Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

[Evinrude_NooB]

Hi Everyone,

What do you think about this boat I found in the classified?

Owner says it's a 1993 Wellcraft Eclipse 196 SL. However, I could not find anything on the Wellcraft website. There's an Excel 20 SL I/O Cuddy, which this one looks like but I'm unable to confirm, yet.

Would this boat be able to go out on occasional trips on the Long Island Sound? If it's the 20 SL Cuddy, then it may meet my need to be trailer-able with my current vehicle. Although it would be too large to fit into the garage off season.

What do you think the price for this boat is if everything is ok and with minimum rehab to the interior?

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

Check the transom, floor, and stringers for rot-- motor passes a compression test-- about $1500 if the trailer is sound.

 

[jestor68]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

NADA is $3700 average retail and $3300 low retail including the trailer.

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

Around these parts that there would typically fetch $3500-4K.

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

Any ideas on the actual model of the Wellcraft? Is it the Excel 20 SL? That model has decent specs and is a bit lighter than the Eclipse 196 SC. Shorter range because of smaller tank and lower top speed. I don't care about any of that though, since it's a small difference.

It is significantly longer than my current Capri 15' open bow. Worries me about towing since it will be trailer. Boat slip costs too much around here. More than the price of a boat for one season and not nearly close enough to go out after work.

 

[DaveM]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

Eclipse 196 is not the same as Excel 20 SL, although both were built by Wellcraft. I believe there was also an Excel 196 SL as well. You won't find Wellcraft referenced anywhere on an Excel, except on the manufacturer's plate as it was marketed as its own brand. I am not sure of the difference between these 2, but may be like comparing a GMC truck to a Chevy.

Does this help? I didn't think so either.

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

Haven't inspected the boat myself. But the owner tells me Eclipse 196 SL is on the hull and I have no reason to not believe him. However, I'm unable to find any literature about this model on either the Wellcraft website or through the internet.

Thanks.

Eclipse 196 is not the same as Excel 20 SL, although both were built by Wellcraft. I believe there was also an Excel 196 SL as well. You won't find Wellcraft referenced anywhere on an Excel, except on the manufacturer's plate as it was marketed as its own brand. I am not sure of the difference between these 2, but may be like comparing a GMC truck to a Chevy.

Does this help? I didn't think so either.

 

[garbageguy]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

I have a 1998 Wellcraft 240SE. It is a solid, well-built boat. I don't know the Puget Sound, but when I'm on Lake Erie and it's choppy, I'm sure glad it's not any smaller. It is trailerable, but I don't do much of it, wouldn't really want to. If you value trailerability (is that a word?) over being able to go out in rougher conditions, staying in the 20-21 ft range might be what you want.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

A cuddy beats a bowrider for the Sound.

 

[Evinrude_NooB]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

I'm starting to question my "needing/wanting" to get a bigger boat, or even own a boat at all. Working full time puts a big dent into being about to use it. This season I went out no more than 6 times.

In fact, I sold one of my cars this year because it wasn't being used enough. It was costing me more to insure and register it. It was only being used less than 24 times a year for the past several years. Now I have a boat that's being used less than 10 times a year and thinking of buying an even bigger one.

Am I nuts?

A cuddy beats a bowrider for the Sound.

 

[Jonnybbad]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

Everyone is in their own special way... So my answer is yes. Your call on how important it is to you, can't help you there.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Wellcraft 20 ft Cuddy I/O

Depends upon where in the sound you want to go. I have taken a 15 footer from Mamaronek past LaGuardia and through Hells Gate. I have also circumnavigated Manhattan in it and believe me, the East river was the most difficult part of the trip. Real narrow at Roosevelt Island and lots of commercial traffic with big wakes.