Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

[Toronto boater]

I am looking to purchase my first boat and am in a bit of a quandary. I want a smallish boat (18 ft or so) which is a good all around cottage boat and will be good for waterskiing - but here's the catch, I also need to have some kind of a port-a-potty on board. Any suggestions?

My concern is that any boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty will be too big, or throw too big a wake to be good for waterskiing and general cottage use.

If someone could also enlighten me on a couple of points relating to the toilet situation, it would be much appreciated, namely:
1. port-a-potty (to be manually cleaned) or pump out toilet?
2. how often does a pump out toilet have to be pumped out, and how expensive and easy is it to have this done?

I will be parking the boat at a new cottage on an Ontario lake (medium size), and the only use for the cuddy will be for the toilet. I don't intend to sleep on the boat, so the cuddy need not be intended for this.

Your advice will be greatly appreciated!!
(if you could suggest any makes and models, this would also be useful. I want to buy used, in the $8,000 to $10,000 range)

As an example, would a boat like a 19.0 ft 1991 SUNBIRD CORSAIR with cuddy work?


Thanks.

 

[ziggy]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

if ya can find a boat in the 19' range with a head, go for it. 19's a nice size to do what yer wanting to do with it..... myself. my 19' didn't come with a head, so i bring my own along..... just be sure everyone is friends onboard... a folgers plastic coffee can..... don't laugh, works good and is better than going overboard. the gf uses it too. w/o issue..... oh, it doubles as a bailing bucket should the uscg want to see one............

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

I can't answer your questions about the toilets...I have some of the same questions myself.

However, I have been trying to find as many options in small cuddy cabins as I can.

I have only been able to identify a few that could be classified in the "ski" boat category and also be a cuddy cabin instead of just a closed bow under 19'.

My current boat is a 1981 Four Winns 180 Marquis Cuddy. It is exactly 18' at the centerline. The cuddy is small for sleeping in but very good at providing protected storage and a porti-potty would fit very easily. As far as I can tell Four Winns only made this boat for a few years in the early 80s. It was replaced with the 195 Horizon/Sundowner (some of the fist cuddies were called Horizons as well as the open bow boats...they then renamed the cuddies Sundowners and kept the Horizon name for the open bows) In that first generation of the Horizon/Sundowner name the 195 was the smallest cuddy they offered. In the second generation of the Sundowner/Horizon they didn't have the 195 the first year or two but then did have a 195 for several years through the mid 90s. There are some boats that were labeled 195 Freedoms that were also cuddies. I think that in your price range you could probably find a 195 Sundowner that has a Volvo drive. I think that would make a good boat for what you are looking for.

There are other makes obviously. Bayliner had a line of small cuddies in the mid to late 80s. In fact they had a 16' cuddy and an 18 footer. They were both in the Ciera line I believe.

Sea Ray had a lot of closed bow boats but none that I would classify as a cuddy in that size range.

 

[thunder219]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

I have a 19 open bow that I just bring the portable toilet with me and put it in the ski locker. Before I bought it we needed one alot and after we got it, it has been used once. The only rule for the adults is whoever uses it cleans it when we get back.

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

My first boat was an 86 Sea Ray Seville 186. had a small cuddy up front that had a porta-potti. Only had the iron duke 4 in it though. Would do about 35 with a few people and some gear on board. It was a nice boat, but I got foot-itis and bought a bigger one. I believe that they also came with a V6 in them, which would make a better tow boat.

Chris

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

look into deckboats, most have a place for a head. keep it clean, they get nasty when left.

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

Check your provincial laws. Most provinces ban non-pumpout toilets. I am presently trying to get the scoop (pun intended) on foreign vessels traveling there.

Good luck, government has nothing to do with reason.

 

[flashback]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

You said.. "My concern is that any boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty will be too big, or throw too big a wake to be good for waterskiing and general cottage use. : given the same size boat, the open bow is probably heavier than the cuddy as it needs more structure in the bow.. I don't think you would find a nickels worth of difference as far as wake is concerned..It really boils down to what you like..I have a cuddy and like it.. some don't, but the cuddy does offer a measure of privacy that the open boat cannot..

 

[Toronto boater]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

Thanks for all of your helpful comments/suggestions. I am now also considering a deck boat in order to fill the multi-purpose needs (waterskiing boat with a bathroom). Can anybody comment on how a small deck boat would be for waterskiing, in terms of power and the size of wake (I prefer a smaller wake for slalom skiing).

One I have seen which looks interesting is the Chaparral 210 Sunesta which is smaller than most (20-21 ft) and has an enclosed head cabin. Any comments on this boat for my purposes or can anyone suggest any other small deck boats which may be suitable?

Thanks all.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

this is my Chris Craft 230 Deckboat, 5.7 Volvo, portside below is sink and potty, starboard is super storage. plus deck storage for skis, etc, under seats are cooler storage, etc. rated for 13, and does very well loaded. great ski boat with 6-8 on board. i tow with a Surburan. once on plane wake is not bad at all. 1st picture is in the Fl Keys. click on pic to enlarge.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

I have a Wellcraft 196 cuddy and it has a cutout in the floor of the cuddy for a portapotty. Pretty well thought out I originally bought it for the kids to be abel to use and get out of the sun if needed. Even though its a deep v cuddy it has an outboard(200 hp) on the back, I am an avid slalom skier and because of the outboard it throws a very small wake for that type of hull. Granted it's not a mastercraft wake but it also handles rough water way better than an inboard ski boat can. I would love a deck boat but a nice one for 8-10 k is a tough find. Also I have seen portapottys that are basically a 5 gallon bucket with a seat and a lid, they make a plastic bag type liner for them that makes cleaning a snap, pretty much remove bag and throw away.

 

[Toronto boater]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

Thanks for all the advice.

I am considering buying a 1991 Sunbird Corsair 198 (see pic below) for general Ontario cottage use on a medium size lake. I want to be able to slalom ski behind it so I need to ensure it has sufficient power and not too big a wake. Your thoughts on the price and specs and whether it will suit my purposes will be much appreciated (on an urgent basis if possible). I need a cuddy (to have a porta-potty) and wanted to keep it under 20 feet so that it is easier to trailer and handle. I considered deckboats but they are too big and expensive generally so I have settled on the idea of a small cuddy.

Here are the specs:

1991 Sunbird Corsair 19.5 ft 4.3L OMC Stern Drv. & Trailer, locking Cuddy Cabin, new Bimini Top, AM FM, Port a Potty, Safety Equip, Life Jackets, ropes & bumbers.

Asking Price $8000

Any and all advice about this boat and the price would be greatly appreciated!! This is our first boat purchase.

Also, do you think I need to have it surveyed or compression tested? How would I go about doing this?

What are the major things I should be looking for on an inspection?
Attached Thumbnails

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

Based on what boats around here go for(I live in Utah) that is PLENTY to pay for that boat. One thing to keep in mind is the fact that older OMC outdrives are very tough to get parts for and mechanics to work on them. Not that they were terrible units but it is 17 - 18 years old. The boat does look quite nice and has alot of add ons you wouldn't be stuck buying. If you do end up considering it I would for sure have a good surveyor check it out. A few hundred now could save you thousands and lost lake time down the road. The 4.3 is a good motor but once they get tired with alot of hours on them they start to get a bit doggy out of the hole. Not the best for slalom skiing but might have low hours and be just fine for what you want. I think a test drive would be a must for me, maybe even a test ski(you pay gas of course) if the seller won't go along with either might be an indication of something. But if he is expecting top dollar for a 18 year old boat then he should be willing to spend 30 min. out on the lake shouldn't he? Good luck.....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

due to the drive train, i personally would pass on it. 4.3 mercruiser or volvo, but not an omc. 19 feet with an carbed 4.3 is absolute minimum. i would want efi 4.3 or 5.0L.

 

[EricR]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

It's amazing how my buddies can go out tubin' all afternoon and drinking plenty of fluids and nobody ever has to go ashore to pee.

 

[Coors]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

My SIL bought the one i'm stuck with.
1988 4winns Sundowner 215. He bought it for the cuddy, where the 3-4 kids could get out of the weather.
It has a porto potty that is 18" tall. My wife bought baggies to put in it.
The deal is, anyone that uses it, will debark the baggy upon getting back to the dock.
It has never been used.
A 5 gallon bucket, with a garbage bag i the same; out on the water, pee over board, or stop and let some one swim.
Only kids and females want the cuddy, until the learn that I ain't cleaning a potty after them.
Cuddy takes a lot of room, and makes for a big bow.

 

[Toronto boater]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

Thanks to all those who responded. It was all helpful advice. In the end I had the 1991 Sunbird checked by a mechanic who gave it a clean bill of health (provided certain repairs were done) and a survey was recently done as well. There is a mechanic on my lake who can service OMC engines without difficulty. I bought the boat for a lower price and all is well...

Cheers.

 

[jdizzle]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

i just bought a starcraft with a port potty, how do i clean it?
just pick it up and take out boat and dump it?

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: Ski boat with a cuddy for a port-a-potty - Help needed!

Just to make you feel better about the OMC, I'm on my second season with mine (90 Chap. 5.8 Cobra) all is well, most feedback you get here will be negative, so get yourself a manual and learn to pull the drive and keep it tip top it's actually pretty simple once you understand the shifting process, changing the impeller is a snap.