C-Dory 25' Cruiser

[gljjr]

This is where I think C-Dory is "missing the boat" so to speak. If they were to offer either the Volvo Penta Diesel or Mercruiser Diesel I/O's I think it would be a VERY popular choice for a lot of people.

Sure you would lose some cockpit space but think of the benefits. The ability to have a better charging system for the electrical system, easily add a Red Dot heater system, plumb the Wallace into the main fuel tanks and superb fuel economy. All in all a very good way to go in my books.

[starcrafttom]

They had a in\out on the 27ft ? pilot house.
[img]C:\Documents and Settings\Tom\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\Content.IE5\M5LQ7E50\27_pilothouse[1].jpg[img]
but i think it would be to big and heavy for a 22, may work in a 25. My wife will not let me have a sea sport with a in\out because of the engine. the hatch cover is not tall enough to sit on and just tall enough to trip on. we looked at her bosses 24 lx sea sport and she tripped 4 times in 3 mins. no way I can get one.[/img]

[C-Otter]

The C-Dory is a well built, simple, afordable little gem. Lets keep it that way. Jack on C-Otter

[Sea Wolf]

While I know there's a lot of development going on in smaller, higher revving, sometimes turbocharged, and more efficient diesel marine engines, several things give me second thoughts, even for the 25:

1. Weight total, distribution, and power to weight ratio.

2. Engine placement on a boat of this size wastes limited cockpit space and is very awkward for many activities, especially fishing.

3. Dealers for service and repair of a specific brand/make of diesel are far less available than for a typical outboard.

4. Diesel fuel is less commonly available than gas, especially on inland lake and river situations.

5. Outdrives seem to be more complicated and prone to need repair than lower units on outboards.

6. When it comes time to finally replace or rebuild the engine , the cost and difficulty would be (in my estimation) greater than replacing an old with a new outboard, which would also get you all the latest updated developments in technology and efficiency.


One of the virtues of the classic C-Dory boats is that their hulls last forever if properly taken care of, and are always worth repowering. New O/B's aren't cheap, but they offer a simple gateway to a whole new life for an older, solid hull.

To see the opposite side of the coin, go to most any large marine engine repair shop that works on inboards and see just how many (and especially less expensive/cheap) I/O's are lined up in the storage lot that need either a new engine or outdrive, or both , and which are apparently deemed not worth it by their current or former owners. There are graveyards of these "goner's" that need a final resting place.

On the other hand, a light, quiet, efficient diesel outboard would be worth serious consideration, but like the new e-techs and Verados, would have to prove itself to a cautious and skeptical boating public.

For now, we've got the best group of versatile "pocket cruisers" on the market with many quality straightforward outboard power choices to suit our individual needs. KISS, KISS, KISS,!!! Joe.

[Sawdust]

Boy, count me out on that one! I hate diesel boats - had many, don't regret 'em all gone. Hate outdrives -- had many and won't have another Just enough cockpit space now, can't lose any and do my chores (shrimp, fish, crab). If I worried about more charging capability (I don't) I'd buy a 2kw Honda genset... even Yamaha if I wuz desparate .

When you get old and white headed you sho do get mouthy, eh?

Dusty

[Luna C]

[flagold]

Agree on the IO -- had one on a 28 Fiberform and that was enough for me -- no more! Maybe (big maybe) they're OK in fresh water, but add a drop of salt to the mix and it's a disaster waiting to happen because unlike your outboard, you cannot swing them up and out of that acid water.

[Aiviq]

Da Nag mentioned a Diesel power, jet drive "pod" that bolts to the transom in another thread:

Forum: All C-Dorys, All the time
Thread: Diesel Power.

They might be suitable for a 25 (start at 150hp, up to 300hp), and wouldn't take any cockpit space. I don't know if they're on the market yet, but they look kind of interesting. http://www.jetpac.us/

[starcrafttom]

now that is a really neat idea. It would work on a wide verity of boats. I was surpeised to see it on v-hull boats. It would be great for the 25 dory or any big sled . not sure it would work on the cat.

aivig, are you back in country or still ducking.

[Sea Wolf]

Not to be argumentative, but both the 150 hp diesel and the 275 hp gas versions weigh in at 940 lbs! That's a lot of weight centered a foot and a half to two feet behind the transom. Usual power on the 25 is 130-160 hp, which comes out to something around 500 lbs for a single engine, or maybe (rarely) 750 lbs for a pair of twins that add up to 180 hp or so.

My intuitive hunch is that this is too much weight too far aft and would contribute to

-stern down buoyancy at rest

-porporising and light bow lifting in chop (can the trim be adjusted as with an outboard to force the bow down?)

-how would this very much weight aft arrangement work in a following sea considering the traditional keep the ends light design of dories?

-how about the usual mushy directional lack of steerability of jet propulsion?

-at this weight, the 150 hp diesel would be underpowered (especially with the 25-30% power loss of jets), and the 275 hp gas would come out about like this-

275h hp -80 hp* = 195 hp (*=29%)

Which compares favorably with the 200 max hp recommended for the 25.

Granted, it would be a sweet and clean looking set up with the motor cowl so low and well behind the transom! Add a swim step on both sides and combine the European look with the traditional fishing trawler design!

For someone who needs a jet river boat and doesn't venture out into open water, it might be a great way to have a C-Dory.

To mount such a unit, it would probably be necessary to have the factory do some special lay up alterations of the transom to handle the weight and location, and also to plan out all the connections, especially in light of the raised interior floor of the CD-25. The engine well could also be re-designed, since it wouldn't be needed in it's regular form.

I couldn't find a price for these units on the website listed. Who knows this information?

I also couldn't find the original discussion on the first 3 of eight pages of search engine listings for "Diesel Power" or under the forum listings! Perhaps someone who has the time can find and post direct links to this discussion??? Joe.

[Rock-C]

Aiviq
The weekend of the Lopez gathering, we stoped in Annacortes to stretch our legs. As the wife was in Safeway, I spotted your boat thru the fence at the marina. That is a very impressive cruise ship. looks like you have lots of room aboard. What do you have for a power plant in Aiviq?
Terry

[Otter-BelleHavenMarina]

Dusty, keep mouthing off please! I was headed for the wrong boat when I started researching and came across the C-Dory and the wealth of experience that was contained in the C-DOGs site (the C-Brat "splinter cell" hadn't formed yet!) The deep V IO's I was looking at would not have allowed us the kind of cruising/gunkholing/beaching in the shallow rivers and bays here that we love to do. We appreciate having the benefit of your experience!

[Da Nag]

[Pete in NY]

Jet drives do not go in reverse. They only go forward and they are difficult to maneuver around the dock. Imagine never being able to back up. Maybe you should add bow thrusters, stern thrusters etc. Oh, wait a minute, thats not a C-Dory, thats a $500,000+ trawler that sits on the dock. For my money my Honda BF135 outboard is perfect and a main reason I bought a CD25. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Love my outboard C-Dory!

This thread kinda reminds me of the "sail on a C-Dory" discussion last winter. Hey, why not strap on a jet ski to the transom and have it removable as an all purpose, dingy, lifeboat too?

Pardon me, but I going out to the boat, see ya later.

Pete in NY

[Sneaks]

Jeeze, Pete, my old jet boat went in reverse. True the thrust is always going astern, but a jet boat can stop in very close to it's own length while traveling at 30 knots simply by diverting the thrust forward with a drop down deflector. In fact, folks have been known to throw it in reverse, forget to hang on and NOT stop as fast as the boat.

Also true that they are a pain to maneuver at slow speed though.