This summer we ran across a really good deal on a 20' cuddy cabin and we bought it.    And we do use it for multiple purposes like Fishing, tubing and skiing.  Our primary lake is Lake Champlain.

Initially for fishing, it seemed wonderful.   Then we started to notice some things not so great, like trolling (it struggles to get below 2.5mph) or staying consistently in one place on the lake (like a dropoff).

The last couple of weekends we've been out while there was a bass tournement going on (lake champlain) and you can see how easy it is for these guys in the sleek bass boats to stay in one place dispite having all the wind.   The use the little electric trolling motors to keep them stationary.   They never have to anchor, and then the just zip from structure to structure.

In the cuddy, we typically drift due to the pain of anchoring (and setting in 20' takes a lot of chain/rope) and then we still move around (on the end of the line).   We haven't gone to using 2 lines and anchors but that just sounds doubly painful and no fun.  

Is it possible or practical to put an electric motor on a 20' cuddy?  It would have to be the back because the front deck is kind of high off the water.   Or would I have to use a gas motor, which I think probably makes too much noise to do what the bass boat electric motors do (keep them in one place without an anchor).

I really don't want to have 2 boats.    :-/

Anyone else out there in this same predicament?

Your 20' Cuddy will never be an effective casting platform. Put a moderate horse power kicker motor or a trolling plate and troll.

Get rid of the cuddy and get yourself a 20' fish and ski.  It will serve your purpose for skiing and tubing nicely and will make a far better fishing platform than your current boat.

As mentioned, it will never make a great fishing platform, but you might be able to make it usable to some degree.  The first and formost is if you can add a bow mount trolling motor, if the bow is not too high to find one with a long enough shaft.   This is going to be somewhat expensive if get one to reach the water because you're probably going to need and remote power drive unit with electric raise and lower since you probably don't have reasonable access to the bow while in the boat.   A TM is the only way your going to be able to control the boat while fishing.    

Double anchoring is the only way you're going to be able to hold the boat while trying to fish stationary.   You drop one anchor before you get to you spot, go past your spot a little ways and drop a second, then pull back toward the first anchor to your spot.  The anchors need to be out at least 45 degrees or more to hold the boat.

As for Trolling, they make a unit you can bolt onto the motor that drops down behind the prop to kill a lot of the prop output.  This will slow the boat down enough to let you be able to troll.  You can also throw out a wind sock (drift anchor), the drag from those will also slow the boat down but you have to be carefull with your lines getting into it.

You can make it somewhat fishable but will never be fully happy with it as a fishing boat, other than just drift fishing or getting the speed down and trolling.  It will never make a convenient boat to anchor or for casting.