Built for entertaining? Boats should be built to take to sea! Cruisers Yachts 41 Cantius proves the two aren’t mutually exclusive.
When evaluating a cruiser, the first thing I do is check out the key systems. No amount of berths, settees and decor details are going to make you comfortable aboard if the builder cut corners here. I am happy to report that Cruisers Yachts fits out the 41 Cantius for more than just earning accolades on the showroom floor.
For example, the 13.5 kW genset not only provides enough power to run a majority of appliances and lights while on the hook, but it also delivers enough reserve output so that breakers won’t blow when the refrigerator or air-conditioner compressor kicks on. Additionally, this genset’s output isn’t so large that its engine won’t be loaded properly when it’s running, which affects efficiency and longevity. Indeed, the 41 Cantius’ genny meets the requirements of ABYC E18-8: It’s optimally sized. Dockside power is 50-amp, ensuring plenty of juice while in the slip.
The fuel tanks are self-leveling for diesel engine packages. Run the genny all night and you won’t be listing in the morning. Manual crossover provides redundant reliability.
Air conditioning is another system where hidden cost-cutting occurs. The 41 Cantius boasts three separate units pumping 40,000 BTUs of reverse-cycle heat and cooling, providing ample climate control for this dual-salon cruiser.
Water capacity? Naval architects and long-term cruisers agree that, nominally, five gallons per day, per person, is sufficient for bathing, doing dishes, using the head, etc. The 41 Cantius’ 75-gallon supply provides enough water for a crew of six for the weekend.
All of these systems are also easily accessed for service. In the engine room, I found more than four feet of headroom and access on all sides of both engines. Every wire and plumbing run is labeled with engraved plates for ease of troubleshooting. Behind a panel in the amidships stateroom, all electrical modules and the helm breaker panel are housed in one place. Compared with boats in which the ECMs are scattered, diagnostic time is drastically cut, a benefit whether paid mechanics perform the service or you do it yourself. In sum, the 41 Cantius is equipped to really cruise. It also sports a layout that defies categorization.
At a glance, it’d be easy to lump this boat in the coupe category, with other top cruisers like Sea Ray’s 410 Sundancer, with its three-sided enclosure. The Sundancer is a new boat, due to debut about the time you read this, and pricing wasn’t available as we went to press. With twin 375 hp Cummins MerCruiser Zeus pods it delivered a 35.6 mph top end. While the 41 Cantius is available with IPS, the tester I ran turned its props through twin Volvo Penta DPH diesel sterndrives. The combination of this propulsion, and its vented stepped hull, had me comfortably romping across a choppy Lake Michigan at 27 mph, topping out at 38.9 mph. Docking via Volvo Penta’s joystick proved a snap against the wind, and, as an aside, I also docked it in the conventional manner. If you want the trimability, shallower draft and efficiency afforded by sterndrives, my test proved their suitability in this application.
Unlike the Sea Ray, the 41 Cantius’ helm deck is completely enclosed, boasting an aft bulkhead comprised of a glass “Tri-Slide” door. This creates an upper salon, complete climate control and audible privacy with a view while entertaining dockside. Plus, it eliminates the hassle of canvas curtains. Also, the 41 Cantius has an electric sunroof; Sea Ray’s is manual.
This upper salon hosts a crowd of guests with its expansive lounge, entertainment center and air conditioning. The view is fantastic, and even rainy days will prove enjoyable here. When the sun shines, open the slider wide, providing easy and flowing access between the helm deck/salon and the cockpit. With a comfy settee and recliner and easy side-to boarding, dockside entertaining doesn’t get better. Unless you work transom magic.
The 41 Cantius’ extended swim platform is more than four feet long (wide if you like) and boasts a bar complete with two removable bar stools. The bar hinges open revealing a massive lazarette with dedicated stowage for cockpit tables, both stools, plus fenders, lines and brushes.
So imagine yourself at the helm seat, swiveled around and engaged with your guests, watching with prideful care as they enjoy the amenities and the free movement between dock, platform, cockpit and upper salon that the 41 Cantius affords. The experience is common aboard larger yachts, but rare among boats this size. So the question, then, isn’t whether the 41 Cantius is capable of both entertaining and taking to the sea. The question is: Are you?
Comparable model: Sea Ray 410 Sundancer
_**View the accomodation plan for the Cruisers Yachts 41 Cantius.**_
