How well do Cuddies handle the coastal waters?

yep, massive generalisations by DAKA.

Just pick the right boat for the conditions, generally/obviously speaking (seems to be the thing to do) the bigger the boat is , the more likely it will be 'right' for a wider range of conditions, doesnt matter if its cuddy, cruiser,speedboat,flybridge etc they're just labels for different layouts/style.

But even then, two boats of the same size and style could have hugely different capabilities, as evidenced by mapis Don aronow example.

I think what I'm concluding is that you cant generalise with boats.
 
As you know I'm not usually one to argue for the sake of it however will the forum posters who are suggesting some cuddies my be suitable offshore please post a photo of one.

Before doing so please make sure you read the Opening posts which specifically asks about choppy conditions.

We all know it is possible to cross the Atlantic in a coracle .......BUT NOT WHEN CONDITIONS CAN BE DESCRIBED AS CHOPPY


As to my further statement which appears some are doubting again please post a photo of a cuddy boat that is happy with wind against round a headland race (hence my qualified comment " Cuddies are suitable in sheltered bays as long as you plan" ie/check how the tide is going to react with the wind on the return trip home)
 
DAKA said:
As you know I'm not usually one to argue for the sake of it however will the forum posters who are suggesting some cuddies my be suitable offshore please post a photo of one.

Before doing so please make sure you read the Opening posts which specifically asks about choppy conditions.

We all know it is possible to cross the Atlantic in a coracle .......BUT NOT WHEN CONDITIONS CAN BE DESCRIBED AS CHOPPY


As to my further statement which appears some are doubting again please post a photo of a cuddy boat that is happy with wind against round a headland race (hence my qualified comment " Cuddies are suitable in sheltered bays as long as you plan" ie/check how the tide is going to react with the wind on the return trip home)
Click to expand...

Well mine's been round the Island a few times and I've been Poole to Southampton into nn F5-F6. Bumpy?, yes, wet?, at times, unsafe?, I didn't think so nor did the Mrs.

A lot depends on the boat, the driver and the passengers. I cannot agree that a sweeping statement is accurate in this case.
 
DAKA said:
As you know I'm not usually one to argue for the sake of it however will the forum posters who are suggesting some cuddies my be suitable offshore please post a photo of one.

Before doing so please make sure you read the Opening posts which specifically asks about choppy conditions.

We all know it is possible to cross the Atlantic in a coracle .......BUT NOT WHEN CONDITIONS CAN BE DESCRIBED AS CHOPPY


As to my further statement which appears some are doubting again please post a photo of a cuddy boat that is happy with wind against round a headland race (hence my qualified comment " Cuddies are suitable in sheltered bays as long as you plan" ie/check how the tide is going to react with the wind on the return trip home)
Click to expand...

This is a pointless argument because the terms we're using are interpretted differently by different people.

However, Purely to answer your challenge about a cuddy that can handle choppy conditions. Have a look at Windy 25/26 mirage which is RCD certified for use in offshore conditions, and the RCD defines offshore as

"Category B’ OFFSHORE: Designed for offshore voyages where conditions up to, and including, wind force 8 and significant wave heights up to, and including, 4 m may be experienced."

Does the RCD offshore definition match your expectation of choppy?

As an aside , I've been out in a proper force 8 (not in the windy , but in a 34 foot ketch), and it wasnt pleasant at all, so I wouldnt like to go out in the windy in what it is certified for.

But to me 'choppy' is not anywhere near the definition of offshore as stated above, choppy to me implies max f3-4. This is why using generic terms such as choppy/offshore etc are not helpful.

I guess from your stated position that no cuddy can handle choppy conditions your definition of choppy is much more like (or maybe even exceeds ) the RCD's definition of offshore.

We're using imprecise definitions to argue about vague things, what exactly is a cuddy?

So back to the OP, my (hopefully) last comment on this thread , in my opinion most 20foot+ cuddy's can handle choppy conditions just fine, as long as your definition of choppy matches mine (see above).
 
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jokerboat said:
Well mine's been round the Island a few times and I've been Poole to Southampton into nn F5-F6. Bumpy?, yes, wet?, at times, unsafe?, I didn't think so nor did the Mrs.

A lot depends on the boat, the driver and the passengers. I cannot agree that a sweeping statement is accurate in this case.
Click to expand...


Poole to southampton is basically a bay and a river , there isnt much current running in the bay as a rule except short bit hurst point, bit shallow off two headlands which create very short races but still not much current unless you go out to needles which I suggest is unsafe in a cuddy F5-6 as it will be 7-8 round the headland.

I presume you tried to keep wind with tide in a 5-6 .

You fit perfectly within the 'sweeping statement' not outside it.
 
DAKA said:
Poole to southampton is basically a bay and a river , there isnt much current running in the bay as a rule except short bit hurst point, bit shallow off two headlands which create very short races but still not much current unless you go out to needles which I suggest is unsafe in a cuddy F5-6 as it will be 7-8 round the headland.

I presume you tried to keep wind with tide in a 5-6 .

You fit perfectly within the 'sweeping statement' not outside it.
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Well we came in wind against tide past the Needles, unsafe? Not really. Just a bit lumpy. Nothing that the MOnterey cannot cope with.

Would I cross the channel, probably not although plenty of people have, and survived.

What is it that makes a 24ft cruiser safer than a 24ft cuddy? I cannot think of anything in the intrinsic design

What makes one make safer than another? Plenty.

Same goes for one skipper vs another. It all depends on experience.
 
jokerboat said:
Well we came in wind against tide past the Needles, unsafe? Not really. Just a bit lumpy. Nothing that the MOnterey cannot cope with.
Click to expand...

Thats impressive stuff alright , on my list of must have one of those one day :)

So what do you think it was at the time , the F5-6 ?

Blowing 5-6 as you left Poole

7, 8 or 9 round the needles ?

or 3-4 as you left Poole and 5-6 round the needles ?



Either way good impressive seamanship :cool:
 
DAKA said:
As you know I'm not usually one to argue for the sake of it however will the forum posters who are suggesting some cuddies my be suitable offshore please post a photo of one.

Before doing so please make sure you read the Opening posts which specifically asks about choppy conditions.
Click to expand...
Well, "choppy" ain't exactly a scientific definition, is it?
Then again, I would think that this could qualify...
Air.jpg
 
DAKA said:
Thats impressive stuff alright , on my list of must have one of those one day :)

So what do you think it was at the time , the F5-6 ?

Blowing 5-6 as you left Poole

7, 8 or 9 round the needles ?

or 3-4 as you left Poole and 5-6 round the needles ?



Either way good impressive seamanship :cool:
Click to expand...

Nothing special. According to the office at the marina it was 5 to 6 as we left. I don't see why that would have become anything else around the Needles.

On a different day we came though while this was going on, sorry didn't take a wind measurement

CIMG0491.jpg
 
This appears to be a definition thing , I class both photos as acceptable for cuddies and the race is within what I class as sheltered waters.

Chop for me is something that would al least spill a G&T if left on the flybridge cocktail table.



(presume the windy is playing in wash)
 
Actually I prefer to be out in open water. Some of the most uncomfortable conditions are in the disturbed chop around such places as Calshot, mouth of the Hamble, Entrance to Poole etc. In open water the waves are generally more predictable and, as such, easier to handle.

So maybe the question should be are cuddies safe in the Solent :rolleyes:

I'm still interested in views as to what makes a cruiser, size for size, safer than a cuddy. Personally I don't believe it for a minute.
 
A cuddy boat is just like any other boat.....plan, watch then go if everything is OK. A cuddy can be a great boat for blasting from A-B in the right conditions IF the boat is in good condition. I have taken a 20ft Cuddy from Hamble-Poole-Alderney-Guernsey-Calais-Cowes-Hamble in 7 days. I have taken a 21ft Cuddy from Narbonne-Empuriabrava-Barcelona-Cuitadella-Mahon. I have taken a 24ft Cuddy from Benalmadena-Gibraltar in a F5 against wind in February. It depends on boat, skipper, conditions etc.

Cuddies are actually my Favourite boat for Fun Vs Value....but buy a good one!

Paul
 
jokerboat said:
I love that. A boat on my shopping list, or maybe the next size up ;)
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Well, having played with one of those for a few years, I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.
Next size up is the 29, also available with single screw, and in many respects better (and also faster, with proper power) than the 27.
But if you could consider stretching to a 35, you might find amazing deals on them in the US.
And the staggered version is a 90+ mph boat with the stock (!) 496HOs...
...though many were built with the 525s, which were more than enough for 3 digits speed!
 
MapisM said:
Well, having played with one of those for a few years, I can assure you that you won't be disappointed.
Next size up is the 29, also available with single screw, and in many respects better (and also faster, with proper power) than the 27.
But if you could consider stretching to a 35, you might find amazing deals on them in the US.
And the staggered version is a 90+ mph boat with the stock (!) 496HOs...
...though many were built with the 525s, which were more than enough for 3 digits speed!
Click to expand...

It's the Zonda I fancy really but the boss prefers the more refined 31 that I can't remember the name of at the moment. They are very well built and finished boats I have to say. Not had the pleasure of spending time on one but always take the time to visit them at shows.
 
jokerboat said:
It's the Zonda I fancy really
Click to expand...
Whoops, I now realise that you had Windy boats in mind.
Just for the records, the one in the previous pic is actually a Fountain 27', and my previous other comments were related to their boats.
 
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