Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

[Maps]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

I wanted a cuddy but after testing one we decided to go with a bowrider and so far no regrets.The cuddy was a 21' very little room inside.

My opnion is ;
over 21' = cuddy
21' under = bowrider

and another simple rule to start off with ; SIZE MATTERS !

 

[bekosh]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

It comes down to what you want to do with it.
A bowrider won't be as good as a cuddy for overnighting. But the cuddy won't be as good with a crowd of people out for just a day of tubing.

We wanted the cuddy to extend our boating time into multiple days. It's nice to wake up Sunday morning already on the lake. Plus we boat on Lake Winnebago, which can be rough, & Lake Michigan, which WILL be rough.

For a cuddy, be sure to climb in the cabin and lay down. The difference from boat to boat is amazing. I'm just under 6ft tall. We looked at a 22ft Regal that was too short for me to lay in. While the 21ft Wellcraft we bought, I can sit up, with my head against the top, and lay comfortably without touching either the bow or stern bulkheads.

Our cockpit has the Sport seating, 2 captains chairs & a bench. We could seat 5 or 6 easy. Any more and there wouldn't be enough seats. We have never had more than 4 aboard anyway.

Also, on a cuddy, look for one with a walk though windshield. Otherwise you have to climb over the top of the windshield to get to the bow. Also consider one with an anchor locker. That way you aren't climbing up to the bow carrying a 15lb anchor.

 

[rndn]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

As most everyone mentions, it's a personal opinion and what you really want the boat to do for you. If you plan to do a lot of fishing such as casting an opne bow can't be beat.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

Hey Maps. I wonder how many other folks have been deluged with all the "size matters crap"...and we both know we aren't talking about boats. Amazing how much of it is just junk mail. But lotta folks must be falling for it cause they just keep sending it, even if you sick the postal IG on their arse.

Mark

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

You might want to take a look at the so called bay boat's (bow rider) I have a 19' bayboat and a 18' regular i guess "bow rider", the bay boat is really quite a bit bigger and i have been in some very rough water and have never yet come close to dipping my bow......crosses finger's there i went and did it...

They are bigger though.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

Gonna bet one of the reasons for the open bow deep V as compared to the tri-hull was just what you said......If you hit a big wave fast you could bounce them out. With the V she just swishes thru it.

Mark

 

[Maps]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

Hey Maps. I wonder how many other folks have been deluged with all the "size matters crap"...and we both know we aren't talking about boats. Amazing how much of it is just junk mail. But lotta folks must be falling for it cause they just keep sending it, even if you sick the postal IG on their arse.

Mark

Aye ! Hard to argue with that.
All I can say is that SIZE is only relevent to where you put it , but that's a hole other subject...
In this case I forgot to add that in rough waters IT helps if your bigger.

 

[Nova II 260]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

Size matters. I've said this before,
"the bigger the water the more your boat shrinks"
Although I have cuddy, if under 21' was my choice, I would get a bow rider or deck boat.

 

[PhatboyC]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

One thing no one mentioned is kids. If you have under 6 years olds then a cuddy is nice for them to take a nap in. If they're older then a bow rider is better since
they love to sit in the front. I sure loved my days in the front when I was a kid. Also give the parents a break since you can't hear them arguing in front.

Age and good physical shape also goes for the owner too. At 60 I can't see my father getting up on the bow for the anchor. The tiny foot step even seems smaller on the way back down.

What did you end up getting ZeroOX ?

 

[Road Guy]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

^ - Yeah the only real reason I like the cuddy now is that I have 3 kids; 8-6-4 and its a nice place for them to hang out and take a break on a long ride, If I dont graduate to a bigger cruiser later when my kids get into prime wakeboarding age I will most likely change to an open bow / ski / wake boat.

we have a 21' Chaparral Cuddy and in all honest there isnt much room in there for anyone but kids & gear. If I was doing it over again I would get a 24' cuddy that had more actual "adult" headroom in the cabin.

you can walk on the cabin, or should be able to at least, we dont let people ride up front unless were at low speed, we have handrails.

but climbing in and out is more difficult in a cuddy, you have to step WAY over the rail from the beach, we like to boat way into fall and the cuddy is good for widny days, but bad for getting in and out of the beach when the waters cold, etc.

If you do get a cuddy I would get one with a large flat back seat so you can get extra people on instead of the option with two seats on the side of the engine compartment.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Cuddy vs Bowrider ?'s and opinions

but climbing in and out is more difficult in a cuddy, you have to step WAY over the rail from the beach, we like to boat way into fall and the cuddy is good for widny days, but bad for getting in and out of the beach when the waters cold, etc.

We solved this problem by adding brackets for a bow ladder.
We got lucky and found a 5-step Wesbar Stowaway ladder on Ebay. It folds into about an 18 inch cube that fits in our storage under the sunpad. Unfortunatly Wesbar doesn't make them anymore and they are getting to be a rare find.