Big guy wants a C-Dory 22 or 23? does it make a difference?

[Ordutch1975]

Hi all - I am a big guy 6'4" and 260lbs. I was looking at a 25ft boat but realize I cannot tow the boat with my 2017 Jeep grand Cherokee (6200lb tow rating). I am pretty sure I can tow a 22 and probably get away with the 23 for infrequent trips. My question to you is does the 23 really made a difference when it comes to the width of the boat. Any other big guys out there exploring and overnighting on multi day trips with their 22-23? thoughts?

Also one concern I have is the portapoty or chemical toilet under the bed. Assuming it is well maintained is this a problem with smells and the like? any concerns there? How much of a pain is it to clean. My intention is not to use it unless we have to - My guess is that my wife will use it more than I.

Thoughts and advice?

Thanks guys - I hope I did not put this in the wrong spot. We hope one day to meet some of you on the group trips

H

[johnr]

[johnr]

[thataway]

My son is about your size. 6'4" @ 240+# He defiantly found the 22 too small for his liking. He has a 25, and it is much better. One of the reasons we went from the 22 to the 25 initially was room, and getting in and out of the forward V berth. The newer 22's (2006 vs 1994) have the center cut out in the V berth, going forward further, and makes it easier to get into the bunk.

The Tom Cat is best--occasionally you can get one for a few thousand more than the 25. But there you need a 3/4 ton truck of some type. (Over 10,000 lbs on the trailer for most).

Where pump out facilities are limited, the porti potty is easier to deal with (unless you can get out 3 miles to sea to pump out the holding tank.) We find the Porti potty easy to empty at home (We do have an outside sewer access for our RV--so it is a bit easier--but works fine at any toilet.) No odor noticeable. Been using porti potty for many years. Less issues than marine heads ref maintenance.

[South of Heaven]

Harald,

Don't go small. A guy of your size will be cramped. Buy my 25! I can throw in my old porta potty if you want it! Im serious, I never even used it! Lol

[Ordutch1975]

South of Heaven - your boat has a real potty in it. I was more worried about the smell of the port potty under the bed. It just seems weird to sleep over a toilet. .

[journey on]

When I first looked at C-Dorys many years ago I tried the V-berth on both the 25 and 22. My recollection was that the 22 was longer by a couple of inches, possibly because of no anchor locker. As it is, in the 25 I have to sleep at an angle, crowding Judy over. That's the source of some complaints. I was 6' 2" some time age, now less.

The reason we bought a 25 was because it had a separate head compartment. The discussion between a porta-potty and a regular marine head is immaterial, they both have pluses and minus. Going to the bathroom in privacy was a benefit though.

Boris

[colbysmith]

I'm 6' and currently 225 lbs. (My weight fluxuates as I try to lose it...lol) My wife is also 6' and I won't say her weight, but she is "big boned". We have the "high top", and do just fine with the two of us on the boat together. Yes, it gets tight at the feet end in the berth. The porta potty only smells when it's opened after several days of use. At night, we pull it out and put at the back of the cabin. But we also have curtains on all the windows. I understand your problem with the tow vehicle. The last boat I owned I thought I could tow with my Dodge Ram 1500. Wrong. I ended up buying an Excursion with the V10. (The boat was a Searay 268 Sundancer that weighed in around 10,000 lbs.) Finally downsized to the CD-22, and traded the Excursion in for a Highlander with the 6 cyl. That Highlander did a fine job for several years, even though I was pulling up to it's max tow capacity of 5000 lbs. I now have a F150, and have to admit I feel more secure in it while towing. But both the F150 and Highlander have pulled my boat over the Rockies with ease. It would be a shame for you to get a boat that works with your tow vehicle, but then you don't enjoy the boat. I'd suggest you try to get out on the boats you are looking at. Go for a ride, at the very least, step into one, lay down in the berth. Sit at the helm. Sit on the pot. If you are comfortable in the 22, it's going to be more fuel efficient than the bigger ones, and easier to tow with your current vehicle. If you are not comfortable in that 22, then you'll have to consider buying a larger tow vehicle if you plan to go anywhere with the boat. Colby

[Aurelia]

I am 6'3" and more comfortable sleeping in my 19 than in my 25 due to the added length in the berth. The space in the cabin is another matter entirely, and folks who have moved up from a 22 to a 23 venture will tell you the elbow room difference is a big deal and worth changing entire boats, for the additional beam among other reasons.

We tore the built-in head out of our 25 and installed a portapotty with pumpout plumbing for pumping out without having to remove it from the boat.

We like this model
http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album2034&id=20150116_123157_resized&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php

and since we stared using this product, the unit never smells at all. We use just one packet in the potty and I even left it "full" for a couple of months in some warm weather as an experiment and it still did stink. Amazing stuff.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/aqua-kem-toss-ins-powder-fresh/27121

We love the portable toilets and find them odorless with the right additive. Marine toilets of the type installed in the 25ft model can be downright stinky with the freshwater flush version having a odor advantage over the salt flush version.

Disclaimer, The girls love it but I don't really use it simply due to the size of the lid/bowl. I use shore facilities or lack thereof whenever humanly possible which is always for me.




Greg

[MikeR]

If the 23 is within your budget, I'd go with that over the 22. There's more difference than just the beam, as you noted.

When buying my boat last year, I spent some time on both the 23 and 22 at the dealer lots, and felt for my budget the 22 was perfect. After regular use of the 22 for this last year, I stepped back aboard a 23 for the first time this weekend, and WOW, I was really impressed how much bigger it felt. One huge thing- if you are inclined to stand up while piloting (has to be done from the center of the boat of course), in the 22 you'll have to hunch over considerably to look out the windows, as I do at only 5'11" , whereas you can look straight out the windows while standing on the 23 (or at least I can).

Other "big guy" features of the 23 include wider gunnel when going up to the bow around the outside, huge steps in the cockpit, higher HP rating (at least the newer ones are rated for 150 hp, some of the older ones only 120), larger bow rail, slightly longer V-berth, V-berth is easier to get in and out of due to higher deck and opening, and the main cabin roof is full-height throughout (on the 22 only the center is raised, which is fine for most people).

Again for me the 23 was another $20K more than a 22 when buying new, so that put it out of my budget (and there were other factors favoring the 22 as well). But if you do have the extra money, the 23 really does feel a lot more spacious without as much of a weight penalty as the 25 for towing.

-Mike

[BrentB]

Go check them out! We bought a Parker 2320 pilot house and love the huge cockpit, lots room for gear and passengers, and dont cruise at the present. Different boat, too. Mod V hull, big motor and gas tank but no complaints. Very roomy cabin and berth. We love it.

[PaulNBriannaLynn]

I've spent a bit of time in both the 22 and 23. Here's my thoughts... The interior of the 23 feels nicer, its more modern and fit and finish is nicer. There's noticeably more elbow room. I remember spending a day on the 23, and going to our 22 to check on it in the marina and it felt a lot more rustic. And smaller inside. I don't remember there being much more headroom, but Im barely 6' on a good day when I'm not slouching, so neither boat was an issue.

I've seen comments on here stating the 23 rides better. I didn't notice it, it still exhibited the same characteristics I was used to in the 22', but with a little bit more power.

I'm not sure its really that much bigger to make a difference. They're both relatively small cabins inside. Also, from what I've seen over the years, a used 22 can be found quite a bit cheaper. 23's seem to sell for around 50k or more and that's getting up there into the realm of the 25' which is a whole different boat. The 25 feels like your inside of a cavern compared to the other two boats. It also has a ton more headroom. That's my .02 $

[Big dave]

I'm 6'2" right around 250# (solid muscle) my wife is not. I have a 22' high top and have never had a issue with space even when wearing a hat. We have lived on our boat for up to 4 months at a time in a some what remote area of BC, its 30 miles to the grocery store anyway.
As far as the porta-potty goes we keep it in the cockpit and just put up a blackout curtain if necessary.
My wife and I used to backpack in our early years and learned how to get along just fine with less. We just don't bring along that much plunder when we go.
Big Dave.

[johnf]

Hi Ordutch1975,

I see you're in the Portland area....

You're welcome to visit and check out our 23. We had a 22 for 10 years and really like the 23. I'm 6'2" and enjoy the headroom.

PM me if you want to setup a time to check it out and talk.

Kind Regards,

John Frazey

[hardee]

Ordutch1975, Hi, Go See JohnF. He will have the cleanest boat in Portland and he knows the difference between the 22 CD and the 23V.

AND, he's a great guy, too.

Harvey
SleepyC