24.

Power Boat Magazine- February / March 2004

Supplied Courtesy Yaffa Publishing

POWER REVIEW BAR CRUSHER 560C
By Jim Harnwell

Bar Crusher has carved out a nice little niche in the Australian boating industry during the past few years, and this new addition to the line-up builds on the brand's proven pedigree while adding a few nifty touches.

I recently took a 560C fitted with a 115 hp Yamaha 2-stroke for a run on Sydney Harbour. The 18-degree deadrise, trademark smooth 4 mm plate hull and Quickflow water ballast system provided a performance level that just can't be equalled by the standard tinnie design. The sharp hull cuts cleanly through wind chop and swell with none of the banging associated with the traditional aluminium boats.

The 560 is longer and beamier than its predecessor 550 model, and I soon noticed the increased beam (2.25 compared to 2.10 metres) and substantially roomier cuddy cab. The test boat was set up with comfortable swivel seats atop pedestals (storage underneath), an enormous front hatch opening to the anchor well and bow sprit, a folding Targa rocket launcher, rear bait station, six in-deck aluminium rod holders, a Hummingbird Matrix 25 sounder/GPS and 27 meg marine radio.

All that was missing were the excellent folding hard top gas strut roof and clears that help give Bar Crusher's their sporty appearance and which provide almost total protection from wind and spray. All Bar Crusher models feature the proven Waveslicer hull design, Rigideck fully sealed chequerplate floor and sub-frame and the Quickflow water ballast system to stabilise the boat at rest. The 560C adds a step-through transom and a 150 litre underfloor fuel tank (the 550 had only 120 litres). There have also been improvements to the transom design to allow dual batteries, an oil tank and 60-litre live bait tank. A decent folding ladder is positioned below the transom door atop a wide chequerplate marlin board. On the starboard side is a through-mounted berley pot, and there's plenty of storage room available aboard the 560C.

I noticed while driving in the seated position that the top of the toughened glass windscreen was directly in my line of sight. I prefer to stand while driving so this isn't a big problem, but prospective buyers should check the visibility situation out for themselves and inquire about the optional helm step accessory if you want to stand a little higher in the boat.

I was surprised at how well the Yammie 115 2-stroke performed with the 560. Although designed for 2 or 4-stroke engines, the hull seemed responsive and well suited to the carby 2-stroke with cruising around 40 kph and a top end of 61 kph at 5,400 rpm. The engine was surprisingly smooth and quiet ( 2-stroke design has advanced considerably in the past few years ) and would be a good option if you wanted to save a few grand on the price of a 4-stroke or DFI 2-stroke.

Legal Note: The statements, observations and opinions expressed in the above excerpts are those of the boat tester and were formed after inspection and testing of the Bar Crusher boat described in the test. The opinion is provided by the author of the test and not the directors of Bar Crusher boats.The information in these excerpts is offered to assist prospective buyers to do their research. Bar Crusher Boats confirms that the information above may contain factual errors and no responsibility is taken for it's accuracy or completeness. Please refer to the legal notice by clicking on the words "Legal Notice" at the bottom of each page.