sports becomes cruiser?

[gjgm]

at what size does the handling and pace of a sportsboat get lost to the advantage of accomodation on a (sports) cruiser?
I can see its not realistic to expect a 5 ton boat to have the handling and performance characteristics of a 2 ton one, but up to what length do boats really keep the sports rather than become cruiser? And suggested 3-4 year old boats to keep the grin factor(4 berth)?

 

[duncan]

this isn't about length (for once!)

even before we move up to the big boys (Wally) or large boys (Leopard /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif) you have a pleothora of great sports boats carrying much more than a couple of tonnes.............Hunton and SS Superhawk just to quote a couple of obvious ones.

Whilst power to weight and length to beam ratios have all been quoted as possible differentiators between cruisers and sports boats size hasn't.

 

[wakeup]

If your talking about run of the mill boats as opposed to SSs and huntons I reckon 25ft is the cut off point between a sports boat and cruiser. Up to 25ft and you get get most boats on a sinlge engine to really perform above that then weight for a single engine is ussually an issue but you can't get two engines in until 30ft ish to stand a chance of being back on level pegging wtih a single under 25ft.

 

[tcm]

i suppose it's a bit gradual. Under 30 feet they will be more sportified. But certainly by 40ish feet many sports crusiers are more crusiy that sporty - the extra weight of flybridge sometimes seems to cost a knot or two on top speed given similar engines. To feel sporty a 50+ footer has to be able to crack 40 knots, tho i don't much need the fuel bills meself...

 

[duncan]

understand - bit of go cart feel I suppose. you may have the performance but it doesn't feel the same!

 

[KCook]

If your "sports boat" means towboat for water sports, then certainly under 30'. Here in the US it's fairly common to see 26' bowriders as towboats for casual skiing. The more serious skiers like to stay down at the 23' length or less.

If your "sports boat" means open speed boat, then there really is no length limit. Of course the larger speed boats typically have a cuddy cabin. At what point that cabin becomes grand enough to be labeled "cruiser" is an open question.

A view from the other side of The Pond,
Kelly Cook