Unusual cuddy/bowrider hybrid

The common builders we're used to hearing about don't have this type. But it's not at all unusual for specialty builders in the US. Probably the biggest seller is Eliminator.

Kelly Cook
 
I don't know... lots of people enjoying sitting up in the bow, and having a little cabin to get changed in and go to the bathroom seems like a great idea.
 
The Kachina plant is here in Phoenix. I've been through it a couple of times. Small place, at least by US standards. Popular boat in the Arizona market, but generally ignored outside of Arizona. Very, very fancy graphic treatments is their big feature. Not so well built as the more expensive Eliminator, Essex, Formula, Hallett, Lavey Craft, etc. But able enough for our desert lakes. Big, big grins for reasonable $$.

Kelly
 
I think the hybrid cuddy/bowrider is mostly a western lakes boat. Many of the hulls have a long bow area, and they are used in the hot desert lakes. the design allows people to get in the shade and for a breeze to go through the cabin while underway. Most of the boats have biminis in that area, but a lot of the go fast boats do not like to have them up.
 
Thanks for the info on Kachina, Kelly. They do look fun! I know of Eliminator/Formula etc, but not the other makes. I'll enjoy taking a look, thanks.

Does anyone make a 30 - 34' "mid cabin open bow" (is that the right term?) that will take a couple of 300hp outboards? I see Skater do a 32, but only seats 5 as it's a closed cat. The Trident/Howard etc deck cats are just too open. Would be fun to have a fast/mad dayboat whilst still having some cooking facilities and an enclosed pump-out head.


Yes, very nice, Seadog. Hadn't seen the Ebbtide either:

http://www.ebbtideboats.com/ShowBoat.asp?sBoat=2600

I wonder why someone like SeaRay doesn't do a similar, but larger hybrid with an additional double berth under the cockpit... Would make a fantastic dayboat with lots of outside space, and the ability for a family of 4 to overnight when needed.

Going one further, the open bow could be closed off (imagine a V hatch that fitted flush with the cabin roof when open and could be swung shut over the bow seating at night or in bad weather) and with a filler cushion you'd have another berth (though it could get a bit damp!)

Looks good in my head anyway!
 
Thanks.

I had also looked at the Wellcraft Scarabs but console fishing boats are a bit too utilitarian for what I would like in a fast dayboat.

I wonder why outboards aren't more popular with the west coast custom builders... a pair of 300s would seem (according to Eliminator) to give similar performance figures to twin Mag 496 I/O's and are surely more reliable? 300 hours between services for the new 300 E-TEC sounds great...
 
Sad history. A number of the west coast custom outfits DID in fact experiment with the then "new" 300HP outboards in the late '90s. They couldn't keep the beasts running, so went back to their faithful V8s. OB motors are simply not very popular on the west coast of the US. When you do see one around here, it's usually on a bass boat or pontoon.

Kelly
 
I agree that a big OB is a good choice for turn-key performance. But now that superchargers have become common for fast inboard boats, the OB demand just isn't there in the hot boat market. Bass boats and those big fishing boats like the Fountains being the exception.

Kelly
 
I guess I'm influenced by being in Asia... would rather avoid exotic engines and live with something that can be fixed off the (local) shelf. 486 HO is already pushing the limit here for petrols.

If I were in the US (with ease of service and lower fuel costs), I'd certainly opt for V8 soundtracks and performance!!
 
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