Any boatbuilder prepared to offer a lifetime structural warranty on its hulls and decks, a lifetime warranty on the treated-timber stringers and underfloor hull stiffeners, and a lifetime warranty on the engine gauges deserves consideration. But add five years of cover on the upholstery, canvas, stainless steel deck fittings, and against gelcoat blistering, and you will have a boat that takes some beating. Literally.

According to the big American company, Crownline boats offer the best factory warranty coverage in their class. This is too nice to know because, while they are designed primarily for American waterways, at least some of the huge production run of largely trailer boats is destined to cut a swathe across our often choppy harbours, rivers, lakes, and bays.

Crownline is a relatively new face on the American boating scene, one of the few remaining family-owned boatbuilders, and a progressive yard whose designers aren't afraid to think outside the square. Less than four years after its first boat was released in 1991, the boatbuilder opened a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant. Soon after, it produced and shipped more than 45,000 boats to dealers in the United States, Canada, Europe, South America, and Russia. And now Australia.


While it is considered one of the top five American boatbuilders today, Crownline has a relatively restrained model lineup spanning 22 boats. There are 14 bowriders, three deck boats, three cuddy cabins, and two weekender-style sports cruisers. In other words, the boatbuilder has stuck to what it does best—building those popular boats-to-go that we all know as bowriders.

So, where do the Crownline bowriders differ from the flood of other American bowriders washing up on our shores? Besides the big warranties, the boats appear exceptionally spacious, better finished than many pop-out production craft, and nicely styled. Yet despite the premium appearance, they remain keenly priced.

Take the company's entry-level 180BR, the subject of his review. Two engine options are available: a 3.0lt MerCruiser petrol inboard motor and a maximum recommended 220hp 4.3lt MPI engine, as tested. Both are good buys and just a really fun, sporty drive to boot.

The Sydney Crownline dealer went one better and instead of supplying the BMT package - that's Yankee lingo for boat/motor/trailer - they put the boat on an Australian-made trailer with brakes. This way, you can hit the holiday road safe in the knowledge that the trailer will last the distance. In my years testing BMTs, I've had at least one imported trailer fail.

Design Lines

One of the company's biggest sellers, the 180BR debuted here at last year's Sydney Boat Show. Then, as with now, I thought the standard of finish was a cut above your average production boat. All deck gear from grabrails to popup cleats is stainless steel; the struts supporting the wraparound safety-glass windscreen are also stainless steel - not plastic - while the mouldings, such as the full internal liner in the bow are nice and fair.

Backed by that five-year warranty, the boat's upholstery was cleanly stitched, while underfloor through-hull fittings are chrome-plated brass numbers that you find on boats intended to be kept in the water. On its trailer and afloat, the 180BR was a good-looking rig. The demonstrator had a yellow hull and standard silver graphics pack, but there are options right up to a solid ruby-coloured hull with racing graphics.

Dimensionally, the 180BR is a big, beamy boat for your bucks. The gunwales are a lot narrower than many bowriders that have modular interiors. As such, you gain a lot more internal volume on the Crownline. The wide hull is also deep, with plenty of freeboard and buoyancy to handle bumpy bays and busy rivers without taking on water when you cross a cruiser or ferry wake.

 


Storage is another strength. The seat bases in the bow fold open on piano hinges to reveal carpet-lined holds; there's a central vented underfloor ski locker with removable liner, small sidepockets, a lockable glovebox, and nets on either side of the engine in which you can dry your towels.

However, as with most American bowriders used primarily for lake boating, where owners tend to moor to pontoons, there is no dedicated anchor well. So you'll need to store the anchor, chain and rope in one of those lined underseat storage areas or perhaps in a remote tub.

 

Lay Me Down

Plenty of thought went into the seating layout on the 180BR. The boat has ergonomically designed padded backrests in its bow pit, neat, fully adjustable helm seats with a flip-up bolster on the driver's side, and a long rear lounge. The padded engine box lid serves as a sun pad after scrambling up the swim ladder to the boarding platform.

While the boat had cockpit carpet, it wasn't the snap-out variety. But as to be expected on American boats, drinkholders were in abundance. I liked how the canopy was cleverly concealed inside the engine bay, where I found a lift-out Igloo icebox for taking lunch ashore.

The carbon-look dash inserts and no-glare grey helm console harboured a big spread of Faria engine gauges that were re-badged Crownline - backed by a lifetime warranty, remember? - plus a switch panel linked to a neat fuse panel. You also get a Sony CD player, tilt wheel and throttle at your fingertips.

  

Drive and Handling

The beamy hull has 18 degrees of deadrise at the transom, so it's a bit flatter than, say, a Sea Ray or Cobalt. The upside is excellent efficiency and easy planing at 11-15 knots (21-29km/h) at 2200 rpm to 2400 rpm. The boat sat happily at a fast wakeboarding and social skiing speed of about 22 knots (42km/h) at 3000 rpm.

With the engine upgrade, the boat was a snappy drive turning in 30 knots (57km/h) at 3500 rpm (though you will need to watch the fuel supply if you're planning a long summer's day on the throttles). Depending on the tide and wind, top speed ranged from 42.2 knots (80km/h) to 44.1 knots (84km/h), which is more than 50mph, or the measure of a sporty bowrider in my book.

But with three adults riding in the cockpit and nothing by way of gear or people in the bow, plus that moderate deadrise, the 180BR chattered a bit over the winter wind waves. However, expect the ride to improve with a more even weight distribution and things like an anchor and a couple of kids sitting in the bow.

Piece it all together and you can see why Crownline has been winning the American JD Powers Awards. These awards are all about customer satisfaction and brand loyalty rather than advertising contracts and industry hobnobbing.

A smart, well-appointed, high-volume boat, the 180BR is set to launch Crownline and a lot of trailerboaters on a path of adventure Down Under this summer. All that's missing is a jewel in the crown by way of some annual owner's rallies and an owner's club like what's offered by the factory in America. One day, hopefully.

Meanwhile, all that backing through warranties can only make new customers feel more comfortable about jumping aboard a Crownline.

  

What We Liked

  • Nice low-speed efficiencies and cruising comforts

  • Excellent finish that's less production-orientated

  • Saltwater build quality with all stainless steel fittings

  • Excellent value and high-volume boat for the bucks

  • Solid backing from a company that enjoys repeat business

 Not So Much

  • No dedicated anchor locker

  • No wind dam between bow and cockpit for protection in winter

  • Modest fuel capacity

  • Moderate deadrise and wide hull dances about when lightly laden

 

 Specifications: Crowline 180BR

 General

Material: GRP with pressure-treated timber stringers
Length overall: 5.50m
Beam: 2.30m
Deadrise: 18°
Weight: 1179kg

Capacities

Rec/max HP: 220hp
Fuel capacity: 102lt
Passenger capacity: Eight

Engine

Make/Model: MerCruiser 4.3MPI
Type: V6 petrol inboard
Rated HP: 220hp @ 4400rpm-4800rpm
Displacement: 4.3lt
Weight: About 390kg
Drive: Sterndrive Alpha One
Prop: Standard alloy

Supplied by TR Marineworld.

 

Ready to Set Sail? 

Find your dream boat online at Only Boats, including a selection of Crownline boats. We have great deals on all boats for sale, including used boats and new boats. You can also check out our used boat buying guide.

If you're upgrading or planning to sell your boat, why not explore our expert guide on how to improve boat resale value. If you're planning to attend a boat show soon, we've also put together a detailed boat show buying guide that's perfect for first time buyers.

Smooth sailing starts with the right boat. We’re here to help you find it!

 

This article was written by David Lockwood, and photos provided by John Ford and previously appeared at TradeaBoat.com.au, now powered by Only Boats.


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