Bow rider versus cabin is a much-debated issue when families are considering buying a new boat, as BARRY WISEMAN reports.

THERE’S no doubt a cabin boat provides a lot of protection from sea spray when the weather turns nasty or you’re heading into that fine, short chop.

However, the bunk space up front may never get used for sleeping if you’re a day-boating family.

The kids will have fun in there initially, but the cabin will eventually resemble a storeroom.

On the other hand, a bow rider gives you that extra ‘usable’ space up front when you’ve got a crowd on board or when you are fishing.

Plus, someone will always convert the front lounge into a sunbed after losing interest in wetting a line.

Picnics are fun too when the portable table drops into its forward slot.

Wining and dining on those lazy summer evenings can be blissful.

When the weather turns and you get wet from sea spray, be prepared to invest in a set of plastic clears.

We’re all looking for versatility whichever configuration we decide on and it really boils down to the type of boating you and your family are likely to do.

Both the cabin and bow rider offer general space up front, however, the former provides overnight sleeping.

A bow rider can be ‘winterised’ with clears and offers 360-degree fishing, plus a casting deck.

Both configurations have good storage under the bunks or bow seating.

Former Olympic freestyle swimmer Ian Brown and wife Katie recently thrashed these very issues about when they decided to move into their third family boat.

Both agreed the cabin on an earlier vessel was largely “wasted space”.

The family love to fish, but Katie wanted somewhere more user-friendly to relax and read a book when things were quiet in the fishing department.

Having previously owned a Quintrex 4.5m bow rider, followed by a Bar Crusher 5.75m cuddy cab, the family finally decided to go for another Bar Crusher, this time the 670 Bow Rider from sole WA agent Aquasports Marine in Canning Vale.

“We teamed it up with the Yamaha 200hp four-stroke motor and an Easytow Alloy dual-axled trailer,” Ian explained.

“We also opted for the ballast flap addition on the transom which allows us to run the vessel with a flooded keel to add extra stability in a running sea.

“At rest, that extra ballast allows acute reverse chines to do their job to keep us stable when drift fishing or being held on a particular spot with the Minn Kota Ulterra electric motor fitted on the port bow.

“They say it normally takes three boats before you finally settle on what works for you.

“We like to head north to Exmouth and our trip during the mid-year school holidays worked out well.

“We had all-round fishing with no line tangles, plenty of room, plus Katie could relax up the front while others continued to fish down the back.

“On a smooth sea, I could break out my fly fishing tackle and use the bow section as a casting deck, dropping flies into a ball of baitfish.

“Our first real use of the vessel was that three-week family expedition to Exmouth, and we experienced a mixture of calm and windy conditions, where that short, sharp chop came up and the vessel performed very well.

“We had clears fitted as part of our purchase package and they kept us nice and dry.

“On those glassed-off days, the boat sits nicely on the water, and we skipped along at 20-plus knots, burning one nautical mile per litre so it was very economical running from the Yamaha 200hp engine.

“This is my second Bar Crusher, my first being a smaller cabin configuration.

“This 670BR just feels very solid on the water and I would say that’s due to the flooded keel.

“I opted for the ballast flap installation, but I only had to use it the once when coming back from a trip to the Muiron Islands.

“The tide was flooding out and there was a stiff cross wind, and I felt having the keel constantly flooded did have influence.

“Not banging into that slop, it’s certainly a lot smoother ride than my other boats.”

The Muirons (North and South) are located nine nautical miles west of the Exmouth Gulf peninsula and the area offers a beautiful underwater wilderness for snorkellers and scuba divers.

Referred to by the manufacturer as the ‘Bar Flap’, the keel system can be used to keep water out to make the vessel lighter in shallow-water applications; or to trap water in, to make the vessel heavier when running in extreme rough-water situations.

The ballast water lowers the vessel’s centre of gravity.

The Brown family’s first vessel was a Quintrex Bow Rider and while it offered the lounge seating arrangements up front, Ian wanted more from the fishing aspect.

They moved to the Bar Crusher brand, giving them greater offshore fishing opportunities, but then found they were not getting much use from the cuddy cabin configuration.

That’s when they decided to stay with BC brand and select a larger vessel in the bow rider model to suit their growing family.

Ian and Katie have three grown up children, Nicholas, 28, Tim, 25 and Lizzy, aged 18.

“We find the 670BR gives us plenty of storage space under the seats, plus room up front to relax while others fish down the back,” Ian said.

“Or I can try fly casting using the raised deck up front.

“The extra height gives me a better vantage spot to view such species as bonefish, it’s a really good location and it’s firm underfoot.

“The Minn Kota is the Ulterra 36-volt model which provides heaps of grunt.

“I can engage spot lock when I see something promising on the sounder or locate a school to fish to.

“With the remote, I can be anywhere on the boat, plus I don’t have to drop the anchor.”

Exmouth is a favourite destination for the Brown family, offering plenty of bluewater action, and time out in sheltered waters.

The Minn Kota comes with the advanced i-Pilot feature designed for heavy-duty applications, delivering over 100-pounds of thrust.

Operating from three 12V batteries, Ian pushes a button and the unit launches itself into the upright position, while Spot Lock allows him to hover over a lump in the deep or a hole in the shallows.

The main outboard can be turned off, conserving fuel.

“The Minn Kota coped really well with the tides and winds we encountered up there, and the power output never got beyond 80 per cent so I reckon it could handle tougher conditions really well,” he said.

Ian decided on three 100-amp 12-volt lithium batteries to keep weight to a minimum, with a back-up charging system connected to the Yamaha four-stroke.

While his fly fishing activities were limited at Exmouth due to the number of people on the vessel, the family landed some excellent catches, including rankin cod in 60 metres with the spot lock engaged and no line tangles.

When the Browns ordered their new boat, Ian was still tossing around the idea of an electric motor, however he still went ahead with the mounting bracket option on the port bow of the 670BR.

He added the Minn Kota later after taking delivery of the vessel and was pleased he did so.

Katie does not yet have her Recreational Skipper’s Ticket, but she has learnt how to back the Bar Crusher’s trailer down to the ramp, allowing Ian to drive the vessel onto its cradle.

It’s this sort of help involving everyone, that makes boating one of Australia’s biggest family activities.

If each person on board has a job to do and an understanding of what is required, it makes for greater enjoyment on the water.

Boating Industry Association statistics show boating brings families closer together, and making RST accreditation a family affair helps everyone through the learning process.

After all, boating should be an enjoyable experience.

When it becomes a problem to launch or recover the vessel, that’s when members of the family don’t want to be involved.

Alongside the jetty, the amount of space on the BC670 was surprising.

With Ian already on board, my 100-plus kilos on the side deck hardly made any difference and it’s a big step down into the cockpit.

The height of the interior freeboard is a good safety feature, especially with youngsters aboard plus there’s plenty of coaming to lean into when flighting a good fish.

The Bar Crusher has a sharp entry with a spray rail running back to the shoulder or helm position where acute reverse chines take over, extending aft to the transom.

Advancing the Yamaha throttle, the vessel remained level as we headed into a southerly breeze from the Woodman Point boat ramp.

Inside the marina walls and out in Cockburn Sound, Ian took the outboard out of gear and used his remote control to deploy the Minn Kota from its cradle and hold us on the spot.

The silent motor automatically moved in and out of gear and changed direction to keep us in the same location, against the breeze and current.

“I still haven’t made up my mind about installing an electric anchor drum winch,” Ian said.

“I was going to, but I now find there’s no need to deploy the Sarca because the Minn Kota does such an excellent job.

“If nothing is biting, we just head to a new location, turn off the Yamaha and let the spot lock do the work.”

The bow section is roomy and fitted with cushions for relaxing as a day bed or lounge seating.

When fishing, the cushions can be left at home.

Also, if the weather turns nasty, a cover clips onto the bow so seawater can run off.

There’s a drop-in door which separates the bow and cockpit areas, plus the windscreen opens to allow access.

Plastic clears fit between the screen and the soft top canopy to make the helm weatherproof.

The dash accommodates the twin Garmin navigation monitors plus the Yamaha engine management display.

The lower section is fitted with a GME VHF marine radio, plus controls for the Electro trim tabs that come as a factory option.

The port dash has a recessed area housing two drink holders.

There are two side wall shelves to store your vehicle keys, sunscreen, and sunnies.

The deluxe seats have bolster cushions and are mounted on heavy-duty frames incorporating tackle box storage plus room for Bar Crusher’s dual lid ice coolers port and starboard.

Roomy side pockets run from the helm to transom, with the deckwash on the starboard quarter.

A fold-down bench seat runs along the transom, with a drop-in door on the starboard side.

The live-bait tank is located on the port quarter, complementing the deluxe bait station complete with tackle and tool drawers.

The wide gunwales come with non-skid Eva foam for safety, plus there are plenty of substantial grab rails from the swallowtails aft to the helm and bow sections.

The coamings along the transom and in the bow are padded.

The saltwater wash gun in the starboard quarter comes in handy to clean the chequer plate deck on the way back to the ramp.

Marlin boards left and right of the motor are also finished in the same heavy-duty plate and there’s a dive ladder on the starboard side plus built-in berley bucket.

The bottom is made from 5mm plate, while 4mm is used on the upper sides and the welding is first class.

There’s no hiding shabby workmanship with bog.

Aquasports Marine at Canning Vale is the sole agent for Bar Crusher in WA, with sales manager Isaac Quigley finalising Ian and Katie’s purchase.

“We have been surprised how popular the Bar Crusher Bow Rider series has been, with this 670-model meeting the true bluewater fishing requirements plus family leisure time,” he said.

“Ian fished some deep offshore locations during his trip to Exmouth plus spending relaxed leisure time in the shallows with the family, so the vessel has that versatility people are looking for.”

Aquasports Marine carries a wide range of Bar Crusher vessels, with Ian’s BMT packaged with several upgrades and coming in at around $160,000.

NUTS & BOLTS

• MODEL: Bar Crusher 670 BR
• LENGTH: 6.7m
• BEAM: 2.35m
• PASSENGERS: 6
• INTERNAL FREEBOARD: 800mm
• FUEL: 230 litres
• HP: Yamaha 200hp (maximum)
• TOW WEIGHT: 1820kg
• MANUFACTURER: Bar Crusher; Dandenong South, Victoria.
• AGENT: Aquasports Marine; 189 Bannister Road, Canning Vale, WA, 6155; ph: (08) 9250 3339; www.aquasportsmarine.com.au
• PRICING: From $138,575

Thanks to Ian and Katie Brown for the invitation to review their latest purchase, the Bar Crusher 670 Bow Rider, a versatile and capable vessel offering family comfort and bluewater fishing.

PROS & CONS

Pros:

• 360-degree walkaround for fishing.
• Leisure time seating and dining in the bow.
• Ample storage under bow seating/casting deck.
• Bow can be covered in rough seas.
• Room to fish five people.
• Spacious rear cockpit and deluxe bait station.
• Minn Kota electric motor on the bow saves anchoring up.
• Alloy tandem drive-on trailer. 
  

Cons:

• No cabin for overnights sleepovers.
• Restricted to day-time boating, which most of us do anyway most of the time.