Ebbtide Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy: Go Boating Review
Ebbtide's Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy: The party never has to end.
October 27, 2002
The Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy can take up to eight passengers, for long days on the water.
Gone are the days when owning a compact cuddy cabin meant having to crawl in and out of a small hole at the bow. Ebbtide's new Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy boasts a roomy V-berth and convenient standard features not ordinarily found on a boat measuring just over 23 feet long.
The Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy can take up to eight passengers, for long days on the water. Its generous 8 foot, 6 inch beam provides more than enough room for everyone aboard, yet the boat is still legally trailerable. Best of all, the 70 gallon fuel tank means you don't have to make constant stops for fuel.
Tooled on Ebbtide's excellent-performing Mystique 2300 Bow Rider hull, the Sport Cuddy also has small runabout performance to give boaters who like to entertain everything they need for nonstop fun.
A Little Goes a Long Way
The Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy features a comfortable cockpit layout, consisting of adjustable bucket seats for both the driver and passenger and a rear L-shaped settee with transom door. The seat shells are custom designed by Ebbtide and built in-house using different densities of virgin foam and UV-resistant polyester threads.
Full-width marine-grade carpeting covers the 2300's deck and in-sole ski-locker door. The carpet is plush, premium marine grade with 100 percent UV-stabilized, Suntron continuous filament Olefin. It is resistant to fading, wear, staining and water damage.
Standard conveniences include cup holders, courtesy lights, center steps for easy access to the forward deck and a dashboard with a full complement of Faria gauges. Behind the driver's seat is an entertainment center with a sink, storage and an insulated cooler. For onboard picnics, Ebbtide offers an optional butane grill.
A spacious cuddy cabin with exceptional standard features is belowdecks. A dinette table drops to form a large V-berth that offers full headroom when sitting. You'll find stowage space beneath the bunks and in compartments located aft.
We liked the fact that Ebbtide installed the portable head on the starboard side as opposed to the standard location under the cushions. Other notable features include a stereo system with two speakers and courtesy lighting.
The Strength Within
The attention to detail given to the Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy goes beyond boater amenities; it goes all the way to the inside of the hull.
Ebbtide begins by hand-laminating the hull using premium materials. The precision-crafted mold is waxed, and then uniform layers of gelcoat are applied. Resin is then brushed on by hand, and a fiberglass mat is laid into the mold. This fiberglass "skin" is allowed to cure, forming a molecular bond between the gelcoat and fiberglass.
Then, successive layers of resin, fiberglass mat and roving are laid in by hand, hand-rolled and precision-squeegeed. The result is a high glass-to-resin ratio, yielding structural integrity and uniform strength.
In comparison, many boat manufacturers use fiberglass "chopper" guns or a combination of chopper gun and woven laminate. These methods can produce inconsistent lay-ups and resin-rich laminates.
Moreover, Ebbtide uses a grid-type stringer system to provide a unitized frame that maintains the hull's integrity and shape against the pounding and stress of rough water. Constructed of kiln-dried 1 inch spruce or fir with as many as six longitudinal stringers and bulkheads, the system is bonded to the hull with hand-laid fiberglass mat and woven roving. The stringer system is completely glass-sealed for additional strength and protection from moisture.
The floor is hand-laid with fiberglass mat and roving. Once encapsulated, the floor, stringer system and hull become a one-piece unit, allowing only the minimum necessary flex in the entire structure. This reinforced hull structure gives superior performance while delivering substantial weight savings.
Finally, Ebbtide sandwiches closed-cell urethane foam between the layers of fiberglass to make the boat even stronger and ride more quietly.
Wave Hello as You Pass
We tested the Ebbtide Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy at Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, Tennessee. Conditions were ideal — the water was calm and as smooth as glass. There were three adults and 1/8 tank of fuel on board.
The 2300 comes standard with a 5.0L MPI MerCruiser stern drive, with engine options ranging all the way up to 7.4 liters of big-block power. Our test boat was outfitted with a 320 hp Volvo Penta 5.7L GXi engine with Duoprop drive.
As we cruised past fuel docks and overtook pontoons, we were impressed with this sport cuddy's power-on-demand attitude and water-gripping confidence. It took us 5 seconds to reach plane at 2,400 rpm, and the boat maintained it comfortably.
We estimated the cruising speed to be around 32 mph, and we hit a top speed of 58.1 mph. The Volvo shifter felt very stiff, which would prevent someone from slamming it into reverse.
Overall, the ride was very quiet, and we did not experience any pounding when crossing over our own wakes. We thought the seating was very comfortable and offered very good visibility in every direction. The windshield has side vents, which are great for letting some air into the cockpit on a hot afternoon.
Back at the dock, we tested for low-speed maneuverability and found that the boat steers easily and very straight at idle. However, while going in reverse, at 600 rpm, the boat has a tendency to back to port. By 1,000 rpm, it had corrected itself and proceeded to back straight as an arrow.
This boat exceeded our test team's expectations for a cuddy cabin with its excellent balance of performance and comfort. Loaded with features and designed for fun, the Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy is sure to make the most of your weekends this summer.
Ebbtide Mystique 2300 Sport Cuddy Specifications
| Length | 23'2" |
| Beam | 8'6" |
| Draft w/drive down | 3'4" |
| Dry weight w/engine | 4,200 pounds |
| Fuel capacity | 70 gallons |
| Maximum power | 375 hp |
| Base price with MerCruiser 5.0L MPI engine | $37,430 |
| Price as tested with 320-hp Volvo Penta 5.7L GXi DP-S engine (Duoprop drive) | $42,690 |
Performance
| Top speed | 58.1 mph |
| Cruising speed | 32 mph |
| Estimatedm iles per gallon at 32-mph cruising speed | 2.5 |
| Fuel cost for 100 miles | $55.60 |
| Range at 32-mph cruising speed | 175 miles |
(Fuel cost based on a fuel price of $1.39 per gallon.)
Test Boat Engine Specifications
| Model | Volvo Penta 5.7L GXi DP-S (Duoprop drive) |
| Propshaft horsepower | 320 |
| Cylinders | 8 |
| Displacement | 350 c.i.d. |
| Bore and stroke | 4.00" x 3.48" |
| Gear ratio | 1.95:1 |
| Compression ratio | 9.4:1 |
| Max. engine speed | 5,000 rpm |
| Weight.1040 pounds |
Standard Features
Positive polyurethane flotation, 100 percent hand-laminated deck and hull, Dura-Core construction, Dyna-Plane hull, cup holders, courtesy lights, full component of gauges, convenience center w/sink and cooler, dinette table, V-berth w/cushions, stereo system, driver and passenger adjustable bucket seats, rear L-shaped seating.
Options
Accent stripes, aft curtain, bow or cockpit cover, side curtains, docking lights, gunwale w/stainless steel insert, windshield wiper, extended swim platform, pull-up cleats, compass, cockpit or bow table, pump out head, transom shower, flip-up bolster seat, height adjustable pedestal.
For More Information
Ebbtide Corp.
2545 Jones Creek Road.
White Bluff, TN 37187.
(615) 797-3193.
www.ebbtideboats.com
