Upping the ante - C-Dorys in Texas?

[JamesTXSD]

Greetings C-Dory Owners,
OK, it's serious now. We've listed our 27' sailboat and are truly anxious to see one of these coveted C-Dorys. While sailing today, my pretty wife was talking about how we'd use the 22 Cruiser... right in front of the sailboat!
Here's another offer for any owners in Texas (preferably a 22 Cruiser): I am a professional photographer. Besides our studio (portraits), I have work for sale in galleries in Rockport and Port Isabel... all marine related. I will shoot either a portrait of you with your boat or just the boat and send you a beautifully finished portrait - if you would be willing to take a bit of your time to show us your boat.
The St. Louis dealer called us after my first post and we visited for quite a while. Before going that far, we would like to see one of these lovely boats in person to know that this is the route we want to take. Then it would be time to talk serious to a dealer.
In another month, I have to go back to work (I get winters off!) and won't see much in the way of time off again 'till autumn.
How about it, Lone Star C-Dory owners?
Best wishes,
James

PS - Reading the posts from Hunky-Dory in the Bahamas... 2 1/2 hours across the Gulfstream. Yeah, who couldn't picture themselves doing that?

[Sneaks]

You sure you wouldn't like to take the bride for a small vacation in San Diego? I'd be glad to give y'all a 3 hour tour. No photos necessary.

[JamesTXSD]

Dear Sneaks,

San Diego is sure a beautiful place! A quick trip in the car to see one of these is sure doable (but from deep south Texas, not much is a "quick trip"), but I'm watching my "time off" days tick away pretty fast right now. Your offer is mighty tempting, though.

I just wanted any nearby (?) owners to know that I won't be a bother and I'm willing to give something for their time.

I have spent the last week or so going through the posts (past and present) here and I have to say that this is an amazing bunch of people. We belong to a sailing club and several on-line sailing/owners groups, all quite active. There is comraderie, encouragement, and a willing exchange of ideas there, but also the occasional "pissy-pants" with an ax to grind. In the hundreds of posts I've read here, I haven't seen anything but uplifting posts. Are all C-Dory owners really that happy or is someone editing out the nasty posts?

We LOVE being on the water. It's good for the soul. Now, we just need to see one of these boats and see how "the other side" does their thing.

Best wishes,
James

[El and Bill]

James --
Halcyon is in Oklahoma, only one state up from Texas. We, however, are in Colorado just now. We plan to return to our boat about March 25th or so. Don't know where you are headed to from Texas, but we could perhaps meet in OK. Otherwise, again depending upon your route home, there will be a fleet of C-Dorys on the Cumberland River near Nashville the first weekend in April.
We'd love to show you our boat, and you don't even have offer a portrait ... Where are you when you aren't in Texas?

[JamesTXSD]

This is like getting a response from a movie star after sending fan mail! I've read everything on your website and truly enjoyed your adventures. OK, I didn't mean to get all mushy there.

When we leave our beloved south Texas, we head to the beautiful Black Hills of western South Dakota. Our route goes right through Oklahoma on I-35. We will be heading north sometime in early April. In years past, we have made a straight line dash back north, with a sailboat behind us. This year, if the sailboat we have here doesn't sell before we leave, it will be staying here. If you are still going to be in that area (not traveling to the gathering on the Cumberland), we would love the opportunity to meet you and see your boat. If that doesn't happen, we will look forward to meeting you face-to-face somewhere down the road... or waterway.

Thank you for your response.

Best wishes,
James

[TyBoo]

James -

I'm out in Oregon, but I have met El and Bill a couple times!

Here is an earlier discussion from a gentleman in SeaBrook, Texas with a 2004 CD22 who was looking for other Texas owners. He only got one response (from E&B no less), and he hasn't been around for a while. You might try an email through the site link here and see what happens.

[Otter-BelleHavenMarina]

Dear James,
A visit with El and Bill on Halcyon one afternoon almost five years ago sealed the deal in my mind regarding a C-Dory. More important, I knew then that I was meeting a couple of rare warmth, curiosity, and spirit. Many folks in this community have met them and know what I'm talking about, as you will if you meet up with them. If you do and you manage to capture an inkling of that in a photograph, I would greatly appreciate an opportunity to buy a copy.
Best wishes,

[Spirit]

James:

James:

I just wanted to add my $.02. From 1985 to 1997, I lived and sailed out of Corpus Christi. First in an old Newport 30 and later on a Morgan. Since 98 we have lived in Montana. As you may know from reading the posts here, my wife and I bought the Anna Leigh , now Spirit, about a week ago.

You are right about the C-Dory people. We met a number of them in Washington last week and have never felt so welcome by a new bunch of people. Although the ice has prevented as from launching Spirit, I can tell you that our experience with her in Washington was fantastic. She certainly made the transition from sail to power an easy one. We were so impressed that right now we are tentatively planning a cruise from WA to Alaska at the end of June. (We need to soak up a lot of local knowledge first and, before we go, we hope to communicate with El and Bill and others who have made the trip.)

I’m sure that you will get an opportunity to “test drive” a C-Dory before you get up to SD but if not we are only 10 hours away in Helena. We would love to have you come over and check out Spirit. If you do take the C-Dory plunge before coming to SD, bring your boat over here and we can do the Missouri river and local lakes.

[JamesTXSD]

Where in Montana do you plan to use the boat? Or is it mostly for "escape" from Big Sky Country? We are thinking that the CD-22 Cruiser would be perfect for the run from Port Isabel to CC... and out to Port A... visit some friends up in Magnolia Beach... cruise on up to Kemah. Sorry, I got off on a tangent, huh?

Congratulations on the purchase of Spirit! The photos of her look great. And thank you for the encouragement regarding the move from sail to power. This has been traumatic even thinking about it; hearing your experience sure helps. Visiting the C-Dory sites has me pumped.

How long did it take you to go from the "considering stage" to actually getting Spirit? Any problem with moving down from a 30' boat to 22'? Thanks for the response.

Best wishes,
James

[Discovery]

James,

Doesn't do you much good now, but we spent the month of Jan. in Rockport Texas with our TomCat. We were at the Palm Harbor Marina and RV park. Spent time in Aransas Bay, Corpus Christi Bay, on the Intercoastal and went offshore 40 miles to a few oil rigs. Will be back next Jan. and Feb. but with a flats boat. More practical in the winter months.

Brent

[El and Bill]

The red glow you saw in the west last night was not sunset -- we are blushing. Thanks for the nice comments, folks.
James -- we plan to leave CO next week, bound for AZ to visit family in NM and AZ prior to setting out for OK and a reunion with a somewhat dusty Halcyon (she's been parked a few months). We expect to arrive in Salisaw, OK on or about the 25th (Easter weekend) and stay in the area for a few days sprucing up the boat. This isn't too far off your route northerly, if you have the time and inclination for a visit. There's a great campground next door to Halcyon, and if you're not geared for camping, but enjoy it, you can either stay in our camper or in Halcyon. There are also motels in town. We might not have the opportunity to launch there, but you'll be able to crawl all over a C-Dory.

[El and Bill]

Jo and David --
Glad to share share ideas or answer questions about the Alaska cruise -- Chris, on Rana Verde, will surely chirp in, also. Just start up a thread about SE Alaska, and you're sure to get many responses.

You have a beautiful boat -- we've cruised in tandem with her in the San Juans, and she's a dandy. Congrats!!

We might do some cruising on Montana lakes this fall (Ft. Peck) en route back to the NW, if you're home then. We paddled a double kayak down the Missouri River some years back and loved those Missouri River lakes in your part of the world.

[JamesTXSD]

To El and Bill,
We are, indeed, set up for camping. We have a Leisure Travel Van (class B) that makes a great tow vehicle for our boats. In years past, we had hauled our 27' trimaran behind a 40' motorcoach... total length was around 80' (37' mast) - comfortable, but a real pain to maneuver in tight places. We have "downsized" that coach to a house on the water and the 19' Leisure Travel. Last year, while shooting for one of the manufacturers at the Miami Boat Show, we spent some extended time in the LTV. Good training for cruising on a CD-22!
I hope it will work out to get the opportunity to visit with you in Oklahoma. We will be in touch as the time gets closer. Thank you so much for your gracious offer.

To Brent/Cygnet,
Sorry I didn't find out about these boats earlier. I got "pregnant" with the idea of motor-cruising a couple months ago. I kept it to myself while I searched on the internet to find something in a reasonably small size for towing that would still offer comfort for two. When I mentioned it to my wife a couple weeks ago, she said, "Let's go for it!" I know she loves our sailboat as much as I do, but she encouraged me to list it so we can move on a C-Dory when the right situation presents itself.
Rockport is a nice area. Even further south is a better fit for us, though... something about those "end of the road" towns.

To the other kind folks on this forum,
Thanks for the encouragement here and in private e-mails. Who knew having fun could be so gut-wrenching? We are looking forward to our progress in this process.

Best wishes,
James

[El and Bill]

James --
Keep us posted and hope it works out to meet. El, the inveterate sailor, wants to share sailing stories with your wife over a cuppa.

[JamesTXSD]

El and Bill,
Will do! Joan says she is looking forward to it... I think she means hearing about C-Dorys from someone besides me!

Thanks again.