The right motor for a c-dory 22

[20dauntless]

Personally, I don't see the point of powering a C-Dory (or at least a 22 since that's the only one I have experience with) for a cruise speed of 28-30 mph range. I've had our C-Dory over 30 knots a few times, and it's just not meant to go that fast. Really, I find cruising anywhere over 20 knots to not be all that comfortable, and 18 knots seems like just about the perfect fast cruise speed. Our Whaler is a much faster boat than the C-Dory (cruise in the 32 knot range, max around 50 knots when really light) and with rare exceptions, it's much nicer going slowly. If you want a fast pilothouse boat, the C-Dory isn't the right boat...a TomCat perhaps, or a SeaSport.

[breausaw]

[Hunkydory]

Well there does seem to be many??...either going to or wanting the 115 hp motor. Does that really mean for a majority the desire is to cruise at 28-30 mph. Somehow I find this hard to believe. Know I'm happy with the total of 80 hp and would only increase hp for the ability to maintain a plane under any load desired or present average cruise speed(12-16 mph) under varying loads and altitudes. Also there is no doubt in the past the traditional use of the 22 foot CD was at very low cruise speed with cruise desire more in the journey then the destination. One of the many things I loved about our Hunkydory while cruising the most remote places we could find on the Alaska Inland Chanel was the slow economical plane speed that allowed us to actually see and not miss the wildlife along the shore and in the water along with the safety factor of being able to avoid debris in the process. This was in a period when our time there was limited and the places we wanted to see almost unlimited. In nearly 5000 miles cruising there I can not think of anytime increased speed would have made for for a more enjoyable cruise. This includes the day we went from The Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Preserve in BC, Canada crossed the Dixon dragon, cleared customs in Ketchikan and then docked in Wrangle a distance of 214 miles. Have never yet felt the time was wasting on a cruise in the Hunkydory. Can only wish others equal or more enjoyment in their choice of cruising speed, distance and motor to achieve it.

Seems motor hp choices and cruising speeds would make for an interesting poll.

Jay

[20dauntless]

I didn't mean to imply that the C-Dory was unstable at 28 or 30mph. On the contrary, it actually responds predictably and doesn't feel too unstable at those speeds. The real problem I see at those speeds is the ride. Unless it is really smooth, it just isn't comfortable. And, at least for me, it's rarely that smooth.

Like Jay, I enjoy slowing down. I was worried about the lack of speed of the C-Dory compared to the Whaler. But it turns out I find it much nicer. Granted, a lot of the use of the boat is the 16 nm from the marina to our cabin, which is normally done in about an hour in the C-Dory compared to 35 minutes in the Whaler (and I burn half the gas). When cruising, it's nice to slow down and see things, and being able to cruise really efficiently at 12-14 knots is nice. If I was covering greater distances I might want a faster boat, but I have a feeling that boat would be a cat or a deep V so I could achieve higher speeds more consistently.

To each his own though, you can always throttle back a big engine but you can't make a little engine more powerful. Truth is, I didn't know the HP rating had been changed to 115 when we ordered the boat. Had I known, I may have ended up with a 115 (Suzuki or Evinrude), but I've never been wanting more power with my EFI Honda 90.

[breausaw]

Yes, unless it’s flat calm speeds above 18 to 20mph are uncomfortable. My wife and son often play cards or observe wild life along our journeys’ so running at these speeds is usually the norm. When we hit unexplored areas speed decreases drastically, often to displacement speed as we investigate a new cove or bay.

Like Jay we’re into exporting new areas, getting there often requires traveling through waterways we’ve seen countless times. Being able to transverse these waterways quicker gives us more time to explore on the other end, and weather permitting we can extend our stay before returning to port. In the short season we have here every hour on the water is precious, so for us it makes since to utilize the full capacity or our boat in every way so that we can enjoy these times.

[Chica]

Breausaw, if you contact C Dory they will send you a new sticker for your boat which states it is rated for 115hp. Chica

[marvin4239]

I don't understand some saying cruising at higher speeds results in pounding on all but glass like conditions? I typically cruise slow but at times when I want to get somewhere in a hurry I reguarly cruise at 22 to 25 mph without any pounding in less than glass conditions usually a foot or less. Of course the ICW where I cruise mostly is pretty sheltered and I have trim tabs and a permatrim.

[Matt Gurnsey]

As far as the 115 goes, the one customer we had wanted the most mid range performance available, not a matter of top end or faster cruise speed. The decision to go 115 over 90 was simply that it was only a few hundred dollars on the new boat, but would be much more expensive to do later.

[breausaw]

Chica,
Thanks for the tip; hopefully the new manufacture will supply me with the sticker.

Marvin,
I guess flat calm is an overstatement….glass is another saturation. When the chief says “SLOW DOWN!”...that’s the limiting factor.