Hi.

I'm looking for suggestions for a smallish trailerable boat that would
be suitable for brief overnights with my wife and two young (5 & 6
year-old) children. We'll mostly be doing day trips (tubing/skiing and
some fishing), but would like to be able to do the occasional
close-to-home "camping". I don't see us doing more than one night on
the water very often, if at all. Realistically, the cabin will be used
mostly for the kids to nap & escape from rain, but we do want to be
able to spend the night now & then.

FWIW, a swim platform is almost a necessity.

We're a tight family, and can easily sleep in a king size bed together,
so cramped quarters aren't a big concern. Headroom needs to accomodate
the kids, but Mommy & Daddy only really need use it horizontally.


We'll be launching on the Magothy River (a few minutes from the
Chesapeake Bay), about a mile from home, so don't expect to spend much
time dragging the boat behind my truck, but it does need to be on a
trailer when not in use.

Thanks in advance.


P.S. What's the difference between a 'cuddy cabin' and a 'cabin cruiser'?
--
kevin c smith
http://centricle.com

On 2004-08-02 01:09:45 -0400, kevin c smith said:

[some stuff]

Please tell me this Usenet client (Unison) wraps outgoing posts by
default. I ran through the preferences, but couldn't find the option,
so just *assumed* it'd be okay. Viewing my message as it came back to
me from the server, it looks like the client just soft-wrapped in the
editing window.

Sorry, if that's the case...
--
kevin c smith
http://centricle.com

I've got a 1900 Bayliner Cutty. It has a porta potty and can sleep 2 ad and
2 child. I think that you can make it on a 19 or 20 footer.


"kevin c smith" wrote in message
news:2004080201094568599%thesmith@gmailcom...
Hi.

I'm looking for suggestions for a smallish trailerable boat that would
be suitable for brief overnights with my wife and two young (5 & 6
year-old) children. We'll mostly be doing day trips (tubing/skiing and
some fishing), but would like to be able to do the occasional
close-to-home "camping". I don't see us doing more than one night on
the water very often, if at all. Realistically, the cabin will be used
mostly for the kids to nap & escape from rain, but we do want to be
able to spend the night now & then.

FWIW, a swim platform is almost a necessity.

We're a tight family, and can easily sleep in a king size bed together,
so cramped quarters aren't a big concern. Headroom needs to accomodate
the kids, but Mommy & Daddy only really need use it horizontally.


We'll be launching on the Magothy River (a few minutes from the
Chesapeake Bay), about a mile from home, so don't expect to spend much
time dragging the boat behind my truck, but it does need to be on a
trailer when not in use.

Thanks in advance.


P.S. What's the difference between a 'cuddy cabin' and a 'cabin cruiser'?
--
kevin c smith
http://centricle.com

Sorry...just realized that you want kids standing upright. Not gonna happen
in my 1900. When I had a 25' SeaRay, they could have stood upright. If you
pull the center cushions in my 1900, they can stand in the bilge well, which
is always dry, except under extraordinary circumstances.


"kevin c smith" wrote in message
news:2004080201094568599%thesmith@gmailcom...
Hi.

I'm looking for suggestions for a smallish trailerable boat that would
be suitable for brief overnights with my wife and two young (5 & 6
year-old) children. We'll mostly be doing day trips (tubing/skiing and
some fishing), but would like to be able to do the occasional
close-to-home "camping". I don't see us doing more than one night on
the water very often, if at all. Realistically, the cabin will be used
mostly for the kids to nap & escape from rain, but we do want to be
able to spend the night now & then.

FWIW, a swim platform is almost a necessity.

We're a tight family, and can easily sleep in a king size bed together,
so cramped quarters aren't a big concern. Headroom needs to accomodate
the kids, but Mommy & Daddy only really need use it horizontally.


We'll be launching on the Magothy River (a few minutes from the
Chesapeake Bay), about a mile from home, so don't expect to spend much
time dragging the boat behind my truck, but it does need to be on a
trailer when not in use.

Thanks in advance.


P.S. What's the difference between a 'cuddy cabin' and a 'cabin cruiser'?
--
kevin c smith
http://centricle.com

A cuddy cabin is a term most appropriately applied to a runabout with
minimal accomodations under the foredeck. Thinking of quarters so small that
folks are forced to "cuddle" may present a useful image, but the origin of the
word is a corruption of the French "cahute", (or "little hut"), and/or the Olde
English word "cub", (meaning "shed").

The most common usage for the term
"cabin cruiser" is to describe boats with an enclosed cabin projecting above
the sheer line.

Power boats with more accomodations than a minimal area uder the foredeck but
no enclosed cabin protruding well above the deck or sheer line more generally
fall into the "express cruiser" category.

None of the categories are absolute, with some boats fuzzing across the
definitions.
Exceptions abound, and my remarks should be considered a rough guide rather
than an immutable absolute.

**********



Really support our troops. Join "Soldiers for The Truth". http://www.sftt.org/

On Mon, 2 Aug 2004 01:09:45 -0400, kevin c smith
wrote:

What's the difference between a 'cuddy cabin' and a 'cabin cruiser'?

===========================

Chuck Gould gave you a good definition. My recommendation would be a
cuddy cabin model in the 22 to 24 ft range. I'd add "camper canvas"
for the cockpit area so you could sleep 2 people in the cuddy on
V-berths and 2 more under the canvas. It would be tight but OK once
in a while for a weekend or so. Good used cuddys in this size range
are frequently available for less than $10K USD. Figure on another
$3k to $5K for camper canvas and some minimal upgrades. Get a survey
report, especially for the engine, stringers, cockpit floor and
transom.

I have a 20' Four Winns Sundowner with cuddy purchased for exactly the uses
you describe - same number of family members etc. We have a camper canvas
top, and a porta-potti (with pumpout) both of which to us are necessities
esp when overnighting.
My wife & I sleep in the cuddy and the kids under the camper top which has
screens and canvas covers for privacy. There is not much room for anyone
else in the cuddy and we are only average sized people. We all spend the
evening under the camper (which is very roomy - 6' head room) playing games
etc or on shore. There is bench seat at the back to serve as a bed and the
two back-to-back seats fold down into beds - easily sleeping 5.

As for the other uses you describe - again this boat is perfect. Lots of
power, the cuddy provides a place to get changed into your swim suit, use
the toilet, store your skis/tube/pump etc etc. I agree the swim platorm get
lots of use. When it is especially hot, I put up the camper top without the
sides to provide some shade.

This sized boat is easily trailerable - launch and recovery takes only 2-3
minutes each. The only issue is headroom - you won't be able to (even a
child) standup in the cuddy. There is probably only 3- 31/2 (guessing) feet
of clearance over the bed. Mind you, I don't think you need more. You will
likely only be sitting or lying in there. If it is raining - put up the
camper top (a good Sunbrella top doesn't leak much) and sit out in the boat.

Hope that helps. We just spent a week on the Rideau Canal in ours and it
suited our purposes perfectly. We slept in it, fished off it, swam off it,
tubed behind it.........good luck
Jim



"kevin c smith" wrote in message
news:2004080201094568599%thesmith@gmailcom...
Hi.

I'm looking for suggestions for a smallish trailerable boat that would
be suitable for brief overnights with my wife and two young (5 & 6
year-old) children. We'll mostly be doing day trips (tubing/skiing and
some fishing), but would like to be able to do the occasional
close-to-home "camping". I don't see us doing more than one night on
the water very often, if at all. Realistically, the cabin will be used
mostly for the kids to nap & escape from rain, but we do want to be
able to spend the night now & then.

FWIW, a swim platform is almost a necessity.

We're a tight family, and can easily sleep in a king size bed together,
so cramped quarters aren't a big concern. Headroom needs to accomodate
the kids, but Mommy & Daddy only really need use it horizontally.


We'll be launching on the Magothy River (a few minutes from the
Chesapeake Bay), about a mile from home, so don't expect to spend much
time dragging the boat behind my truck, but it does need to be on a
trailer when not in use.

Thanks in advance.


P.S. What's the difference between a 'cuddy cabin' and a 'cabin cruiser'?
--
kevin c smith
http://centricle.com

JGW, thanks for a good post.
I would have thought 20' too small. Evidently, not.


"JGW" wrote in message
...
I have a 20' Four Winns Sundowner with cuddy purchased for exactly the
uses
you describe - same number of family members etc. We have a camper canvas
top, and a porta-potti (with pumpout) both of which to us are necessities
esp when overnighting.
My wife & I sleep in the cuddy and the kids under the camper top which has
screens and canvas covers for privacy. There is not much room for anyone
else in the cuddy and we are only average sized people. We all spend the
evening under the camper (which is very roomy - 6' head room) playing
games
etc or on shore. There is bench seat at the back to serve as a bed and
the
two back-to-back seats fold down into beds - easily sleeping 5.

As for the other uses you describe - again this boat is perfect. Lots of
power, the cuddy provides a place to get changed into your swim suit, use
the toilet, store your skis/tube/pump etc etc. I agree the swim platorm
get
lots of use. When it is especially hot, I put up the camper top without
the
sides to provide some shade.

This sized boat is easily trailerable - launch and recovery takes only 2-3
minutes each. The only issue is headroom - you won't be able to (even a
child) standup in the cuddy. There is probably only 3- 31/2 (guessing)
feet
of clearance over the bed. Mind you, I don't think you need more. You will
likely only be sitting or lying in there. If it is raining - put up the
camper top (a good Sunbrella top doesn't leak much) and sit out in the
boat.

Hope that helps. We just spent a week on the Rideau Canal in ours and it
suited our purposes perfectly. We slept in it, fished off it, swam off it,
tubed behind it.........good luck
Jim



"kevin c smith" wrote in message
news:2004080201094568599%thesmith@gmailcom...
Hi.

I'm looking for suggestions for a smallish trailerable boat that would
be suitable for brief overnights with my wife and two young (5 & 6
year-old) children. We'll mostly be doing day trips (tubing/skiing and
some fishing), but would like to be able to do the occasional
close-to-home "camping". I don't see us doing more than one night on
the water very often, if at all. Realistically, the cabin will be used
mostly for the kids to nap & escape from rain, but we do want to be
able to spend the night now & then.

FWIW, a swim platform is almost a necessity.

We're a tight family, and can easily sleep in a king size bed together,
so cramped quarters aren't a big concern. Headroom needs to accomodate
the kids, but Mommy & Daddy only really need use it horizontally.


We'll be launching on the Magothy River (a few minutes from the
Chesapeake Bay), about a mile from home, so don't expect to spend much
time dragging the boat behind my truck, but it does need to be on a
trailer when not in use.

Thanks in advance.


P.S. What's the difference between a 'cuddy cabin' and a 'cabin
cruiser'?
--
kevin c smith
http://centricle.com

Thanks - and nope - not for us. I should also point out that my kids are not
small (13 & 16) yet it is still plenty.
When we bought it, I was convinced I needed more in the 22-24' range for the
added sleeping & galley room. My wife & daughter talked me out of it, as we
don't overnight on it a lot, mostly using the cuddy to store our tent and
sleeping bags for shore camping, and the ease of trailering a 20' boat is a
bonus (my 13 YO daughter & I can launch and recover it easily ourselves).
Happy boating.

"William G. Andersen" wrote in message
news:WaDPc.514$yh.442@fed1read05...
JGW, thanks for a good post.
I would have thought 20' too small. Evidently, not.


"JGW" wrote in message
...
I have a 20' Four Winns Sundowner with cuddy purchased for exactly the
uses
you describe - same number of family members etc. We have a camper
canvas
top, and a porta-potti (with pumpout) both of which to us are
necessities
esp when overnighting.
My wife & I sleep in the cuddy and the kids under the camper top which
has
screens and canvas covers for privacy. There is not much room for anyone
else in the cuddy and we are only average sized people. We all spend the
evening under the camper (which is very roomy - 6' head room) playing
games
etc or on shore. There is bench seat at the back to serve as a bed and
the
two back-to-back seats fold down into beds - easily sleeping 5.

As for the other uses you describe - again this boat is perfect. Lots
of
power, the cuddy provides a place to get changed into your swim suit,
use
the toilet, store your skis/tube/pump etc etc. I agree the swim platorm
get
lots of use. When it is especially hot, I put up the camper top without
the
sides to provide some shade.

This sized boat is easily trailerable - launch and recovery takes only
2-3
minutes each. The only issue is headroom - you won't be able to (even a
child) standup in the cuddy. There is probably only 3- 31/2 (guessing)
feet
of clearance over the bed. Mind you, I don't think you need more. You
will
likely only be sitting or lying in there. If it is raining - put up the
camper top (a good Sunbrella top doesn't leak much) and sit out in the
boat.

Hope that helps. We just spent a week on the Rideau Canal in ours and it
suited our purposes perfectly. We slept in it, fished off it, swam off
it,
tubed behind it.........good luck
Jim



"kevin c smith" wrote in message
news:2004080201094568599%thesmith@gmailcom...
Hi.

I'm looking for suggestions for a smallish trailerable boat that would
be suitable for brief overnights with my wife and two young (5 & 6
year-old) children. We'll mostly be doing day trips (tubing/skiing
and
some fishing), but would like to be able to do the occasional
close-to-home "camping". I don't see us doing more than one night on
the water very often, if at all. Realistically, the cabin will be
used
mostly for the kids to nap & escape from rain, but we do want to be
able to spend the night now & then.

FWIW, a swim platform is almost a necessity.

We're a tight family, and can easily sleep in a king size bed
together,
so cramped quarters aren't a big concern. Headroom needs to accomodate
the kids, but Mommy & Daddy only really need use it horizontally.


We'll be launching on the Magothy River (a few minutes from the
Chesapeake Bay), about a mile from home, so don't expect to spend much
time dragging the boat behind my truck, but it does need to be on a
trailer when not in use.

Thanks in advance.


P.S. What's the difference between a 'cuddy cabin' and a 'cabin
cruiser'?
--
kevin c smith
http://centricle.com