BlueWater Boats & Sportsfishing – July 2019

I

n its various guises over the past 50 years,

the mid-twenty-foot Caribbean flybridge has

remaineda firmfavouriteamongAustralia’sgame

fishermen,lovedforitssmoothrideandimpressive

performance.

The model run started in the early 1960s, with

theinitialmouldimported fromAmerica and builtin

Australiaunderlicenceasa Bertram 25 runningin-line

four-cylinderpetrolengines,whichwerepopularat the

time.WhentheAustraliancompany’slocallydeveloped

hullappearedin 1989it hadbeenstretchedto 26feet

(7.9m),witha broaderbeamtoaccommodatelarger

MercuryV6petrolengines.

The current version, the 8.23m Caribbean 2700

Flybridge Pro Fisherman, first saw the light of day

in 2008 and it was beamier still, delivering a more

workable cockpit, a bigger flybridge and a larger fuel

capacity. Importantly, by remodelling the transom to

accommodate an outboard engine well, this latest

iterationmeets the demands of a new generation of

boat owners, providing room for twin outboards of

theirchoice. This configuration was initially conceived

asthe27 Runabout in 2017 and was recently reborn

asthe2700 Flybridge Pro Fisherman.

FIRSTOF THE NEW MODEL

I waslucky enough to see this test boat – the first of

thenewversion off the Victorian production line – even

before it was shipped to Caribbean’s primary dealer,

Sylvania Marine in Sydney’s south, for its final fit-out.

By sticking with the fine-tuned hull design, Caribbean

has combined the seaworthiness of its deep-vee

underpinnings with the punchy delivery and economy

of contemporary outboards. As well as improving

fuel economy, the change has added the benefit of

substantial storage spaces where the onboard engines

used to live. A sharp entry and generous flare at the

bow, flowing to a raked flying bridge and straight

sheerline, combine for a classic Caribbean look that is

enduringly fresh.

Unlike the inboard version, where a pair of 250hp

4.5L MerCruisers are factory fitted, the outboards

are dealer installed, so the choice of engine brands is

open. While I’m told the hull will perform admirably

with twin 200s, our test boat was powered to the

maximum with a pair of Suzuki 250hp outboards.

Their white engine cowlings match the white hull and

integrate perfectly into the boat’s classic lines and

distinctive appeal.

Unlike previous sterndrive versions, the new 2700

has a single helm station on the flybridge, leaving

more room in the saloon, which has in the past

accommodated a second helm. As Nathan Ghosn from

Sylvania Marine explained, skippers drive from the

higher position most of the time, so being able to take

advantage of the extra room for more home comforts

below is a better option.

SPACEOUS FISHING COCKPIT

Without an engine box, the cork-clad cockpit floor

is a 13-square-metre expanse of uncluttered fishing

space, providing ample room for a full crew to move

Withitsheritage

stretchingback

half-a-centuryto a

RaymondC Hunt

Bertramdesign,the

Caribbean2700’s

deep-veehulland

fullflarecutsthesea

well,sendingspray

wideof thehull.

The downstairs layout is spacious and

practical, with plenty of headspace.

Suzuki’s excellent

four-litre V6, 250hp

4-stroke engines

have masses of low-

down grunt that got

this boat planing at

12 knots. Optimum

cruise is around 26

knots, with a total

fuel use of 50L/h,

and these engines

produced a top speed

of 41 knots.

“Caribbean has

combined the

seaworthiness

of its deep-

vee with

the punchy

delivery and

economy of

outboards.”

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Boat Test: Caribbean 2700