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1998 20' Cutter Cuddy Gord Brittle: David Cameron founded Cutter Boats in the early 1980's in North Bay, Ontario. By late 1980's, David moved Cutter Boats to Owen Sound. |
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Ted Rankine: Gord please tell me a little bit about this week's featured boat.
Gord Brittle: The boat we are looking at is a 1998 Tool Five XLE.
Ted Rankine: What makes this a, a good family boat?
Gord Brittle: The Cutter is a good value of boat, and it is trailer-able, so you do not need to leave it in the marina.
Ted Rankine: As it is trailer-able you can park the boat in your driveway, saving a few dollars.Tell me a little bit about the power that this Cutter Boat has.
Gord Brittle: Well, let's take a look.
Ted Rankine: The Cutter has got an inboard/ outboard motor, and a reliable, Alpha One drive.
Gord Brittle: Also attached to the Cutter is a 4.3 litre Mercruiser engine that is reliable, and economical with ample power.
Ted Rankine: I know when most families are out on the water most kids ant to go swimming, and I see Cutter has built a good swim platform to help kids do that.
Gord Brittle: The Cutter has a full width swim platform, plus a ski eye for tubing, or wakeboarding.
Ted Rankine: The ski eye is solidly attached so skiing can be safe and enjoyable.
Gord Brittle: The Cutter also features a pull ring ladder.
Ted Rankine: The ladder helps the kids get out of the water after they have spent the day in it. Let's go aboard and see the Cutter has for amenities. Well Gord, the Cutter has a very impressive layout.
Gord Brittle: Yes, it has. It has good Coleman storage, with storage underneath the sleeper and underneath the rear seats. As for seating, there are two rear seats, a backpack sleeper and a captain's chair at the helm.
Ted Rankine: I am going to try this helm out for size. The Cutter's helm is really well, laid out. You have got all of your engine gauges, a speedometer, and a depth sounder. The Cutter has also got a tilt steering wheel and the helm seat is adjustable. In addition there is also an AM\FM cassette and the VHF. The helm of the Cutter leaves you wanting for nothing. What about over on your side of the boat?
Gord Brittle: On the other side of the boat you have a fresh water sink and a self-draining icebox. Plus a molded step that allows easy access to the bow.
Ted Rankine: Gord, the molded step is an interesting feature.
Gord Brittle: Well, you have to remember the Cutter is only a 20-foot boat.So, what Cutter did was added a step down, so it allows easier access to the cutty.
Ted Rankine: A used Cutter makes a great first boat choice for boaters who enjoy cruising. However, most Cutters are tight on space, so make sure that you and all your gear fit. An additional feature that extends the Cutty's size or seating capacity is by converting the two small seats into an extension for the berth.
When testing a used boat you want to see how it handles at idle. When you first push the Cutters throttle down take a minute to examine how the boat responds. If it takes too long for the boat to plane, say over five seconds check that the right prop is being used, as it may be underpowered or over propped.
Once up and running, listen for any unusual bangs or rattles.
If you hear anything check for the source of the noise or ask the dealer to
help. Also make sure you check that when the throttle is wide open that you are able to get close to the manufacturer's maximum rpm rating for the motor. If you do not meet this rating, or if you can exceed the maximum rpm you had better check to see if the boat has got the correct prop.
In the turns, the boat should feel stable with no slipping or skidding. However, you have to make sure that you turn the boat properly, or you will not be able to really tell how the boat performs. Now, this used Cutter is a nice catty for cruising. But more than likely most of the time when you use the Cutter it will be at faster speeds and often with something like a skier or tuber in tow. So when we tested the Cutter it was for speed and the type of condition you would expect the Cutter to be running in.
If you are looking for a good entry level family boat that is a little bit bigger than a runabout, you can not go wrong with the Cutter 205. With this cutty, you will be able to stay overnight on the boat and the Cutters value is fairly reasonable for your boat-buying dollar.
* taken from a transcript of our Footitis Used Boat Profiles on PowerBoat TV 2004 Episode 4 - Order A Copy of the Show
