With the 259 Sport Cuddy, the American shipyard Cruisers Yachts is launching a sports boat for weekend excursions onto the market. It offers a double berth below deck for overnight stays, while a large cockpit with wet bar and separate toilet room provide comfort during excursions.
The boat, which is a good 7.50 metres long and 2.55 metres wide, can be towed by land with a 3500 kg trailer and an off-road vehicle or SUV. Of course, you should obtain a special overwidth permit beforehand to avoid problems with road transport.
Driving and manoeuvring
With the new order, the future owner has the choice between a total of four engines. These are two Mercury MerCruisers and two Volvo Penta petrol inboards with Z-drive. In terms of performance, the range is between 300 and 325 hp. Our test boat is powered by a Mercury Mercruiser 350 MAG.
This delivers an impressive 224 kW (305 hp) from its 8 cylinders and 5.7 litre displacement. To ensure that nothing "goes up in smoke", the engine is thermally controlled by means of single-circuit cooling. The gear ratio of the Bravo III duoprop drive is 2:1. With the 22.5" twin propeller fitted, we reached the upper limit of the maximum speed range of 4800-5200 rpm at full load. This speaks in favour of successful propeller tuning.
The 259 Sport Cuddy handles the slow passages, i.e. harbour speed, well. At 1000 rpm you are travelling at 5 kn and without much swell. The hull runs normally straight ahead for a glider. In other words: due to the yawing typical of a glider, the course has to be corrected slightly time and again.
Weight shifts on board only have a slight influence on the heeling, which also applies at 1400 rpm, which corresponds to the canal speed at just under 7 knots. Turning in harbours and small bays is done by the 259 in forward gear over starboard and port equally over 1 1/2 boat lengths. When travelling in reverse, the circles become even smaller with 1/2 boat length to each side. Reversing from starboard to port takes 18 seconds, exactly 2 seconds longer than the other way round.
The transition from displacement to gliding takes place between 1500 and 2200 rpm. The drive should be fully trimmed to the transom so as not to prolong the process unnecessarily. If the skipper pays attention to everything, the view forwards is only briefly restricted by the rising bow. The boat glides well from 2800 rpm or 21 knots. According to the display, we were able to trim up to halfway without the Cruisers bobbing with the bow. The stern wave remained ideally flat for water skiers and wakeboarders.
The Cuddy 259 cruises economically at a good 24 knots, with the rev counter showing 3000 rpm and 1.32 l/sm flowing through the fuel line. This means that you can plan a route of 160 nm before refuelling - if you don't want to break the 15 % reserve. The noise level measured at this speed is 82 dB/A; with this value, the Cruisers exceeds the comfort limit set by BOOTE by 2 dB/A. It is even "noisier" at the top speed of just under 45 knots: At this speed, the indicator reaches 95 dB/A.
The built-in fuel tank with a capacity of 249 litres empties by 1.92 litres for every nm travelled. This means that after 110 nm or 2 hours and 28 minutes of travelling, the fuel is used up down to the reserve.
Extreme manoeuvres such as increasingly tight circles are completed by the cruisers with a drive trimmed to the transom with high but durable lateral forces. The hull brakes automatically, without hooks or propeller ventilation. The circles can be continued endlessly with the steering wheel fully turned - the 259 Sport Cuddy exhibits these handling characteristics on both sides. This changes if the skipper forgets to trim the drive all the way down before entering the bend. The boat then starts to rock more and more on its longitudinal axis.
In this situation, quick action is required: reduce speed and trim the drive to the transom at the push of a button. This behaviour is not unusual when cornering fast with a stepped hull like that of the Cruisers, but it is only dangerous if handled incorrectly. On the slalom course, the hull follows every steering movement spontaneously and with good control.
Engine, tank, electrics
The engine works under the rear seat of the boat. The American shipyard has fitted two gas pressure dampers to prevent the boot lid from closing again and again. Accessibility is good for servicing and minor repairs. The 70 A alternator is responsible for the 12 V power supply when the engine is running. When the engine is switched off, an 88 Ah battery serves as the power source.
The battery is mounted and housed by means of a metal bracket in the rear port area of a port locker. A main switch is fitted as standard and is easily accessible near the battery and water tank; the electrical cables and hoses are well supported and neatly routed throughout.
The fuel line between the engine and tank is a rubber hose reinforced with fabric and secured with two clamps each. The shipyard relies on the engine manufacturer for the filter and does not install a separate fuel filter with water separator, as required by BOOTE; we also searched in vain for a fuel shut-off valve.
The plastic fuel tank is centred in front of the engine under the cockpit floor and is held between the stringers of the fuselage due to its fit. If you look behind the dashboard, you will see numerous criss-crossing cables, and there are always small areas where the protective coating has not been applied properly during the GRP processing. This results in protruding laminate tips here and there.
Security
To access the bow for mooring, it is best to use the windscreen hatch. The closed cabin door with its wide, non-slip steps serves as a step. You can also hold on to the windscreen frame. Once on the bow, a low, non-continuous handrail on the left and right, paired with an anti-slip structure, ensures safe movement. In the cockpit as well as on the bathing platform, an anti-slip structure also ensures a good grip - unless you order the cockpit carpet at extra cost.
In terms of firefighting, the 259 Sport Cuddy has a fire extinguishing system in the engine compartment and a 1 kg portable fire extinguisher that is easily accessible from the skipper. In the event of water ingress, two electric bilge pumps help to get the water outboard. A manually operated pump, as required by the BOOTE standard, was not available.
Living and cockpit
The easiest way to get on board the Cruisers 259 Cuddy is via the bathing platform and the stern passageway. Once in the cockpit, the 259 offers the skipper and co-driver each a bucket seat that can be adjusted in height and length. Practical: the seats can also be swivelled if required. The upholstery is firm, but is not uncomfortable to sit on even on longer trips. If you want to ride standing up, the front part of the seat can be folded up to provide a good place to lean against.
Four people can sit comfortably on the back seat of the Cruisers. There is a well-sized grab handle in the centre to hold on to. If the rear seat is not needed as such, the backrest can be used to extend the seating area, creating a sun lounger measuring 1.70 m x 1.05 m. If you want to have several sun-seekers on board, it is better to order the bow sunlounger from the accessories list.
The wet bar with sink, small work surface and a cupboard including cool box is standard on the 259 Cuddy. It is positioned behind the driver's seat and runs along the cockpit wall up to the stern passage. There is a large seating area below deck that can be converted into a double berth. The boat has numerous stowage options in the form of lockers and stowage spaces throughout the boat.
Equipment
The Cruisers' standard equipment includes a stainless steel propeller set, bimini top, cockpit tarpaulin, bathing platform, toilet, 45-litre fresh water tank and six retractable cleats. As the position lighting is not EU-approved, we have devalued it. The compass and the cockpit table are only available at extra cost.
The shipyard says:
The feeling of joy, exuberance and happiness is the glue that holds the family together. The Cruisers 259 Sport Cuddy has been specially developed to strengthen the bonds in the family. It offers various functions and features to make everyone happy. For example, you can take the 259 Sport Cuddy out for a swim and soak up the sun. But the boat can also be used for water skiing or other activities without any problems. If you want some peace and quiet, the Cruisers with its bow cabin offers the opportunity to relax on the bow seating area, which can be converted into a double berth.
We say:
With the 259 Sport Cuddy, Cruisers Yachts offers families and friends a 7.62 m long and trailerable sports boat. The workmanship and handling characteristics are excellent. You can spend the night on the boat in the bow cabin. The standard bimini top is a positive feature. The lack of a hand bilge pump and the compass, which comes at extra cost, can be criticised.
Data sheet: Cruisers 259 SPORT CUDDY
Shipyard: Cruisers Yachts
Type designation: Cruisers 259 SPORT CUDDY
CE category: C - Coastal waters
Material of hull and deck: Plastic
Length: 7,62 m
Width: 2,55 m
Displacement: 2,35 t
Price: 70.126,00 €
