Weight	34,750 lbs. 15,762 kg
Draft	42'' 1.1 m
Deadrise/Transom	N/A
Max Headroom	6'6'' 2 m
Bridge Clearance	13' 3'' 4 m
Fuel Capacity	400 gal. 1514 L
Water Capacity	80 gal. 303 L

Engine Options

Tested Engine	Currently no test numbers
Std. Power	Not Available
Opt. Power	2 x 370-hp Volvo Penta D6 IPS500 2 x 435-hp Volvo Penta D6 IPS600 2 x 375-hp Volvo Penta IPS550G - Gas

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Cruisers Yachts’ new 470 has been long in coming, but from what we are seeing and hearing the last week or so, it will be worth the wait. We think she will also provide some formidable competition not only for so some famous U.S. and European brands, but also for the company’s own 52-footer which is quite a bit bigger.

The Latest Design Trends

The 470’s exterior design in tune with the hottest shapes coming out of Italy and its interior is a dead-ringer for a number of those we see being built in the UK and in Italy these days. Further, the new 470 is the first U.S. coupe design we know of which has added a sliding glass salon door abaft its pilothouse in the Euro express class.
The helm of the 470 is an open “loft” design that heretofore has only been used on boats in the 70’+ range. Finally, with today’s emphasis on fuel economy and easy dockside handling, the IPS 500 pod drive/joystick propulsion system has proven itself in over 10,000 boats worldwide, so it provides a proven power package.

Mission Statement

For couples who are ready for a cruising boat that can go most anywhere, or for those on their last yacht who want it to be a good one that will last for the next decade and not be woefully out of style in terms of both design, power and amenities, then the 470 should be a boat of interest.
Yachtsmen looking for something a little more elegant than the cookie-cutter express cruiser, or who don’t want the their dream boat to be the same brand as their nephew’s 18’ bowrider, then, once again, the Cruisers Yachts’ 470 may be appealing. (Cruisers Yachts specializes in cruisers from 34’ to 56’.)Or, anyone looking to move up into a solid express with an enclosed coupe, either because of overly hot or cold climates, this may be your only choice this fall built in America – home of the weak dollar.
Let’s start first on the main deck where the most obvious innovations are.

The Happy Stern

The sterns of a number of express cruisers designed the last few years have been turned into another major venue on the boat. Cruisers Yachts offers a full beam swim platform that is a full 5’ (1.53 m) fore and aft. This becomes a “teak beach” which serves all sorts of functions, a “marina” to tie up you tender and to welcome visiting friends in theirs, a sun bathing area (you can remove the chalks for the tender or PWC), and a place for a cocktails at sundown. Of course it makes a functional swim platform, and with the optional Latham Lift, a place to store and launch your tender.
In this regard, remember if you carried the tender on a convertible or a motoryacht you would need a davit. With the hydraulic Latham Lift, your money is buying you both a launch device and storage space, but it also converts into other functions as well.
The seatback for the lounger on the aft deck folds down reveling stowage space for most anything you want. Some people will put fenders and lines there, for example. The inside of the back of the seat becomes a handy table or counter for any number of things – buffet serving table, bar, a place to lay fishing gear, or whatever – let your imagination run wild.

The Aft Deck

On large motoryachts, particularly those used in the Med, the aft deck becomes the focus and most-used congregation area on the boat. Here is where al fresco dining takes place, cocktails are served, and deals are made. Here is where guests mingle and much on canopies. Cruisers Yachts has added a third use: the table automatically lowers to form the foundation for a huge sunpad. This is another Cruisers Yachts innovation in this class of boat and we’re told that function scores high in focus group interviews. The nice thing about the concept is that the babes can securely and safely work on their tan while the boat is underway. (Never let them on the bow bunny pad at speed.)
Another innovation which we haven’t seen before is the addition of what are effectively “ottomans” on each side of the aft bench seat. Not only can someone stretch out and put their feet there, but when the table is raised there is room for one person on each end of the table. Add two chairs facing aft and you can comfortably seat six. By the way, the 4’x2’ table has folding leaves on each side, permitting someone to scoot in behind the table and sit down.
Port and starboard in the forward corners of the cockpit you will see two molded modules which can hold an icemaker, reefer, grill, stowage for the two chairs and the sunning cushion. Because the boat is powered by an IPS system the engines are below the aft deck.

Sliding Doors

Moving forward we come to the huge bi-fold sliding stainless steel and safety glass doors to the pilothouse and bridge. Several European builders have been doing this for years and now cruisers is doing it with bi-fold sliding doors which creates a 60” (1.53 m) entry way. This is a large opening, and when that you can lock that way, so if you want the outdoors in as on a conventional coupe, you can do that. With this arrangement you have your choice.
Regular readers know we like anything that extends the season or broadens the utility of a boat. We think this sliding door is a huge improvement over boats out there without it.

The Pilothouse

Inside the cabin there is a wet bar, reefer and cabinets for storage to starboard. The helm seat is 4-way adjustable, however the companion seat is only 2-way. On the port side of the companionway are wide steps up to the walk-through windshield. There are not many boats this size with this feature, something Cruisers Yachts is known for. The side decks are wide, so the walk-thru is not really necessary. But folks at Cruisers' tell us their customers like it so they do it, no matter what we think.
The most unusual design element of all on the boat is the “floating” helm console and instrument panel. The whole helm area is like a “loft” over the salon below. This design treatment opens up both the pilothouse and the salon below, giving a “cathedral” effect below.

Going Below

The salon, galley and accommodations below are pretty much standard, except for the mid cabin. Because the boat is powered by the IPS system, the engines and engine room have been moved aft creating a large mid cabin, possibly the largest one you will find in class. Most important to us is the fact that the cabin has full standing headroom almost everywhere except for the starboard side of the bed. This headroom feature makes 470 an ideal vessel for two couple to cruise long distances in comfort. We also like the fact that the facilities both forward and aft, can be used by two people at the same time.

Performance

The way builders test new hulls is to get the engines and drive systems in, along with fuel tanks batteries and anything else necessary to run it, then fill the rest of the boat with led pigs to simulate the weight and loading of the boat. It was in this way that the new 470 was quietly tested by Cruisers Yachts and Volvo Penta engineers and techs early this spring on the icy waters of Lake Michigan. The boat was tested with both the IPS 500 and IPS 600 engines. According to the techs present, the WOT of the boat with IPS 600 was 37 knots. The WOT with the IPS 500 was between 34 and 35 knots. To find out what the best cruise speeds are and fuel consumption, you’ll have to wait until we test the boat in early fall.

Recommendation

We are told by a spokesman for Cruisers Yachts that the first 470 will be launched sometime in August. The boat will make its way from the Green Bay, Wisconsin area, out Lake Michigan and the Great Lakes to Atlantic. It will make the fall boat shows in New England in September, Annapolis in October, and the Ft. Lauderdale Boat Show which always falls around Halloween. Typically, new boats hang out in Florida after the Lauderdale show so that everyone who has seen the boat for the last couple of months at the shows and wants sea trials can fly to Florida and spend some time on the boat.
If you are at all seriously interested in this boat, our recommendation is for you to check out its competition now. Remember, length and beam specifications can sometimes be deceiving. You need to compare displacements and you need to get on the boats to check out their ergonomics, actual room, and their fit and finish. And, of course, price. If after that research you think that you might prefer the Cruisers Yachts 470, we would recommend that you call a Cruisers dealer, get some refundable money down on the boat and get a reserved building slot in writing.
We’re told that only four of these boats will be built in the fall, and if this boat is all that it seems to be, then those four positions in line, and maybe a number into the spring, will be taken quickly as the hull #1 works its way down the east coast boat shows.