BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

Hi guys

I'm thinking of selling my Bayliner 2052 cuddy to buy a bowrider.I've
never had or been in one.

I was wondering the thoughts of the members here what you guys think
of bowriders.

In the past,i've had the occasional night on board but now the cuddy
seems to be used for storage and
a lot of wasted space,although great for the toilet use.
I rather like the idea of being able to sit up front with nothing
infront to block the view and to achieve a little more floor space for
friends rather than all sitting at the back.
So, any pro's and cons.I'm talking trailerable 20-22 foot. Does it
perhaps get a bit too cold to sit up front as your going along?,too
bouncy a ride? too wet from splash?

Any thoughts would be greatful

Thankyou
Simon

BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

gilly wrote:
Hi guys

I'm thinking of selling my Bayliner 2052 cuddy to buy a bowrider.I've
never had or been in one.

I was wondering the thoughts of the members here what you guys think
of bowriders.

In the past,i've had the occasional night on board but now the cuddy
seems to be used for storage and
a lot of wasted space,although great for the toilet use.
I rather like the idea of being able to sit up front with nothing
infront to block the view and to achieve a little more floor space for
friends rather than all sitting at the back.
So, any pro's and cons.I'm talking trailerable 20-22 foot. Does it
perhaps get a bit too cold to sit up front as your going along?,too
bouncy a ride? too wet from splash?

Any thoughts would be greatful

Thankyou
Simon



How do you use your boat inland lake, great lake, or sea ?
We live on a small inland lake (although the biggest in 3 surrounding
counties)
We would not have anything but a bowrider.
You can get a little wet when its choppy out but when your out there
to tube your going to get wet anyways right?
In my opinion its no colder in the bow then it is in the cockpit.
All my kids (I have 6) fight to be in the bow when we go out

BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

On Sep 20, 5:16 pm, gilly wrote:
Hi guys

I'm thinking of selling my Bayliner 2052 cuddy to buy a bowrider.I've
never had or been in one.

Got "mine" last season. Main benefit ...my wife liked our friends' so
much, she chipped in 1/3 the cost towards "ours".

Other benefits ... I trailer the boat ... it's real easy to run it up
onto the trailer, go forward, climb out, winch. Extra seating. With a
passenger up front, the ride is smoother, on plane faster and runs on
plane at lower RPMs. Handy for fishing. And the passengers up front
get a laugh (read splash) if I hit a wake slow and just right. And
there is a cover for early morning, late evening when it cools off.
Easy to put down the anchor. I never did like walking out on that bow
with anchor in hand, and that space under the deck ended up just
storage for "junk"

And the size you're looking at, can incorporate a head.

BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

gilly wrote:
Hi guys

I'm thinking of selling my Bayliner 2052 cuddy to buy a bowrider.I've
never had or been in one.

I was wondering the thoughts of the members here what you guys think
of bowriders.

In the past,i've had the occasional night on board but now the cuddy
seems to be used for storage and
a lot of wasted space,although great for the toilet use.
I rather like the idea of being able to sit up front with nothing
infront to block the view and to achieve a little more floor space for
friends rather than all sitting at the back.
So, any pro's and cons.I'm talking trailerable 20-22 foot. Does it
perhaps get a bit too cold to sit up front as your going along?,too
bouncy a ride? too wet from splash?

Any thoughts would be greatful

Thankyou
Simon


I had an 18' bowrider for several years when I lived, and boated, up
north on an inland lake. They are great for running around with a group
of friends. We rarely got splashed but it will happen in about any
trailerable boat in the right conditions.

Here's the Cadillac of bowriders. This seems to be their smallest model
that offers a head.

http://www.crownline.com/models/models.php?model=240_ls

Dan

BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

Ours is a 24' Bowrider and we tow it 'a fair distance' just about
every summer. We have never had it in any real rough water, but we've
been in a bit of a chop and never had a problem with it being too
difficult to stay in the bow. And as another person suggested, at
this size we still have a hide-away for a porti-potty! Lots of floor
space for everyone and a swim pad on the back for sunning when the
boat isn't moving. All in all, Bowriders are a great choice. This is
our third one, and the next will be a LARGER one. (27-29' range).

Glenn S.
Harpers Ferry, WV

FOR SALE: 2003 Baja 242 Islander (Bowrider)
http://ICanHelp56.homestead.com/Baja001.html

BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

On Sep 20, 2:16?pm, gilly wrote:
Hi guys

I'm thinking of selling my Bayliner 2052 cuddy to buy a bowrider.I've
never had or been in one.

I was wondering the thoughts of the members here what you guys think
of bowriders.

In the past,i've had the occasional night on board but now the cuddy
seems to be used for storage and
a lot of wasted space,although great for the toilet use.
I rather like the idea of being able to sit up front with nothing
infront to block the view and to achieve a little more floor space for
friends rather than all sitting at the back.
So, any pro's and cons.I'm talking trailerable 20-22 foot. Does it
perhaps get a bit too cold to sit up front as your going along?,too
bouncy a ride? too wet from splash?

Any thoughts would be greatful

Thankyou
Simon

The lack of a foredeck makes a bowrider less suitable for rough water
than a traditional runabout. If you never boat in rough conditions,
not as big a deal. Several bowriders are available with a
configuration where there are two "consoles:, one to starboard with
the helm and one to port that opens up to reveal a marine toilet or
porta-potti.

BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

Chuck Gould wrote:
On Sep 20, 2:16?pm, gilly wrote:
Hi guys

I'm thinking of selling my Bayliner 2052 cuddy to buy a bowrider.I've
never had or been in one.

I was wondering the thoughts of the members here what you guys think
of bowriders.

In the past,i've had the occasional night on board but now the cuddy
seems to be used for storage and
a lot of wasted space,although great for the toilet use.
I rather like the idea of being able to sit up front with nothing
infront to block the view and to achieve a little more floor space for
friends rather than all sitting at the back.
So, any pro's and cons.I'm talking trailerable 20-22 foot. Does it
perhaps get a bit too cold to sit up front as your going along?,too
bouncy a ride? too wet from splash?

Any thoughts would be greatful

Thankyou
Simon

The lack of a foredeck makes a bowrider less suitable for rough water
than a traditional runabout. If you never boat in rough conditions,
not as big a deal. Several bowriders are available with a
configuration where there are two "consoles:, one to starboard with
the helm and one to port that opens up to reveal a marine toilet or
porta-potti.



No foredeck, therefore not suitable for rough water:

http://www.gradywhite.com/336/


And, of course, open stern ocean racing sailboats are not suitable for
rough water, either:

http://www.open30.org/galleries.htm


Now, *some* powerboats with no foredeck are not suitable for rough
water, but some are. Grady makes a 27' bowrider that can take on the
same sea conditions as its 27' center console. Same hull.

BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

On Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:41:21 -0400, "JimH" ask wrote:

Actually, in general, what Chuck said is true. Bowriders generally do not
have drainage scuppers but drain to the bilge. This includes the bowrider
gilly was asking about. Bury the bow in nasty wave and you most likely
will sink the boat.

I agree with most of that, certainly true for boats in the 20 to 22 ft
range. We have a Searay 270 Sundeck which is basically an overgrown
bowrider. I regard it as a mostly fair weather boat even though it
does have cockpit scuppers, a transom door and protective canvas for
the front cockpit. Even at 26+ ft it is pretty easy to poke the bow
into a large wake and take some green water on board.

That said, the boat is a lot of fun and I have no regrets with it. As
you get up into the 23 and 24 ft range you are more likely to find one
with an enclosed head hidden away under the mid ship bridge deck.
That's a very desirable feature if you're going to be spending an
entire day on the water with friends and family.

BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

On 20 Sep, 22:16, gilly wrote:
Hi guys

I'm thinking of selling my Bayliner 2052 cuddy to buy a bowrider.I've
never had or been in one.

I was wondering the thoughts of the members here what you guys think
of bowriders.

In the past,i've had the occasional night on board but now the cuddy
seems to be used for storage and
a lot of wasted space,although great for the toilet use.
I rather like the idea of being able to sit up front with nothing
infront to block the view and to achieve a little more floor space for
friends rather than all sitting at the back.
So, any pro's and cons.I'm talking trailerable 20-22 foot. Does it
perhaps get a bit too cold to sit up front as your going along?,too
bouncy a ride? too wet from splash?

Any thoughts would be greatful

Thankyou
Simon

Guys, i thank you all for some very interesting input.
The boat would be used in coastal waters but i only ever go out if the
weather is nice and not too much chop,or if more chop is present then
i slow to just a cruise or less.
I would have thought also,if towing a toy behind the boat,then having
weight up front would be better for getting out of the hole.

Once again,thanks ever so much guys.
Simon

BOWRIDERS- Pro's and cons
 

JimH wrote:
"HK" wrote in message
. ..
Chuck Gould wrote:
On Sep 20, 2:16?pm, gilly wrote:
Hi guys

I'm thinking of selling my Bayliner 2052 cuddy to buy a bowrider.I've
never had or been in one.

I was wondering the thoughts of the members here what you guys think
of bowriders.

In the past,i've had the occasional night on board but now the cuddy
seems to be used for storage and
a lot of wasted space,although great for the toilet use.
I rather like the idea of being able to sit up front with nothing
infront to block the view and to achieve a little more floor space for
friends rather than all sitting at the back.
So, any pro's and cons.I'm talking trailerable 20-22 foot. Does it
perhaps get a bit too cold to sit up front as your going along?,too
bouncy a ride? too wet from splash?

Any thoughts would be greatful

Thankyou
Simon
The lack of a foredeck makes a bowrider less suitable for rough water
than a traditional runabout. If you never boat in rough conditions,
not as big a deal. Several bowriders are available with a
configuration where there are two "consoles:, one to starboard with
the helm and one to port that opens up to reveal a marine toilet or
porta-potti.


No foredeck, therefore not suitable for rough water:

http://www.gradywhite.com/336/


Actually, in general, what Chuck said is true. Bowriders generally do not
have drainage scuppers but drain to the bilge. This includes the bowrider
gilly was asking about. Bury the bow in nasty wave and you most likely
will sink the boat.



It's not the lack of a foredeck that makes a boat "less suitable" for
rough water.