Cutwater C-288 Command Bridge, taking fun to another level

I confess. I like Cutwaters. They are fast and fun, and I used to own a Cutwater 26. For transparency I also do some marketing work for Fluid Motion the parent company that builds Ranger Tugs, Cutwater, and Solara brands of powerboats. Does that mean I am biased? Perhaps, but it also means that I really know these boats well as I have cruised on them, fished from them, and tested many different models. That said, no one paid me to test the new Cutwater C-288 CB (Command Bridge), and I tested this model exactly how I test other boats and will give you an honest assessment along with the performance data I recorded on the day I ran this boat in Bellingham Bay, WA near the Canadian border.

The Cutwater C-288 CB is a new model that is derived from the popular sedan version (they call it a coupe). I tested the C-288 Coupe when it first came out for Boating magazine and that review is still available online. The performance of both versions of the C-288 are similarly impressive, the Command Bridge model simply adds more with its upper-level seating and helm station. The C-288 CB powered by standard twin Yamaha F-250 gasoline outboards and featuring a double stepped hull is fast, we hit a peak speed of 52.8 mph while testing which is identical to the peak speed I recorded previously on the Coupe. 

What is more impressive than that top speed is the overall handling at speed. Some boats get jittery when you peg the throttles, but this Cutwater with its 10’ beam can not only handle the speed, but it likes going fast. That doesn’t mean I would rip around at 50 mph, although you could depending on the conditions. At 4500 rpm we averaged 42.2 mph on reciprocal runs and it could be an anomaly, but the fuel burn settled in at 26.9 gph (gallons per hour) which yielded a calculated range with a10% reserve of 283 miles, considerably further than at other speeds. The boat seemed to like this speed and for the most part bounced gently through the one- to two-foot afternoon chop. 

Cutwaters are relatively light because they are trailerable (the C-288 CB is only 10,500 pounds dry) so it is probably not ideal for smashing through large waves, but who would want to anyway? The C-288 CB accelerates quickly over the “hump” and then just takes off. From a dead stop we went 0 – 35 mph at 14 seconds, averaged over three runs. Trim levels recorded with an inclinometer maxed out at 6° at 26 mph. Above that speed the boat leveled out slightly to three to four degrees and was in the groove all the way up to 50 mph. The light conditions allowed the boat to comfortably cruise at high speeds which for owners will open up many different destinations.

Driving from inside

The bolstered lower station helm seat is comfortable and in easy reach of all helm controls, the bow thruster, MFDs and the wheel. There are well positioned footrests and a fold down bar that should accommodate different sizes of driver. Three windshield panes have thin mullions between them offering good visibility forward. Side and aft windows mean you can see pretty well all around too even from inside. The center smaller windshield lacks a wiper which is not ideal, especially here in the Pacific Northwest where it can be rainy. 

Our test boat was equipped with an optional Yamaha Helm Master EX joystick system which I highly recommend. I used to be a bit hesitant regarding joysticks, and you should practice maneuvering and docking your boat without them, but they really are a game changer. Once I got used to the Yamaha joystick’s feel, and toned down their level appropriately since I tend to be heavy handed, I found I could slide the boat into and out of extremely tight spots with ease. Another cool feature is Yamaha’s Dynamic Positioning System (DPS) they call “Set Point.” With an opening window adjacent to the helm you can pull up to the dock, turn on the DPS to hold the boat in place and when shorthanded step ashore to tie up and then reach through the window to shut off the system.

Fast Turns

The Cutwater hull also has a unique feature they call “Laminar Flow Interrupters” which are little cupped shaped indentations in the forward section of the hull bottom. These are an invention of renowned designer Dave Livingston, Fluid Motion’s head of design and product development whose son John is the company’s president. Dave is one of the pioneers of stepped hulls having developed hull forms for Bayliner, Reinell, Wellcraft, Regal, and of course he designed the Livingston dinghies that are named after him. 

Laminar Flow Interrupters are intended to improve cornering and handling by changing the way the hull interacts with the water. To test these little divots, I threw the helm hard over when running a little over 40 mph. The boat leaned around six degrees into the turn as I rapidly looped to starboard in a few boat lengths then bumped through my own wake and turned hard to port. For whatever reason when making the port turn, the wheel felt slightly stiffer and the boat leaned closer to 10° into the turn but still felt comfortable and turned tightly. I then slowed down to just under 30 mph and tried the same type of turns. The handling was still smooth, but our speed dropped more than 5 mph in the turns although I could have throttled up a bit to keep going faster. These maneuvers were done from the inside steering station, so I stopped the boat in order to see how it felt to run the boat from the Command Bridge. I particularly wanted to see if turns felt more dramatic from above. 

Unique stairs/ladder

Exiting into the cockpit though a glass door, the Command Bridge (flybridge) steps are to starboard. The nonskid covered steps along with stainless steel handrails are part of a sturdy ladder that works well for most adults but will require supervision for small children and aren’t ideal for some dogs. The steps have a unique L-shape to them designed to make it easier to climb them. You just have to lead with the right foot to get started, which can be a little awkward at first but does give you more foothold once you are doing it the correct way.

Command Bridge

Up on the flybridge there is passenger seating facing both fore and aft and a custom bucket helm seat with armrests. Seating is set up for three adults, and this raised area will be a nice spot to hang out at the dock and to run the boat from when weather permits. The helm station here is complete with all throttles and controls including the optional joystick, a Garmin MFD, and a VHF radio. 

I drove the boat by myself from up top and aside from accelerating through the rpm range I took more tight turns to see how it felt. I expected it to be a bit awkward, but it wasn’t at all. In fact, in the open air, you could hardly feel the boat leaning into the turns and with the wind whipping through my hair it was really fun to drive from up top. I did have to turn my hat around to keep from losing it at speed and it was little chilly on the 61° F April afternoon, but it was worth it. 

The visibility is awesome from the flybridge which would be ideal when fishing and for backing in or starboard side docking. The helm is on that side, and the ladder leads right to the gunnel so you can snug up to the dock and then take a few steps down to get yourself tied up or use the DPS if you have it. Having this extra space and the second open air station makes the Cutwater C-288 CB unique as there are very few outboard powered bridge boats in this size range. The air draft is only 11’ even with the mast up so the Cutwater C-288 CB is fully Great Loop capable. The boat is also trailerable although some states have restrictions regarding the 10’beam. As far as height goes the railings and seats on the bridge fold down and a kickstand-like post beneath the forward combing allows you to slightly lower the whole assembly reducing clearance by 22” to 9’2”. The Command Bridge can then be covered with canvas, and the lowered profile means the boat, even on a trailer can fit under the interstate bridge minimum height of 16’.

One boat, multiple callings

The Cutwater C-288 CB is a fast cruiser with a lot of built in versatility. The concept of Cutwater is that one boat can effectively deliver on several different missions. With a sizeable cockpit, the C-288 CB can be seriously fished and comes with rod holders and a livewell. The cockpit is also well suited for diving and watersports. One can inflate and launch a kayak or stand-up paddle board which can be stored beneath the cockpit sole. When in entertainment mode, fold out a cushioned seat from the transom which can face either forward or aft, along with a fold-down side seat and a seat accessed through a raised salon window, crank up the Fusion stereo with cockpit speakers and the party is on. 

In my opinion, the C-288 CB really thrives as a cruiser. An electric BBQ grill is accessed off the swim platform which is fully walkable since all engine controls and cables are conveniently led through the step. There is a swim ladder, a hot and cold freshwater washdown, and an optional cockpit awning on poles. The side decks that lead up to the bow are pretty narrow but there is a handrail and they have an angled lip that helps you keep your footing. At the bow there is a windlass and ground tackle but also a forward boarding ladder that can be used for beaching or to help when grabbing a mooring.

Accommodations

Inside the cabin, there is a fully equipped galley including a stainless sink, fridge, convection microwave/oven, stovetop, wine cooler, and storage. A dining table with seating for four is conveniently opposite the galley and for families the table folds down creating an extra bunk. In keeping with the versatility theme, the interior can be opened up with windows and hatches when weather permits or completely climate controlled with heat or AC when needed. 

A Lithium battery system can run everything, even overnight, so there is no need for a generator. The main sleeping cabin is forward and has direct access to the head which is complete with an electric toilet and a shower. The second sleeping cabin is under the dinette. When we owned our Cutwater, the kids loved sleeping in this cabin, and we also used this quarter berth for storage on long cruises. I had a chance to try out this cabin on a recent cruise aboard a C-288 and for me it worked out fine and I had plenty of room to sleep. My only suggestion would be to have some USB chargers in there as I had to run a cord from the plug under the dinette to charge my phone as the boat I was on didn’t have one in the cabin. I only mentioned a few of the many standard features that are offered on the Cutwater C-288 CB, but the idea is that the boats come well equipped and ready to go and are priced competitively, especially if you consider all that is included.

Testing the new Cutwater C-288 CB brought back great memories of cruising on our own Cutwater with our then children that are now grown men. It also made me realize why I like these boats. They are comfortable, fun to drive, and pack a lot of features into a mid-sized boat. If I ever downsize my boat from the larger cruiser, I now have the Cutwater C-288 CB will likely be high on my list, it just ticks a lot of boxes.

https://cutwaterboats.com/models/model-category/c-288-cb

Ready to cruise price: $359,937.00

Length Overall LOA (motors down): 33′ 7″ | 10.24 m
Length Overall LOA (motors up): 36′ 3″ | 11.05 m
Draft (motors down, approx.): 33″ | 0.84 m
Draft (motors up, approx.): 23″ | 0.58 m
Beam: 10′ | 3.05 m
Bridge clearance (mast down): 9′ 2″ | 2.79 m
Bridge clearance (mast up): 11′ | 3.35 m
Weight, dry: 10,500 lbs | 4,763 kg (Estimated)
Fuel Capacity: 200 US gal | 757.1 L
Fresh Water Capacity: 41 US gal | 155.2 L
Holding Tank Capacity: 25 US gal | 94.6 L
Standard Power: 2X Yamaha F250HP Gasoline Outboards

Best4Boats Performance Snapshot

Cutwater C-288 CB (Command Bridge) 2X Yamaha F250 Outboards

Performance Data Analysis – Cutwater C-288 CB (Command Bridge)

2x Yamaha F250HP Gasoline Outboards
Test based on two way averages of reciprocal course

Arnie Hammerman Publisher

Boats and the ocean define my life. From teaching sailing to captaining yachts, marine publishing, and marketing, I’ve spent decades sharing seafaring tales. At Best4Boats, adventure awaits—welcome aboard!

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