A classic hull returns, built with modern technology.
By Capt. George LaBonte
Throughout history, boat building has given us a handful of models that etch themselves into the culture in a way that stands the test of time. Certain models somehow attain status a cut above their peers when the builder hits all the marks. When anything new comes along, if it’s something different or unfamiliar, people gravitate towards it. Sometimes the buzz creates a surge in popularity and massive sales follow right behind that buzz. Other boats lay back in the shadows and remain a well-kept secret among the fraternity of their lucky owners. For the Cuda Craft 19 in south Florida, that fraternity was largely made up of fishing guides.
Recalling a breathless morning on a certain secluded flat on a Florida Keys guide boat in the 60’s or 70’s for some people might stir a sense of “The Good Old Days” sentimentality. If you fished with a Keys guide during that era, you very well might have done it on a Ray Bond-built Cuda Craft 19. This was a widely used and highly regarded brand in professional guide circles. Known for both her easy ride on a windy day crossing open bays, or for a trip to the reef as well as for being a boat that capably navigated into water shallow enough to hunt for flats species. With the surging popularity of do-it-yourself restoration projects, hands-on DIY folks looking for a model to completely restore often consider the Cuda Craft 19 due to the hull’s reputation and legacy. Getting your hands on one for a project can be difficult, however, and the search for one worthy of a refit is often lengthy.
Chris Rychcik of Stuart, Florida would fall into this category and a few years back he became interested in getting one of these old classics. Finding it difficult to locate just what he needed, Rychcik tracked down Del Bond, son of the late owner of the original Cuda Craft. The molds for the 19-footer were in the younger Bond’s hands in Tennessee, but Bond was no longer building them. The discussion soon turned to the idea of simply buying all of the molds and retooling the basic design into something with all of the ride and performance attributes of the original, while also eliminating all of the old-school faults that the primitive technology of her younger years forced upon the old-school design.
By utilizing 2026 technology in this new build, he was able to simultaneously modernize the interior while retaining the original style and performance of the classic hull. After several years of careful planning and design help from some notable industry people, including legendary skiff designer Chris Morejohn, Rychcik brought us the rebirth of an old classic. Not satisfied with a simple one-off boat project, Rychcik decided not only to bring his personal boat up to modern standards, but to also offer custom-built Cuda Craft 19 boats to the boating community. These boats are currently being offered as a semi-custom build out of their shop in Stuart, Florida. The company welcomes input from a buyer designing a layout suited to their personal needs in a boat. The opportunity to build a brand-new “Old Classic” has proven to be a popular idea since her launch in early 2026.
The modern version of the Cuda Craft offers beautiful finish work both structurally and esthetically that surpasses her predecessor by leaps and bounds. The soft ride and heavy solid feel of the old classic remains and if the longing looks and questions about where this boat comes from are any indication of the Cuda Craft 19’s future success, you’ll be seeing more than a handful of them on the water. Cuda Craft; cudacraft.com
Specifications: Cuda Craft 19
Length: 23’ 2” (w/ bracket)
Beam: 8’ 2”
Draft: 10-12”
Variable Deadrise: 48/24/11 deg.
Fuel: 45 gal.
Max hp: 200
