Quintrex 610 Cruiseabout Boat Review

Boat Review Date: December 2015
Author: Mike Brown

Overview

Cruiseabout is Quintrex’s house name for bowriders, which tend to be a polarising type. Some offshore fishermen worry about the exposed open forward cockpit; serious fishers, inshore and off, may not be rapt with the divided spaces.

There are, though, great benefits. For boats around six metres and under they have probably the most useable space. The forward cockpit allows children to sit under the driver’s eye – and children are quick to claim it for their own. That cockpit is no more vulnerable than the open space around centre consoles. In other words hardly at all unless you get into breakers, and any vessel is in trouble there.

In truth a well designed bow rider can be the ideal boat, and Quintrex’s 610 Cruiseabout has definitely had the design hours put into it.

Quintrexes are almost invariably non self-draining. The 610, though, is an exception. It self drains through non-return scuppers, allowing the deck to be a little lower and the coaming be a little – actually quite a lot – higher than the normal self-drainer. This makes for a feeling of security for standing anglers although, speaking as a distinctly casual fisherman, I have never understood the want to stand for anything other for some monster on the line.

The forward cockpit comfortably takes four adults seated over storage bins, or could be simply converted to a platform for a couple of swivel fishing seats. The rear cockpit has the pair of swivels at the dash, which would obviously be fiercely competed for, and space liberated behind them by folding the rear lounge. For those who do worry about the exposure forward, Quintrex supplies a cover for that cockpit that effectively converts the boat into a runabout.

The other fabric component is a Bimini large enough to shade the complete rear cockpit; this is a beautiful thing to have for a long day on the water. It furls into a neat overhead parcel for winter days or for skiing. For the latter the 610 has an under deck locker long enough for skis - or fishing rods of course.

Further aft another wet or dry locker can be catch tank or drink and food container depending on the day’s activity. The bait board, a good one, is removable to also allow for change of task. One of the alternatives might be swimming, and Quintrex’s ladder has beefiness and convenience beyond average.  

The eye catching hull had been sheathed in vinyl wrap rather than paint, and this is a finish well worth considering. Price is close to par with paint and it has some distinct advantages. It provides near perfect corrosion protection; damage is far more easily fixed than that to painted surfaces, and complex artwork can be incorporated with ease. It is for this trio of reasons that ferries built on the east coast, where the vinyl specialists mainly work, are increasingly using the system. I suspect that it also made its contribution to our boat’s quietness.

Another place where using plastic reduced noise was the anchor well. After an unreasonably long time manufacturers have caught on that chain on aluminium can make infuriating noise; plastic sheathing of the aluminium well or completely replacing it with plastic silences it. Indoor-outdoor carpet held in place by waterproof Liquid Nails does a good after market job.

The review boat came equipped with a 150hp Yamaha. This is a little larger than standard and was good enough for 36 knots flat out; a lot more than likely to be used often, but useful extra herbs in the locker. At this power level the motor came with standard hydraulic steering for an effortless experience.

Lowdown

Price as reviewed    AUD $74,230

Hull length                5.95m

Length overall           6.21m

Beam                          2.48m

Hull weight                747kg

Fuel capacity            120L

Power range             115-200hp

Motor fitted                Yamaha 200hp four-stroke