Swimming trips, water skiing or simply cruising through the water in the sun, the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC has many water sports options to offer. It is equally suitable for beginners and advanced boaters. According to the CE certification, the French boat is authorised with "C5", which means "coastal waters and inland areas with a maximum of five people".
There is space for the crew on a double bench seat in front of the driving position, a 3-seater rear bench seat and a bow seating area - which is enough for five people. At the front, the seating area with a large table can be converted into a sun lounger. As on the entire boat, the cushions are soft. There are no backrest cushions in the bow. There is an anchor locker under the front centre cushion with a practical recess on the flap and cushion through which the anchor line is passed. The upholstery is secured with belt straps, which takes time to set up, but has the advantage that the upholstery sits securely. The rear bench has a low backrest and split seat cushions, under which there are anti-slip structures on both sides. If you remove the cushions, you can crawl safely over these surfaces onto the split, non-slip bathing platform, which has a well-dimensioned bathing ladder on the port side that is easy to use from the water.
Storage space can be found under the driver's bench and as a small room under the driving position, which is easily accessible through a door in front of the co-driver. The shipyard installed the steering wheel and single-lever gearstick on the centre console for easy access, but the distance between the steering and gearstick is so small that you bump into the gearstick lever with your right steering hand in "cruising" mode. The driver and co-driver sit on a bench with a steep backrest that can be reclined: in the normal position for driving and vice versa for chatting with rear bench passengers or upright as a buttock support for offshore driving. The space offers plenty of knee room and the non-slip cockpit floor serves as a footrest. The Plexi windscreen with all-round handrail matches the driving position. The white driving position is reflected in the windscreen - but hardly in the instruments. Switches are normally accessible on the right behind the steering wheel.
For sailing: On slow courses between around 3 kn and 6 kn, the Jeanneau runs true to track, which is only slightly affected by weight shifts. The bow rises from 2000 rpm and lowers again around 3400 rpm, the start of planing. At maximum trim (1/2 on the display), the nose lifts into the field of vision, but even with this trim position, the boat glides quickly. The 80 hp four-stroke outboard from Yamaha is responsible for this. The fast transition phase, together with the flat stern wave, creates good conditions for water skiing, tube or bobsleigh riding. Wakeboard beginners also have fun behind the Cap Camarat.
If you want to go the distance, you can rev the engine around 4000 rpm and glide economically at 21 knots. Consumption is then 0.63 l/sm, and the 50-litre built-in tank provides a range of almost 70 nm plus 15% reserve. Results that are more than acceptable for the 5 metre boat class. Full-throttle pilots still manage almost 50 nm at a speed of a good 33 knots. The speed in this situation is 6000 rpm, which corresponds exactly to the maximum speed - a sign of good propeller tuning.
Trimming is done by feel: if the outboard is driven too high, the Jeanneau starts to rock. However, pressing the button in the "down" direction immediately makes the hull run more smoothly, which also applies to fast cornering and gyroscopic manoeuvres. With the outboard trimmed, our test boat tends to rock. A characteristic that is reduced with the drive "down" and is easily maintainable for the carpool. The trim hardly plays a role on slalom courses and when turning the steering, and the boat behaves well in both manoeuvres, making harbour manoeuvres tight and manoeuvrable. This is ensured by turning circles of 1 ½ to 1 boat length and direct (approx. 3 s) reversing behaviour in reverse.
Jeanneau has installed navigation lighting with Italian RINA approval so that you can be seen in good time at night. Like the boat's entire electrical system, the lights are powered by a 70 Ah battery, which is safely stored in a plastic box with a retaining strap. The associated main switch is well hidden but easily accessible under the driver's seat. A solution with flying fuses in the cables was chosen for protection. There is also a fuel filter with drain tap under the driver's bench. Just as exemplary: stopcock, ventilation and fire extinguisher opening to the tank. The pipework in the boat is of mediocre quality. The connecting lines from the onboard outlet to the outboard motor are in a UV-protective mesh hose.
The boat builders did a first-class job on the hull, with glossy gelcoat protecting the laminate on the outside and a complete protective coating on the inside. Cleats and handrails are screwed into reinforced laminate with a type of self-tapping screw. The equipment with fire extinguisher, electric bilge pump and hand bilge pump demonstrates a high level of safety. Other standard features include a solid plastic rubbing strake, four suitably sized cleats and three eyelets. If you want to buy a trailer, it's best to do so from the dealer, as the package (boat, engine, trailer and optional equipment) only costs a few hundred euros more than the list price.
Conclusion: The Jeanneau 5.1 CC is a versatile boat. With its 80 hp outboard engine, it is sporty and safe when travelling.
Datasheet: Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC Style
Shipyard: Jeanneau
Type designation: Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC Style
CE category: C - Coastal waters
Material of hull and deck: Plastic
Length: 5,15 m
Width: 2,15 m
Displacement: 0,55 t
Price: 21.999,00 €
Ralf Marquard
Deputy Editor in Chief BOOTE
