A cuddy cabin boat is a great choice if you want to head out onto the water with friends and family. Cuddy cabin boats are available in dozens of styles and lengths from several manufacturers. The cuddy cabin boat varies in length, between 18 to 24-feet, giving you plenty of options for any boating activity.
The cuddy cabin is one of the more popular alternatives to bowriders, and they can carry up to eight or nine people, depending on the size of the watercraft. Go fishing or enjoy watersports with your cuddy cabin; you have options to set your boat up to suit your activities and lifestyle needs.
The cuddy cabin is a trailerable boat for the smaller models, but the larger boats won’t fit on a trailer, requiring a spot at your local slip for storage. You get various propulsion options and a V-shaped hull to slice through the water at high speed while maintaining excellent stability.
Is the cuddy cabin the right choice for your watercraft? This post unpacks everything you need to know about cuddy cabin boats.
Contents
What Is a Cuddy Cabin Boat?
The cuddy cabin gets its name from the nautical term “cuddy.” Initially, the word cuddy described a small room or cupboard on the boat, allowing the driver and passengers to get out of the rain and weather.
However, as design concepts around these boats changed over the decades, the “cuddy” spaces started getting bigger. Today, you have a range of cuddy cabin designs, from small spaces that suit one or two people to large cuddy’s that can house six people or more, depending on the size of the boat.
The cuddy area can be simple, with just a bench and extra storage space, or it can be a luxury cuddy equipped with beds, couches, TVs, music systems, and couches. These boats range in price, and the top-end luxury models cost a packet.
The cuddy cabin boat creates a combination of a bowrider and a cabin cruiser, giving you a hybrid model with plenty of undercover storage. You get the stability and maneuverability of the bowrider with the undercover storage or living area provided by the cabin boat.
If you’re going out on a fishing trip, you can stay overnight in the cabin in the boat, keeping you out on the water for longer. These boats are suitable for fishing, entertaining, or watersports, with several configurations for seating wakeboard poles, rear swim platforms to make it easy to get in and out of the water, and a range of motor options.
Benefits of Cuddy Cabin Boats
A cuddy cabin boat has several advantages for all watersports activities, fishing, and just enjoying time out on the water. The closed below-deck design of the cuddy cabin is a direct contrast to the open-plan layout of the bowrider or fishing boat.
Some of the top advantages of owning a cuddy cabin boat include the following.
Speed and Handling
Thanks to the deep-V hull on the cuddy cabin, you get exceptional stability and high-performance, with excellent turning radius and maneuverability. The cuddy cabin is ideal for a dynamic cruising experience.
Additional Storage
The cuddy cabin offers you some of the best storage facilities for any boat. Pack your fishing gear, food, and other equipment into the boat without compromising on space.
Amenities
Cuddy cabins come with plenty of amenities, including lounges, sleeping areas, stereos, TVs, and skylights in the V-berth, allowing light into the cuddy cabin. Choose anything from a basic setup to a luxury model, depending on your budget.
Most Models are Trailerable
Most of the cuddy cabin models are trailerable, allowing you to take them to spots inland or on the coast. However, some of the larger models might not be suitable for trailering. Ask your sales consultant about how to transport your boat.
Suitable for Fishing and Watersports
The cuddy cabin can do everything. It’s suitable for fishing, watersports, or just cruising. Most models are ideal for both freshwater and saltwater use. The deep hull provides plenty of stability out on the open ocean when fishing inshore.
Various Motor Setups
The cuddy cabin boat features many motor configurations to suit your budget and your needs. Typically, the cuddy cabin comes with a jet engine, outboard, or sterndrive setup. Most cuddy cabin boats feature high-performance engines, and they are a great choice if you like watersports, giving you plenty of speed.
Cuddy cabin boats may also feature outboard motors or an outboard/inboard configuration (I/O system). If you don’t have any idea about the right engine for your boat, speak to a sales consultant about the differences between each motor design.
Several Size Options
The cuddy cabin comes in many designs, lengths, and styles. Typically, the average cuddy cabin model ranges from 18 to 24-feet, with some longer models available.
Accessories
Cuddy cabin boats often come with accessories like sun pads, swimming platforms, and sun shades. Adding accessories will dramatically increase the cost of the boat.
However, you have so many options to customize your vessel, giving you anything from a basic to a luxury setup.
Disadvantages of Cuddy Cabin Boats
While the cuddy cabin has plenty of advantages, it also has a few drawbacks to consider before making your purchase.
Expensive Price Tags
Depending on the brand and the customizations you make to the boat, you could spend from $50,000 to $500,000 on your cuddy cabin model. These boats also tend to retain their value, provided you maintain them.
Limited Standing Room
The cuddy is typically a small space, and even the larger models require you to bend down when entering the cuddy area.
Since the cuddy is large, it limits deck space, and you won’t get as many passengers on the boat as you would with a bowrider model.
Large Engines and More Fuel
Cuddy cabin boats feature powerful motors that love drinking fuel. So, you’ll need to plan for the right fuel tank size to meet your needs; the last thing you need is to get stuck out on the water with no fuel.
However, you get excellent performance out of these boats, with enough power to handle any situation on the water. The large engines also make the vessel ideal for watersports activities.
Limited Options for Air Conditioning
Some luxury models come with air conditioning for the cuddy. However, most models don’t offer this feature. As a result, the cuddy can get stuffy, especially with more than one person sleeping in the cabin.
However, those models with air-conditioning provide a crisp living environment, allowing you to escape the humidity in the evening as you sleep onboard the vessel.
Limited Bow Access
Since the V-berth on the cuddy is so large, you have limited access to the bow. Some models may allow you to stand on the bow to cast or enjoy lying in the sun. However, it depends on the design and the size of the V-berth on the boat.
However, some models come with bows that allow sun tanning and swimming platforms extending from the rear of the boat for easy access and exiting the water.
Limited Seating
While the cuddy usually provides ample room for sleeping, it also limits the amount of deck space. As a result, you won’t get as many passengers on the boat as you would with a bowrider.
If you’re looking for a boat to carry as many people as possible, it’s a better idea to go with a bowrider model. The V-berth can usually accommodate anywhere up to four to six people, depending on the boat’s length and the size of the v-berth.
Not the Best Choice for Fishing
The cuddy cabin is a great boat for watersports, but it lacks the deck space for full casting. However, some models come equipped for fishing, so browse around for a cuddy cabin model that suits your activities on the water.
Top Cuddy Cabin Boat Brands
There are several leading manufacturing brands producing cuddy cabin boats. If you’re looking for a high-quality brand you can trust on the water, we recommend going with one of the following options for your boat.
Bayliner 642 & VR5
Bayliner is the leading brand in cuddy cabin boats. Bayliner offers you a range of lengths and V-berth setups to suit your needs.
The Bayliner 642 model comes with all the luxury fittings and customizations you need for watersports, fishing, and cruising.
The newer VR5 model is also an excellent option for a bigger boat. The VR5 features a broader beam than the 642, and you get more space in the V-berth but a smaller standing area on the deck. The VR5 can carry up to eight people, making it a good choice for family boats or party vessels.
The VR5 features outboard motors with plenty of storage for spending long stretches out on the water.
The Cormate T24
The Cormate T24 has a design for speed and maneuverability. This Norwegian manufacturing brand has one of the best reputations in the industry, and it’s well-known for its luxury options. The build quality is fantastic, and you get an amazing operator experience when driving the boat.
This premium model offers you a center console configuration for 360-degree viewing, and the race-adapted hull features a 25-degree deadrise for slicing through the water at high speed without compromising stability.
The standard model can reach speeds up to 40 to 50-knots. The supersport model is a great choice for boaters that want more power from the vessel. The supersport comes with a 350-hp motor capable of reaching speeds up to 54-knots.
The vessel also features a convertible sun pad running from the aft to the fore of the boat, and you get a combination of a useable v-berth, along with a sheltered foredeck with a deepset sunbathing area. While it’s a fantastic boat, this luxury model is expensive, and you can expect to pay for the privilege of owning one of these outstanding boats.
Sting 610 Cuddy Cabin Powerboat
Sting is another Norwegian brand making an impact on the cuddy cabin market. The Sting 610 features design from Espen Thorup and all boats built in Poland, focusing on high-quality components and elegant design.
The 610 DC offers you a mature, solid feel to the boat that’s a step-up from the average compact cuddy cabin boat. The Sting is also an affordable model, offering great value for money considering the fittings and customizations available for this watercraft.
The 610 DC also has a roomy cabin with a fulsome forward hull. The driving cockpit has unstinting seating, and you get a 150-hp outboard motor capable of reaching speeds up to 43-knots. It’s a great choice for watersports, fishing, or cruising.
Considering the affordable price tag compared to other models with the same customizations, the 610 is a great buy.
Jeanneau Cap Camarat Cuddy Cabin
Jeanneau is a well-established luxury brand, and the arrival of the BR line in 2017 brings you a new configuration to the older Jeanneau models like the center console, day cruiser, and walkaround models.
The 6.5 WA model is still one of the most sought-after premium-quality cuddy cabin boats available. The 6.5 WA relaces the 6.5 DC as the flagship model in the range, offering you more freedom of movement in the V-berth, as well as more deck space and an attractive bow section.
With a 20-year manufacturing history, Jeanneau brings you top-quality boats you can trust out on the water in all conditions.
Wrapping Up
If you enjoy taking extended fishing trips, the cuddy cabin offers you a great option for overnighting on the water. The v-berth can provide you with a full living area, complete with everything you need to stay out on the lake or the ocean for as long as you want.
While the luxury models have hefty price tags, there are plenty of options for functional but affordable models from several manufacturing brands.
