For what it is worth ...

Posted By: Gene Bragalone - 5.2 #485
Date: 7/1/08 10:25a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: Cuddy (Paul McNeil)

After sailing my 5.2 without, and having had an O'Day of the same size that had a cuddy, my vote would be to leave it off ... unless you have real need to keep a large amount of things organized for overnight camping and/or sail in lots of rough water. Bear in mind the anchor well drains into the cuddy, so keeping sleeping bags etc, there in rough water could lead to a mess (and my anchor well never stays dry when we are taking on waves.) Access to halyards, docking, dousing the jib in reefing conditions are ALL better/safer without. And, casual cruises with more than two passengers, dogs or small children is certainly much better without. And that is not to mention just cleaning her up after a sail (I sail on a pond with pretty silty water.) And, as Tedd mentioned, working a spinnaker has to be easier without. Flip side, I imagine jib sheets get tangled a bit less with a cuddy. However, without it you will weigh less and can go faster ... okay, so that is a stretch!