As skipper, it's your job to know the type of people you have on board.
Type A personalities, for instance, want dibs on the best spots on deck to hang out, get a tan, and
enjoy a good conversation. But that might not be the case for Type B personalities. The more
introverted folks may or may not be in the mood for the rays or the socializing. That's why cabins
and Bimini tops were created, and that's why you find yourself in a bit of a pickle now.
The problem is, there are usually two types of boats for two types of people. But on a
cruise with a full array of personalities, you've got one shot to please them both. Ebbtide thinks
it has the right dose of features and design in the 2600 ' a cuddy cabin and bowrider. That's
right, a cuddy and open bow, both on the same platform.
But before you can test out the variety of lounging options, you've got to find a nice
destination to lounge, which means cranking the MerCruiser 496 MAG High Output Bravo I engine in
the stern and heading out from the marina on Percy Priest Lake in Nashville, Tennessee. As you
familiarize yourself with the controls, you notice a nifty little switch for an open exhaust.
Feeling adventurous, you flip the switch, and the engine clears its throat and begins a low growl
at a hardy 93 decibels at idle, itching for you to hit the gas. Once past the no-wake zone, you
gladly oblige.
The handling is excellent. The 2600 planes in a quick four seconds, pretty darn good for a
cuddy cabin, er, cuddy/bowrider, and the turns are a piece of cake. With a clear path in front and
the optional open exhaust, the 2600 hits a top speed of 56 mph on the lake's glassy water, about 2
mph more than you get a little later with the exhaust closed. The muscle behind an open exhaust
system is evident in the tunes it's belting out at 94 decibels at full throttle.
It's not long before you find a stretch of water that offers multiple places to try out the
more relaxed features than the muscled-up engine. A tiny cove off to the right will do, so you
steer the 2600 in and kill the engine.
Once at ease, you get to see the personalities on board mold with the ship. One crewmember
immediately springs from the cockpit to the walk-through windshield that leads to the bow. She
could've opted instead to go underneath through the center cabin, but someone already called dibs.
Instead, the sunbather makes herself cozy in the open bow. There's room for three up there, but
that's if you decide that parting is too much of a sorrow to overrule a comfort zone. Two will do
better, with space to stretch out your legs and let the rays do their work.
While she's busy getting a head-start on a tan, you head below with your buddy to check out
the lounging features in the center cabin. Expecting to hit a snag with two inside, you're
pleasantly surprised to see the amount of space available. The center cabin is designed with a
walk-through area with two sofa seating areas across from each other. Each side is decked out with
plush seating and plusher pillows that can comfortably fit a foursome for chit chat or board games.
It's almost too dangerous to sit down, for fear of putting your ballcap over your eyes and calling
it an afternoon. It takes a little willpower, but you manage not to slouch, and instead have a
look-see at the rest of the features. There's an interior reading light and storage for
knick-knacks. Speakers are located on the walls to pipe in your favorite tunes while slipping away
from the sun. There's even a carbon monoxide detector for added safety on board.
A space underneath the seating is reserved for a portable head, but it seems a little too
close for comfort with all of the nice lounging features inside. The cabin is a great place for
shade and naps, but not necessarily an ideal overnighter or extended-weekend room.
If you kept your socializing and activities just in the sections from the cockpit to the
bow, you'd no doubt have ample room and options of having a fun day on the water. However, there's
more to the 2600 than just the cuddy and open-bow combo. The stern area is packed with
possibilities too. Take the extended swim platform, for instance. The snap-in carpet takes the bite
out of a hot fiberglass surface on a muggy summer day, and the cooler storage leaves a cocktail
surprise after a dip off the boat. Access to the engine is a snap with an electronic raise, and
there's plenty of room to work around the engine block should you need to do some maintenance.
The cockpit is the first and last spot people will gravitate to on board, and it's
well-equipped to be the centralized part of this cruising package. Once the sunbathers have washed
in enough rays and the loungers have relaxed to their hearts' content, another party sprouts up
around the massive stern seating, which could probably fit a magnificent seven. A convenience
center with sink, insulated cooler storage and trash receptacle takes care of the refreshments,
while the snack table serves as the launch pad to satisfied appetites. And the cupholders are not
only up to the task of holding your larger beverages, but they're also equipped with bottle
openers!
By the time you tie up the 2600 back at the marina, you realize you've totally forgotten the
anxiety of wondering whether everyone was going to have a good time. The crew's back in great
spirits, because everybody got what they wanted out of the trip. Isn't that what boating's
about?