V with curtains is fantastic

[phatdaddy]

good point , ridge. i had a 19 mako & 21 hydrasport center console before the cuddy. i loved them. then my daughter was born, we started taking her out 3 months old. it soon became obvious the center console was not going to work. i swore as soon as she was older, i was going back to a center console. she's now 25 and i still miss the center console.

[bgreene]

No doubt - the center console became hugely successful for all those good reasons.

For me, right now the cuddy is fantastic.

My previous was a 94' Mako 201 ( not the 20, or the 21 ) .
The console was so big I was tripping over my feet, narrow to get around it, and very little room behind it.

Back then, I almost never sat down when I fished, stood all day. Now when I want, I can put out a couple of deck chairs and put my feet up !

[Blue_Runner]

I love the open concept of the center console. But when it is cold and very little to block the wind it can be uncomfortable. Especially if you have a 2 hour run one way. A set of removable curtains would solve that.

[Destroyer]

There are reason(s) that center consoles are popular. There are reason(s) that cuddy cabins are also. It just depends on your needs and wants. For me, I'm in the cuddy cabin crowd. I like the fact that I can store things away from people that would like to steal my stuff rather than buy their own. I like the idea that my wife can go to the bathroom without worrying about prying eyes. And yes, I like the idea that, if wanted or needed, I can seek shelter from sun, rain, wind, fatigue .....or whatever reason seems proper at the time in the cuddy. I don't have to worry about 6-9 people on my boat. Usually it's just me, sometimes its the 3 of us, but there's still plenty of room. This is one of those discussions (Like should I get 4WD for my truck?) that has no one single proper answer. It all depends on what you, as the individual, need.

As to the topic of an enclosure. Hell yes...it just makes sense to want to stay dry and not get wind or sun burned. You're supposed to be on the water for fun and relaxation. What's fun about being soaked, sunburned and covered with salt? My V21 will have an enclosure as soon as I can afford one. In the meantime, I'll retreat to the cuddy whenever I want some private time.

[RidgeRunner]

[Striper80]

Nothing makes me happier than fishing on a cool fall day watching the spray hit the eisenglass while heading out. I just have to save up to get an enclosure on my new boat as it only has the front panel.