Quintrex 590 Cruiseabout Review – The Aussie Family Boat That Refuses to Pick a Hobby

The Quintrex 590 Cruiseabout Pro has apparently decided choosing just one of those things is unnecessary.

At 6.21 metres long, this Australian-built bowrider is the largest model in Quintrex’s Cruiseabout range, with enough room for up to eight people and the versatility to go fishing in the morning, tow the kids around in the afternoon and settle into a leisurely cruise when everyone finally runs out of energy.

Properly Australian

Quintrex isn't simply an Australian badge stuck onto an imported hull. The company started in Sydney in 1945 when Terry Quantrill built the first Quintrex aluminium boat, and production today takes place at the company's Gold Coast manufacturing facility. In 2025, Quintrex celebrated its 80th anniversary.

One of the more interesting parts of that history is Quintrex's obsession with bending aluminium into shapes aluminium doesn't particularly want to be bent into.

Its stretch-forming technology led to the famous Flared Bow in 1968, followed decades later by the Millennium and Blade hull designs. The 590 Cruiseabout uses the Blade Hull, designed to provide a softer ride while pushing spray further aft rather than depositing half the ocean into your lap. A surprisingly useful feature when you've convinced the family boating is relaxing.

One Boat, Several Personalities

This is where the 590 makes sense for travelling families.

Tow it behind the right vehicle and suddenly the boat becomes part of the holiday rather than something left sitting at home. Lakes, rivers, bays and coastal destinations all become potential playgrounds.

There's a 110-litre underfloor fuel tank, hydraulic steering, rear boarding ladder, underfloor storage and a convertible casting platform. The Pro specification adds the toys most families would probably end up wanting anyway, including a bimini, bow cover, cockpit table, ski pole, Fusion stereo and speakers, marine radio and upgraded seating.

Fishers haven't been forgotten either. There are rod holders, transducer mounting provisions and the casting platform, while options can take the setup considerably further.

Then remove the rods, attach the ski gear and you've essentially changed personalities without changing boats.

The Numbers

Length: 6.21mBeam: 2.30mCapacity: 8 peopleMaximum power: 150hpFuel: 110L underfloorHull: Aluminium Blade HullHull weight: approx. 792kg – 590 Cruiseabout ProBottom thickness: 4mmSide thickness: 3mm

With a 150hp outboard hanging off the back, there's enough muscle here for watersports and family cruising without turning the thing into a floating midlife crisis.

Who Is It For?

The sweet spot is families and active couples who don't want to own separate boats for separate hobbies.

It's particularly appealing for road-tripping families who regularly holiday near water, fishers who occasionally remember they have a family, and older couples wanting a comfortable recreational boat that can still entertain the grandkids when they arrive.

What We Love – And What We'd Change

We love the versatility. It's big enough to feel like a substantial family boat without becoming something that requires its own postcode.

We also like that the Pro bundles many of the features buyers typically add later.

For its next evolution, we'd like even smarter integrated storage and more USB/USB-C charging points as standard. Eight people potentially means eight phones, which apparently now require more attention than the boat.

The Quintrex 590 Cruiseabout Pro isn't the cheapest way of getting onto the water, nor the smallest thing you'll ever tow on a road trip.

But as one boat capable of fishing, towing, cruising, swimming, exploring and keeping several generations entertained, it's a very convincing Aussie all-rounder.

And that may be its best trick: you don't need to decide what sort of boating family you are before you buy it.