VIEW THE RANGE
Get your hair blowing in the breeze with the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 CC Series 2 crossover family / fishing boat.
Tucked in behind the striking centre console of the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 CC Series 2, I quietly coasted underneath a city bridge. The loud, polluting world of gridlocked traffic only a few metres above my head was juxtaposed with clean, glassy water. The sun poured through the morning fog and baitfish fled from bigger prey as they boiled around the harbour’s moored boats.
Clearing the last speed zone I flattened the throttle on the Cap Camarat and launched her onto the plane. Almost completely oblivious to the fact that this was a boat review and not a day’s fishing, I had to restrain myself from flying straight to the offshore grounds.
The Cap Camarat 5.5 CC Series 2 has a really nice feel. It’s well weighted bow to stern, there’s high freeboard throughout and great stability at rest with a wide 2.38m beam. For a 5.5m boat there’s also a great feeling of spaciousness, although this may be partly attributed to the lack of sidepockets. Starting from the stern you have a transom capable of taking a 115hp outboard and a swimplatform featuring a tidy dive ladder on the port side.
The deck is self-draining but there’s also an in-hull bilge pump that was a little tight to access. Running across the inside of the stern is the luscious aft cockpit seating arrangement with six tan cushions secured by press-studs (straps are also an option depending on customer preference). And once removed they leave a great elevated fishing platform.
But on the topic of fishing I do have to regretfully inform you that there are only two flush-mounted rodholders. That means you might have to get a bit creative with aftermarket rod storage if angling is your vice. Serviceability is good with a sealed hatch in the cockpit floor; below it you’ll find access to the 100lt fuel tank, battery box and fuel filter.
