Re: Cuddy vs Open Bow
Don't think I've ever seen a cuddy around here (New Orleans area). "Cuddy" and "useless" are pretty much synonyms when the temperature is over 100 degrees with 110% humidity ...... I guess you could always use the cuddy to bake a cake for dessert.
The OP is looking at boats in the 20' range. Any bowrider in that range will easily handle 3 or 4 people in the bow, 1 each in the passenger/driver seats, and 3 or 4 people in the aft cockpit. Try putting 8 or 10 people in the cockpit of a 20' cuddy in 100 degree temps. You can't ride on the bow area, and you can't use the cuddy because of the heat.
We regularly use our bowrider with 6 or 7 teen-agers (our 3 and a friend or so each) and 2 or 3 adults when wakeboarding or tubing. Can't do that with a cuddy when everything forward of the windshield is useless for people.
For cruising, we use the 30' cabin cruiser with a real flushing head, full shower, air conditioning, full kitchen with fridge and microwave, sleeps 6, etc.
No boat does everything, it all depends on how and where it's going to be used. Around here you'll see serious fishing boats that are walk-around cuddies, but the play boats are either bowriders or express cruisers. A cuddy would be just a waste of half the space on the boat.
Trying to apply your standards to someone else's boat choice is pretty much gauranteed to make sure that they won't like their new boat. How the boat will be used is 99% of the decision, and only the buyer knows what he wants to use the boat for. There is no "best" choice between a cuddy and a bowrider that fits everyone's needs. Neither type does everything that the other will do.
