Cruisers Yachts 60 Fly

By Andy Adams

The new Cruisers Yachts 60 Fly is their 60-foot flagship model with a handsome and highly functional flying bridge with accommodations for up to 10 passengers.
CREDIT: Cruisers Yachts

Canadian Yachting magazine readers will certainly be familiar with the Cruisers Yachts line of boats because we have had the good fortune of doing a review on almost all of their recent models, most particularly their Cantius line of coupe express cruisers.

Now, the company has crowned their 60-foot flagship model with a handsome and highly functional flying bridge that maintains all the great features of the 60 Cantius express but adds a flying bridge with accommodations for up to 10 passengers.

It’s a very interesting market development to see such emphasis on a flying bridge boat after all the recent excitement around express models. The great virtue of the best designed express boats from all the different manufacturers, is to create a living space that keeps everyone together on one deck level. It can be a real party atmosphere to spend the day on board and being together with family and friends is a huge social driver in today’s world.

If we were talking about a smaller boat, putting the captain up on a flying bridge while many of the passengers remain below, would not be a popular move but this is not a small boat! Were talking about the flagship in the Cruisers Yachts line and at 60 feet, the flying bridge is an amazing gathering area when the weather is right.

The new flying bridge on the 60 Fly adds a whole other area for entertaining, shaded by the hardtop.
CREDIT: Cruisers Yachts

The weather is not always right. In fact, while we were doing our test drive, an unexpectedly powerful summer storm ripped through the area. We could see that it was overcast before we set out and the forecast was calling for winds and rain, but nothing like what we got. We had been on the flying bridge, very much enjoying the ride while we watched the storm gathering in the distance

Of course, the sensible thing is to head back toward shore and we were in a fairly sheltered area to begin with, but the storm raced in, caught up with us and as that became imminent, we stopped the boat, transferred the control to the lower helm station and calmly carried our things down to the saloon.

The wide angle dramatizes the bridge in this shot but the point is that the captain is in the middle of the grand lounge seating and gets the very best view!
CREDIT: Cruisers Yachts

From there, the morning sky grew so dark that we put on all of the interior lights, had both of the enormous windshield wipers running full speed and we still couldn’t see, we were running cautiously with the radar as we headed for the shelter of our slip that the resort.

The winds were so high that we couldn’t possibly have safely docked in the confined location available to us, but we simply stopped a safe distance from the break wall and used the Volvo Penta joystick docking system on the IPS to keep us headed into the wind and safely away from the shore. Ten minutes later the storm had passed through, everything was fine and we couldn’t have hoped for a better demonstration of the value of both the joystick docking system and of having a fully enclosed lower helm with two big multifunction displays, radar and the radio near at hand.

We were certainly enjoying the best of both worlds. We reviewed the 60 Cantiusin the February 2016 edition of Canadian Yachting and since that review is available online, we won’t cover too much of the basic features because the 60 fly is substantially the same boat but with the addition of the flying bridge.

The teak trimmed steps leading up to the flying bridge have well-placed rails and handholds for safety. Notice the overhead rail on the bridge overhang too.
CREDIT: Cruisers Yachts

Main Deck

In the 60 Fly, the cockpit, galley, saloon and helm are all on one level and that puts the emphasis on entertaining. The galley is located on the port side right at the aft glass bulkhead. A huge pane of glass lowers electrically to open the whole saloon up to the cockpit. A pair of breakfast stools arelocated just outside the bulkhead giving you a delightful way to enjoy breakfast in the fresh air while the chef has plenty of space to move around in the U-shaped galley.

It’s very well equipped with two drawer type refrigerators for a greater expanse of countertop and food prep area. The large stainless steel sinks and stovetop elements have covers, there’s a microwave and a dishwasher is also available.

For sure the nicest feature is to have so much glass area and daylight, emphasized by the crisp white composite countertops. Gorgeous cabinetry has a modern clean lined look. There are four overhead lockers, a large space under the sinks including a trash locker, three drawers including a fitted cutlery drawer, a bin for pots and pans under the microwave and still more storage space in the corner.

Opposite is another large counter area for serving where a second pair of fridge / freezer drawers and the optional drawer dishwasher can be installed. Feeding the gang is a pleasure!

The dinette is on this level on the port side with wraparound seating, elegant high / low table and great views all around. A large flat screen television on a lift is on the starboard side and there is an impressive audio system. Touch screen technology on the monitors easily control both navigation and digital switching. Electrical systems can also be controlled and monitored by iPad, iPhone and even remotely.

Other technical advancements on board include Bluetooth controlled stereos, Polk audio and three sound bars throughout. Head units are standard in the upper salon and master stateroom and are optional for the foredeck and secondary stateroom. All music and movies are streamed digitally; there are no CD or DVD players on board.

Also on the starboard side is a large three seat couch making up your comfortable living room on the water.

Just ahead of that is the lower helm which is equipped with a pair of Stidd seats, two large Raymarine multifunction displays and a full set of controls in duplicate to the flying bridge helm. More on that in a moment.

Accommodations deck

Heading downstairs, you enter the lower foyer which can be converted into a third stateroom if you wish. It’s a large space and is brightly lit with full beam windows on each side. As a foyer, a pair of recliner seats and optional 50 inch television provide another comfortable place for guests, but in our test boat, there was a very useful cabin with a pair of single births, hanging locker and a storage area which revealed the washer dryer – very handy when cruising!

Also in the foyer area is a portside counter and which accommodates an available wine refrigerator.

Master stateroom

The luxurious accommodations peak in the full beam midship master stateroom which features a king size bed. There’s a large hanging locker on the port side and abundant clothes drawers for extended cruising. On the starboard side, the master stateroom features a wonderful breakfast café with seating for two and there is an available built-in coffee maker and refrigerator so you can get your day started in privacy.

The very large hull side windows bring in lots of daylight and the master had features dual sinks with designer faucets and a large walk-in shower with a waterfall or sprayer option. It’s just like being at home.

VIP stateroom

There is also a VIP stateroom forward that includes a queen sized bed, more great hull side glazing and elegant window treatments. This also has a private entrance to the day head.

Above decks

The foredeck is an ideal space for sunning, lounging or entertaining and it’s accessed from the stairs in the cockpit which lead up port and starboard sidewalks both of which have gates in the railing to allow side entry from higher piers. There is seating with cup holders at the brow of the foredeck and two sun lounges, again with cupholders, a cooler and a cocktail table! An optional Bimini awning can provide shade when you are moored.

At the Stern, the swim platform can be raised with a hydraulic lift to carry a PWC or your tender and there are optional crews quarters that can be installed in this area. Of course, it’s only a few steps up to the cockpit level with spacious U-shaped seating, high / low table andshade under the flying bridge overhang.

To starboard is the staircase leading to the flying bridge and this has a hatch over the companionway. The elegant floating stairs and well-placed handrails make it easy to get up and down and once you’re up, it’s a whole other world!

Lots to see in this shot: the Kenyon electric grill, refrigerator and freezer or ice maker, audio system controls…the flying bridge is almost a self-contained party space.
CREDIT: Cruisers Yachts

Flying bridge

The very attractive bridge design features a center-mounted helm with seating all around. Ahead of the helm console is a forward facing sun lounge seat behind a venture-type windscreen in the substantial stainless steel rails surrounding the bridge. Port and starboard sun lounges mounted a little further aft make it easy to carry on a conversation with the captain. The double-wide helm seat is a wonderful feature too.

Looking forward from the starboard side you can see the couch, thespacious galley, big dinette, and bright open spaces that make the 60 Fly so comfortable.
CREDIT:Cruisers Yachts

The bridge includes plenty of storage and the elegant hardtop shelters the captain as well as the large U-shaped couch on the aft edge. With lots of overhead lighting, speakers and a table this is large enough to host a dinner party.

In the cabinet behind the helm seat, Cruisers offers another refrigerator as well as the barbecue grill, making this a perfect place for an outdoor dinner or just to serve drinks while you are underway.

On the water performance

One of the best things about the 60 Fly is the performance. Twin Volvo Penta IPS 950 engines producing 725 hp each deliver a surprising turn of speed. Even with three or four people on board and a full load of fuel, the 60 Fly planes off in only 16 seconds and in 32 seconds, reaches maximum RPM doing well over 38 mph!And, it will hold the plane down to about 22 mph, but it’s happiest cruising speed is in the 28 mph range at 2,100 or 2,200 RPM.

The handling is very responsive given the size of this yacht. Our “as tested” weight was almost 60,000 pounds (so you won’t be surprised that the ride was smooth and comfortable) but the boat responds quickly to the helm for minor course corrections and you can really throw it into a tight turn.

For some passengers, being on a flying bridge, well up above the water, you want to know that rolling or pitching will not cause discomfort.

One last excellent feature is that Cruisers has elected to fit a Seakeeper gyro system as standard equipment and with the Seakeeper running either at anchor or underway, there is a noticeable improvement in comfort. In tests on the express version of this yacht, they recorded a 92% roll reduction when moored against beam seas.

The new Cruisers Yachts 60 Fly is certainly all about comfort and although the 60 Cantius model is very handsome and spacious, the substantial increase in living area offered by the flying bridge, plus the pleasure of driving or riding from this higher position, provides Cruisers Yachts buyers two great options but a difficult choice!

This is looking aft from the dashboard to show the helm seats and location of the lower helm controls.
CREDIT:Cruisers Yachts

Specifications

Engines:
Twin Volvo Penta IPS 950 with joystick docking control, D11 diesel engines at 725 hp each.

Length Overall: 59′ 10″ / 18.24 m
Beam: 16′ / 4.9 m
Cabin Headroom: 6′ 6″ / 1.98 m
Headroom at Helm: 6′ 8″ / 2.03 m
Draft: 4′ 4″ / 1.32 m
Fuel Capacity: 647 gal / 2449.16 L
Waste Capacity:100 gal / 379 L
Water System Capacity: 149 gal / 564 L
Weight, Approximate: 56,700 lbs / 25,719 kg