2008 Cruisers Yachts 520 Sports Coupe
This coupe is designed to pamper your finer senses, the Cruisers Yachts 520 Sports Coupe Sport Boat 2008 is a lesson in splendor.
Powered by a Triple-D6 IPS 600 Diesel, 435 hp engine, the 520 Sports Coupe satisfies the speed demon in you, while its elegant interior appeals to your refined side.
Natural light shines thorough 12 port holes in the salon while you and your guests relax on the curved sofa.
The galley is equipped with an electric stove, microwave, convection oven and a large refrigerator, and is highlighted with a tile backsplash, wood blinds and a lighted liquor cabinet.
There’s even a combination water/dryer onboard this Cruisers Yachts sport boat, giving you all the necessities of everyday life, plus, the forward stateroom comes with its own private head and shower.
Captain Tom Serio from the Sea Magazine says, “If the 520 Coupe had wheels, it would be one heck of a sports car.”
Click here to read this awesome article.
Cruisers Yachts 520 Sports Coupe
by Capt. Tom Serio
A triple treat of a vessel
Here’s a little secret: I’ve never tested a Cruisers Yachts before and didn’t know what to expect, so I approached with cautious optimism. After a tour and taking the new 520 Sports Coupe for a ride, I think this yacht has some very nice features that will make a believer out of anyone. Come aboard and let’s take a look.
Our test boat, which was the prototype hull but fully fitted out, was equipped with triple D6 IPS 600 Volvo Penta diesel engines. Since this was my first test with triples, I headed to the engine room immediately, expecting to see a cramped and tightly packed area.
Surprisingly, there was plenty of room to get around these powerplants, as the 6-cylinder engines are also low profile, allowing for plenty of top space to reach over if necessary. Cruisers Yachts did a great job with space planning here.
For those not familiar with it, the IPS (Inboard Performance System) setup is Volvo’s technology, complete with engine and a pod drive unit that is fitted through the hull bottom, sporting counter-rotating forward-facing Volvo duoprops. The 600 series engines produce 435 hp each, making the 520 Coupe rocket out of the hole from a standing start. Thanks to props that are parallel to the hull bottom, as opposed to standard inboard shaft drive systems that typically have the shafts angled down 10 degrees or more, the boat runs at a more level attitude. This is Cruisers Yachts’ sixth model with the IPS powertrain, so it must be working for them.
The fun part of the Volvo IPS system is the joystick controller. It really makes docking child’s play. For slow-speed close-in maneuvering, click on the joystick and forget everything you know about jockeying shifters and spinning the wheel (which actually locks when in joystick mode, as I found out as my reflexes grabbed for it). It’s simple: Push the stick fore or aft, left or right for the desired action of the vessel. If you need to walk it sideways or bring the bow around a little, take hold of the top portion of the stick and twist it. The vessel responds quickly with assured direction. Even in the crosswind we experienced, the IPS can move you in any direction. Although not needed most of the time, thanks to the IPS, a bow thruster may help in some of those sticky situations. We didn’t need it.
Another treat was the huge deck, salon and lower cabin space the 520 Coupe offers. First noticeable as I approached the boat was the seemingly higher than usual cabin top (with a large retractable skylight). Raising the top a bit gives headroom clearance of 6 feet, 5 inches to 7 feet, 5 inches from helm to cockpit, and ample visibility from any seat in the house. Noticeable were the huge forward and side windows. Jon Viestenz, product manager for Cruisers Yachts who was on board for the test, said, “We try to minimize the use of canvas and plastic windows by having full windows installed.” This also allows Cruisers to have a forward windshield walk-through window, so getting to/from the bow is quick and safe.
The aft deck behind the helm sports an under-counter refridgerator, ice-maker and storage and has an optional pop-up 26-inch LCD TV. Add in the in-counter grill, and this is where the action is. To port is a C-shaped settee with a high-low glossy table, with two boarding gates flanking another curved settee across the transom. If you want to do some sunning back here, just release the clips and the stern settee swings across to join the C-shaped settee (blocking off one boarding gate, hence the need for two, and it’s more convenient). Lower the table, throw on the extra pads and you have lounging space for many people.
Our helm was well laid out albeit busy, with a center Murphy System engine monitor display, two Raymarine E120 displays for charts and a fishfinder (these screens are multimode), a Raymarine autopilot and VHF, and the assorted switches. The throttles are well to the right side, with the joystick just to the right of the wheel. By the way, there are only two throttles for three engines, as the center engine slaves off one of the other engines.
Down below, creature comforts abound, starting with an expansive galley port side. There’s plenty of counter space, especially when the corner sink cover is on (the insert is the same material as the counter and blends in nicely). With a side-by-side refrigerator/freezer, trash compactor, microwave, coffee maker, wine cooler, cabinets and lockers, this yacht is more than a weekend cruiser. To starboard is a large U-shaped settee with a table, in perfect view of the large TV in the galley area. Three large portholes flood the area with outside lighting, and headroom is 6 feet, 3 inches, which adds to the cavernous feeling.
Up forward is the VIP stateroom, with a queen island berth, overhead hatch and portholes, and a storage locker. Don’t let the half-height locker fool you; it has a cutout in the base for long garments to hang through and not get scrunched on the bottom. Neat idea.
Midship and under the helm deck is the full-beam master (6 feet, 3 inches of headroom), with a queen-sized island berth, and flanked by end tables with storage. To port is a nice settee if you want to sit and read or chat. To starboard is a credenza complete with drawers, and there are his/her hanging lockers.
Spending time outdoors is easy, especially with the large sunpad on the bow. Wide sidedecks with nonslip finish, extended bow railing and house grabrails allow you to keep one hand for the boat at all times.
As a captain, I’m always uneasy when crew or guests walk down the sidedecks while under way, and I think the pass-through front window is an excellent idea, especially when the going gets rough.
You won’t bust a toe on the foredeck, as the anchor gear is located in a recessed hatch at the peak. With the anchor out on a short pulpit and flush-mounted anchor switches, there’s less chance of stumbling and falling into the drink.
If the 520 Coupe had wheels, it would be one heck of a sports car. We ran in the ocean, checking speed and giving the steering wheel a good workout. Hard over near full throttle, the boat leaned right into the turn, carving a very sharp circle almost in its own length, thanks in part to the 16 degrees of deadrise. No bogging down of an engine, no slipping sideways, no cavitation and no creaks or groans. Just solid boat with sold power, which makes for a confident skipper.
The Volvo IPS system offers better fuel economy and handling over standard systems. It was right out of the hole with no turbo lag thanks to the “progressive turbo” feature, with no smoke or vibration. Actually, this yacht was very quiet considering it sported three engines.
What makes this Cruisers Yachts model stand apart from the others? Well, the Volvo ISP for one. Full hardtop with glass vs. eisenglass for another. Add in the juice from the standard 13.5 kw generator, 32,000 BTU AC/heat system, walk-through windshield and other features, and you owe it to yourself to check out the 520 Sports.
The Cruisers Yachts 520 Coupe is fun to drive and fun to ride, a real treat. You’ll become a believer too, once you experience the accommodations, power and handling.
This article first appeared in the June 2008 issue of Sea Magazine. All or parts of the information contained in this article might be outdated.
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