A New Model for a New Season
When Trade-A-Boat reviewed the 535CR for the 2013 fishing season, it pitched the boat squarely at snapper anglers, inshore fishers and anyone after a compact boat that could get offshore “with a minimum of fuss”. At 5.35 metres, it was designed to be capable without the bulk of a bigger rig, a boat that punched above its size instead of being a scaled-down version of the larger models.
Turning the 535 Into “a Proper Bar Crusher”
The most significant thing about the 535CR wasn’t its size. It was what Bar Crusher did to the hull. For this version, Bar Crusher fitted a flooding keel, adding several hundred kilograms of water ballast into the hull. The review shows the effect clearly: stepping to one side barely moves the boat, where a non-ballasted monohull of similar size might drop about 30cm on the same side. That’s a major stability upgrade, and it’s the same principle, later refined as Quickflow, that underpins the entire modern Bar Crusher range.
A Dry Ride and a Well-Matched Engine
Despite a fine entry at the bow, the review found the hull impressively dry, crediting its spray-deflecting design with turning water down before it could creep over the gunwales. With a 90hp Suzuki fitted, the reviewer called the engine a strong match for the hull: good low-down torque, solid mid-range and a confident hole shot. The hull’s flat, grippy handling also encouraged more aggressive driving than most boats this size.
Practical Fishing Features, Kept Simple
The 535CR had an underfloor kill tank suited to snapper, whiting and similar inshore species, and a baitboard with three rod holders across the back. New for 2013 was a livebait tank built into the transom, able to keep squid, yakkas and slimies fresh for the day. True to the smaller end of the range, the layout stayed open and uncluttered, without the bulkheads of Bar Crusher’s larger boats.
Where That Model Sits Today
The 535CR name and configuration have since been superseded. Bar Crusher’s model history traces the 500CR/535CR line directly to today’s 535C, which is now built on the Gen2 hull with Delta Flare for extra lift, a drier ride and more stability at rest. If the compact, ballasted boat in this review appeals, the current 535C is its direct descendant, rated for 60–115hp, with 217L of ballast. Prefer an open centre console on the same hull? See the 535XS.
For more independent tests, see Bar Crusher’s media reviews, or build and quote your 535C.
