Executive 630 Cruises On To The Market
By John Daffy
CruiseCraft created a new class of sophisticated compact
cruiser with the launch of the innovative Executive 630.
The luxuriously equipped Executive 630 went through almost
two years of development and the result is simply outstanding.
With below water lines derived from CruiseCraft's industry
leading range of offshore Outsiders and Explorers, the Executive
630 matches rough water capabilities with a premium level
of interior design and appointment.
Here's a vessel with award-winning lines, very high sides,
particularly across the shoulders as well as what surely must
be the largest duckboard ever unleashed on to the market for
a vessel of this size. Class, style and practicality packaged
together beautifully.
The galley a superbly sculpted moulding integrated into the
port side and forming the base for the navigator's seat (and
yes, you're right, a spirit stove is located beneath the seat).
An ultra-wide backrest is fixed flag style allowing it to
be swung out of the way into a portside recess and giving
full access to the stove, servery area and sink.
Beneath the navigator's seat is a storage area the size of
Aladdin's Cave but CruiseCraft's design expertise sees two
access doors provided so treasures can be re-claimed from
either end. Convenience in the CruiseCraft tradition.
The Executive 630 sets a different direction to the very successful
Executive 700 cruiser by having a translucent slide-away cabin
door complete with one of those neat locking systems which
snap into place when it's fully open or when fully closed.
The helm chair also is a super-wide model and mounted on stainless
legs to allow an icebox with a padded top to slip under it
proving enough cool room space for a long weekend away. It
also provides an additional seat to the luxurious wrap-around
corner lounge. Six people in comfort - not a problem.
One of those CruiseCraft double shelf style glove-boxes (more
like enough room for the entire ball gown, clutch bag, high
heels and glass of bubbly girls, not just the gloves), sits
in front of the navigator's seat.
Enter the cabin by using a couple of smoothly curved steps
and you see where those high sides came from.
Cabin height is outstanding, in fact, almost upstanding, and
the side pockets are almost wide enough to form bunks. Well,
not really, but you get the point. These are side pockets
wide and deep enough to swallow those kit stuff bags which
inevitably find their way on to boats.
The seat cushions are a faux suede which blends tastefully
with a plush cabin lining. Not one of those static-ridden
brothel-nylon jobs that glisten in the sun, but more up the
lambs wool end of the scale, but obviously in a more durable
synthetic blend.
That emphasis on style and tastefulness extends into the side
pocket trimmings and new cockpit carpet. Even the front and
side clears are tinted to match! And those clears - magic.
That's because CruiseCraft is now using a sail track to locate
them - smooth, taut and terrific.
The Executive 630 comes with a 220hp Mercruiser - a trip with
five adults aboard as well as enough support gear to conduct
a Team CruiseCraft Family Picnic Day saw an easy cruising
speed of 40km/h (that's 25mph) maintained at less than 4,000
rpm, but more importantly, provided enough bottom end grunt
to launch straight to the plane without having the play shuffle
the passengers.
The ride - it would be easy to say ' typical CruiseCraft ride
comfort and stability' but unless you've experienced real
offshore conditions and seen a CruiseCraft bow riding easily
to meet on-coming crests, or holding its head steadily as
it races across troughs, you probably won't appreciate how
really good that is.
A few weeks earlier, The Gorgeous One and I had claimed an
Executive 630 for a weekend afloat.
When you've trekked the bay, cruised the Moreton Island shoreline,
stuck the nose outside the South Passage Bar, spent a night
aboard, cooked, showered and done the moonlight drinks bit
and TGO still wants to keep talking about the boat and whether
it will slide by a drive-through garage rather than the niece's
latest achievements or her impending holiday overseas, you
know this is a vessel with unique appeal. Tremendous appeal.
When TGO is more interested in talking about the practicality
and size of the wet box storage area that also forms a backrest
to the duckboard, or the duckboard-mounted utility board and
rod holders and why the vessel feels so solid underway, you
know it's a vessel that impresses a very astute judge.
And when it's time to head home and you can't lever her out
of the helm seat, you know it's a lay down Misere that there
will be serious discussions coming with a CruiseCraft dealership.
While purchasers will more likely focus on the outstanding
stainless work, the fresh water and deck wash systems, dual
batteries, electric anchor winch, full instrumentation, sound
proofing of the engine, cup holders everywhere, mood lighting
and a myriad of other features, it's knowing that this vessel
has blue-water capability that will bring a smile to the face
of owners.
(And that particularly includes folks who are not prepared
to give up offshore reef fishing just because the family insists
that the next vessel be a luxuriously appointed cruiser rather
than a fishing vessel).
The Executive 630 - a sensational body with a CruiseCraft
soul. Now that's the basis of a beautiful relationship!
Full vessel specifications are available on the www.cruisecraft.com.au
web site.
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