Bowrider VS Cuddy for mostly day trips.....

[2kwik4u]

SO the GF (soon to be Admiral) and I were talking this past Sunday evening on our weekly cruise downtown to eat about future boats. We were discussing 5yr, 10yr, 25yr, and retirement plans. Pretty dry stuff to say it that way, but fun conversations come from it. We both agreed that after our first year of boating we are most likely going to have a boat of some form in/around our lives from this point forward. So that led us to "what kind of boat will we have?" question.

She likes the idea of a cuddy, or "small" cruiser to be in our future. I'm not real sure that  the cruiser or cuddy style of boat will really lend itself to our current boat usage.

To explain further, Most of our trips are with at least 3 people, usually 4-6. Our typical day of boating consists of putting in, then ski/tube for an hour or three. Once we're all tired of skiing/tubing we will go find a cove, or the local lake's dam area where we are sheltered from most of the wakes of other boats, and eat lunch/snack, and lounge around the boat for a few hours. Once we're all good and recharged, we head out and ski/tube for another few hours. At this point it's late afternoon, and we typically head for another cover, or the ramp to go home. I also need to add in that Wednesday night all summer has been "guys night on the lake" where me and 2-3 of my buddies go out right after work, and ski non-stop for 3-4hrs.

With all that said, I'm not sure where a cuddy or cruiser would fit into that scheme of boating. I think the cuddy is somewhat of a waste of space if we aren't overnighting, and even moreso a cruiser. I was thinking that we should consider looking at the larger bowriders. Mostly in the 23-24' range. Plenty of space for all of friends and ourselves so we can entertain, and enjoy the company without being cramped for space.

We have however been taking quite a few trips down the river lately by ourselves. It's usually been some form of "date night" and I pick her up with the boat in tow, and we put in up river, cruise downtown, dock, eat, and return back up river to the ramp. It's a quick little 2-3hr trip that doesn't cost us any more than going to dinner, the movies, and coffee afterwards. We've found this to be a TON more enjoyable as well. I can see adding to that putting in on a Friday night, cruising up to the local eatery, then heading further up river and anchoring then spending the night on the boat. While I don't think that would be a weekly ordeal, I could see it happening on a semi-regular basis if we had the capability. This is where a small cruiser or cuddy would fit the bill nicely.

SO.....I'd like to hear from those of you with big bowriders, small cuddys, and small (trailerable) cruisers. Do you guys think I could be happy doing some watersports behind a cuddy/cruiser? Thats a big part of my enjoyment on the boat, and I don't want to lose that capability. Do you think we would have enough versatility with a big bowrider? I don't think we'll be dropping our little 182 for several years, however looking ahead I'd kinda like to know where I'm pointed on my next boat. Is there any thoughts as to have a small cruiser, and our little 182 so we have the best of both worlds?!?!

Thanks in advance for any/all opinions.

[DaleM]

I have a 232 cuddy and since I boat Lake Michigan once in a while i wouldn't even consider a bowrider.  I also overnight quite a bit so it's been real nice for that.  The great thing about the cuddy is privacy when using the port-a-potti and it does offer some shade when none is available.  I have had my nieces crashed out in there several times after a long day of watersports.  It also provides a warm area in the event you try to stretch your boating season.  As for me I have tried to ski and tube behind it but it's just too much boat to enjoy unless you're "young".  Really loved skiing behind my bass boat.  Flatter wake and easier getting back to a fallen skier.

[Spacelord]

2Kwik4u,

Sounds to me like your current boat is great for what you are doing right now, and unless your priorities change probably your best boat.

If you get a cudy of similar size, you won't have nearly the space you have now for when you take out friends.  If it was just you and your girlfriend, the cutty would be more than adequate spacewise.

I'm a cruiser guy.. like the comforts and a place for the kids to relax and get out of the sun for a little bit.   When I get more than 4 people on my 270 I feel crowded when trying to get around in the cockpit.. but thats just me.. I like my space.  Its really not an issue once out on the hook since we are typically somewhere 3 feet deep and get get off the boat or hang out on the swim platform.

[bhoff]

I have a 192 (pretty much same boat as you).  However I have spent much time on the ohio river with a good friend of mine who has a 232 open bow.  The boat is great for watersports and handles the chop and barge wake on the river very well.  I don't think you'll be disappointed with something that size.  

As for overnighting, I do it all the time on my 192.  I ordered the canvas enclosure with it so me and the kids sleep on it.  It's not the most comforable thing, but it works out pretty well.  It does get stuffy under the enclosure, so I'm going to make a bow cover made from windo screen material to allow air into the boat and keep the bugs out.  I guess my point is that you can overnight on a bowrider, just not quite as comfortably as a cuddy.

[2kwik4u]

The 192 does serve our purpose quite well. The 3.0L is even acceptable for all of our watersports since most of them are in the ~25mph range, and with only 5-6 people on the boat TOPS it isn't that heavy. I'm hoping that the Smart Tabs will help even more while tubing for planing quicker, and using less throttle to stay on plane. We shall see I suppose.

At any rate, I'd love to be able to camp on our 192. I just don't think theres enough space to really lay down and sleep. If I wasn't 6'2" tall without shoes on, it might be a bit easier. I've been looking somewhat hard at the Yamaha Jet boats here recently. Aside from the high sticker price I really like the layout of the 230's. I've also been considering another Rinker with the R2 package on it. A nice 232 with a tower for boarding, and enough space to inflate a small air mattress on the floor, or accross the rear seats.....Do they make a camper enclosure for the 232 series that will fit over the tower? Perhaps I need to consider a larger bowrider, and having a custom canvas made to make it like a giant pop-up camper for when we want to camp on it?!?

My old roomate had a 22' Celebrity Cuddy. It was a nice boat, and I overnighted in it a few times. It was a HUGE pain to ski behind because it didn't plane very fast at all, however the wake was nice and big for boarding. When we did stay on it at the lake it was usually stifling hot inside the cuddy area, and we'd pretty much avoid that area at all costs during the day. Cooling off was better accomplished by floating in the water near land under some overhanging branches/etc. I like the idea of the cuddy alot, however I'm really scared I'll lose my watersports functionality, and not gain anything but cramped space with guests. At the same time i can easily see it as being a nice place for the soon to be admiral and myself to hang out in the spring/fall months when the water is too cold to play in, and we are making alot of trips with only 2-4 people on board total.

Would be nice to find the space of a bowrider with the overnighting capabilities of a cuddy......

I suppose in the end I need to sit back and see how our boating needs/wants develop over the next few years to see where we really need to move in terms of boat size/shape/capabilities.

[DaleM]

Although this sounds alittle out there, have you considered a pontoon or deck type boat?  Some of the newer pontoons have I/O power in them and are quite fast.  I do know a fellow on Shelbyville whose pontoon runs 65mph with twin 225 outboards.  Plenty of power, space and with a full canvas a virtual camper on the water.  Don't think you'll have the wake you'd like for wake boarding.

[Dan&Darci]

The admiral & I had a 22' Stingray deckboat (220DR) with camper canvas that we had customized with smileys (screened cutouts) and shades.  For accommodations we could inflate an air mattress over the bench in back with the filler pads in place.  It was great for two people.  It had running fresh water, a head with pumpout, and we bought several 12V appliances.  It would run 50 MPH+ with a Volvo 5.0 GXI SX (270HP) and was easy to ski and board behind.  

Something like that (Rinker 232 open bow perhaps) might work.  The tough part would be to find something that had the proper filler cushion area for the air mattress.  Good luck with your search - that's half the fun!

[mikesharlow]

I have a 232 Cuddy. Love it. You can tube or ski behind it and we typically have 4 adults and a couple kids abord without feeling crowded.  I like the fact that my wife and I can get away for a weekend and sleep on it. I believe the Rinker captiva series is an awesome boat regardless if you choose bowrider or cuddy. Good luck with your serach as thats half the fun

[2kwik4u]

Thanks for all the replies. However sometimes it seems as though we overlook the forest for the trees I suppose.

Was out on the lake Sunday with the GF. She comments on the high number of houseboats that were out of thier slips, presumably taking advantage of the last good day of the year for enjoyable weather and boating......

Then the thought hit her. Why don't we get one of those. Combined with a nice trailerable bowrider it would be nearly perfect for weekend getaways. Trailer the bowrider down to the lake, She can help me get the houseboat out of the slip, then she can follow in the runabout to whatever destination on the lake we're picking for the weekend. Would work out to have a nice "home base", and then go out enjoying our watersports in the runabout.

So now it's off to track down a reasonable priced, well cared for R2 and then start the savings account for the houseboat :D