Boats

Whittley 2590 Power Cruiser

Short test.

By Jon Meade

Updated: June 22, 2006

Whittley 2590 Cruiser

Test Boat Power Single 280-hp Volvo Penta 5.7L Gi V-8 gasoline DuoProp stern drive with 350 cid, swinging an F3 ss propset through a 1.95:1 reduction.

They SAY: The Whittley 2590 Cruiser is a weekender that’s capable of extended cruising. ** **

WE SAY: Its full, rigid enclosure makes a jaunt to sea as comfy as an afternoon on the couch. Ample windows maintain the outdoor boating experience. Does that pale skin need a little sun? Pull back the sunroof and let the cool breeze flow – this is a great feature you don’t see on many boats. The one downfall? It needs better drainage; standing water dripped down its aft end while the boat got on plane.

Comfortable, folding bench seats run down the side of the pilothouse. Lift the engine cover cushion and pull out a wooden plank to create a dining table in front of the seats. Drop it, slide on a cushion, and you’ve created a berth. Together with the forward cabin bunks, this setup allows four to sleep comfortably. A 36-quart cooler stows firmly in a rack beneath the portside bunk, a great backup for the beer supply as well as stowage for a weekend’s worth of food. Like to wet a line from time to time? I felt safe on the rear platform in choppy seas thanks to the waist-high railing. Would you rather go tubing? A swinging gate makes way to a swim ladder. Boarding onto the rear sidedeck area, however, is precarious. I’d like to see a nonslip pad here. Also, the engine box could use more sound insulation.


rpm	knots	mph	gph	naut. mpg.	stat mpg.	n. mi. range	s. mi. range	run angle	sound level
1000	4.4	5.1	1.3	3.4	3.9	166	191	1	86
1500	6.5	7.5	2.8	2.3	2.7	113	130	2	92
2000	7.6	8.7	5.5	1.4	1.6	67	77	4	93
2500	18.3	21.1	6.4	2.9	3.3	139	160	5	93
3000	23.3	26.8	7.9	2.9	3.4	143	165	3	95
3500	29.0	33.4	10.5	2.8	3.2	134	155	2	96
4000	33.9	39.0	14.5	2.3	2.7	114	131	1	100
4250	35.3	40.6	16.1	2.2	2.5	107	123	1	103