Regal or Maxam cuddy or bow rider

[sundance02]

I have been thinking about buying a boat for ages 5 years and have decided to take the plunge.
I have seen a very nice maxim 2200 SR3 bow rider which I was about to put a deposit on, then a Regal 2250 cuddy came up and now im stuck between the two.
I have never owned a bow rider and one of my reservations is, are they good at sea, being open front it does worry me if there is maybe a 1 metre swell how the boat will cope when the water comes over the front even if covered by canvas.
The Regal of course is a cuddy and fitted to a high standard a little better than the Maxum I think.

My question is would I be better off with a cuddy bearing in mind that it will be only used in the sea, or would a bow rider which has more space to move around in be as good?
Any input would be appreciated as I have no experience with a open bow.
Cheers.

[JVaughan]

both reasonable boats, good deadrise and good in UK waters.
Cuddys are more versatile and offer that little bit of extra privacy (keep your sandwiches dry and go to the Loo in privacy ).. generally bow riders cheaper, Lot of bow riders for sale due to no better than a RIB for sea protection. Bow riders better suited IMHO for warm climates.

Cuddy can be used for an overnight stop too .. if you have the full cockpit cover, then all year round is possible. Bow rider .... yes you can get a cover, but no real insulation in there, plus its really too small to sleep out.

What do you want it for ?

[sundance02]

JVaughan said:

both reasonable boats, good deadrise and good in UK waters.
Cuddys are more versatile and offer that little bit of extra privacy (keep your sandwiches dry and go to the Loo in privacy ).. generally bow riders cheaper, Lot of bow riders for sale due to no better than a RIB for sea protection. Bow riders better suited IMHO for warm climates.

Cuddy can be used for an overnight stop too .. if you have the full cockpit cover, then all year round is possible. Bow rider .... yes you can get a cover, but no real insulation in there, plus its really too small to sleep out.

What do you want it for ?

Thanks for the quick reply

Very good question, in my haste I forgot to add the most important thing.
I will be keeping her moored in sovereign harbour Eastbourne. She will manly be used for water sports and the occasional trip round the south coast.
I will also trailer her out to Spain so will be used around the Cost del sol
for a few months of the year again for water sports and the odd coastal trip.

What you said about the rib was my thought entirely, is a Bow rider just an over speced rib? and being inflatable wont sink as quick as a Bow rider.

Cheers, Craig

Edited by sundance02 on Saturday 17th July 14:41

[JVaughan]

I use a RIB quite a lot for Diving, and have been out in some pretty nasty weather comming back from Dives .. I would rather be in a Rib than a Bow rider, but then again, I would rather be in a bow rider sitting with a beer in my hand doing 30 plus knots in the med ...

Personal oppinion, a RIB is more of a work horse .. its easier to launch / recover than a hard topped boat, plus is easier to tow (again, my oppinion). However, that said a "normal" boat has better seating & more comfort.

If it was me, I would prefer a 19 or bigger cuddy for UK waters, and a RIB for the continent. Its a matter of taste I guess, and also a weight trase off too. Cuddies are generally a lot heavier and, unless you opt for something like the Fletcher 19GTO, most all will be inboards.

[sundance02]

JVaughan said:

I use a RIB quite a lot for Diving, and have been out in some pretty nasty weather comming back from Dives .. I would rather be in a Rib than a Bow rider, but then again, I would rather be in a bow rider sitting with a beer in my hand doing 30 plus knots in the med ...

Personal oppinion, a RIB is more of a work horse .. its easier to launch / recover than a hard topped boat, plus is easier to tow (again, my oppinion). However, that said a "normal" boat has better seating & more comfort.

If it was me, I would prefer a 19 or bigger cuddy for UK waters, and a RIB for the continent. Its a matter of taste I guess, and also a weight trase off too. Cuddies are generally a lot heavier and, unless you opt for something like the Fletcher 19GTO, most all will be inboards.

The more I think about it, the more im drawn to a cuddy. I would rather be in a rib which can handle very rough sea and is perfect for diving and fishing, where as a bow rider is better suited to inland waters I think. this seems to be the general opinion im getting, I just prefer the extra space a bow rider gives. Both the boats are just over 22ft the Regal is 3k more they are both 2005 with little hours use.The Regal has a Volvo 5.7ltr 300hp inboard. The Maxim has a merc 5ltr 260 hp inboard. Cant decide.

Edited by sundance02 on Saturday 17th July 15:19

Edited by sundance02 on Saturday 17th July 15:20

[Spitbarnatt]

We've got the Maxunm 2100sc with the 260hp Mercruiser. Ours is moored in the water over here. The cuddy is ideal for locking all of your gear away including wakeboards etc. Also offers the chance to sleep on, in 4 years I've only slept on it once and it was on the trailer at the time. Lack of space is only a problem if you're going out with more than 6 people on it.

I wouldn't worry about the open bow taking on much water, we've been out in some pretty rough swells and I've never had water come over the top.

However at the end of the day I get more use out of it when I take it to Italy for two weeks and do a load of watersports, hence I'll probably change it for a Mastercraft next year.

[sundance02]

Spitbarnatt said:

We've got the Maxunm 2100sc with the 260hp Mercruiser. Ours is moored in the water over here. The cuddy is ideal for locking all of your gear away including wakeboards etc. Also offers the chance to sleep on, in 4 years I've only slept on it once and it was on the trailer at the time. Lack of space is only a problem if you're going out with more than 6 people on it.

I wouldn't worry about the open bow taking on much water, we've been out in some pretty rough swells and I've never had water come over the top.

However at the end of the day I get more use out of it when I take it to Italy for two weeks and do a load of watersports, hence I'll probably change it for a Mastercraft next year.

The maxum 2100 sc is a very nice boat, did you find the merc 260 good for pulling skiers?
One of my worrys is having 6 or 7 people on board and not being able to pull a heavy guy up on mono.
The Mastercraft is the perfect ski boat with plenty of torque, this is my first boat so wanted something more than a ski boat which is probably what it will end up being.
Where in italy do you take your boat? I suspect you slept on board whilst on the trailer as you where on route to Italy which is much easier than finding a place overnight;)

[Spitbarnatt]

sundance02 said:

The maxum 2100 sc is a very nice boat, did you find the merc 260 good for pulling skiers?
One of my worrys is having 6 or 7 people on board and not being able to pull a heavy guy up on mono.
The Mastercraft is the perfect ski boat with plenty of torque, this is my first boat so wanted something more than a ski boat which is probably what it will end up being.
Where in italy do you take your boat? I suspect you slept on board whilst on the trailer as you where on route to Italy which is much easier than finding a place overnight;)

I've pulled wakeboarders up with 6 still on the boat. Had a tower fitted last year which is much better. When we ordered the boat I had no intention of doing any watersports, then I tried wakeboarding and now it's all I want to do. Going to try and get out on it tomorrow and see if it can generate enough wake for wakesurfing, hopefully it will so I can order a board.

We take the boat to Lake Orta each year, I go three weeks today, and quite frankly cannot wait! Takes 13 hours (with alot of stops for my 2 year old daughter) from Calais so we do it in one hit. Slept on the boat cause I was down there a day early one year.

The cuddy is the perfect boat for the UK, I was very surprised at how well it handles a rough sea. But abroad you'd be better off with the bow rider or a proper watersports boat. Depends where you are going to give it the most use.

One thing to think about if you are going to leave it in the water is how often are you going to use it? We anti-foul the bottom of ours but if you don't use it every couple of weeks the bottom will get alot of growth. Last year ours sat for 6 weeks without moving, when we took it out it would only do 25mph flat out, it will do 50 when it's clean!

[sundance02]

Spitbarnatt said:

sundance02 said:

The maxum 2100 sc is a very nice boat, did you find the merc 260 good for pulling skiers?
One of my worrys is having 6 or 7 people on board and not being able to pull a heavy guy up on mono.
The Mastercraft is the perfect ski boat with plenty of torque, this is my first boat so wanted something more than a ski boat which is probably what it will end up being.
Where in italy do you take your boat? I suspect you slept on board whilst on the trailer as you where on route to Italy which is much easier than finding a place overnight;)

I've pulled wakeboarders up with 6 still on the boat. Had a tower fitted last year which is much better. When we ordered the boat I had no intention of doing any watersports, then I tried wakeboarding and now it's all I want to do. Going to try and get out on it tomorrow and see if it can generate enough wake for wakesurfing, hopefully it will so I can order a board.

We take the boat to Lake Orta each year, I go three weeks today, and quite frankly cannot wait! Takes 13 hours (with alot of stops for my 2 year old daughter) from Calais so we do it in one hit. Slept on the boat cause I was down there a day early one year.

The cuddy is the perfect boat for the UK, I was very surprised at how well it handles a rough sea. But abroad you'd be better off with the bow rider or a proper watersports boat. Depends where you are going to give it the most use.

One thing to think about if you are going to leave it in the water is how often are you going to use it? We anti-foul the bottom of ours but if you don't use it every couple of weeks the bottom will get alot of growth. Last year ours sat for 6 weeks without moving, when we took it out it would only do 25mph flat out, it will do 50 when it's clean!

Hi,

I am hoping to be able to go out on her every week or 2 depending on weather of course. I was only thinking of a bow rider for the extra room they give, but have decided on a 22 or 23 ft as it should give me enough seating with a closed bow.

6 on board and pulling wakeboards is very good, so I should have no probs then with 300hp and a full boat, good news.

Regardind the anti foul treatment does this work to keep the algi from growing on the hull?
Normally I would of kept her on the trailer and launched her from various slip ways, but decided on mooring her as its alot less hastle and easy to just arrive and drive so to speak.

For the winter I will dry store her and keep it on the trailer so will only be in the water for the summer.

I have always flushed and cleaned a boat after every use but am wondering how to do this if she is in the water.

I have mono ski since I was 8, wakeboarding only just started, still getting used to standing sideways and cant make up my mind if I prefer right foot forward which is how I mono or left foot forward which I feel more comfortable when on the board, I keep wanting to do a 180 to change footing then catching front edge and face planting into the water which bloody hurts, I had a headache all day.

Regarding the wake dont people use a different type prop that throws up a larger wake for boarding?

I plan on using her at home and abroad till the weather turns, which in Spain is around october when the sea turn rather choppy, and the uk well its always hit and miss, hopefully we will have more than just a week or 2 of good weather.
Well still not sure which way to go but a closed bow I think will be more practical for sea use,and with the extra couple of foot that I will have it should be fine for room on board. So I am slowly drawn to a closed bow.

Thanks for the input
Have fun today, let me know how you got on.
cheers Craig

[Rum Runner]

Regal is better built boat. Also better with cuddy if leaving it on the water, also get a full camping canvas..
Bit of a plug but i have a good number of bow riders and cuddy's http://northwales.boatshed.com/index.php
Fast fished style are good for leaving on the water, self draining and better with outboard rather than stern drive....like http://northwales.boatshed.com/caravelle_seahawk_2...

As said above Fletcher 19GTO is a good cuddy with outboard, my sister has one which lives on a mooring at Abersoch on open water and regularly weathers terrible conditions. Great amount of freeboard good deep V and space. Fletch also self draining

if you need grunt for skiing with 7 on board you need http://northwales.boatshed.com/cranchi_turchese_24...

Or
http://northwales.boatshed.com/formula_260_ssr-boa...

I can also strongly recommend Chaparral boats very well built

http://northwales.boatshed.com/chaparral_215_ssi-b...

Edited by Rum Runner on Sunday 18th July 17:21

[W00DY]

The 2250 is a really nice boat and modern Regals are much better built than most American stuff. My parents had a Maxum 1800sr3 from new and it looked tired much quicker than a friends older 2250 and a lot of the fitting were coming loose/rusting when it was sold at 3 years old.

Edited by W00DY on Sunday 18th July 17:13

[sundance02]

Rum Runner said:

Regal is better built boat. Also better with cuddy if leaving it on the water, also get a full camping canvas..
Bit of a plug but i have a good number of bow riders and cuddy's http://northwales.boatshed.com/index.php
Fast fished style are good for leaving on the water, self draining and better with outboard rather than stern drive....like http://northwales.boatshed.com/caravelle_seahawk_2...

As said above Fletcher 19GTO is a good cuddy with outboard, my sister has one which lives on a mooring at Abersoch on open water and regularly weathers terrible conditions. Great amount of freeboard good deep V and space. Fletch also self draining

if you need grunt for skiing with 7 on board you need http://northwales.boatshed.com/cranchi_turchese_24...

Or
http://northwales.boatshed.com/formula_260_ssr-boa...

I can also strongly recommend Chaparral boats very well built

http://northwales.boatshed.com/chaparral_215_ssi-b...

Edited by Rum Runner on Sunday 18th July 17:21

Hi Woody

Looked at Chaparral also a nice boat. The Regal has very modern lines and the sunbathing space at the rear,I also like the quality of the internal fixtures, the seating arrangement is very good, and at the helm it has sport seats with the flip up bolsters and the full camping canvas it has a very high spec and lots of storage space. My mind is made up I think with the regal just still have to decide cuddy or open bow. The problem is there are so many makes and models, if you keep looking you just keep chopping and changing ur mind as I keep seeing something else thats nice nice. I have a budget of up to 27k but really wouild like to spend 25k and keep 2k for equipment IE flares, life jackets, ropes,and of course some water sports gear.

Have always had outboards and been very happy, had a glastron 18ft with a merc 150hp, was a good boat with plenty of grunt, Just think the inboard has more finesse so def want inboard.

[sundance02]

W00DY said:

The 2250 is a really nice boat and modern Regals are much better built than most American stuff. My parents had a Maxum 1800sr3 from new and it looked tired much quicker than a friends older 2250 and a lot of the fitting were coming loose/rusting when it was sold at 3 years old.

Edited by W00DY on Sunday 18th July 17:13

Have been told this, I think the Regal is better choice.
Cheers

[sundance02]

Was wondering if anyone on here may know of a Regal 2250 cuddy 2006 prefer with the 5.7 volvo 300hp have found one in scotland a 2005.Anything more local to Essex.
After reading through other posts on ph regarding open bow, I think
closed bow is the way for me.

Thanks again

Edited by sundance02 on Sunday 18th July 22:06

[Spitbarnatt]

The anti fouling should stop some of the growth on the bottom, but you'll never stop it completely.

The pitch on the prop will only alter the acceleration and top end. The size of the wake is down to hull design and how low the boat sits in the water. That is why the proper wakeboard boats have ballast tanks, I think they can take about a ton of water on board.

We've found our Maxum to hold up pretty well, however as said there is definately a difference in build quality between the American and European boats. You get what you pay for. We bought ours at the right time, brand new for 27500 with a trailer, and felt it was the best value for money on the market at the time.

Unfortunately I didn't get out on the boat tonight but should be out tomorrow evening, hopefully I'll get to try my new board out.

[Rum Runner]

Spitbarnatt said:

The anti fouling should stop some of the growth on the bottom, but you'll never stop it completely.

The pitch on the prop will only alter the acceleration and top end. The size of the wake is down to hull design and how low the boat sits in the water. That is why the proper wakeboard boats have ballast tanks, I think they can take about a ton of water on board.

We've found our Maxum to hold up pretty well, however as said there is definately a difference in build quality between the American and European boats. You get what you pay for. We bought ours at the right time, brand new for 27500 with a trailer, and felt it was the best value for money on the market at the time.

Unfortunately I didn't get out on the boat tonight but should be out tomorrow evening, hopefully I'll get to try my new board out.

Some of the American boats are possibly the best you can get like Formula Boats and as said Chaparrals are good. Like all things though you do pay a premium...
If you don't want to antifoul it polish with good grade polish and don't dust it off. It will last few months and then use starbrite hull cleaner to get the growth off.
My Sisters boat stays in open water on a swinging mooring through the summer but has no foully.
Boats with foully are a harder sell and put some buyers off as they as the foully can hide a multitude of sins. Also people will look harder for Osmosis...

Edited by Rum Runner on Monday 19th July 12:01

[sundance02]

Thanks for the input guys.

I will take note of all you have said. I had seen some boats advertised with the anti foul and thought it looked messy just reminded me of when I used to black my sills on the car to hide the rust.


So would be a good idea to give the hull a good coat of wax and leave on before I drop her into the water.

I really like the look of the formula and the chaperell, but like you said you have to pay a premium and the price shoots up for a newer boat.
The regal 2250 I have found is mint, its has the 5.7 volvo engine,all the canvas covers, and a very nice trailer that matches the boat.
Its BRG stripe on white background with graphics with white interior, its equipped with depth sounder, ship to shore radio,and navigation system.
At 25k would you say this is a fair price for this 2005 boat with not many hours.
cheers again Craig