cruiser yacht 50

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Cruisers Yachts 50 GLS Reviewed

• By Chris Caswell
• September 28, 2023

When I reviewed the Cruisers Yachts 42 GLS two years ago, I decided that GLS must mean “great little ship.” With the 50 GLS flagship, I know it means “greater little ship.”

It actually means Grand Luxury Sport, which is also an apt description of the Cruisers GLS “adventuring” series. Cruisers, now owned by MarineMax, has paid attention to how we use our boats. The 50 GLS is a bowrider on steroids, an express cruiser with entertaining ambitions, an overnighter with comfort and a performance boat (49.6 knots) with the oomph to yank skiers or tubers with aplomb.

The 50 GLS is powered by three 600 hp Mercury Verado V-12 outboards . When I put the hammer down from idle, I was literally shoved back into the comfy, Ultraleather helm seat. And the yacht has fold-down terraces (Cruisers calls them beach doors) on each side of the cockpit, whose beam expands from 14 feet, 6 inches to more than 21 feet. That’s about the beam of many 95-foot yachts. The combination—with the outboard engines being out of the way on the transom—creates a cockpit that feels like a ballroom filled with dining and seating options.

This is also a good-looking yacht, with a black slash on the topsides to conceal the windows, and a windshield that rakes steeply into the sleek hardtop with a sunroof. For passengers boarding from dockside, the transom platform is wide and one level to the cockpit. That transom on the 50 GLS that I got aboard had a pair of Kenyon grills (one is standard). This positioning means smoke from charred steak won’t intrude into the cockpit. Just forward of the barbecue is a forward-facing settee with twin removable tables for dining or cocktails.

In the forward corner of the cockpit are an L-shaped counter, dual Isotherm fridges, an ice maker and a sink. Opposite this space—on an 8-inch raised platform—is another dining table, this one facing a 55-inch pop-up TV.

A secure walkway to port leads to the bow, which has three seats with headrests and an electric table that rises for cocktails or meals on the hook. This cockpit is deep (40 inches) and safe for kids. A cooler with a chiller plate (read no ice needed) is tucked under a seat.

At the helm is an intuitive dashboard with three 19-inch Simrad monitors and a joystick linked to the Side-Power bow thruster. We used that Mercury JPO joystick to make painless work of a normally tough situation: a fierce side wind, a strong current and a skinny dock. Dock-watchers hoping for a Sunday afternoon show will be disappointed.

And the 50 GLS is about more than alfresco living. A sliding hatch (with a screen) leads into a bright cabin with overhead and side windows. A counter holds a microwave and a fridge for morning coffee and warm croissants without having to leave the cabin.

Forward is a stateroom, with a wider-than-queen berth, hanging lockers and privacy from French doors. Headroom is a surprising 6 feet, 8 inches, which adds to the airy feeling. Just aft and to starboard is the head, with a separate stall shower that is also oversize: 4 feet by nearly 3 feet.

Another stateroom is tucked under the cockpit with a pair of berths that can be configured as seats or as a “playpen,” with a TV on the bulkhead. This space is perfect for an afternoon nap for kids, and it’s comfortable (I stretched out with no problem) for adult overnighters, though it won’t encourage them to linger.

Underway, the 50 GLS is simply great fun. Hammer down, it came up fast and flat, regardless of whether we were using no tabs or letting the auto-tab system think for us. The boat topped out at 49.6 knots. For a 50-footer weighing some 19 tons, going 85 feet per second is impressive.

Even better, the 50 GLS felt solid, and I had a chance to check out the bottom before it hit the water. There are two full-length strakes below the waterline. Our result was a soft ride through a 2-to-3-foot wake when we circled back at full throttle. The spray was thrown far to the side, thanks to wide chine flats. This yacht begged to be treated like a 20-foot bowrider. We carved some swoops just for fun.

Those swoops were accomplished in silence too. My decibel meter read just 58 at idle (65 dBs is the level of normal conversation), and it got no higher than 85 at full throttle. The federal government’s safety agency says that’s the noise level of a vacuum cleaner.

The 50 GLS I got aboard had a Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer (we didn’t need it) and a 16 kW Kohler genset to provide air conditioning all day at anchor or at the sandbar. This equipage was under a hatch in the cockpit. Access via a ladder was outstanding, with room left to stow all the gear, from fenders to inflatable toys.

Everything said and done, the Cruisers Yachts 50 GLS is an on-the-water delight: fast and fun with varied entertaining spaces, thoughtful luxuries and the facilities for comfortable overnighting. This yacht truly is a greater little ship.

Major Power

Mercury’s V-12, 7.6-liter engine is revolutionary because the lower-unit gear case is steerable. A two-speed transmission provides torque in first gear and efficiency in second, and the dual-prop design provides solid bite, even in hard turns.

Catching Air

The 50 GLS has power-operated “vent windows” like those on older cars, providing a steady flow of controllable air. Electric side windows add to the breeze, as does the opening sunroof in the hardtop. Opening ports in the staterooms are another fresh-air plus.

Built Right

Cruisers Yachts uses a mix of modern and traditional methods in the 50 GLS, including hand-laid and resin-infused fiberglass for specific areas. The stringer grid that supports the interior components is wood-free with all-foam coring for a long-life, no-rot hull.

Take the next step: cruisersyachts.com

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2023 Cruisers Yachts 50 GLS

• By Boating Tech Team
• December 12, 2022

Cruisers Yachts debuts its new 50 GLS as the ultimate dayboat, which is true in one sense, but limiting in another. Yes, this is a huge express bowrider pushed along by triple 600 hp Merc outboards. But it’s also perfect for long weekends aboard, with two separate cabins and a surprisingly spacious head.

Start at the stern, where the Mercs hang from a wide transom that allows ample room to use the outdoor kitchen, featuring twin grills and a sink. Fold-down bulwarks stretch the usable floor space from the 14-foot-6-inch beam to 21 feet. The cockpit behind the windshield adds an L-shaped galley with twin fridges behind the helm, plus three L-shaped lounges and a settee aft with twin tables.

Stroll through the opening windshield and there is wraparound seating with three dedicated forward-facing seats with armrests for security. (Don’t forget the 1,800 hp on the transom.)  

The skipper gets a dedicated adjustable seat with a headrest, and the companion seat handles two guests to keep an eye on the glass dash with triple 19-inch Simrad screens and advanced CZone digital switching. A bow thruster adds to the maneuverability. Most of the cockpit is covered by the fiberglass hardtop (with sunroof), while an awning extends to protect the remaining deck. 

Below, a private master cabin has a queen-size berth forward, while the aft cabin has flexible single or double berths. Both cabins share a spacious head with a separate stall shower, and the salon has a fridge and TV.

The flagship of the Cruisers GLS line of seven boats (four with outboards), the 50 clearly calls to experienced boaters with the fold-down terraces aft, triple outboards that provide speed (56 mph), and a deep forward cockpit that’s safe for kids. Add to that the overnighting and long-weekending ability from the two cabins, full air conditioning with a generator, and thoughtful amenities, from cellphone chargers to a microwave for morning coffee.  

Cruisers’ construction, from the sturdy stringer grid to the flawless joinerwork, has long been a hallmark of this company, and the 50 GLS with its modern details just adds to that luster.  

High Points

• All-fiberglass construction with foam coring prevents rot.
• Folding cockpit “terraces” add flexibility and space at rest.
• Designed to handle Mercury V-12 outboards.
• Two distinct sleeping cabins make this more than just a dayboat.
• The wide transom makes the outdoor galley and grills fully usable.
• High coamings both fore and aft are safe for kids.

Pricing and Specs

Cruisers Yachts – Oconto, Wisconsin; 800-743-3478; cruisersyachts.com

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Yacht Test: Cruisers Yachts 50 Cantius.

The best of both worlds – express-inspired performance and yacht-inspired living space – in under fifty feet.

Beam: 15’/ 4.5 m

Fuel Capacity: 450 gals / 1,710 L

Waste Capacity: 60 gal/ 228 L

Water System Capacity: 62 gal and 49 Gal / 235L and 186L

Weight: ww 34,400 lbs/ 15,636 kgs

Power: Twin 435-hp Volvo Penta IPS 600

MSRP: $1,250,000 US

For more information Cruiser Yachts. 804 Pecor Street Oconto, Wisconsin 54153 (920) 834-2211 www.cruiseryachts.com

The first Cantius model appeared in 2011, the largest Cantius in the fleet at 60’ was unveiled in 2015, and the most recent addition – the 50’ Cantius – was introduced in time for the 2017 boat show season. She made her much-awaited debut at the 2017 Yachts Miami Beach boat show this past February. At 49’ 5”, the newest Cantius is perhaps best described as an enclosed express yacht offering the very best of both worlds: express-inspired performance and yacht-inspired living space.  Built using resin-infused composite construction, the 50’ Cantius features coring throughout the boat with a solid fiberglass keel and reinforced fiberglass areas around the through hull fittings.  Viewed from the side, there is almost as much window area as there is fiberglass area, foreshadowing a very bright interior. The large hydraulic swim platform is remote operated and features easy access to shore power connections, and a large storage space under a power hatch for your wet gear and fenders.  The permanent grill is positioned here – freeing up valuable cockpit space, and keeping those who have a need to offer unwanted grilling advice well away from the chef. The grill is well sized to feed all your guests and is centered between not one but two nice wide staircases that lead up to the aft deck.  Of course, with built-in drink holders and a water-level view, why anyone would want to leave this entertaining space is beyond me. The aft deck features a stern mounted u-shaped sofa wrapping around a rectangular solid wood dinette table.  Facing aft, mounted to port and up against the power window to the cabin, another sofa completes the conversation space.  For docking ease, the optional joystick can be mounted in the coming port or starboard depending on your slip preference.

Large sidewalks up both sides lead to the foredeck where you’ll find a stainless windlass, integral sunpad with lounger backs, and a unique cocktail table that pops up or folds down. My compliments to the design team for the integrated foot space that allows for comfortable upright seated lounging.  The area isn’t your typical sunpad with a couple of cupholders, this is indeed a ‘bow lounge’.  My wife would spend her whole day up here.

Stepping into the cabin, through a double-wide stainless framed glass bi-fold door, those familiar with the Cantius line will notice several similarities to the 50’s larger sistership models.  The single level cabin features ample headroom under the hardtop.  The galley is aft and to port, set right back against the power window to the aft deck so there is really no separation. Obviously designed by a chef, the galley features lots of useable counter space, a stainless drawer fridge-freezer combo, a two-burner glass cooktop, a convection oven, and plenty of storage space in the under-counter drawers and overhead cupboards in your choice of charcoal oak or walnut. Overhead cupboards are not easy to pull off without making the space dark and enclosed, but the 50 Cantius’ massive integrated windows wrap all the way around the cabin allowing the beauty of the outdoors to pour in. Slightly forward, but still on the same level, the salon features a u-shaped sofa to port around a solid wood table.  Sitting here you’re afforded a commanding view over everything around you. My preference would be to eat outside and use this area as an office with my laptop, or for reading. The helm is to starboard and features a double-wide captain’s seat and beautifully laid out dash.  Large opening windows to port and starboard, plus the massive power sunroof overhead, provide cross ventilation and that open air express cruiser feeling, for those days you don’t need to use the on-board air conditioning.

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Cruisers Yachts GLS Series

The GLS Series from Cruisers Yachts ignites passion with daring design and scintillating performance. And with a GLS for sale somewhere nearby, the way you view the water is about to be forever changed.

Explore the GLS SERIES

Cruisers Yachts’ GLS line is at the very forefront of design and performance in the mid-sized, luxury yacht market. The bowriders — which range from 34 to 50 feet — are both fast and agile, but also have an incredible amount of interior volume. The blend of these seemingly at odds traits is directly owed to Cruisers Yachts’ talented workforce, which has the ability to draw from years of experience to handcraft world-class vessels.

The GLS series propulsion ranges from stern drive to triple 600 HP outboard engines hitting top ends well above a sizzling 50 mph. The boats also have beach doors — foldout sections of their gunnels that vastly increase the size of their swim platforms and the connection to the water. This feature greatly enhances a boat’s capabilities as an entertainment platform. GLS models also offer a level of fit and finish that is not seen anywhere else in this size and class of boat.

From the tight joinery in the accommodations level woodwork to the intricate stitching on the upholstery in the bow lounge, the craftsmanship one finds aboard a Cruisers Yachts GLS cannot be beat.

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