In late 1996 Buccaneer released the 635 DC, which while I always saw it as a bowrider, designer/builder Gerry Gerrand always called it a DC - Dual Console boat. Whatever way you want to describe it, I loved it from the start, so much so that in 1998 we had one for the magazine boat.
Over the next 12 years, I drove that boat with a variety of engines, in many different sea conditions, at a whole lot of different speed and for so many reasons, I could never remember them all. However, if there is one thing I can remember is that I was extremely sad to see the boat go when I sold it.
Bringing up a family of three boys, who like their father had a bent for anything on the water (as long as it had a motor), we spend hours, days, months and years, fishing, diving, family cruising, running poker runs and towing water toys and wakeboards. So I can quite honestly say I know a hell of a lot about the Buccaneer 635 and so I was very keen to try out the new redesigned 650 Esprite.
According to Wade Gerrand, Assistant Supervisor at Buccaneer Boats, the main reason for changing the very popular 635 Esprite DC was not only because after nearly 20 years it need to be modernised, but also that there seemed to be a lot more interest in big bowriders. “We knew we had a great boat, but we were also conscious that it was time for a change and we needed to make some significant improvements, not only to the layout but also to the way we built the boat”.
Wade points out that building the 635 was time-consuming and labour intensive due to the lack of an inner liner and the fact there was a lot of timber used in the construction. “What we have done is basically left the hull as it was, eliminated almost all the timber, added a complete gunnel to gunnel, bow to stern, one-peice inner liner, which adds to the structural integrity of the hull. There is also a new grp stringer/girder system and a totally redesigned deck”, said Wade.
He admits they did form the new deck by using the old plug as the basis for the new retooling. The result is a whole lot different from the 635. Most noticeable is the softer appearance of the deck, with new swage lines that take away the previous harsh square look. The windscreen has also been altered with longer side panels that flow more harmoniously with the boat’s profile. As the twin consoles and accordingly the windscreen is about 50mm further forward, so there’s a little more space in the cockpit. Not that it needed it.
powerboatmagaz...
6 сен 2024
