Do you like your cuddy cabin?

[Bunnerrabbit]

I have been looking for a center console for some time, and considering adding a cuddy cabin to the boat I would consider. What are some reasons you like the cabin? Why do you not like it? I was considering a 17-19ft center console but lately have found some 19ft or 20ft cuddy cabins in my price range. One is a 20ft Neptune $5000 approx 550hours. Other is a 19.6 1980 Aquasport 2000 150HP suzuki 60 hours in great shape with MANY new parts to include radio, lowrence GPS, fishfiner, deptfinder, CB, speakers, 2 new batts, New springs, winch and tires. Owner is selling to get a 36ft+ boat. Let me add I have a 1 year old and thinking the cabin might be better for her. My uses would be playing in the sound some under 10 miles off coast fishing on nice days. Are these boats to big/heavy for tubbing, knee boards? Opinions welcome. My truck tow limit is 3500LBS so 20ft MAX.

 

[tommays]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

While the world is a mans toilet The women like a private place

I also like a DRY place to keep my charts and STUFF while i can afford a dock space when i take trips on my 19' cuddy

The hotel is out of my price range at Montauk or Block Island and it is still better than any tent i have ever slept in

Tommays

 

[JCMINIS]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

Are these boats to big/heavy for tubbing, knee boards? Opinions welcome. My truck tow limit is 3500LBS so 20ft MAX.

I see cuddy cabins pulling a little bit of everything(wakeboards,tubes,etc) at our local lake.

Im no expert AND im a begginning boater,but a 20 cuddy I would think would be pretty heavy.I have a open bow 20 footer(87 model) that weighs 3698pnds on the local truck stop scales(1/2 tank of gas w/trailer).My truck has a tow limit of 6500 and in some places it puts a real strain on it.JMO however.

 

[8AteEight]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

My dads first and 3rd boats were cuddys. They definately have their place, Shelter being the biggest good they provide.
The down side we saw, its really hard to get over the front. This is only a problem if you park on a beach, or nose into the dock.

That being said, I like my lil open bow, and Ill probably buy more O/B boats than cuddys, simply because I like not having to crouch down into the hole everytime I need something up front. Im also on small inland lakes, so I have little issue of getting swamped.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

I looked for about 5 years for my 21 foot full cuddy outboard Manatee. I prefer the simplicity, room and lighter weight of an outboard boat. In this size range, most are i/o or c/c. However, after I found mine, then of course I saw them all over the place.

I bought my cuddy because I like to cruise and I wanted something to lock my expensive "stuff" in if I was docked and away from the boat. To this end I am reinforcing and changing the hatches and locks. I also wanted the ability to sleep on board if necessary. I wanted to stay about 20-21 because frequently I am alone and a larger hull is more difficult to launch and retrieve. I have found that with the cuddy, it feels like it is riding like a much larger boat

My bare hull is an 88 Manatee and advertised as 1600 dry weight. So I figure with engine, fuel, battery, kicker, CG required equipment and other stuff, I am at 2600 lbs. Trailer weighs 1000 so while my S10 can tow the 3600 lbs, even though it is rated for 4500, it really feels this boat.

I find that with the extra weight of the cuddy, the bow drops faster and it pops onto plane quickly so while I have not yet used it for skiing, with a 140 on a hull rated for 170, I don't anticipate any problems. This hull seems to plane at about 16-18 mph but it has a riding pad from about 6 feet forward of the stern to the transom.

I find that with the hatch open, I get a good breeze through the cuddy and it is comfortable to nap in or have my way with the wife (Hey! You have to christen the boat).

The owner before me used this boat at the Jersey shore (offshore fishing) and I have used it in the Chesapeake on very choppy days and ran it through som big wakes so I know it is capable of handling some bigger water.

My only dislike is that I need to raise the seat in order to see over the cuddy while seated. Other than that, It is what I wanted, it serves my purpose and I am satisfied with it. I will probably keep it for ay least a few years unless 2 foot-itis sets in.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

I think any style has it's pros and cons. I have owned closed bow ski boats, open bow run abouts, and currently own a 20' wellcraft cuddy. I too have small kids and that was a big reason I went with the cuddy. I love it because of the versitility I get out of it. I spend a lot of time at Lake Powell which can deliver any kind of weather you can imagine in the blink of an eye. When it is 110 deg. I can put the little one down for a nap and out of the sun for a few hours(nice). When a storm blows in I can batten down the hatches and put up the rain curtians and be okay in 3-4 footers and my family and all of our gear stay nice and dry. I have an older Evinrude 200 hp outboard on it and love it I can cruise at 42mph and pull anything I want behind it no problem. I am an avid slalom skier and have zero problems getting up behind it and skiing at 32 mph. The wake at speed is relativly small and at slower speeds (wake boarding/tubing/kneeboarding) gets a little bigger which is what you want for those activities. I have seating for six in the back so room wise it has been fine for me. I currently drive a 99 dodge 1/2 ton with a 318 v8 and the truck pulls it fine. Powell is a 350 mi. trip each way with some wicked canyons and long grades to pull and I usually never get below 55 on even the worst of the grades. Utah is a very mountian filled place so almost anywhere I go involves a canyon or a grade of some sort. four years on this set up and no problems so far. Also some lakes here require a porta potty for any beach camping it's nice to have somewhere to put it instead of having to set up a shelter(just another thing to lug around). The way my bow is set up is nice because the hatch slides up about 1/2 way up the bow and the windshield is like a open bow style that you can open the center section so it makes entery pretty easy. I also made a small plywood box that I covered with carpet to act as a step to make entry easier.

 

[4Winns2]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

I have a 90' Four Winns 20 foot cuddy cabin with a 4.3 V6 OMC (no OMC comments, please).

I could sleep in a comfortable camp just 100 feet from my mooring but every weekend I'm sleeping in the cuddy. Nothing like being rocked to sleep after a movie on the portable DVD player and a few thousand beers.

Also, when you're lucky enough, the Admiral shows me another use for the cuddy. Love that boat and wish I were on her (the boat that is) right now.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

We love our cuddy! We've spent nearly 20 nights on her this summer. I would rate the comfort level about on par with sleeping in a small camper or tent w/air matress. Just make sure that the cuddy is long enough to lay down in. Many in this size range are not long enough. And I'm only 5'11".

The porta pot makes it easier all around for both the wife and myself. You can't always go into the water or head to the treeline.

I would recommend a walk though windshield for this style of boat. It makes bow access much easier. For beach access over the bow, carry a 3 step step-ladder with a rope tied to it for pulling it back up, or look for a wesbar stowaway ladder on ebay. They are hard to find and a bit expensive (mine was $125), but a great addition. See attached photos.
Step ladder and rope method in the middle.

Our new Wesbar 5 step ladder.


A full canvas set is very nice as well. It gives you more sheltered area than just the cuddy by itself. With screens, you can sit back and relax without getting eaten alive by bugs.


All that said, 3500lb towing is probably not enough. Our 21' weighs right around 4800lb on the trailer. Although an outboard would be lighter than our 454cid big block.

 

[Ravman]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

i just went from a 16.5' bowrider to a 1998 four winns 245 sundowner. the added convience of the cuddy is great, the kids seem to have more fun on the boat. myself, i really like it and the admiral wants to spend more time on the water which is always a bonus.

 

[Bunnerrabbit]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

Thanks for all the information, Let me add my trucks tow limit is 3500lbs but I have very few issues with going over it. Its a full size chevy v8 4x4 it just happen to have a 5 speed manual and that brings the tow rating way down. I only live 5 miles from the ramp and have a low gear to pull it out. I don't think I would burn the clutch up to much in 5 miles. Anyway I was backing away from the cuddy but you got me thinking about all the good things that could come of it. I may go look at that 1980 auqasport.

 

[Apathetic]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

We love our cuddy cabin. Too much really, because we are now looking at moving from our 20 foot Four Winns Liberator 201 to either a 30' Scarab II or a 34' Scarab III with more room.

Spending nights on a boat are a must with your SO, IMO, and we hope to do that even more in the new boat we hope to buy.

bekosh that is one beautiful boat, I really, really like the lines it has. I've been meaning to say that for a long time, lol.

 

[JDP]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

I was in the same boat sort a speak when I was looking for a new boat. My old boat was a 16' open bow tri-hull and it was really easy to get in and out of fron the front. When I found my current boat, a 19' Bayliner with the cuddy cabin I wasn't sure how well I would like it. Turns out we really like it. The kids love to get in the cuddy and stick their heads out the hatch. I also have the split windshield that gives me easy access to the bow of the boat and being able to store items that I would prefer not get wet really comes in handy.

 

[bekosh]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

bekosh that is one beautiful boat, I really, really like the lines it has. I've been meaning to say that for a long time, lol.

Thank you! We were really lucky to find her. In the 80's and 90's Wellcraft really made some beautiful cuddies & cruisers. The Eclipse, Nova, Scarab & Excalibers are all just gorgeous boats. To bad Wellcraft decided to build nothing but fishing boats now. It's just a crime that the Scarab is just another center counsol fishing boat now.

 

[Road Guy]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

We picked up a 20’ cuddy cabin late summer, have only been out a few times, but having 3 little kids I think it’s a definite bonus. Took the boys camping on it and they had a ball. I never thought about anything but a pure open bow ski boat before until we stumbled across this cuddy cabin, but I think for the time it was a good choice.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

for fishing i prefer a basic uncluttered center console, cuddys have there place, off shore, or the weekend camper. but for a day boat, i don't care for them. there fine in the winter, to get out of the cold for a while, but in the summer most are sweat boxes. you asked.

 

[flashback]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

yep I was gonna say that too, about the only thing there not good for is fishing... mine collects all the stuff you see laying around in a bow rider..I love mine, I don't fish much,,,,

 

[dingbat]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

I started out with a cuddy and graduated to a Walkaround. Now walking around the bow isn?t a problem and the protected and lockable storage in the cabin really comes in handy.

The cuddy also comes in handy for that sometimes needed mid-afternoon nap that comes from getting up at 4 am to be on the water at sun rise.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

I probably have one of the smallest cuddy cabins ever made. A 16ft Bayliner Capri. Enough space in the cuddy to fit two adults and two small kids if you were so inclinded. Also there is a portapotti.

The real reason I bought a cuddy is because everywhere we go, the kids fall asleep on the ride. So the cuddy is the perfect place for them to sit and play and fall asleep.

I am in the process if building a hard top for my cuddy to make it even more family oriented - keeps lunch and dinner out of the wind, easier to keep bugs out, sun out, etc. Plus, in the evening, the kids are asleep in the cuddy, and you and the MRS get some quiet time in the cabin, a walk on the beach or whatever.

We can still do everything else, jump from the swim platform, cast a rod, and sun on the front deck. Everything is just smaller or shorter, and that much easier to launch and retrieve at the end of the day when you are exhausted from a day on the water. And at only 85hp, it is easy on the gas.

If you are die hard fishing man, get the center console. If you are a family guy and just go out for a day on the water and beach, get the cuddy.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

mark, you cuddy has that nice big front hatch for ventilation also. some only have 2 little ports.

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: Do you like your cuddy cabin?

I would agree that if your main desire is to fish then a cuddy probably is not the ticket for you. But you mentioned you have very young kids right, try to be out on a lake with small kids in a c.c. Chances are you won't get much fishing in on your fishing boat. Most c.c. are not designed for comfort or family friendly trips to the lake. They are great boats don't get me wrong, but better suited for 3-4 adults to do some serious fishing in. I can troll three out of my cuddy just fine or still fish 4-5 easy. I have a few of those stadium seats I set on the bow for fishing and it works great. To put a few up there and out of eachothers way. I have a Z bar connected to my main outboard so I can drive from the wheel it makes it a lot easier when trolling. This is all just my opinion doesn't mean it is right just what I have observed. I love my cuddy but now that the kids are getting older and wanting to bring friends to the lake might go back to an open bow next year but we will see. The wellcraft has been a great boat hate to part with her but it's always nice to get a "newer" boat right.