Cruisers Yachts enclosed-cockpit 38 VTR EC
Cruisers Yachts’ brand new fleet, two years in the making, aims to appeal to the next generation of family vacationers and fun-loving boaters.
The new VTR fleet — venture, trek, roam — is “a kind of a Swiss Army knife for families and boaters,” says Josh Delforge, director of engineering and operations at Cruisers Yachts headquartered in Oconto. It’s Cruisers’ answer to a new growing adventure segment in the boating industry, particularly among foreign builders.
“We really felt like we could bring something new to the table,” Delforge says.
Creating the new boat was both fun and a challenge for the design team, whose most recent project was a 57-foot yacht. “We were trying to make an SUV versus a sports car,” he says. “So that was a little bit different thinking and mindset for the whole design team.”
Another challenge was that the fleet has six different layout options. “So you’re always just trying to design three steps ahead to make sure that you’ve factored in every little detail,” Delforge says.
The boats include abundant storage and numerous customization options such as roof racks, rod holders, tow bar, wet bar with grill, convertible sunlounge or aft benches.
A new design specific to this fleet is a hybrid stepped hull developed in collaboration with DLBA Naval Architects. The “steps” essentially create lift for a smoother ride and greater stability, appealing to those traveling with kids and pets.
“We felt like this hybrid style was a better fit for our product, and it also sets us apart in the market,” Delforge says.
Every VTR is custom built in-house by the Cruisers team, including the hull, full-beam hardtop, cabinetry, electrical systems, metalwork and upholstery, says Sarah Long, director of marketing for Cruisers.
The fleet’s two models include both versions — the open‑cockpit 38 VTR and the enclosed-cockpit 38 VTR EC — and were developed simultaneously “so we could streamline the engineering behind it and share as many parts as possible,” Delforge says.
The fleet starts at $399,000 (open cockpit), with the enclosed cabin version starting at $434,900. “We did everything we possibly could to give consumers a high-quality boat at a reasonable price, and a lot of that happens in the engineering process,” Delforge says.
Delforge says the boats are not only really cool to look at, but they’re also super fun to drive.
“As an engineer, those are my proud papa moments — when these things handle the water … and the boat just exceeds everyone’s expectations,” Delforge says. “That’s when we know we won.”
On the web: cruisersyachts.com/vtr
