Captain's Report by Capt. John--

Mission Statement for the 258 Bow Rider

The mission of the new Cruisers Sport Series 258 is to be a large bowrider geared toward spending the day on the water with a lot of passengers. She's designed and equipped to be ready for cruising, watersports, entertaining, or just anchoring off a remote beach. Because she is built by a company heretofore specializing in big boats (Cruisers Yachts and Rampage Sport Fishing Yachts), the builder is taking a more up-market approach to its sportboat line.



Subtle details add appeal to the exciting look.

Distinguishing Features

• Full wraparound U-shaped seating in the cockpit. This is unusual, for a boat in this class usually features a straight bench seat or an L-shaped seat. In this case the seats wraparound completely from the observers bucket seat to the captains bucket seat, both of which swivel around to join the crowd.





The interior layout offers plenty of opposing seating for intimate conversation as well as easy access to the stern for watersports.

• Side mounted, 4-step re-boarding ladder. Mounting a reboarding ladder off to one side of the swim platform serves dual purposes. It keeps swimmers away from the sharp edges of the outdrive, and it keeps the ladder in line of sight to the helm.



Side-mounted boarding is visible from the helm seat for safety.

• Stepped hull. While we've seen this feature in some bowriders, most do not have it. By adding a step to the hull, air is drawn underneath the bottom to reduce the surface friction of the water making the boat more slippery, and therefore faster and more fuel-efficient.

• 22-degree deadrise. Most sportboats in class have from 19 to 20-degrees of deadrise at the transom. At 22-degrees deadrise the 258 Bow Rider is clearly ready to handle rough conditions or a steep chop and keep her guests more comfortable.

• Horizontal hull contour lines. The 258 Bow Rider has horizontal contours molded into its topsides. Because these contours catch light, they look like horizontal lines in the hull sides. As a result the boat appears lower than it really is. It is a clever optical illusion that boat builders have used for years in the cove stripe of sailboats.

• Higher Freeboard. Her freeboard is somewhat higher than some other boats in class, signaling that that while she will be fine in small lakes, she is ready for big water as well, and will be better able to keep her occupants dry.



• Swim platform extends beyond the lower unit. Some builders do this but a surprising number -- and surprising brands -- do not. On the 258 Bow Rider with the lower unit down swimmers can slide off the swim platform into the water and not worry about cutting a foot on the lower unit.



Swim platform shape helps maneuverability when leaving the dock.

• Self-draining cockpit. The 258 Bow Rider’s cockpit drains overboard, not into the bilge as is the case on many sportboats. This is important because it means the 258 can be left uncovered in the rain and the owner does not have to worry about a bilge pump draining a battery.

• Dual bilge pumps. I've actually seen bowriders in this class with a simple 750 gph bilge pump in the engine compartment and no float switch. This boat not only has an 1100 gph bilge pump with float switch in the engine compartment, but also a 750 gph bilge pump located amidships.

• Small boat built by a big-boat company. With a couple of exceptions most sportboats are built by companies specializing in small boats. The Cruisers Sport Series stands out as one of the few made by a big-boat company.

Features Walk-Through

Externally

As noted above, the 258 has a relatively high freeboard that gives her an added measure of safety in rough water, particularly with children abroad. The contour lines in her hull, along with the two-tone gel work break up that height and give her a sleek and curving profile. Her wraparound windows carry far back into the cockpit which helps keep occupants dry.

Unusual standard features. There are several items that standout on her standard features list that are clearly more commonplace on other manufacturers' options lists. These are items such as a bow and cockpit cover, a Bimini top with boot and trailer struts, a stainless steel bow scuff plate, hull mounted halogen docking lights, automatic engine room fire suppression system, and a 4-step reboarding ladder in both the bow and stern. In fact the only external options available are a full canvas, full hull colored gel coat and trim tabs.





Moving inside the 258 cockpit, the layout features wraparound seating that runs from bucket seat to bucket seat. The aft seat converts into a 3-position sunpad. The pedestal bucket seats both have flip up bolsters and are mounted on a pedestal with a suspension system to absorb bumps. Most important, there is an option for adjustable height bucket seats.

Naturally there are storage compartments under the seats. A modest sink is over to the port side just ahead of the observer seat and makes a convenient feature for cleaning hands and rinsing off small items.

The entire cockpit is also made to last as it is entirely fiberglass lined which not only prevents dry rot, but there are no opposing edges to rub against each other while underway. All seat bases are made from composite material for longevity as well.







The aft seat converts to a 3-position sunpad and note that it is double wide. And not to worry… the vinyl is treated with a stain inhibitor so if her bathing suit gets wet it won't be a problem.

To the port side is a changing room, and a Porta-Potti is optional. An opening portlight provides ventilation.



A portside changing room can be converted to a head with the addition of an optional Porta-Potti.

Interior options. Most of the options on the 258 have to do with the interior of the cockpit. I've never been a fan of bow filler cushions but if you find a need for yet another sunning area then two filler cushions are available for the bow. I would definitely add the bow mounted dinette table to my list of "must haves". A bow shower is optional to rinse off sandy feet. (A shower on the stern is standard.)



How’s this for safety? Notice that caprail comes well above her shoulders and a contoured armrest provides comfort. The stainless grab handles are standard.

Options we like. Some of the more popular options have been packaged together in what the builder calls its Premium Value Package. It includes snap-in carpet, flip-up armrests, the adjustable height pedestal seat to starboard, a bow windscreen door, the bow dinette table, and a transom tilt switch.

And lastly, for owners wanting to use the boat-for-towing the optional wake board tower with racks, which include a Bimini top, should be considered. Additionally, you can add wake board tower speakers.

Performance

Our test boat was powered by a single 5.7 liter, 300-hp Volvo Penta inboard/outboard V-8. Set up for testing, we weighed in at about 5,730 pounds (2,599 kg), with personnel, gear and about 25 gallons of fuel on board. We were out of the hole in 4.3 seconds, and reached 30 mph in 8.3 seconds. At 4,800 rpm our WOT speed averaged 46.7 mph. The most economical performance was at 3000 rpm, where the 258 will deliver 26.7 miles per hour over a distance of 191 miles. For more speed, try 33.5 mph at 3500 rpm and give up just 7 miles on a tank of fuel, with a 10% reserve.



The Volvo Penta 300-hp, V-8 is the standard engine package.

Handling

The 258 Bow Rider delivered loads of fun on the test ride. She accelerated smoothly, visibility coming out of the hole was fine, and her deep-V soothed out the chop as the breeze piped-up. Steering was solid, and when I put the wheel hard over at speed, I never had to fight for control. The 258 responds like a smaller boat, yet she delivers the kind of comfort and feel worthy of a bigger boat. This boat and motor combination was just put together by the factory team, so my ride was also their first test as well. She brought grins from the factory team right away, and I got the impression that a little more tweaking might serve to enhance the already lively performance.

Observations

KCS is one of the preeminent builders of large boats in the U.S. (Cruisers Yachts and Rampage Sport Fishing Yachts) and its attention to detail, use of quality materials, and emphasis on safety are evident throughout the 258 Bow Rider. I think that means that the Cruisers Sport Series lineup will be built to higher standards with better materials. If that proves to be the case consumers will have a very compelling option in a crowded field, because its pricing is competitive.

• Top speed for the Cruisers Sport Series 258 Bow Rider (2013-) is 46.7 mph (75.2 kph), burning 21.10 gallons per hour (gph) or 79.86 liters per hour (lph).


• Best cruise for the Cruisers Sport Series 258 Bow Rider (2013-) is 26.7 mph (43 kph), and the boat gets 3.12 miles per gallon (mpg) or 1.33 kilometers per liter (kpl), giving the boat a cruising range of 191 miles (307.38 kilometers).


• Tested power is 1 x 300-hp Volvo Penta 5.7 GiC.