Cruisers Yachts - Our Boat U.S

Boat/US Magazine, Nov, 2002 by Scott Croft

www.cruisersyachts.com

With winds gusting past 20 knots, the fleet of seven Cruisers Yachts huddled safely in the lee of the break wall at Tilghman-on-Chesapeake on Maryland's Eastern Shore. While the September wind was strumming the rigging of nearby sailboats, a group of owners gathered, as they do twice a month, for a "Cruz Club" rendezvous to share stories, learn a little and laugh a lot.

Cruisers owners run the gamut, from the well-to-do to those just making the payments. But a large segment are empty-nesters who have found a solution to the fixed vacation home predicament--a boat with scenery that is everchanging.

For BoatU.S. members and retired bankers Angela and Brian Middleton, it was a prophetic lunch at a North Carolina marina that brought these first-time boat owners to the Cruisers family. They were prospecting seafront vacation home sites and as they looked out over the developer's marina filled with boats they knew that if they just purchased land, they were going to be bored.

The Middleton's extensive research led them to a choice between a Sea Ray or Cruisers, but it was the test drive that sold them. "The moment we took out the Cruisers, we found the ride so much better," said Angela.

"She ran solid," said Brian. "She's heavy but planes at low speed. For new boaters, that's good when there's weather."

In many ways, Angela did end up getting her vacation home. "I like my little 'back porch,' the 'bath' with a separate shower, and a big dining table," she says. Brian said that although their 34-footer is small for a Cruisers, "it has features found on more expensive boats, such as precise tank gauges that don't leave you guessing."

Jim and Barbara Gregory bought their second Cruisers, Solitude, a three-year-old 4270 just weeks before for "its value for the dollar, performance and durability," said Jim.

"We narrowed it down to Cruisers and another brand," said Barbara, but she was turned off by a dealer who treated her and her mother poorly. "We were ignored," she said. "Solitude is our escape, we use it to get away--it's all about having fun."

The Gregorys, also BoatU.S. members, previously owned a 22-foot bow rider, "but we didn't want to get pounded anymore in rough waters," she added.

Unlike themselves, Brian Middleton thinks that as a group, Cruisers owners seem to be more experienced. "But the owners still think younger, like us. They want the latest equipment, innovations and style--we aren't interested in the 'old salt' kind of boat."

For patent attorney Brad Olsen and his wife, emergency room nurse Marti Olsen, it was value and large interior space that led them to their second Cruisers, Nostromo, a 3275.

"It had a high degree of workmanship that we found we could afford," said Brad.

With stressful careers, these BoatU.S. members started boating just two years ago looking to unwind on a 2001 Cruisers 28-footer--the smallest in the line that ranges to 54 feet. The couple took boating safety classes having "no idea what we were getting into. And we've had our share of Captain Crunch awards," said Marti, as they each gave each other a knowing smile.

"Cruisers owners are affluent, but they don't talk about money. But we drink out of the glass, not a bottle," Brad said, as several nearby owners sipped beer from a can. "A Cruisers is not the type of boat you'd raise hell with. We enjoy ourselves in moderation and are very safety conscious."

For the Olsens, Nostromo is a true partnership, with Marti handling the difficult piloting jobs such as docking. "It's because Brad is much better at fending us off pilings," she says with an earnest laugh.

Marti likes the Cruz Club events because "It's sort of like a reunion every two weeks. We like meeting people with varied backgrounds, learning and sharing the boating experience, and the entertainment. At the raft-ups, everyone 'boulevards' down the swim platforms between boats to talk and socialize."

Cruz Club Rendezvous weekends are assembled by Warehouse Creek Yacht Sales, an East Coast dealer of these Wisconsin-built sport cruisers. For more information, visit the club's web site at www.wcys.com/cruzclub.> Are you a member of an owner's group who would like to share your reasons for owning a particular boat? Let us know by sending an e-mail to scroft@BoatUS.com.