These Cruisers Models Have Modern Style and Roomy Interiors

If you're not quite ready for retirement, lengthy coastal cruising and the sometimes-boxy cabin cruisers that seem to go hand in hand with this lifestyle, an express or sport cruiser may be just what you are looking for. The challenge of the express cruiser designer and builder is to produce a boat with style and speed without sacrificing too much on accommodations and entertainment spaces. The Cruisers 3570 and 3575 models have accomplished this balancing act better than most.

The Cruisers 3570 was introduced in 1995. Following a redesign of the interior arrangements, the model designation was changed to 3575 in 1996. The latter remained in production through 2004.

Credit for the design goes to Cruisers' in-house design staff, and the style is what is typically referred to as an express or sport cruiser. The genre features a single open steering station, an open cockpit and accommodations below the foredeck forward of the cockpit.

Although these model numbers suggest a boat in the range of 35 feet in overall length, this model measures 39 feet and 3 inches when the swim platform is figured in and 37 feet without the added platform. It's important when calculating the cost of dockage to keep in mind that most marine facilities will consider this a 39-footer rather than a 35-footer, and they will charge accordingly.

The 13-foot maximum beam is quite typical for a modern design of this length, although the section shape of the hull is fuller forward than is typical, allowing for increased interior volume and greater accommodations, albeit at the cost of a somewhat pudgy look. The angle at which the bottom of the boat slopes relative to the plane of the water, or deadrise angle, ranges from about 13 degrees at the transom to slightly more than 21 degrees near the forward end of the waterline. The angle at the transom is typical for this style boat, although the forward angle is slightly flatter than normal. The advantage of the reduced angle forward is two-fold. First, it permits a wider beam at the chine for greater interior volume and accommodations, and second, it provides greater lift and improved speed with less horsepower and fuel consumption. The latter is analogous to the way a flat rock skips across the water with more ease than a round or sharply angled one.

Tunnel-like pockets house the propellers in the after sections of the hull bottom, reducing the shaft angle and increasing propeller efficiency. This configuration has the secondary effect of reducing the vessel's draft as well as the vulnerability of propeller susceptibility to damage.

The hulls and decks of the 3575 are each constructed within one-piece molds using chopped-strand fiberglass, fiberglass mat and woven fiberglass cloth. A balsa-wood core is used between fiberglass laminates in both the hull and deck, and a system of plywood stringers and frames encased in fiberglass mat is used to support the hull structure. A number of separately molded liners and interior components are installed before the deck and hull are joined, in a shoebox fashion, with stainless steel screws into a wood cleat along the deck-to-hull joint.

All deck hardware is stainless steel, attached with stainless steel fasteners and backed with aluminum reinforcing plates to further strengthen highly stressed fittings, such as the mooring cleats.

To help prevent osmotic blistering, vinylester resin is used for the first, outer layer of fiberglass, although subsequent layers are set in general purpose casting resin, which is significantly less expensive than vinylester.

The 3570/3575 features a slightly raised cabin trunk forward of the windshield, with narrow side decks outboard of the cabin. The bow pulpit is an integral part of the deck mold and has a center slot through which the anchor can be raised and stored in an anchor locker aft of the pulpit. Three round opening hatches are located in the cabin top, and a welded stainless steel rail surrounds the entire foredeck.

Access to the foredeck from the cockpit can be challenging if the normal side-deck path approach is taken. The deck along the cockpit is only slightly more than five inches wide, offers no secure hand holds, and the life rail along this path is a mere 12 inches high. It is a route that should not be attempted by anyone other than sure-footed crewmembers – and shouldn't be attempted when the boat is underway. There is a second, somewhat awkward path through a center opening in the windshield, but the easiest and safest passage to the foredeck is through the forward deck hatch.

The cockpit is nicely designed, with a raised bridge deck forward to starboard and a 10-foot by 6-foot lower cockpit with an L-shaped settee in the port stern. The bridge deck is particularly well laid out, offers excellent visibility from the helm and can comfortably seat four adults. There is a small wet bar aft of the helm seat and a table that can be fit at the lower cockpit settee.

I find cockpit tables are not very practical while underway. They take up too much room, are not well supported, and they break easily if a crewmember is accidentally thrown into one while underway. However, they do come in handy when entertaining dockside or at anchor.

A transom gate at the starboard stern opens on to a 20-inch-deep swim platform that is integral to the hull. In addition, most post-1985 models are equipped with an additional 27-inch-deep fiberglass swim platform that spans the width of the transom. The result is a huge deck area, roughly 35 square feet, with a stowable swim ladder for easy boarding from the water.

As mentioned earlier, the 3570 model differs from the 3575 model of subsequent years only with the interior arrangement. The arrangement of the 3570 model, although unique, is not particularly practical for entertaining or accommodating guests below. This arrangement features a port-side entrance, a tiny port-side galley and a large, circular dinette forward where the V-berth would normally be. The head is to starboard opposite the galley, and there is a large owner's stateroom to starboard aft. The stateroom features standing headroom and a walk-around queen sized berth, which provides a very nice owner's cabin at the expense of other accommodations.

The interior of the 3575 model seems to reflect a complete reversal of thinking on the part of Cruisers' designers in that it offers a wide-open interior with no bulkhead partitions separating cabin spaces, except for the head. With the exception of the space taken up by furniture and joiner work, the open area of the main salon measures nearly 10 feet wide by 12 feet long, making it one of the most spacious salons on a boat of this style and size.

The layout features a diagonal double berth forward, followed by a head and shower to port and a hanging locker to starboard. In the main salon, a galley to port features a two-burner, countertop stove, a microwave oven and front-loading refrigerator/freezer. Sure to be appreciated is the fact that the refrigerator/freezer is above the counter, at eye level, rather than its normal location below the counter – all of which means you won't have to crawl on your hands and knees to locate that bottle of mustard at the back of the bottom shelf.

Opposite the galley is an asymmetrical dinette that seats three comfortably and four in a pinch. A large couch is positioned across the aft bulkhead, and both the dinette and the couch convert to berths if needed.

The only drawback to this spacious, wide-open interior is the lack of a truly private owner's cabin, although a draw curtain separates the forward berth from the main salon. A privacy bulkhead and door were offered as an option in lieu of the draw curtain, a configuration you may come across in some used models.

The original standard engine installations are either twin, seawater-cooled 310-horsepower Mercury or 320-horsepower Crusader Marine engines with optional gasoline engines available at up to 405 horsepower each. Original diesel-engine options from Caterpillar or Volvo Penta range from 300 to 370 horsepower. All are installed with V-drive gears.

Engines are positioned below the cockpit deck. In order to maximize accommodations, engine space is tight, so servicing machinery can be difficult. The drip-free shaft-packing glands and connection of the shafts to the drive gear are difficult to reach but should not be overlooked for routine maintenance.

With standard engines and normal loads, expect cruising speeds of between 20 and 23 mph at 3200 rpm and a top speed of about 30 mph at 4200 rpm. With larger gas and diesel engines, performance is likely to improve by 10 to 15 percent.

The Cruisers 3570/3575, which has hydraulically operated trim tabs as standard equipment, is quick to plane and responds well to the helm at all speeds. Due to the previously mentioned shallow deadrise forward, the ride tends to be a little rough in large waves and choppy seas. Going fast in rough seas is a service I don't believe the designers of the Cruisers 3570/3575 intended, and when these conditions exist, it is best to slow down rather than risk damage.

Although only in production for six years, this was a popular model, and there are plenty of current offerings on the used-boat market. I quite easily found five 3570 models from 1995 and 12 offerings of the 3575 model ranging from 1997 through 2004. Only one of the listings was diesel-powered.

I did note one interesting, although unexplained, trend regarding the pricing of offerings. All five of the 3570 models were priced well within the range of the published BUC values, while all 3575 models were offered at prices from 10 to 35 percent over the highest published BUC values.

Both of these Cruisers models were originally equipped with a long list of standard features, including reverse-cycle heat and air conditioning, microwave oven, built-in television, engine synchronizer and battery charger. Even though an auxiliary generator was an option, I have seen few without it, so when considering price, this equipment is expected and adds no significant value to a used model. In a less-than-robust economy, and with seemingly plenty of product to choose from, I would expect room for negotiation if owners realistically expect to sell these newer boats.

Cruisers Yachts are well engineered, well equipped with standard features and generally considered to be a reasonable value even though the selling prices of used, as well as new, models are typically 25 percent or more higher than similar boats offered by low-price leaders in this market.

The quality of construction and the details of finish are comparable to other mid-priced models of similar size, and while they may not compare to a Mercedes or Lexus, I think a Buick would be a fair comparison. Both the 3570 and 3575 models offer attractive modern styling as well as comfortable accommodations for four people, and they can make do for six. If your plans call for overnight cruising and you value privacy, look for an older 3570 model or the 3575 model with the optional forward stateroom; otherwise any model should be a good choice for on-the-water fun.

Jack Hornor, NA is the principal surveyor and senior designer for the Annapolis-based Marine Survey & Design Co. Hornor writes for BoatU.S. Magazine and other marine publications.

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