Smallest Aft Cabin?

[mj05]

So what is the smallest aft cabin available (used)? Is there a such thing as a 20 - 22 footer? Just think a little cabin cruiser would be a perfect boat for a young family with an infant for a day (or more) on the water plus entertaining. It also wouldn't be too big for tubing in smaller lakes and trailering. Thanks in advance for your comments!!

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

I had a 1987 2150 Bayliner sunbridge aft-cabin. . I think that would be a good choice for ya.

Try to get one thats been in freshwater only.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

Ayuh,.... Aft cabin,..?? Here ya go,....

http://i191.photobucket.com/albums/z235/dekahler/Canoe 2008/PICT0036.jpg

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

Sea Ray also had a 21 aft cabin.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

sea ray 220 sundancer comes to mind.

keep in mind these are referred to as coffin cabins for a reason. also in the summer they are very hot when running the engines. most have limited ventilation and close proximity to engine.

 

[mj05]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

I had a 1987 2150 Bayliner sunbridge aft-cabin. . I think that would be a good choice for ya.

Try to get one thats been in freshwater only.

Sharp looking boat! Do you know what the latest model year was?

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

21 Carver Montego. And it doesn't feel small It's really about a 23'. I love mine. Quality build, easy to tow, capable in heavy weather, but only built from 88-1990. Mine still looks new. Hard to find, but I haven't found anything else lately that makes me want to trade up. The aft cabin market is pretty slim nowadays at under 25', I haven't heard of a manufacturer building one in quite awhile.

 

[mj05]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

21 Carver Montego. And it doesn't feel small It's really about a 23'. I love mine. Quality build, easy to tow, capable in heavy weather, but only built from 88-1990. Mine still looks new. Hard to find, but I haven't found anything else lately that makes me want to trade up. The aft cabin market is pretty slim nowadays at under 25', I haven't heard of a manufacturer building one in quite awhile.

Sounds like a nice boat! Does it have a V berth and/or a convertible dinette?

 

[mj05]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

sea ray 220 sundancer comes to mind.

keep in mind these are referred to as coffin cabins for a reason. also in the summer they are very hot when running the engines. most have limited ventilation and close proximity to engine.

definitely something to consider.... what's the smallest you'd go?

Hey Dockwrecker and summerfun.... did you notice these problems?

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

definitely something to consider.... what's the smallest you'd go?

Hey Dockwrecker and summerfun.... did you notice these problems?

personaly; i went with a 230 weekender. jills boat is a 310 sundancer. if you have small children or dont need to use the rear birth after you have been cruising.........no problem.

this is a good size if you have to trailer ect. wasn't trying to change your mind. just pointing out the 2 problems i knew about, and let you make up your mind whether it would be a problem for you.
i should have pointed out the coffin cabin, comes from the small size of aft birth these size boats tend to have. for a full sized adult its like, well....... laying down in a coffin. nothing dangerous or to do with dieing. if you travel or do water sports for any length of time before you want to sleep back there, thats when they get pretty warm (form engine heat). most of the aft cabin boats this size lack the room for a gen set and air conditioner. this aggravates the heat problem

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

Hey Dockwrecker and summerfun.... did you notice these problems?

Never on mine. There is a hatch that you can open to let alot of fresh air in just below the L bench seat ..

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

to answer one of your other question. sea ray had a 270 sundance ( but dont remember year for sure)
it had a front birth and galley table. it was only made for a couple of years. we looked at 2 differnt one last winter. one of the things we wanted when jill got a boat was a stand alone galley table and and front birth. this was the smallest we found, that you could leave and use both at the same time.

 

[mj05]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

personaly; i went with a 230 weekender. jills boat is a 310 sundancer. if you have small children or dont need to use the rear birth after you have been cruising.........no problem.

this is a good size if you have to trailer ect. wasn't trying to change your mind. just pointing out the 2 problems i knew about, and let you make up your mind whether it would be a problem for you.
i should have pointed out the coffin cabin, comes from the small size of aft birth these size boats tend to have. for a full sized adult its like, well....... laying down in a coffin. nothing dangerous or to do with dieing. if you travel or do water sports for any length of time before you want to sleep back there, thats when they get pretty warm (form engine heat). most of the aft cabin boats this size lack the room for a gen set and air conditioner. this aggravates the heat problem

Thanks for the info! What did you think about the 230?

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

well i love it. big **** pit for enjoying out side. full camper cover so nice to sleep back there in the summer when hot. lots more storage. as room isnt given over to rear birth area.

we tried the sundancer vervison of ours befor we bought and were happy we did. liked the weekender much better. real real long story short, thats the reason i now have a boat and jill has hers

 

[dockwrecker]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

Coffin cabin??? Mine sleeps two (but we're quite friendly!) Not big by any means, but the cabin is the full beam width at 8'6. You have to crawl into it but we find it cozy. It has a V-berth for two smallish peeps. Never been too hot in mine, it has an aft portal. Limited potty space, it uses a portable with thru hull fittings for pump out. Has an electric/alchohol single burner for a stove and a small AC/DC refrigerator. OK storage, headroom is comfortable at about 6'2". Not 4 star accomodations but comfortable for those used to camp trailer style overnights. Very good riding boat. Will do 40mph, cruises nicely in 2-3' chop at 25. I like it! Had it for 9 years now. No major problems.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

to answer one of your other question. sea ray had a 270 sundance ( but dont remember year for sure)
it had a front birth and galley table. it was only made for a couple of years. we looked at 2 differnt one last winter. one of the things we wanted when jill got a boat was a stand alone galley table and and front birth. this was the smallest we found, that you could leave and use both at the same time.

The 268 I assume your referring to? Larson had a 25'er with the seperate dinette and vberth, I believe Cruisers Inc might have done a 25'er as well. Bayliner had the 25'er with the wider beam that offered this set up.

It was one of the main things I was looking for when buying my boat. We like to use the dinette to eat, hang out, etc... and keep the Vberth made up for sleeping.

BTW I find in most of these smaller boats, they go with a full beam mid berth. Funny story, the aft cabin (coffin, whatever you want to call it) in my 29'er is actually shorter than the one in my old 27'er, and probably most small cruisers. I'm unsure why, but it only measures a bit over 6' and is a bit uncomfortable.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

no not a 286. they were 270's and i will ask jill if she remembers the year. was maybe late 90's to early 2000's and only produced for two years.

we were looking to go as big as we could, and stay as trailerable as we could.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

why no tlook at cuddy cabins instead? they fit well on smaller boats without the limitations of the aft cabin. The infant will be more visible, accessible and ventilated.

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

no not a 286. they were 270's and i will ask jill if she remembers the year. was maybe late 90's to early 2000's and only produced for two years.

we were looking to go as big as we could, and stay as trailerable as we could.

The 270 was made for a long time, but it was a 10' beam boat. The 268 was the 8.5 beam, made during the same period. These are older boats though, the newer ones as you mention I am not as familiar with.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Smallest Aft Cabin?

The 270 was made for a long time, but it was a 10' beam boat. The 268 was the 8.5 beam, made during the same period. These are older boats though, the newer ones as you mention I am not as familiar with.

jill cant remember the year for sure either.

we looked at 2 of the stupid thing and had deposit on one of them.

this was last winter. any way the beam on the one i'm talking about was 9'. it was a skinny looking 9 ft on the trailer though and i think you could have towed with no problem and not had to buy a permit.