Cruisers Yachts 3580 Used Boat Review

Oconto, Wisconsin, may not be the boatbuilding capitol of the Western hemisphere, but it's not for lack of trying thanks to a slew of new Cruisers Yachts hitting the water recently like the:

Right there in the heart of America, Cruisers is turning out boats with a reliable craftsmanship that is rare these days.

The 2016 Cruisers 60 Cantius is one of this company's latest offerings.

Boats from some companies are obviously thrown together to meet a marketing need, and it's immediately apparent that there was little real thought given to the product. Cruisers, on the other hand, has taken the time to really make the most of each of their boats: they've utilized every possible space for storage and they've provided real value for the money. Let me show you a case in point aboard the Cruisers 3580: the stateroom doors. In an era when many boat builders seem to think that a flimsy piece of plastic called an accordion door is sufficient to provide privacy, the Cruisers 3580 actually has doors. Real, solid, hinged doors. Each stateroom door has a sturdy frame around it, and the door itself seats into a rubber gasket. The result is a satisfying "thunk" when you close the door, and an even more pleasing silence inside the cabin. Many builders would scoff at the notion of having a genuine door, but it's one indication of the way Cruisers builds their boats.

If anything, the 3580 is an exceptionally livable boat, and this is evident in everything from the molded steps to the flybridge (such a pleasant change from near-vertical ladders) to the built-in dinette that is high enough to actually see outside when seated.

The 3580 feels like a much larger boat, and she even looks that way from the outside, with rounded topsides that add room to the interior. The cockpit is large enough for deck chairs (an optional rear bench seat can be ordered) and there's a built-in wet bar in one corner. A hatch into the transom reveals a spacious compartment for stowing deck gear and shore power cords, there are two more large cockpit lockers, and fenders stow in a tidy rack on the transom.

The Cruisers 3580 looks quite different than modern Cruisers Yachts, but was built with the same attitude towards quality construction and smart use of space.

The sliding cabin door is curved, creating a conservatory-like effect in the saloon, which is already bright and airy with flower print upholstery and curtains. To port is the dinette which can convert to a double berth, while the starboard side is left for the owner to furnish with chairs or a sofa. In the middle of the salon carpet is a hatch, which I assumed provided access to the engines until I opened it (it has gas assist lifts) and discovered that it was an immense storage area that would absorb all of the stuff that you want on board, but usually have no place to put. Even better, much of the plumbing and freshwater pumps were here, making for easy access.

Forward and down is the galley to starboard, with plenty of counter space, an oversized stand-up AC/DC Norcold refrigerator/freezer, built-in microwave, and two burner electric cooktop. Once again, Cruisers has provided plenty of storage space, including three deep drawers and several lockers.

Just to port of the galley is a door leading to the unique mid-cabin, which has full headroom, a double berth with good overhead space, a hanging locker and a pair of drawers. The result is a comfortable second cabin that can be given to adults without having to apologize.

Forward, the master stateroom has a queen-sized berth which, although lozenge shaped (and therefore requiring custom sheets) is amply sized and comfortable. Two large drawers are under the berth, and the fully lined hanging locker is spacious.

The enclosed head is also generously sized and all fiberglass for easy maintenance. Our test boat had the VacuFlush head, the lockers were fully lined and large enough to store linens, and the separate stall shower has a seat. One flaw is that the entire head and shower are a single pan with the drain outside of the shower, so that even with the curtain in place, the head floor will get wet and soapy.

On deck, the Cruisers will satisfy even the pickiest yachtsman. Though the side decks aren't overly wide, the welded stainless-steel rail extends almost to the cockpit and there are well-positioned and sturdy hand rails everywhere. Once forward, the single rail becomes a double rail that completely encloses the foredeck for security. An anchor roller is recessed into the extended bow platform, and our test boat had a Lewmar anchor windlass concealed in the bow locker. Be sure to notice the detailed moldwork, including raised pads for the cleats and stanchions.

The flybridge is comfortable, with an L-shaped settee aft and to port, and the skipper has a swivel bucket seat. The dash is a masterpiece of planning, and I applaud Cruisers for grouping the Faria instruments by function, ie: both oil temp gauges are together, both ammeters are together, etc. I don't understand why some builders insist on separating the gauges on opposite sides of the dash, making it hard to scan and compare readings between engines quickly. Even better, Cruisers left a large panel for flush-mounted electronics next to the dash, and there's a smaller panel (perfect for the VHF radio) by the skipper's right hand. Tilt wheel, line-of-sight compass, and even an engine synchronizer are standard.

The hull, deck and liners are cored with end-grain balsa for strength and sound insulation, and vinylester resin below the waterline protects against blisters. Aluminum backing plates are underneath crucial deck gear (cleats, rails stanchions, etc.), solid PVC piping is used for plumbing, and the boat was built with a five-year warranty.

Our test boat had the basic twin Crusader 454 XL EFI V-8s of 320 HP each and, though you can up the ante with 502 XLs (380 HP each), I don't see any need because we had plenty of power. Using V-drives, the engines are located under the cockpit floor where a gas-assist lift boosts the hatch for you. Although a bit tight on space, you can still access the outboard sides of each engine and all the wiring and plumbing is neatly secured.

As you can see from the performance graph, the 3580 is no slouch. Our test weight, with the 300 gallon fuel tank three-quarters full, had to be in the 10 ton (20,000 lb.) range, yet we easily topped out at 34 MPH (nearly 30 knots). That would give you a comfortable cruising speed in the low 20 knot range at a lazy RPM that should insure long engine life.

Underway, the 3580 was responsive and predictable. Shove the throttles forward and she comes up onto plane quickly and effortlessly. Back off the throttles and she hangs onto that fuel-saving plane until the rpms fall into the two grand category. Crank the wheel hard over at speed, and the 3580 bites solidly, losing only a hundred rpms in the process.

See Cruisers Yachts 3580 listings.

Boat Specifications