The term cuddy has been around since the seventeen hundreds in colonial America, and the word refers to a small cozy hut. The cuddy cabin was associated with a level of luxury not available to the people in steerage. In modern times a cuddy boat refers to a small boat with a sheltered cabin where one can sleep or stow a portable head and some drinking water.
Cuddy cabin boats typically weigh between 2,700 lbs to 6,750 lbs and are usually in the range of 18-25 feet. Cuddy cabins are a mix between a bow-rider and a cabin cruiser and have a weight to length ratio of 150 pounds per foot or boat length.
Cuddy cabin boats are ideal for overnight fishing trips in rivers, lakes, or near shore. The cabin does not allow standing headroom but does provide adequate sleeping berths and space for a portable toilet and some onboard storage and cooking amenities. Let’s look at several popular cuddy cabin boats available below $50,000.
Five Cuddy Cabin Boats Selling Below $50,000.
Cuddy cabins are popular for day trips or overnight trips. They are sporty and offer a level of luxury that is appropriate for all members of a family. They are ideal leisure boats and a good compromise between bow-riders and full cabin cruizers. We will start from the lowest price and work our way up.
You may notice that there are not any American manufacturers of boats. Most boats in America made by companies such as Sea Ray, Cobalt, Crownline, and others do not produce a cuddy cabin boat within these specs, but that start out at 26+ feet in length and are more of a cabin cruiser boat, not a day cuddy cabin boat.
Jeannau Cap Camarat 6.5 WA at $ 41,900
This award-winning boat is 21 feet and 7 inches long (6.6 meters), has a beam of 8 feet (2.5 meters), and a draft of 2 feet and two inches (0.6 meters). The boat weighs 2,315 lbs (1050 kg). A 200 HP Yamaha engine can propel the boat to speeds of 40 knots, and the fuel tank is 26.4 gallons (100 liters).
The cuddy cabin boasts two comfortable sleeping berths and a portable head with a chemical system to ensure odor control. The comfortable cockpit has an L-shaped bench seat offering ample storage. The stern offers an access gate to the water from a sizable swim platform. A recessed side deck and sundeck offers more leisure space and security.
Beneteau Flyer 8 Sundeck at $ 43,000
This design from Beneteau is 22 feet and 10 inches long (6.90 meters), a beam of 8 feet four inches (2.54 meters), and a draft of 2 feet and two inches (0.6 meters). The boat weighs 5,100 lbs (2,313 kg). A 345 HP engine can propel the boat to speeds of 43 knots, and the fuel tank is 90 gallons (340 liters).
The Flyer 8 Sundeck can comfortably accommodate ten people on board. The V-berth is fitted with a double berth, a separate head, and a small galley and fridge underneath the large sundeck. The aft seat in the cabin converts to a sun lounge, and the stern is fitted with a swim platform with stainless steel telescopic ladder.
Quicksilver Activ 605 Cruizer at $ 43,900
This Quicksilver Activ 605 boat is 19 feet and 8 inches long (6.0 meters), a beam of 7 feet 7 inches (2.34 meters), and a draft of 1 foot and six inches (0.48 meters). The boat weighs 2,367 lbs (1074 kg). A 150 HP Mercury engine can propel the boat to speeds of 40 knots, and the fuel tank is 35 gallons (160 liters).
A comfortable two berth cabin with a deck hatch for improved ventilation is also equipped with cleverly designed storage compartments and lighting. Options include a cabin-mounted fold-out drinks fridge. The head height in the cuddy cabin allows for a comfortable seating position.
Jeannau Cap Camarat 7.5 DC at $ 47,900
This model is the big brother to the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 6.5 WA and is 23 feet and 9 inches long (7.3 meters), a beam of 8 feet and four inches (2.54 meters), and a draft of 2 feet and two inches (0.6 meters). The boat weighs 2,315 lbs (1050 kg). A 300 HP Yamaha engine can propel the boat to speeds of 40 knots, and the fuel tank is 66 gallons (250 liters).
The boat can comfortably accommodate ten people and has a generous cuddy cabin with three berths, a separate head, and a built-in galley. This day cruiser can be configured to suit your every need and offers many additional options to add to the base design.
Yamarin 65 Day Cruizer at $ 49,000
Designed in partnership with Yamaha, the Yamarin 65 DC is 20 feet and 8 inches long (6.3 meters), a beam of 8 feet 2 inches (2.5 meters), and a draft of 1 foot and six inches (0.48 meters). The boat weighs 2,367 lbs (1074 kg). A 220 HP Yamaha engine can propel the boat to speeds of 48 knots, and the fuel tank is 37 gallons (140 liters).
The boat offers ample seating for seven people in the cockpit around a beautiful oak table. The standard cuddy cabin has three adult berths and the provision for optional features like a galley and head.
Conclusion
Cuddy Cabin boats or Day Cruisers are ideally designed for a day on the water with the whole family or an overnight fishing trip. These boats can accommodate up to ten people on board and offer the comfort of two or three sleeper berths, a built-in galley, and a chemical head.
The mass per foot boat length for a caddy boat averages about 150 pounds per foot. The five notes examples varied between 97.5 pounds per foot on the bottom end to 190 pounds per foot on the high side. The weight of the boats excludes the weight of the motor and trailer. These will have to be added to determine the towing capability required.
The five cuddy cabin boats’ websites in this review have more complete details on the technical information, options, and accessories that can be fitted. The prices quoted are for the base models without the costs of outboard motors and trailers.
