Cuddy cabin with an Outboard?

zul

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Aug 24, 2015
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235
They make all kinds of boats, shapes and sizes. I've owned two boats in my adult years and we are wishing that we had purchased a cuddy last time around (chose open bow)... I've always been partial to outboards and would love to own a 150-200 hp 4-stroke.

Do they make a cuddy with an outboard?
 

Scott Danforth

Grumpy Vintage Moderator still playing with boats
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Jul 23, 2011
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47,529
Bilgliner made a few. Most of them not big enough to sleep in. A cuddy under 24' Will be cramped
 

airshot

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Jul 22, 2008
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Can't speak for new boats, but I have an older StarCraft Islander and absolutely love the boat. It is a 22' cuddy and plenty of fishing room, we typically just use the cuddy for the pota potty and storage as it is no fun to ride down there. I do know that Starcrat and their cousin Sylvan made cuddies with both I/O and outboard versions. The I/O version was more popular as less cost and better fuel economy in the day. The OB versions are out there but scarce...I have saw a few on the water but none for sale in my area. Being an aluminum hull the older models are not that difficult to do a complete resto.
 

82rude

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May 8, 2012
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Airshot have seen a couple around here also with 140hp rude or johnnys usually.I believe the islanders with the outboards are highly sought after now.
 

redneck joe

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Mar 18, 2009
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mine is more than a cuddy but not a 'cruiser' best of both worlds. I'm 5' 11" and can stand tall.
 

Old Ironmaker

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Dec 28, 2015
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There is a 20 or so foot Chris Craft with a 150 Yamaha outboard at our marina. I've never seen one other than it. Wish I could remember the model.
 

fishin98

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Nov 28, 2009
Messages
521
Most of the NEW Cuddy Cabin boats your going to find are mainly FISHING rigs. Cuddy Cabin users are a niche crowd. Many dealers don't want them as they can't sell them. I had a 2000 Bayliner Capri Cuddy 1802 with a 90Hp Merc. It had the full camper enclosure, owned it for 9 years, Great little boat, the wife and I slept in the cuddy more than a few times on overnite trips, we stayed at marina's with shower and bathroom facilities. I slept in it on overnite fishing trips my self many times. Finding a good used Cuddy with a O/B will take some time. Year 2000 and UP Prolines and Bayliner Trophies O/B's bring serious money. As some have mentioned Look for a decent Starcraft/Sylvan Pocket Cruiser(Islander) O/B and do a complete rehab. Remove the motor as most are JUNK and replace with a NEW/NEWER O/B. I would stay away from any I/O's as they become older they are a maintenance PITA....Just my 2cts
 

Old Ironmaker

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Dec 28, 2015
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3,050
Yes there are many Bayliner cuddy's with O/B's. Capri models there are many. I Googled cuddy outboards and there are some neat old Chris Crafts as well as older woodeys that are just beautiful.
 

oldboat1

Fleet Admiral
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Apr 3, 2002
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9,607
^^or old boats with old outboards. I had a '54 Trojan 20' cruiser for a number of years, with a period 35. Plywood hull and pretty easy restoration and maintenance.

Another option is to look for an I/O hull that you like and convert it to an outboard with a bracket, but there are outboard cuddies out there. Grady-White made a good one.
 
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