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The Cruise Craft Outsider 685 is a large bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Cruise Craft of Australia, a builder trading since 1946. On our measurements it works out at roughly 22 ft 6 in (6.85 m) of hull with a beam near 9 ft 7 in (2.93 m), which places it squarely in the trailerable family bowrider class: one vehicle, one trailer, one afternoon of prep, and the boat is in the water. Family-owned Brisbane builder producing some of Australia's finest fibreglass hulls.
Layout is classic bowrider and that is the whole point of the boat. Twin lounges run forward of the windscreen with a walk-through to the anchor well, the helm and companion seats sit amidships behind a wrap screen, and a full-width lounge spans the transom for sunbathing and socialising. Around 11 people fit aboard comfortably in sheltered water. Cushions lift out, backrests fold and filler pads convert the cockpit from a conversation pit into one long sun bed in a couple of minutes.
The ride is what most owners talk about first. Deadrise through the forward sections knocks the top off bay chop, the running surface aft keeps the boat stable at rest, and the hull sits level when six people crowd one side to watch a skier. At cruise it feels like a bigger boat than it is.
Power is a 185-280 hp four-stroke outboard package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. Keeping the machinery outside the hull frees up stern storage, simplifies servicing and removes the bellows and gimbal wear items that punish neglected stern drive boats. It also lifts the swim platform clear of the exhaust.
Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Cruise Craft owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A healthy outboard package pulls a slalom skier out of the water cleanly and tows children on an inflatable biscuit all day without protest. Skis, ropes and vests live in the under-floor and under-seat lockers so nothing sits underfoot while the boat is loaded.
Anglers do well out of the Outsider 685. The bow converts to a casting deck once the cushions are stowed, there is room to swing a rod without hitting the screen, and lockers swallow tackle, nets and a cooler. It is not a dedicated fishing boat, but it catches fish and it still takes the family out the next morning — which is the entire argument for owning a bowrider.
Build and finish sit where you would expect for a luxury boat from Australia. Cruise Craft has been family owned and built in Brisbane since 1946, and it operates at the very top of the Australian fibreglass trailer boat market. Production volumes are deliberately low and the finish standard is exceptional — hand-laid laminates, immaculate gel coat, quality stainless, upholstered lockers and joinery closer to a luxury cruiser than a trailer boat. The Explorer and Outsider ranges include bowrider and sports layouts alongside the better-known offshore fishing models, and all of them share Cruise Craft's deep-V hull philosophy: fine entry, high deadrise, substantial weight for the length and a ride that owners describe as the softest available in Australia. That weight means you want a proper tow vehicle, but it pays back every time the wind gets up. Prices are among the highest in the local market, yet resale is outstanding and there is a genuine waiting list for popular models. For lifetime ownership, Cruise Craft is a serious proposition.
Options worth having on the Outsider 685 are the practical ones: a bimini for shade, a decent bow and cockpit cover so the upholstery survives being stored outside, an upgraded sounder if you fish, and a stereo package that can be heard over the engine. On fibreglass, a ceramic coat or a good polish once a season keeps the gelcoat looking new and protects resale.
As a used buy, check the same things you would on any bowrider in this size band: transom firmness, stringer and floor soundness, hours and service history on the engine, steering and trim function, and the state of the upholstery seams, which are the first thing to fail on a boat that lives uncovered. Boats from this builder hold their money well, so a tidy example will not be cheap, and that is usually a sign you are buying the right one.
Our price guide for the Outsider 685 is US$98,000 - US$129,000 new, which moves with engine choice, trailer, tower and how recently the boat was refreshed. Judged as a whole, it does what people buy a bowrider for: cruise, tow, swim, fish and entertain in one boat, without asking the family to compromise on any of them. Cruise Craft has been refining that formula since 1946, and the Outsider 685 is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.
The world's best selling bowrider size, Light, simple and easy to tow.
US$38,000 - US$52,000 new
The refined mainstream benchmark: quiet, dry, and beautifully finished for the money.
US$72,000 - US$95,000 new
A premium 25-foot bowrider renowned for its deep seating, convertible lounges, refined ride and exceptional finish.
US$155,000 - US$210,000 new
Featured Boat of the Week
This week we are putting the Bayliner Bayliner DX2000 in the spotlight, and it earns the spot. At 20 ft 2 in (6.16 m) long on a 8 ft (2.44 m) beam, this is a bowrider that reads the water well and still feels roomy enough for a full day out. A 20-foot deck-boat-width bowrider with outboard power and a huge social cockpit. Power comes from 115-150 hp mercury fourstroke outboard through a outboard package, and the fibreglass hull keeps the ride settled when the afternoon breeze puts a chop on the surface.
Seating is rated for 8 people, so there is space for family, friends, towels, eskies and the tow rope without anyone climbing over gear. Owners tend to buy it for family, water ski, leisure — which is exactly where it shines. Fuel is 30 us gal (114 l), and on the second-hand and new market you should expect to land somewhere around US$42,000 - US$58,000 new depending on hours, trailer and options.
Our full deep dive covers the layout in detail: bow lounge comfort, helm ergonomics, the rear entertaining area, storage that actually swallows a weekend, plus standard features, popular options and honest notes on where the boat compromises. If the Bayliner DX2000 is on your shortlist, start there — and check back next week, because the featured boat changes every week as we complete more full model reviews.
Featured Bowrider Article
Boat Stories
Few boats explain the appeal of the bowrider as clearly as the Bayliner 185. It brought a proper fibreglass family runabout within reach of first-time owners, then wrapped cruising, swimming, fishing and tow sports into one garage-friendly package. This is the story of the 185, its Flight Series variations and the practical formula that made the model a familiar sight at ramps around the world. The Bayliner 185 is Widely Regarded as one of the World’s Highest Selling Bowriders across North America, Australia, New Zealand and Europe. World’s Best-selling fibreglass Boat for a Decade, while reviews described the 185 as a boat pitched at the boating masses. The fairest reading is that the 185 Bowrider carried Bayliner’s Global Sales Volume story. At about 18 ft 6 in (5.64 m) long and roughly 7 ft 5 in (2.26 m) across the beam in a representative specification, the 185 is large enough to feel like a substantial boat without becoming a transport project. There is room for bow lounges, two forward cockpit seats and a rear bench, yet the driver can still see every corner when approaching a jetty. At the ramp, one person can control the hull with a bow line and push it away…
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