I’m “in the market” for a 23’-26’ cuddy cabin fishing boat. I don’t want a “family cruiser” and I don’t want your standard cabin cruiser. I want something with a hard top and lots of fishing room in the back with the luxuries of a cabin/sink/stove/head down below.
The more I’m out, the more I realize how nice it would be to have a cabin. I SWORE I’d own NOTHING but center consoles, but now that I have a kid, and my wife spends even more time on board, I think a cuddy cabin boat would be great.
It would offer some shade, give some luxuries while we are out playing on the lake, and it would also make a nice offshore fishing boat.
So – just wondering if anyone had such a beast, and if so, what are your likes/dislikes? What do you wish it had or didn’t have? Any regrets on the purchase? If you’d fished a larger CC before, would you go back to it or stick with the cuddy?
Yeah, somethin’ like that, but a little “older”. I’m really setting my ceiling at about $25k tops. Also, that’s a “walk around” (WA) and I think I’d rather prefer the cuddy because it seems to be less wasted space.
Having said that, the above link provides a sweet-ass boat!
USMCSilver - I don’t know how to put the link on here but check Craigslist. There is a 24’, 1998 or 99, Grady WA for about $24900. Would be great for what you are talking about. It looks outfitted for fishing but has the space for the family to stay in the shade and dry. I think it is in Georgetown. It has been listed for sometime because the price started at 29900 but came down a couple weeks ago. I just bought a 23’ SeaPro WA and the wife loves it.
SeaPro 23 WA Yam 225
High Tide 16 Honda 40
Key West 17’ Stealth Yam 115
Find a 70’s era Seacraft Tsunami or Sceptre with a top…23’, small cuddy with mostly deck space, especially if fitted with a bracket. I like the Tiara Pursuit 25 footers too…there have a been a couple on THT. There was one in Jacksonville for less than $20 that looked very nice by a poster named G-rod.
I have a 24’ WAC I/O with a kicker…you’re right in that the cabin is largely wasted…it’s genrally too hot to stay in it when you have the shade of a hard top. I get great economy from the I/O but next boat will have twins (this limits the choices in a 23’ boat). I think the layout of the two boats in the links above is about perfect…however, they have limited storage space unless you use the cabin, they don’t have big in floor fish boxes (but they have the deck space for a big cooler).
The seacraft has a “legendary” ride for it’s size…bt finding one fitted like you want can be a challenge. There’s also a GW 25’ model that I think was called a Dolphin…similar layout with small cuddy and lots of open deck space.
Theirs a guy in mt.pleasant selling a 26’ pursuit with twins Johnson’s, good looking boat for around 17. i just bought a 26’ Quest cuddy cabin, going from a center console to a cuddy. Big difference, lots of pro’s and con’s but all in all you will like it. He had it on craigslist, search pursuit and you’ll probably see it pop up. Good luck
You don’t want this one!!!
Last year i went and looked at this… It was not ran in 3 years when i went and checked it out. They may have fixed it up, but i would stay clear.
2502 trophy twin thirsty 175 mercs
“The Rum Runner”
Anybody want to sell there used 150-175 4 strokes? I am in the market.
That one really caught my eye, but it figures that something may be wrong with it.
Thanks for all the help and opinions. I just got slapped with a HUGE surgery bill for my 5 month old, so I really can’t/won’t jump on something unless it’s the “deal of a lifetime”, if ya know what I mean…
Here’s what I’m getting when I get my money right. Has more room inside that a cuddy or walk-around and still plenty of fishing room. Proline 23’ Pilothouse; and I think the girl comes with it.
I have a 2005 Wellcraft 232 coastal posted in classifieds. Very similar to the Proline but not a pilot house. Both manufactures are owned by the same parent company so the features are similar. PM if interested.
I had several center consoles growing up fishing offshore in Chas, a Mako and the first 24’ Hydrasport with the 24 Degree deadrise, all great boats but I have since owned two walk around cabin Hydrasports and love them both. The first was pre-kids back in early 90’s and the 25’ WA had the same 24 degree deadrise and had a great ride but very little stability. Cabin was used to store fishing gear and catch naps on the way home but hard to access. I now own the 255 WA that was made in the Stratos factory in Tennessee. It is a very well built boat with a wider beam, larger cabin that has 6’ headroom, bathroom, kitchen area and a bunk under where you drive.
Here are pros for me:
We spend 3 trips at beach for every one offshore, the cabin provides shelter from summer storms, too much sun, and a much needed bathroom for the girls!
Fishing room in the back is twice that of a similar sized center console. I fish 7 lines with no problem and can fish 8 if it’s calm enough. Outrigger and center riggers on hard top.
Taking kids offshore is much easier with a cabin. I had 4 kids this past Monday and 4 more on Wed offshore with 2 adults each day and the boat did great. I use the co-captain’s chair as a fighting chair for the kids keeps them out of the cockpit while fighting a fish.
A boat cruise is much nicer when you have the cabin as everyone can gather in the back of the boat out of the direct wind. In center consoles most will end up in the front where the room is.
My boat has the large Armstrong motor bracket. I recommend this as it creates much more space in the cockpit.
I highly recommend the WA vs. the standard cuddy. My kids and all their friends spend a ton of time on the front of the boat while at beach or fishing. I have cushions up there for the lady’s to layout when we cruise as well.
CONS
Will not ride as well as 24 degree deadrise Center Consoles. Two reasons are that you drive the boat from about 6’ farther forward than a similar sized CC and you sit higher off the water
Let me show my ignorance – why is that not considered a cuddy cabin? That boat is bad-ass! Price?
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'99 Scout 175CC Sportfish
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This is a Cuddy Cabin
http://www.boattrader.com/listing/1999-CONTENDER-31-Cuddy-Cabin-95017879
These other boats are Walk Arounds, not Cuddies. Except the Proline. That is a Pilot House.
