Whittley Marine CR 2000

The Whittley Marine CR 2000 is a mid-size bowrider built in moulded fibreglass by Whittley Marine of Australia, a builder trading since 1953. On our measurements it works out at roughly 20 ft 0 in (6.10 m) of hull with a beam near 8 ft 7 in (2.62 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. Australia's longest-running family boat builder, with genuinely versatile bowriders.

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 10 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.

Underway the CR 2000 behaves the way a well-sorted mid-size bowrider should. It comes onto the plane early, holds a low tow speed without wallowing and tracks flat through a hard turn instead of skating out. In short chop you slow down and let the hull do the work, and it stays surprisingly dry for the size.

Power is a 145-220 hp petrol stern drive package, and that suits both the hull and the way these boats are used. A stern drive keeps the transom clean and the engine low in the hull, which lowers the centre of gravity and gives that quiet, torquey feel off the mark that skiers appreciate.

Watersports are well covered. A tow point is standard on almost every boat in this class, and Whittley Marine owners regularly add a pylon or a folding tower for wakeboarding. A healthy stern drive 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.

Fishing is the quiet strength of this hull. Pull the bow cushions and the forward lounge becomes an open casting platform with clear access all the way around the bow, and the rear lounge lifts out to open up the transom and side gunwales. Ten minutes of work turns the family boat into a genuinely capable fishing boat, and ten minutes the other way turns it back again before anyone gets home.

Build and finish sit where you would expect for a premium boat from Australia. Whittley has been building boats in Melbourne since 1953 and is one of the few Australian brands producing both fibreglass and aluminium family boats. The CR and SL ranges include proper bowriders and the clever Sea Legend and Cruzer models that blur the line between bowrider, cuddy cabin and weekender. What Whittley does better than almost anyone is packaging: the boats are designed around Australian family boating, so there is shade, there is dry storage for a weekend's gear, there are proper handrails and there is usually a portable toilet locker and a small galley option even in trailerable sizes. Hulls are moderate deep-V designs tuned for bay and coastal use, comfortable in chop and stable at rest for swimming and fishing. Fit-out quality is high with tidy joinery and durable upholstery, and the boats are sold as complete packages with trailer and electronics. Whittley's long history means strong local parts support and dependable resale across Australia.

Options worth having on the CR 2000 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 CR 2000 is US$59,000 - US$78,000 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. Whittley Marine has been refining that formula since 1953, and the CR 2000 is a straightforward, well-judged expression of it.