Is the end of inboard powered Cutwater boats near?

[BB marine]

We went to the St Petersburg boat show yesterday to look and dream ! It is amazing how many new manufacturers are out there and all the big name manufacturers of the past are gone. A few of the old companies that were there, Boston Whaler, Stamas, Grady White, Chris Craft, Sea Ray and Regal. Many of the new manufacturers I have just recently heard of. Most seem to build quality boats at least at the surface. As I walked around I found the Ranger Tug/Cutwater booth. I had met both of the salesmen last year at the SWF Ranger Tug/Cutwater Rendezvous. Both are knowledgeable about the Fluid Motion product line. (Edge Water Yacht Sales). I was surprised to see they did not have new products to display. (1) used 2014 30’ Cutwater and a used 2021 Ranger 27. I asked about delivery of a new 30’Cutwater. The salesman told me they have one on order and it is one of the last 5 that Cutwater will build. 2023 is the last year for Cutwater inboards. Production ends in mid 2023. He also stated he had no new product to show at this time. He did say that build times are better but dealer inventory is short.

This must be the new way of doing business, sell, order and deliver! Outboards are the new way to power. There were displays of Electric outboards, Gas powered outboards, and 300 hp diesel outboards. Times are always changing. I can remember when inboards were being replaced by stern drives and no one wanted an outboard!!!! Now stern drives are almost obsolete!!!

 

[S. Todd]

If I was going to purchase a boat with the styling and stepped hull of a Cutwater I would want the faster speeds of the outboard models. Thus, it makes sense to drop the inboards from that line. If Fluid Motion drops the inboards from the Ranger Tug line that would be a good time for Nordic Tugs to bring back the 26. If I understand the history correctly, it was when Nordic Tugs dropped the 26 from their line that the door was opened for the Ranger Tug 25. I know that the speeds I typically cruise at, especially when the wind is blowing on the great lakes, the fuel economy on the inboards is better than the outboards that really need flat water to be as efficient. A diesel outboard is appealing but I want to see them in practice for a few more years first. Just my opinion.

 

[SJI Sailor]

In the PNW I strongly prefer inboard for the diesel power and because I would be extremely uncomfortable going any faster than (or even at) the 25 kt top speed. Usually cruise around 14-17 when the water seems clear and flat. Looking at so many logs in the water today, for example!

Doesn't mean outboards are not a good market right now, just not a good idea to consider going 40 kts in the PNW in my opinion. Maybe elsewhere!

 

[FWTMD]

Fluid has been moving in this direction. Completing the transition was inevitable it appears.

Fluid has kept to its focus, to the mission for its boats. Trailerable. Light weight for trailers. Weekenders up to a week's vacation cruise.

Its hard to argue against outboards when attached to a lightweight hull designed to plane.

Yeah, one can get into the safety differences around carrying gas vs diesel. No small thing.

Change the mission and the equation can change. Speeds in the single digits or low double digits, on boats designed for distance / range and not so much trailerable. Weight can rise. Beam can rise. And so forth.

But that's a different mission and different sort of boat. Fluid is focused on the mission it has.

 

[Ernie]

I agree with the first post about the boats at St. Pete boat show.
I was there on a vacation and stopped in at the show. Lots of good looking boats. I saw very few cruising style boats, so I assume that the boating in the area is not as oriented toward cruising as here in PNW. Lots of beautiful, go fast boats that would get you out to the fish and back is what I saw

 

[Diatom]

Have been dreading this development. I run a "introductory" 2011 C26, want a "someday" C30. Not in the mood to write a cheque for CAD 500K this afternoon (CAD is down, divorce lawyers are up). Need time. I don't care about trailering (mine had a trailer, sold it off on day 1 - last thing I need is 10,000 Lbs chasing me down the hills of Salt Spring Island). My dream boat would be +1 size up (the C32 doesn't do it, just a C30 stretch with no increased beam & no diesel option). I want a small cruising yacht, not a large fishing runabout. Pac NW cruising speed has to stay realistic - absent a massive breakthrough in forward sonar or IR cam technology, life expectancy is inversely proportional to speed up here (logs/deadheads/debris everywhere). The third way to kill myself is to add gasoline to the equation. Nope. Until electric drives come of age (not unrealistic, my cruising range is 100 km one-way), I think there is a great case for diesel pending electric:
- easier/cheaper refining
- higher volumetric energy density (kcal/liter)
- less volatile (environment), less explosible (safety) - flash point is above ambient at all times.
- much less demand (lighter petrol fractions divert to chemical industry + cars) in a probable declining supply economy.
- EU technology favors diesel developments
I prefer inboard/stern/pod over outboard for balance & aethetics/presentation.

Thus I'm probably headed for a used C30 a few years hence. Or a bigger Vicem if 6/49 investments perform. Wish C30S had the old C26 V-berth: "bed" collapses to presentable/usable table creating a salon instead of a massive plastic lump.

/tmm

 

[mikey]

I went from an OB to a stern drive to an inboard diesel with a fixed shaft mainly for stability,fewer breakdowns at sea and economy. A major flood in 2021 on the Fraser R watershed resulted in major silting,many logs and debris in the Straight of Georgia. Seems like we see more extreme weather causing floods-California 2022? The diesel furnace is a must in the PNW and hot water for the galley heater and doing those dishes is great during your trip. I think our inboard fixed shaft diesels will maintain their value especially for us that are happy and relaxed travelling at 6-7 knots but do have 20 knots dodging weather or making slack tide in the narrows.

 

[Diatom]

Exhibit "A": deadheads, timber fall/winter 2022
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AsNZp67ax2DNhLo8eMlC5awHDAUW-w?e=v6GB8U

/tmm

 

[Rocky Lou]

Another factor to consider is single versus twins screws. Personally, I prefer the latter and, hence, would only consider diesel for larger boats with twin engines. I run mostly offshore for fishing and cruising in northern California, where the ocean is quite rough. However, I try to go out on the nice days and normally I can cruise at or near 30 kn. The gas mileage is not significantly better unless I drop down to eight or 9 kn.

What concerns me more with so many of the boat builders is that they have discontinued all of their pilothouse and cabin models. I read about a great hull and then go to their website only to see only open boats. For the kind of boating that I do, you couldn’t give me one of those.

 

[HookedUp]

Could be a silly question, but I haven't found an answer. If you have a non-trailered boat with outboards how do you do the lower unit maintenance? My boat is currently small enough to go in a boatel, so I do the maintenance while it is on a wash rack. Every year I do the full maintenance and I just don't know how I'd drain the lower gear oil and replace it if the boat stayed in the water. It would seem almost impossible to replace the impeller while in the water.

I concur it would seem best on larger boats to stick with diesel inboards, but I agree it doesn't seem the way the manufacturers are going.

 

[Rocky Lou]

Could be a silly question, but I haven't found an answer. If you have a non-trailered boat with outboards how do you do the lower unit maintenance? My boat is currently small enough to go in a boatel, so I do the maintenance while it is on a wash rack. Every year I do the full maintenance and I just don't know how I'd drain the lower gear oil and replace it if the boat stayed in the water. It would seem almost impossible to replace the impeller while in the water.

I don't think you want to try that. When the pandemic was on, I bought a pump to change my own oil and all the other 100 hour service stuff, except the lower unit. A Yamaha expert said that, it likely would be OK to prolong for a while. Of course, you can pull it out on a trailer, but, that is not your question...the other idea I had is borrowing someone's hydraulic lift.