Cuddy cabin boats for sale

Cuddy versus bowrider

A cuddy and a bowrider can share the same hull. The difference is the foredeck: the bowrider opens it up as seating, the cuddy closes it over a cabin. You lose bow seating and gain a dry place for gear, a spot for kids to nap and a way out of the rain. Cuddies also ride drier in a head sea because the closed deck sheds spray.

A type with a long history

Cuddies were among the first boats many American builders made. Regal's first boats in 1969 included a 21 foot cuddy alongside a tri-hull and a ski boat. When Monterey opened in Florida in 1985, its two launch models were 19 footers, one a cuddy and one a bowrider. World Cat's 1998 launch range included the 266 Sport Cuddy, a power catamaran version. See Regal, Monterey and World Cat.

Fishing cuddies

In the Pacific Northwest the cuddy is a working fishing boat. Tom Nelson of The Outdoor Line reviewed Weldcraft's 280 Cuddy King in 2014. He reported quarter-inch aluminum bottom plate, a heated cabin, 160 gallons of fuel, a 500 hp rating and ten feet of open deck behind the cabin. Fall 2026 Boat Trader listings had a 2025 260 Cuddy King at $211,128 and a 2026 300 Cuddy King OS at $369,999. Big East Coast center consoles also come in cuddy versions. A 2007 Venture 34 Cuddy was listed at $124,000 in New Jersey. See Weldcraft, Hewescraft and Venture.

Checking a used cuddy

The cabin hides problems. Smell it first, since a musty smell points to leaks or wet cushions. Check the deck hatch and windshield seals with a hose. Press on the cabin sole and the berth tops for soft spots. Look at the headliner for stains that trace back to deck fittings. If there is a portable toilet or holding tank, check the hoses. On a sterndrive cuddy, the engine hatch often sits under the cockpit seating, so check that the blower works before you start the engine. Finally, run the hull ID through the Coast Guard recall search.

Where to browse

Cuddies are popular on big lakes and northern coasts. Browse Washington, Oregon, Michigan, New York and Florida.

Questions for the seller

Ask whether the cuddy has had leaks and what was done about them. Look at the cushions, which show mildew quickly if water has gotten in. Ask whether the boat was kept covered, how the sterndrive or outboard was winterized and who did the work. On older cuddies, ask whether the deck or transom has ever been repaired, and look for signs of patchwork.