Now on the water and ready for some fun, the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 10.5 CC is the largest Centre Console model in the French builder’s Cap Camarat line of outboards and a sporty sister to the 10.5 Walk Around.
Designed as a real crossover boat, this 36-footer in GRP makes the most of convertible features to meet the needs of everyone from serious fishermen and dedicated parents to diehard party animals, a tough bill to fill.
The exterior lines are balanced, well-proportioned and feature interesting details, like a strake that swoops down the side of the boat from fore to aft to finish level with the swim platform, creating visual movement and dynamism.
However, Michael Peters’ hull design is more about seaworthy performance than good looks. The deep-V hull shape makes the Cap Camarat 10.5 CC a wave eater and double chines clearly point in the direction of performance.
As do the twin 425hp Yamaha V8 XTO outboards that you can’t help but notice when you board the boat from the swim platform. And you certainly notice them when you take the wheel.
Under the T-top, the three helm seats are comfortable and designed to flip back when not in use to make passing through the area easy. The windshield and side windows add to the protection offered by the T-top and visibility is excellent especially when standing. Grip the helm wheel, ease the throttles forward and you’ll enjoy the 850hp the two Yamahas offer.
It’s easy to keep track of the boat and everything that’s going on around it because all navigational info is displayed on Garmin flat screen panels. Add joystick control that makes for simple and intuitive manoeuvring, and you get a winning combination of horsepower and ease of use.
CLEVER LAYOUT
The clever layout of the cockpit, updated by Sarrazin Design, can almost make you forget the ‘vroom’ factor. Designed to be a crossover, the Cap Camarat is set up for fishing with a large and open cockpit that lets you move freely and quickly around the boat. But look more closely at the hull sides and you see L-shaped banquet seating that folds down to create a dining area.
Just behind the console, a hatch opens to reveal an outdoor galley with a sink and optional fridge and grill. There are six built-in speakers around the boat in case anyone’s in the mood for a little celebrating. Come to think of it, the fridge and icemaker would be as useful for storing ice and drinks as they would be for storing the day’s catch.
Or maybe you could reel in the day’s catch then cook it up right then and there in front of an appreciative audience. This is what versatility on the water is all about.
God is in the details, as Mies van der Rohe said, and the Cap Camarat 10.5 CC has one that proves the Jeanneau team really knows about the little things that make a boat a home.
Open the port side door then lift the floor panel and you’ll find a swimming ladder that simply folds out along the side of the hull and into the water. No fetching or mounting required if anyone wants to take a dip, a feature that’s sure to keep everyone aboard happy and in their element.
The two passages around the centre console are wide and give easy access to the foredeck, which is set up with a C-shaped couch fore, a teak table and a double sun pad that converts to twin chaise longue seats by flipping down an armrest.
Adjust the table height, add cushions and the whole area can become a large sunning zone or mount an awning on poles to lounge in the shade. Either way, it’s a perfect spot for relaxing with friends or family.
MORE BELOW
There are still more areas to explore. A sliding door on the port side of the console leads down to the lower deck.
A surprisingly large living space fore gets plenty of light through a ceiling hatch and hull windows at the front and sides. Adjust the height of the central table and the whole area becomes a cabin that shares a bathroom including a separate shower stall with a second cabin set up with a mirror-backed double berth.
Seen from below deck, what had at first looked like a fishing boat or a fast-moving floating party spot has become an ideal boat for a family weekend getaway.
Fishing with buddies, entertaining friends, enjoying some quality time with family: the Cap Camarat 10.5 CC can adapt to fit the bill. But what if someone aboard tends to get seasick? There’s an option for the Seakeeper 2 gyroscopic stabiliser that stops the boat dead in its tracks, so to speak.
And if the fish are finicky or if there’s a light sleeper aboard, the boat can run in hotel mode for hours in silence using a lithium battery pack.
If you’re on the market for a Range Rover of the seas, the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 10.5 CC just might fill the bill. Well designed, sturdy, safe and fast, this boat is remarkable for its crossover versatility and convertibility.
Dress it down and use it as a fishing boat, dress it up and lay on a party, take a group of friends out for an exclusive day trip, or pack up and head out with the family for an overnight for even a long weekend.
Play the speed freak and exploit the horsepower then switch on the Seakeeper and enjoy the calm. This is the boat for having fun on the water, no matter what your idea of fun may be.
This article was first published on yachtstyle.co
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