Cuddy Cabin

[paboater]

I am thinking about buying a boat for skiing and tubing mainly, but for fishing occasionally to. What are the advantages and disadvantages of the cuddy cabin and what do most people use them for? How many people can sit in there at once. It is a 1987 19ft. Wellcraft 170hp Merc. I/O

 

[Arnold96]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

I have a cuddy and it is usually used to store junk and for a potty. I have discovered one other use when the kids are gone....The Admiral likes to take naps there.

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

It usually winds up full of junk and with a porta-potti. Also good to get out of the rain when you get caught out. Hardly anyone I know actually ever use their cuddy to sleep or sit in. Too hot, usually. The inside porta-potty is great for female family members, however. They are somehow reluctant to use one out on the deck.

 

[magster65]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

IMHO I've had both and prefer the cuddy although the bow riders are fun. We did the odd two day trip and the cuddy was great for a night. Jack's right though, you can't really sit up in one unless the boat is 19-20 or so feet (no/limited head room).They can become a junk storage but don't let it happen, simple as that. I also think the porta-potty is a must. The pee-in-a-bucket thing might work for some people if they're somewhere private but really... how many people do you want gawking at your lady's privates as she pees?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

"1987 19ft. Wellcraft 170hp Merc. I/O "<br /><br />BTW, If by chance this is the 170hp, Merc. 470.......<br />You just might want to Keep Looking............<br />This motor is Out of Production,<br />And, had a bunch of Quirks that'll drive you Crazy.......................<br /><br />Welcome to iboats Forums......<br />And,<br />Good Luck.............................

 

[gsbodine]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

hi pa,<br />Maybe what you'd like is a daycruiser, little cabin cruiser, sportfish or whatever you want to call it. Ours is set up similarly to a cuddy, but it's got windows to keep it cool (and also keeps us from wanting to store a lot of junk in it). The kids like it and it's nice to sleep and hang out in (especially when its raining). <br /><br />It doesn't feel like the "cave" that so many cuddys do.Check it out.

 

[PeteHarris]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

I've got a cuddy and I fish in the ocean ... an often overlooked benny is that when things get a little rougher than you'd like and you Eat a wave, the cuddy will go thru it, with most of the water going over the front, then over the winshield, then over the back of the boat. Open bows just eat the wave and get that much closer to swamping.<br /><br />--HOSS

 

[wvit100]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

I've had both type of boats and I think I like the bowrider a little better. It has more room to move around in. The cuddy was nice but anymore than 4 people and it started getting crowded. We used the cuddy every once in awhile but not enough to make the space it takes up worthwhile.

 

[bluewater19]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

I have both and I love the cuddy for fishing trips and overnight adventures. The extra weight of the cuddy makes them less than desirable for sking unless you get one with a v-8. Both my boats have v-6's and the cuddy throws a much bigger wake than the bow rider. The kids like the cuddy on windy days, and when they get board they can go inside and color and play with toys ect. A bow rider is much better platform for water sports. We bought the cuddy first and quickly found out its faults and bonuses. Can't beat it for fishing though!!!

 

[mmadlener]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

A'Men to PeteHarris!<br />My boat (22' Sea Ray Overnighter LTD) spends a lot of time in the Puget Sound where things tend to get quite rough. If you will be using the boat in the salt, go for the Cuddy. You will be thankful when you dive in to a nice roller and your right back up!! Trust me, I my boat would have already been in deep trouble if I hadn't elected to purchase the cuddy. A bowrider would be soaked to the bone!!<br />Another plus for the cuddy is when you are camping. The cuddy sleeping quarters will accommodate my whole family comfortably. If you have little ones; that sun gets pretty brutal and the cuddy tends to keep them happy!!<br /><br />That's my $.02<br />Take care!!

 

[jeff_nicholas]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

My 18' cuddy is used for overnighting, both on the water and on the road.<br /><br />Click below to see some of the places we've been.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

Only you and your family can really decide what is best for your needs and how the boat will be used, My father has a 19ft Wellcraft Cuddy, he wished he opted for the Bowrider now, He's 6'2" and finds it small, therefore he never used it, I have the Wellcraft 196 Eclipse which is a bowrider, Love it ,I boat Great Lakes and Georgian Bay And have yet to eat a wave, and I have been in 6 foot seas, but then again this boat has alot of freeboard forward, Wellcrafts are good rough water boats, but there are many bowriders and closed decks I would not do the same in as I do my Wellcraft, alot depends on the Hull design and Freeboard and your skills to handle a boat in rough sea's.

 

[flashback]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

I have a 21 ft chris and love the cuddy, I have never spent more than 15 min. in it but it is a great place to keep the wake board,skis, tubes etc...............luv it.<br />P.S. if this is a 470, like Bondo says, you may want to pass it by unless you just like projects to work on instead of boating.......good luck.....

 

[Throbbin Rods]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

My Starcraft Islander is the ideal fishing boat. I store the rods and planer boards in the cuddy when travelling so there is no mess, My 10 year old daughter (Tiny Dancer) spends time in there when it's rotten weather or she gets bored or hungry. I've slept in it many times, both on the water and on land. I'm 6'1" and find it plenty roomy. I keep the 100 qt cooler under the Vberth and out of the way. It works better for me than anything I've used. With the 150HP Yamaha it will also pull a skier/boarder/tuber real decent.

 

[Crazy]

Re: Cuddy Cabin

I have a 22 foot SeaRay weekender ... I love the cuddy, You can sleep ...and what ever in there haha . And when fishing and the kids get board they go in the cuddy and watch a movie or play playstation or something . Oh ya and she has a V8, so skiing and tubbing is no trouble at all .