Boat Review: Jeanneau Cap Camarat 7.5 CC

Jeanneau has taken versatility to the next level with the Cap Camarat 7.5 CC

With the Cap Camarat 7.5 CC, French boat manufacturer Jeanneau has created one of the most innovative trailer boats on the market today. 

In just 7 metres of centre-line boat length, Jeanneau has incorporated bow and stern outdoor seating/entertaining areas, and a spacious double-berth cabin beneath a fisherman-friendly centre console helm configuration.

It’s also the only lock-up cabin Jeanneau centre console that is legally trailerable (unrestricted) in Australia.

Build and construction

The Cap Camarat 7.5 CC is a collaborative design by leading naval architect firms Michael Peters Yacht Design and Sarrazin Design. 

The boat combines a deep vee fibreglass monohull with an open plan deck layout, but incorporating a cabin beneath the centre console helm station. 

The magnificent hull has a fine entry up forward for slicing through the chop, along with full-length running strakes to provide lift and suppress spray at speed. 

The deadrise angle at the transom is quite steep at about 21 degrees, but this sharp vee angle is offset by downturned outer chines to maximise stability. 

The hull has a noticeable sheer to the deck line as well — this serves to increase interior living space and to further suppress wind-blown spray. 

Like other Jeanneau models, the Cap Camarat is made with no-rot composite materials using the latest vacuum resin infusion moulding process to control weight and to achieve a consistent and superior standard of finish.

Spacious cabin

I can’t think of another 7m centre console with a cabin as large as the Cap Camarat 7.5 CC. Kudos to the design team, they have maximised the available space.

Entry to the cabin is gained by sliding open a lockable door on the port side of the helm console and descending two steps to stand on the timber veneer-trimmed cabin floor.

Importantly, there is full standing headroom at the base of the cabin steps and forward to the front bulkhead.

In the forepeak there is a hatch that opens out to the bow seating area to provide cabin access and ventilation. 

The U-shaped berth and seating area takes up much of the cabin space. 

For day use, the well-considered layout consists of a single 1.8m-long berth to starboard with a cushioned bench seat to port. 

A marine toilet can be optioned to slot into place beneath the starboard-side berth. 

To create a double berth for overnighting, an optional infill board and cushion is fitted between the starboard-side berth and the side seat opposite.

Helm and hardtop

The two-person-wide centre console helm station is large and well-designed. There’s ample dash and fascia space for engine instruments, radio head units and a large multifunctional electronics display. 

Importantly, there is also space to each side of the console to move easily between the bow and stern seating areas. 

The sports steering wheel and throttle control is offset to the starboard side, opposite the cabin entry door. 

Surrounding switch gear includes the buttons for the optional trim tabs and electric anchor winch, and the joystick control for the optional bow thruster — which helps with manoeuvrability at docking speeds. 

Overhead the helm console has a short but effective acrylic windshield, as well as the aluminium-framed fibreglass T-top which provides decent sun shelter.

Other helm features include moulded skipper and passenger footrests, dash cup holders, a dash-top glove box and pedestal bolster helm chairs for the skipper and front passenger. 

Our test boat was optioned with a double-wide leaning post incorporating a freshwater sink and a large, plumbed live well.

There’s also the option to swap out the live well for a gas cooktop with gas bottle compartment.

Bow seating/living

The Cap Camarat is designed with seating areas at the bow and the stern. 

Up front the standard moulded U-shaped box seating configuration can be easily converted into a massive sun pad with optional infill boards and cushions. 

There’s also provision for an optional cocktail table to slot into the floor on a pedestal base — between the front seats and the bench seat ahead of the centre console.

Rotating headrests on each side allow the two side bench seats to convert into a forward-facing chaise-style lounge. 

Forward of the moulded front seat boxes is a formed anchor well which can be fitted with an electric drum winch — controlled from the helm.

Reconfigurable cockpit

The seating in the rear of the boat is quite different. It is cleverly designed so that hinged bench seats unfold from the transom and from each side deck. 

There is provision also for the cocktail table to be positioned in the centre of the cockpit, mounted on a pedestal, within reach of everyone seated.

To open up the aft cockpit for fishing, the bench seats are retracted, leaving the cockpit completely uncluttered. Importantly, anglers can also stand right up against the side and rear coamings for unrestricted fishing access. 

Other notable cockpit features include a large lazarette storage area, port-side subfloor fish box/kill tank, port-side transom doorway, optional stainless-steel ski/tow sports arch, exterior boarding platforms and a swim ladder.

Handling, ride and performance

The Michael Peters designed deep vee hull beneath the Cap Camarat is everything it needs to be. The boat rides comfortably through bay chop and ocean swell at moderate cruise speeds, yet retains excellent stability at rest. 

The boat is also very stable, well balanced underway, making the optional trim tabs a little obsolete — although they do help with correcting wind list when travelling beam to the sea. 

The trim tabs are not needed otherwise as the boat is well weighted fore and aft so that it pops easily onto the plane with the engine drive leg trimmed up or down. There’s no need for negative trim to help the boat along here.

At speed and through the corners the hull feels solid, is easily controlled and is good fun to drive — making it more than suitable for social tow sports activities. 

Anglers will also be impressed with the weight and sturdiness of the hull at cruise speeds; the skipper can pretty much set and forget the throttle and steering and let the boat do its thing — which is ambling comfortably and economically toward the horizon and the wide offshore fishing grounds. 

Our test boat was rigged with the middle-range Yamaha V6 250hp four-stroke outboard engine. You can option the boat with as much as 300hp — but this level of power is not required for most social boating activities. 

Performance data supplied by Jeanneau reveals that the boat achieves a handy top speed of 37.9 knot at wide open throttle. 

On the water, the test boat actually felt a little faster, such was the excellent throttle and engine response through the middle and high rpm range.

The wrap

The Jeanneau Cap Camarat 7.5 CC is a pretty special boat. It combines all the features and benefits of a centre console fishing boat with a family bowrider and a cuddy cabin overnighter. This boat really is all things to all people — the ultimate all-rounder. Its sensational performance makes it perfect for family outings and day trips.

Package pricing for the Cap Camarat 7.5 CC starts at $197,591 when paired with a Yamaha 225hp V6 four-stroke outboard and a tandem axle Redco alloy trailer. 

You don’t get the whole kit included for this price, as Jeanneau prefers to make nearly everything optional — including seat cushions. That said, this entry/base pricing strategy does allow buyers to option the boat only with the gear they need.

As tested, with the larger Yamaha 250hp engine and a stack of options noted below, the package price for the Cap Camarat rises to $275,125.

Sea trials 

*Sea trial data supplied by the manufacturer. Fuel range figures calculated leaving 5% in reserve.

Cap Camarat 7.5 CC price as tested $275,125 (Including Yamaha V6 250hp + tandem alloy trailer) 

Options included

• Garmin GPSMAP 8412xsv (with charts)
• Fusion RA70N stereo + Bluetooth + USB
• Bow thrusters
• Alloy-framed fibreglass hardtop
• Lenco trim tabs
• Premier trim level (cabin portholes, rod/cup holders, bow and stern seat cushions + backrests)
• Leaning post with sink, fridge and plumbed live well
• Electric anchor winch and anchoring kit + control from helm station
• Cockpit table
• Cabin berth cushions and infills
• Marine toilet
• Front sun pad infill and cushions
• Cockpit sunshade
• Cockpit shower
• LED cockpit lights
• Trailer spare wheel and carrier
• Transom ski mast/arch
• Extended swim platforms
• Six-person open water safety gear pack 

Cap Camarat 7.5 CC priced from $197,591 (Including Yamaha V6 225hp + tandem alloy trailer)

Specifications

Supplied by North Side Marine. 

THE NEXT STEP

If you need help choosing your first boat or are considering upgrading your existing one, check out the models available on Trade a Boat today.

The sellers will be happy to help and answer any inquiries you may have about the products advertised for sale.

Related Articles:

Pontoon boat vs bowrider — which is better?
Port Lincoln, SA: The fishing capital of Australia
Tips for National Safe Boating Week