Mirage 2100 Sports Cuddy

There is something refreshing about a handmade boat with lots of individual style. This Mirage 2100 Sports Cuddy certainly fits into that category. It is owned by a boating enthusiast who lives by the water on Sydney's picturesque Port Hacking in one of those to-die-for lifestyle homes with a private jetty, saltwater swimming pool and his own boat ramp to boot.

What, no fees!?

Bruce Hunt will tell you that he has owned plenty of mainstream trailerboats before. When it came to buying a new boat, he could have gone for anything up to 15m. But, no, he chose the Mirage 2100 Sports Cuddy after considerable debate. He made the decision for a lot of reasons besides individual taste.

Most of the trailerboats around today are bowriders, but Bruce wanted a small cabin so he and his wife could sleep over. He also wanted day-boating comforts like a loo and performance that allowed him to do anything from wakeboarding to offshore fishing.

While all this is a big ask of any one boat, Sydney dealer Andrew Pink had what Bruce was looking for. The Mirage 2100 Sports Cuddy is all these things and, well, it is a pretty boat. This model has loads of gleaming stainless steel to keep Bruce busy with his chamois.

According to Pink, Bruce ticked every box on the options list and then asked for more. His boat certainly has an air of individuality derived in part from the high-quality stainless steel deck gear that goes beyond your run-of-the-mill trailerboat.

Having been on plenty of boats with broken plastic fittings before, I quite like the idea of stainless steel or chromed brass. Either material appears on the boat's windscreen struts, canopy clips that hold the camper down, and on cleats including the spare pop-up ones for fenders.

Such details are what help make the Mirage 2100 Sports Cuddy a cut above your average pop-out trailerboat. On top of this are fair mouldings and a smart hull with navy blue gelcoat. The cabin, while spacious, isn't too high above the deck line, while the dedicated dash has been designed from scratch as the control station for just about every function on this boat.

GOT THE LOT
During the four months it took to build this boat, Bruce ended up changing a lot of things concerning the standard model. He insisted on - you guessed it - stainless steel drinkholders and things like a split rear storage locker with gas struts to make access that much easier.

However, for a really innovative touch, the Euro-style sunpad can be clipped onto the foredeck and laid out up the windscreen, just like what you would find on a 30ft sportscruiser. Bruce has fallen asleep on the sunpad at least once.

Other personal touches include loads of courtesy lights, dedicated paddle clips, a transom shower and 30lt water tank, powerful 55W recessed headlights and a compact lunch table in the cockpit. He tried to "put everything possible in a small boat without overloading it".

Fortunately, the hull, which is based on the Mirage 2000 bowrider, is quite high volume following lengthening and widening. The cockpit floor liner is 'glass-encapsulated treated ply, while solid 'glass is used everywhere else but the stringers, which are laminated ply and fibreglass.

The windscreen is, of course, tempered safety glass and it has a stylish powder-coated alloy frame. All the seat bases and side trims are rot-free black plastic Unimould.

Lewis Boats make the Mirage hulls in its Central Coast factory, leaving only the final fit-out for Andrew Pink. Ergonomically, the 2100 Mirage sports cuddy is based around a Pink himself. He is 6ft 4in tall, hence the terrific room in the cabin.

BEAUT BED
Longer and wider than average, the cabin offers comfortable seated headroom thanks to padded sidepockets which double as backrests, and a deep footwell.

There is a recess under the cockpit floor for the Portapotti and storage in three lockers under the V-berth. Blue carpet and soft wall liners add to the ambience, as do courtesy lights and a circular Lewmar hatch with fly screen.

With infill in place, the large double berth is a beauty by any stretch. Stylish navy covers, which can be zipped off for drycleaning, and medium density foam make it almost five star. Full marks for the sliding door that lets you look out but stops passers-by seeing in.

LIGHT IT UP
As mentioned, the Mirage 2100 has recessed 55W headlights that, I am told, light up a squid at 50m. Well, not quite, but they are said to be very effective for navigating about shallow Port Hacking at night. By day the windlass (dash control with hidden circuit breaker to keep the kids at bay) and bowsprit will be appreciated for anchoring.

At rest, there's that terrific clip-in sunpad on the foredeck area, which is accessible through the step-up dash and walkthrough windscreen. Retractable side cleats provide somewhere to hang the springer or fender when you are docking beam-to.

Back aft are courtesy lights, a full-width boarding platform, three-stage swim ladder, trick fuel fillers, a freshwater deck shower and cental ski hook. Note that even the clips for the canopy are stainless steel. There was also a flagstaff flying an Aussie flag in case you forget this boat's heritage.

DAYBOATING FUN
The full-width sunlounge can seat three people for lunch or one person when used as a chaise lounge. There are iceboxes under its base. Upholstery for the lounge and the two helm seats is top-grade UV-stabilised vinyl.

Storage is provided by two full-length sidepockets and there's an underfloor hatch for the batteries so they are out of the way. There are recessed drinkholders, a small table that fits into a stanchion, speakers for the CD player and a serious stainless steel canopy frame from Sant Marine.

The engine box conceals the 5.7lt 300hp MerCruiser MPI. It appeared to be well insulated and, thanks to a different exhaust system than normal, there was a nice V-eight note when underway.

But the best thing about the cockpit is its depth. The high gunwales will keep the spray at bay and make this a safe boat for mum and the kids.

While not an exceptionally long boat, it benefits from a generous beam. Stability is such that you can move around without the hull shifting much at all.

SMICK DASH
Both the skipper and copilot enjoy clear views from their raised pedestal seats through the clear windscreen, which cuts the wind to such a degree you are almost looking for side-opening vents.

The dash has switches for accessories, lights, horn, bilge pump, windlass, a 12V accessory socket, headlight controls and a Clarion sound system.

Electronics ranged from a Humminbird depth sounder to Bennet trim tabs. The former has already helped Bruce find a feed of flathead, while the latter is there just in case the boat is fully laden. The Autotecnica timber and chrome wheel was a sporty touch.

Style is reflected in the chrome-rimmed white Faria gauges recessed into the mock-walnut panels, displaying engine hours, oil pressure, and engine temperature, RPM, trim, speed, volts and fuel. And there were three drinkholders.

SCALDED CAT
After detailing what is a much bigger inventory than you would normally find on a 21-footer, it was finally time to cruise. The 300 MAG is a smooth motor and a turn-key starter thanks to its injection system.

With a Bravo III leg, the boat has very good manoeuvrability. You can reverse it up both ways and, with a touch of negative trim, the hull doesn't hang around when you plant the throttle.

The boat and motor were comfortable cruising along at a fast clip of 68kmh at 3400rpm according to the speedo. With some positive trim, the boat held a slippery speed of 81kmh at 4000rpm.

The boat reached 85kmh with 4200rpm on the tacho, while I managed to milk 97kmh out of it in the calmer stretches of South West Arm.

Such was the bite of the Duo-style drive that you had to be careful jacking the boat around - it turns abruptly and gives genuine sports handling.

As for Bruce's set-up, he reckons it's hard to beat. The Mirage 2100 can be pulled from the water on his Easy Tow trailer and up his ramp by a big electric winch.

Those looking for a true all-rounder would do well to check this boat out.

The Mirage 2100 Sports Cuddy will be at home on waterways all round the country, especially those with waterfront homes and private boat ramps!