Express Cruisers

 
The new models are bigger, more sophisticated and better performers than ever before.

By Jeanne Craig

The express cruiser came onto the scene in this country back in the '70's, when Sea Ray debuted its Sundancer. Before then, a typical cruising boat was a sedan flybridge, with the owner driving from up top and his passengers gathered on the lower deck. The express cruiser concept(view photo gallery) was embraced quickly for one simple reason: People like to be among people, and this design put passengers on together on one level in a big, open cockpit. But at the same time, outdoor space was complemented by a roomy cabin. In a basic sense, express cruisers haven't changed much over the years. That balance of interior and exterior square footage, coupled with sporty performance, is still a hallmark of the breed.

That's not to say the express cruiser hasn't evolved, though. Change has been constant, and today there seems to be more activity in this genre of boats than many others. The models are getting bigger — in some cases blurring the line between cruiser and yacht — as well as more sophisticated, prettier and even more fuel-efficient. "There are more challenges in express cruiser design today," says Tony Martens, director of engineering for Cruisers Yachts, "and the competition, nationally and internationally, is tough. One-upmanship is what it's all about." And this, say designers, is good news for anyone shopping for a boat, since the selection of new models is more than good.

Pod Drives and Joysticks.
Performance has always been at the heart of an express cruiser. It's no surprise, then, that pod drives, with their impressive fuel economy, increased range, lower noise levels and ease of operation, are coming on strong in this market. "We haven't seen anything this major since the outdrive," says John Adams, the exclusive designer for Formula, who engineered the company's 45 Yacht around Volvo Penta's IPS. "I don't see the pod drive as a replacement for the stern-drive, but it is replacing the V-drive, which took up a lot of room."

One of the great benefits of pod drives over V-drives is the space gained in the cabin, since the pods are more compact and installed farther aft. IPS allowed designers at Regal to pick up enough additional room in its 5260 to incorporate a separate head and shower compartment in the aft stateroom. Over in Italy, at the Cranchi yard, the builder gained an additional 3 feet on its 43 Mediterranee thanks to IPS. "With that space, we were able to create a bigger midcabin, something that's in demand today," says James Clayton, president of Cranchi USA. "There's a huge trend in full-beam midcabins that have doors for privacy. People don't want the open floor plan as much as they did a few years ago."

Clayton also says Cranchi owners have taken to pod drives because they're easy to service and because the warranty covers everything, right down to the steering mechanism, rather than just the engine. "I think 80 percent of express cruisers over 40 feet will have pod drives within the next three years," he says.

Just as exciting is the addition of the joystick at the helm of the express cruiser, a feature that is part of the pod drive systems from Volvo and Cummins MerCruiser Diesel (Zeus), as well as a benefit of the MerCruiser Axius system for conventional stern-drives, which will be offered on a number of new models for 2009. "Back in the '70s, it sometimes felt as if you had to be a World War II pilot to run a boat," says Adams. "Docking a big model was tough. The joystick makes for a much shorter learning curve, and the boat owner feels less intimidated. He doesn't have to round up a crew anymore. It's really caught the imagination of the buyer."

Hardtops and Coupes.
Pods and joysticks are major trends in express cruisers, but hardtops and enclosed cockpits are almost as big. Not too many years ago, an express cruiser was defined by its sun-filled cockpit and radar arch, but then European builders launched models with big fiberglass tops at a time when many owners were making an effort to reduce their exposure to direct light.

Hardtops have been embraced wholeheartedly, and not just because they create a nice, shady space. "A hardtop can make an express cruiser look more like a yacht," says Mark Owens, vice president of design and engineering at Monterey, the Florida-based builder that offers tops on a few of its express models, including its 400 Sport Yacht. "It really enhances styling and can improve a boat's lines. Plus, it makes for less canvas to deal with." As anyone who's been boating for a while knows, no matter how good canvas is, realistically, it's still a hassle to put up and take down. Plus, it eats up a lot of stowage space.

The angled transom on the Maxum 31(left). The very slick climate-controlled cockpit on the Cranchi 43 Mediterranee, which is offered with or without a hardtop(right).

There's been a surge of new express cruisers with not only hardtops, but also cockpits enclosed by glass on three sides. It's called a coupe design, and it's one of the hottest styles on the water today. When a single piece of isinglass is put up aft, it seals the cockpit entirely. Pump in reverse-cycle air conditioning, and you have a climate-controlled area that can be used anywhere, at any time of year. "People are coming out of the cabin more," says Martens, whose company, Cruisers, launched both the 420 and 520 Sports Coupe models this past year. "They don't want to be restricted belowdecks when they're overnighting. That's a big advantage of the coupe."

Coupes become even more appealing as boats get larger, particularly as they approach 50 feet. That's when designers have the flexibility to move things like dinette seating and galley appliances out of the cabin and into the cockpit, which in turn becomes a more integral part of the boat's living space.

Great Entertainers.
The cockpit is definitely evolving from a simple, functional outdoor space to an area that's as well-suited for entertaining as a room or outdoor patio in a new home. "We're putting more equipment in cockpits, everything from stereos and flat-screen TVs to grills and icemakers," says Bob Greenberg, vice president of product development and engineering at Chris-Craft, whose 36 Corsair boasts the largest cockpit in its category. "People want more entertaining features outside rather than below." That could be because lifestyles are changing. Many people are out on the water for shorter periods, either because they're pressed for time or they're conserving fuel. For more owners, a great day now means hosting a few good friends in the cockpit, close to home. "If you can't cruise for a weekend, you can still get away with the family by grilling outdoors just a few miles from the dock," says Greenberg.

Express cruiser owners are using outdoor space more than ever, and the Chris-Craft 36(left) has the largest cockpit in its class. Interior accomodations are more luxurious and user-friendly than ever, as is evident on the Rinker 40(right).

When the subject of entertainment is brought up, most designers are quick to note that flat-screen TVs are popping up all over the express cruiser: in the cockpit, staterooms and salon. It's not uncommon for a 40-footer to be offered with three or four of them. Satellite TV is coming on strong as well. "The new systems are amazing," says Kim Slocum, president of Rinker. "You can cruise at 30 mph and stay locked onto a signal." Slocum also says private spaces in the cabin are a growing priority for many express owners, even for those people shopping for a model less than 35 feet. To satisfy the demand, Rinker will offer a "privacy package" (solid bulkhead for the master stateroom rather than a curtain) in its 2009 version of the 360 Cruiser.

Smooth Styling.
And then there are lines. The low profile of the express cruiser has been attracting those with a preference for modern, performance-oriented looks for decades. That much hasn't changed, but the newest models boast a new take on styling. For instance, the new Sea Ray 43 Sundancer (this month's cover boat) doesn't have the softer sheer that was all the rage just a few years ago. "We've tried to get the lines tighter and more controlled, to portray a more upright, prouder stance," says Tony Bucaccio, director of design at Sea Ray. "To get that, we had to move away from those sweeping sheer lines. It's a trend we see internationally." It's also a look that's showing up on cruisers of all lengths, from the yachtlike models produced overseas by companies like Sessa, Sunseeker and Fairline to the midsize models built in the United States, such as the new 3100 from Maxum.

Big coupes like Regal's 52(left) have enough space to bring dinette and galley amenities up on deck where people use them(right).

Like the early express cruisers, the new models have plenty of style and performance, plus a great balance of interior and exterior space. The basic formula is the same, but today's cutting-edge designs are anything but basic.

Owners' Report: Regal 3060 When Dan and Kim Flood of Newport, Minnesota, were ready to trade up from their trailerable boat to their first real weekender, they went shopping for an express cruiser. They wanted a true overnighter with a comfortable berth, a head with a shower and a workable galley. However, they didn't want anything so big that it would be difficult for them to handle on their own. They also wanted a boat with great style and a good turn of speed. They found what they were looking for in a Regal 3060 Window Express. "Performance is key," says Dan, whose boat is powered by twin 5.0 Volvo Penta stern-drives. "I can get my boat up to 52 mph at top end, although we cruise more efficiently at 33 mph, where we get about 2 miles to the gallon." The Regal 3060, which the Floods bought last year, is an interesting boat in its size category because it does an exceptional job of bringing more light into the cabin (a growing demand among owners), thanks to big ports on either side plus angled windows forward. The well-lit interior impressed the Floods, but the feature that really got their attention was the cockpit seating. "On most 30-footers, there's simply a chair for the driver and a small bench seat adjacent to it. The Regal has a nice semicircular lounge across from the helm, so my wife and our guests can sit near me while I drive," says Dan. Dan, who is no stranger to boats, having served in the Navy for 20 years, and Kim use their Regal (named The Goat Locker) on the Mississippi River every weekend. They say they're very happy with their choice. Says Dan: "It's the boat we are most comfortable in. lt just feels right when we walk on it."     Owners' Report: Cranchi 47 When you ask Warren Dent what he and his wife, Gail, like most about their new Cranchi 47 Hardtop Express, he is quick to answer: "We love her style. She's one of the more unusual boats in our area, and she tends to attract a lot of attention. She has strong Italian flair." Diva is not the first express cruiser this couple has owned. These residents of Bellevue, Washington, had been running an American-made 37-footer for a few years, and the time they spent on that boat helped the couple figure out exactly what they would need in their next express. A hardtop was a priority because they didn't want to deal with canvas anymore. And because styling was critical, they took a good, long look at the selection of European hardtop models, which are setting the trend in styling with their low, aggressive lines. They also wanted a top with a sunroof so there would be light in the cockpit at all times. "In this part the world, sun is sometimes at a premium," says Warren. They went to the Miami Boat Show to comparison shop and found the slickest sunroof on the Cranchi. "It's the only electric roof we found that stretches across the full beam of the cockpit. And we can open it partially. Other roofs had to be either fully open or shut." The Dents also liked the Cranchi's tender garage. "We bring our kayaks and dinghy with us when we cruise the islands here, so we can explore the many coves," says Warren. "The garage makes access to those things easier. Yet, it doesn't interfere with the boat's lines. Quite honestly, she's matched all of our expectations."