Cruisers 57 FLY

The new Cruisers 57 FLY awaited me at the MarineMax service center in Miami, Florida.

The morning was, so far, sunny with an obvious and persistent breeze. Docked stern to, and noticeably within a tight fit of the finger docks to either side, the first thing I observed was how well-proportioned she looked. From bridge deck to main deck to swim platform aft, her exterior lines were clean, balanced and easy on the eye — one of many things Cruisers has been noted for since it began its boat building back in 1953.

Entertainment spaces

It was quite easy to set foot on her teak decks from either side of the dock and step inside. The cockpit offers plentiful seating aft courtesy of a C-shape arrangement around a large dining table. With its proximity to the galley, this area presents the kind of alfresco dining opportunities limited only by your imagination. In addition, there is a large deck hatch for access to the engine room, an IPS joystick to port for easy docking and an additional boarding door to starboard. The large overhead provides shade for the entire area.

Boarding from the aft end via the massive veranda whose mid-section hydraulically lowers into the water and is chocked for a tender or PWC, there is a wide stairway to starboard for easy and safe access to the cockpit. In addition, there is access to a head/crew quarters to port, which provides a space for watersports participants to dry off before entering the main deck, and an electrically operated fold-away lounge, sure to be a hit with family and friends.

The starboard door locks in the open position, and with the bi-fold door also open, the cockpit and interior are one. As I began to step inside, I couldn’t help but notice the large, hinged window just off to port separating the galley from the cockpit.

“That design helped us to bring both the outside and interior of the boat together,” says Matt VanGrunsven, director of marketing for Cruisers Yachts, as he effortlessly lifted the window and locked it in place.

But there was much more to see here, and this would become the unifying theme for my time aboard the Cruisers 57 FLY.

After sliding the large portside galley window open, we stepped outside and easily deployed a section of the hull with the push of a button. The unfolding veranda with a safety guardrail transforms the area while at anchor into an informal outdoor dining space with service from the galley. A pair of bar stools, locked into place and stored in the engine room when not in use, provides the seating. The extended veranda can also do double duty during watersports.

Stepping into the galley reveals a well-planned-out space with wide countertops, full appliances, including a pair of refrigerators, freezer and stovetop, and like everywhere aboard, abundant storage. This is the kind of area capable of fulfilling your needs from serving anything from a snack to a formal sit-down dinner.

Supplying comfortable and exciting entertainment spaces aboard the 57 FLY was paramount in its design, and to that end, the bow area joins the rest of the yacht in its offerings. Accessed by either side via wide walkways, and surrounded by robust stainless rails, the bow presents an oversized sun lounge capable of transforming the area into a seating space with opposing lounges and tables for dining opportunities. An optional bow shade is available. The windlass and full chain are in the anchor locker.

Saving the best for last, the flybridge, accessed from the starboard side of the cockpit and up a wide staircase, is an impressive space featuring a substantial hardtop, seating for 12 at a U-shape settee, a hi/low table, another three-person seating area forward and plenty of storage. Cruisers also provided a full galley up here with refrigerators and a sink. An optional ice maker, an additional refrigerator and a grill will make any dining experience a memorable one. And with the upper helm to starboard, with its pair of 16-inch Garmin touchscreens, the flybridge is one of the essential attention-getting areas of the yacht and a great entertaining space.

Step inside

“In trying to create that all-important balance to the 57 FLY, no matter where aboard, we first fabricated a full-size floor model to make sure the flow was just right,” VanGrunsven says.

That information was quite evident and realized in the salon, which showcases a balance of light from extra-large windows and a floor plan that provides maximum use for entertaining and gathering.

“The 57 FLY has an amidships beam of 16 feet, 6 inches, and combined with her 57-foot LOA, we used the area to achieve our end goal,” VanGrunsven adds.

Seating and dining are located to port with a hi-low table easily transforming the space into a large berth. Opposite is a couch and just forward is the lower helm. Featuring a two-person bench seat and a console with plenty of room for a pair of 19-inch Garmin touchscreens with controls and switches, including joystick and autopilot, all within easy reach, the helm will serve the driver well should the weather conditions go south while topsides. Views into the seaway forward and to either side are excellent due to the large windows.

Given her profile as a serious traveling yacht, Cruisers’ design and engineering teams were able to create something special in the staterooms. Accessed via a centerline stairway forward in the salon and into an impressive foyer, the VIP quarters, full beam primary and guest staterooms are all outfitted for comfort and roominess with an overabundance of storage space and pleasing décor. All staterooms have 32-inch televisions and large windows. The day head, with a separate shower, has private access to the VIP while the primary has an ensuite, also with a separate shower and a wine cooler. A single-unit washer/dryer can be found in the primary stateroom.

A large deck hatch, positioned just before entering the main salon, easily opens with the assistance of heavy-duty rams and gains access to the engine room using a straight up and down stainless ladder. Once on the deck, I found more than adequate room to move around and noticed easy access to all critical maintenance areas including fluid checks on the mains, generator, strainers, Seakeepeer 9 gyro, pumps, hoses and all other systems requiring daily servicing. For the hands-on owner or skipper, it’s quite a workable space with no visible knuckle-busting, knee-scraping or elbow-whacking spaces where the use of tools is required.

Performance

Even getting out of quite the tight dock spot, the balance between the power plants and the helm commands was as prompt as it gets, and we were soon setting up for the first of two speed trials.

After an average of two runs, down and upstream, and noting we got up on plane at about 1900 RPM, the twin 725-hp Volvo Penta IPS 950s came in at about 34.7 mph (30.15 knots) turning a WOT of 2560 RPM. At 2400 RPM, perhaps our best cruise at 31 mph (26.94 knots), resulted in an estimated range of about 250 nm. Of course, at 1000 RPM, with a speed of about 10 mph (8.69 knots), we calculated a range of about 695 nm — not bad if you’re putting along the Intracoastal and all those no-wake zones.

Balance is intentional aboard the Cruisers 57 FLY, a yacht that will introduce the new FLY Series for this esteemed builder. Other models planned for future launch include smaller and larger units in the lineup, and all will be designed and engineered to balance the space between the exterior and interior.

If a fully found cruising yacht is up on your radar screen — one with a long list of standard and premium options, making your yacht a personal statement of ownership — set up a visit and sea trial. Your time will be well spent, and perhaps a new chapter of your boating adventures will begin.