Crownline Eclipse E27 Review

The Crownline Eclipse E27 is a well made, beautifully designed deck boat that nicely blends comfortable amenities with sporty handling.

There’s a lot to be said for doing the simple things really well, and that’s an approach that is clear in the Crownline Eclipse E27. “Crossover sterndrive” is a bit of a mouthful, but in fairness, the E27 is more than a typical deck boat. In fact, the new model neatly bridges the best of traditional deckboat designs with the best of the smaller cruisers that they’ve effectively replaced in the market. The result is a boat that lacks nothing, and consistently over-delivers in every imaginable way.

Even before you step aboard, the Crownline Eclipse E27’s hybrid DNA is apparent with just a glance at the racy F.A.S.T. Tab hull, a Crownline design that brings sports car-like handling and a spirited ride. The stepped hull looks fast just sitting at the dock, and it is fast when you lay the throttle down. But the real joy in this hull is in its stability, reflecting a near-perfect balance of being able to go fast when you want to, yet without rolling around all over the place when at anchor.

The F.A.S.T. Tab hull design provides snappy performance, excellent stability and enhanced fuel economy.

Boarding is easy – just walk aboard using either the bow or stern swim platform – there’s no need to climb over the gunnels or step on padded seats. The fact that both bow and stern swim platforms come with their own retractable boarding ladders is just another example of Crownline doing the basics – and paying attention to detail – very, very well.

At first glance the interior of the Crownline Eclipse E27 looks like that of a standard deck boat, albeit with nicer fittings and especially plush upholstery. But the more you look around, the more you realize there’s more to the E27 than meets the eye. Take a moment to open compartment doors and the attention to detail becomes obvious. Right on the stern platform, for example, you’ll find a small fiberglass door that opens to reveal a dedicated compartment for storing the dock lines after you’ve cast off. There’s even a little integral drain, in case the ropes got wet by falling in the water. Now that’s a nice touch.

A dedicated compartment for storing the dock lines even includes a thoughtful drain.

Opening yet more doors reveals yet more surprises. The big door in the main cockpit floor provides access to the E27’s huge storage locker. Because this boat is perfect for tubing, skiing, wakeboarding and knee boarding – it even comes with a stainless-steel ski tow rail with eye as standard equipment – Crownline realized buyers are going to need a place to store all those toys. You can even add an optional wakeboard tower for the more serious riders in the family.

The transom seat adjusts for forward-facing or aft-facing seating, or can be folded flat to create a sun pad.

That the Crownline Eclipse E27 is built for fun should be fairly obvious with a look at its transom. That big rear swim platform with its wide, rear-facing seat is an ideal place to pull on the skis or set up the wakeboard, while the rear-facing speakers – part of Crownline’s trademarked Social Swim Wet Sounds stereo package – keep riders in the groove and within easy earshot of all the tunes. There’s even a standard transom shower, so swimmers can rinse off their feet and keep sand out of the boat. The transom seat back is fully adjustable, to provide aft-facing or forward-facing seating at a touch. It will also lay flat to create a huge sun lounge.

The neat helm console centers around a Raymarine touch-screen display.

You step into the main cockpit through a short transom gate. Snap-in carpet is a standard feature, providing excellent comfort while being easily removable for cleaning. The seating surrounds the aft cockpit, with stainless steel cup holders and stereo speakers neatly integrated throughout. A removable side-mount table accommodates afternoon card games or serves as a mid-day lunch spot.

The Crownline Eclipse E27 offers driver and companion sumptuous bucket seats with flip-up bolsters. The elegant hand-wrapped dash features a seven-inch Raymarine touchscreen front and center, displaying sonar and engine information with traditional round analog gauges on either side. There’s a neat row of illuminated toggle switched for lights and electrical equipment, and of course the head unit for the standard Kicker KMC10 stereo with its full colour LCD display, variable dimmer with day and night mode, AM/FM weatherband multi-regional tuner, USB charger for phones and tablets, AUX input and Bluetooth connectivity. It drives eight splash-proof Wet Sounds premium marine speakers, including the two on the swim platform.

Comfy bow seats include fold-down arm rests and integrated head rests.

The passenger console houses the E27’s impressive, oversized head compartment. It is fully enclosed for privacy, and spacious enough to use for a changing room as well.

Up front in the bow, “hot tub” style bow lounge seats feature flip-up arm rests for added comfort. Stainless steel cup holders and grab handles are within easy reach, and there is a massive amount of storage space beneath the seats. They’re a great spot to stretch out and enjoy the standard cockpit mood lighting.

A variety of Mercury or Volvo power choices are available for the E27.

This is a boat that’s built without compromise. Families looking for a beautifully appointed, well-designed day boat will find the Crownline Eclipse E27 certain to delight.