Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2009 vs Weldcraft Marine 300 Cuddy King 2013 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a flat Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2009 against a deep vee Weldcraft Marine 300 Cuddy King 2013 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 500 hp, the Weldcraft Marine 300 Cuddy King 2013 has a 460-hp advantage over the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2009's 40-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Weldcraft Marine 300 Cuddy King 2013 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2009 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Weldcraft Marine 300 Cuddy King 2013 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Weldcraft Marine 300 Cuddy King 2013 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 9 passengers and at 32,0 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Weld-Craft RL 56 (18 ft.) 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 5 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeWeld-Craft
MakeWeldcraft Marine
ModelRL 56 (18 ft.)
Model300 Cuddy King
Model Year2009
Model Year2013
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam - Meters1.98
Beam - Meters2.59
Beam - Inches78
Beam - Inches102
Height - DetailSide: 22 in
Height - DetailSides: 40 in
Height - Meters0.56
Height - Meters1.02
Height - Inches22
Height - Inches4
Length - Feet18
Length - Feet32
Length overall - Detail18 ft. 0 in
Length overall - Detail32 ft
Length overall - Meters5.49
Length overall - Meters9.75
Length overall - Inches216
Length overall - Inches384
Deadrisenot available
DeadriseBow: 60° Transom: 20°
Weight - Detailnot available
Weight - Detail5,300 lbs
Weight - kgnot available
Weight - kg2404.04
Weight - lbs.not available
Weight - lbs.53
Width [transom] - Detailnot available
Width [transom] - Detail102 in
Body / Hull
Hull materialAluminum
Hull materialAluminum
Hull typeFlat
Hull typeDeep Vee
Hull thicknessnot available
Hull thicknessBottom: 0.25 in. Sides: 0.16 in. Transom: 0.19 in
Engine and Drivetrain
Drive typeNone
Drive typeOutboard
Engine max40 hp (manual)
Engine max500 hp
Fuel tank capacity - Detailnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail130 gal
Fuel tank capacity - Litersnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Liters492.1
Fuel tank capacity - Galnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Gal13