Thinking of buying Cuddy...

[nrf414]

Hey everyone! I like my 15' Glastron but after being out on the lake a few times, this last time with 4 people fishing, I think I need a bigger boat. Well I was looking down the street and I saw one that might support my fishing / cruising habit. Tell me what you think.

1989 Sunbird 198 Sport
3.7L Mercruiser Inboard - needs starter
tilt and trim that my current motor does not have
hydro foil
fold out back to back seats
many other "luxurious" things my little boat does not have.

It is simple but looks like it would save me at least 10 bucks from setting up a tent at the campground.

How much would you give for it?

 

[bomar76]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

3.7 L Mercruiser....
AVOID THAT ENGINE LIKE THE PLAUGE

 

[nrf414]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

What is so bad about this engine?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

What is so bad about this engine?

Ayuh,...

Other than it is Mercruiser's Failed experiment, that's Out of Production,+ Parts are NLA,..??..??

Not only is the motor a POS,......
Sunbird hulls are just a step Below Bilgeliners in Quality.....

The Cuddy Cabin is a Great Idea,.... Just Not that 1....

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

bad bad bad engine, did i say bad engine.

 

[nrf414]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

I checked out the used values on NADA and they gave a low value at 3400 and a high value at 4500.

The guy wants $1200 for it. The trailer and hull would seem to be worth that much. I would pay that much for all the upgrades I would have to do to my current boat just to make it as comfortable and easy to use.


Where are the oppurtunities in the hull that make it comparable quality to a "bilgeliner?"

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

well to be honest, i believe you will find less usable fishing room on that boat. than you have in your bow rider. you need a walk around cuddy, like a trophy. the bow area of that boat is not good to fish from. i would not buy it with out it running. it is 20 years old, and NADA value is not a good base. the boat is at the age, possibly rot in stringer, transon, deck. the power plant is not a good one.

 

[jaxnjil]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

414; on top of everything every one else has pointed out, i question the trailer. it looks to small for that boat and at 19.5 ft with a cuddy your real close to capacity on that single axle. not a problem if your close to where you use it but???

 

[Nandy]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

Oh well, buy it, i will see you at the boat resto and engine forums...
Seriously, never, ever buy a boat that you cant take for a sea trial unless you are a season veteran that knows what are you risking. That motor is liable to die and very hard to replace and find parts. You have good advice here, dont buy it.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

Yep,, if you buy it You will be Talking to Don S in the Inboard/outboard section. that motor has the aluminum block with a ford cast iron 460 head.. very bad piece of do do.. its not worth hauling to the dump.. there are to many good deals out there ,, Look around..

 

[rentalguy1]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

Flash 8 Ben Franklins in front of the owner's face and pull it home. For $800 it's probably not a bad deal. You could scrap the engine and put something brand new in for a few grand. I do agree with others on it not being a very good fishing platform, though.

 

[bhammer]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

Okay, stop bashing the 470 all ready. I had one and loved the little sucker, but it was very well taken care of and was flawless once I did the speedie fix. It sure was a lot easier to work on then my Merc 4.3 MPI is now.

 

[country_bumpkin]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

there are to many good deals out there ,, Look around..

Ain't this the truth! Look farther than "just down the road". Craigslist his overflowing with used boats for sale.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

Here ya go,, i think there

OMC Cobra outdrives

 

[marine4003]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

UH,OH...I see one of those threads whereby the question is put forth weather to buy a specific boat....And ALL the responses come back to the negative...NO,DONT BUY..then the reasons..all valid,then the poor dude goes out and buys the thing.....(not that i have ever done anything like that)

 

[bhammer]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

Here ya go,, i think there

OMC Cobra outdrives

No, no, no, those are the enhanced BD. If you look close enough, you can see the bumps. Those darn "B"arnicle "D"rives are top notch equipment...

 

[bomar76]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

UH,OH...I see one of those threads whereby the question is put forth weather to buy a specific boat....And ALL the responses come back to the negative...NO,DONT BUY..then the reasons..all valid,then the poor dude goes out and buys the thing.....(not that i have ever done anything like that)

More of a "shopping for the advice they wanna hear" deal than anything.
I will go prepare the Mercruiser I/O forum for the fusilade of desperate "PLEASE HELP WITH MY NEW TO ME 470" questions that will be forthcoming....

 

[bhammer]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

Mercruiser I/O forum for the fusilade of desperate "PLEASE HELP WITH MY NEW TO ME 470" questions that will be forthcoming....

Ohh, been there done that one too. I have more knowledge than I care to about them. I am hoping that I can "Give" it all away hear.

 

[bishop1976]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

My 470 is and has always been running fine....dont pay any attention to these blowhards....do your homework on the motor and make the necessary preventative repairs.

470's are fine as long as you know what to look for. Leaking water pump seal and make sure you either have or get a 4 inch heat exchanger. The charging systems on these motors fail commonly as well. Replace it with a marine alternator conversion kit. Then take her to the lake and post some pics of you waving your favorite finger as you ride away on your 1,500.00 investment.

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Thinking of buying Cuddy...

Why spend $1000 on a $500 boat?? a sunbird & a 470 , thats 1 step down from a Bayliner(bildgeliner)with the dreaded ford 2.3 omc. no maybe one step up??