Sea Trial: CR-21-EC by Byrdman

[Byrdman]

SSSSSWWWWWEEEEEEEEEETTTTT.

Hey Gang... If you are looking for a sweet ride as to enjoy the environment, wildlife, friendships.....and take a ride on the slow side.... Ya owe it to yourself to get on and ride the CR-21EC. Yes, this too, is a niche boat. But, what a sweet niche it is. Now it has already been pointed out by another C-Dory owner, that I am not the C-Dory owner that is a rocket scientist…. My point being …on this boat, speed did not matter. You simply just loved being in that boat, listening to that little diesel humming away….and the rest of the world off the water no longer existed. If you cannot stand spending some time going slow, by slow I mean the 6-9mph ranges comfortably .... then this might not be your gig. Now, for all my number cranking C-Dory loving friends who like myself getting way into rpms/speed ratios….you are simply going to have to wait for someone else. This boat had a calming effect the minute you pulled away from the dock. Simplicity and a carefree attitude set in. I am glad Marc was “at work” with me on the boat… or there may be no numbers at all to talk about. Here are the numbers you need. You go faster running with the current rather than against it…by about the same amount of the rate of speed of the current. I do recall going up stream at 5.8 knots, and downstream at 8 knots, but can not recall what the rpms were…. So to pitch my fellow number crunchers some numbers, I think that is about an average of 8mph if there was no current…and that would be real close if you multiply knots times 1.16. If that is incorrect, please correct me, but remember, I was relaxing enjoying a great boat. Now I think I recall us running this 100 yard each way test using about 2600 to 2800 range of the brand new Yanmar engine….would be my guess.. That is where I liked the sound the best. It is like I was saying…speed is not important, … the journey is. The journey was the destination type of thing…and I really hated when we got back to the dock and I had to put my shoes back on. So, if ya need to go 10 miles, allow yourself about an hour and fifteen minutes of total relaxation with a friend and enjoy the water and nature, but take your camera and stay on the ready… An advantage this boat has for sure is the ability to see it, enjoy it, and not have to loop back and hope it is still there as to allow you to get a picture. Sweet. Throw the stress balls away…unless you can figure out a way to troll with them and enjoy some fresh fish…which we did later in the day….on a fast boat, cause we had about 2 hours of daylight, and about 20 miles total travel distance before dark….and really needed time to fish…. Great super Marc! Much appreciated. Tossing that in there because I think this boat would be great for folks who love to fish by trolling…and the gunnels are really nice to drag a large one over. Now, the 30hp Yanmar diesel engine, had basically zero hours on her…so no way were we going to push her hard. With one “burst” of the throttle to WOT, she leveled off at 3200 rpms, and I think about 10 knots. Now an owner more than likely may want to read the manual, and make a green mark at what ever rpm you can cruse at all day long….and a red one….if it is lower than the 3200 mark that the prop set up allowed this boat to achieve. This boat seems to love about 7.5 knots...but even that is hard to say due to us being in tide waters the entire trip…. and that little 30 hp Yanmar diesel will leave any mariner longing for just a bit more time underway… instead of putting your shoes back on at the docks. If you ever sat on the banks of the rivers watching the tugs do their work,....and always wanted to take that ride... this boat will do the trick….and you won’t even have to get out and tie barges.. I think from the very little waves/wake from other boats during mine and Marc's demo ride from Wefings in Eastpoint, FL... this boat will also be very nice, and very smooth, smother than the C-Dory's in the short nasty chop... Just take a look at the nose of this lady, and you can tell it is made for slicing…..sort of a filet knife approach. Dusty sounds like he had a much better sea-trial water/weather than I did….so I’d follow what Dusty says. Can’t comment on the fuel range/mileage, other than to say we spent about 2-3 hours enjoying the ride and the area, and I did not notice any change in the fuel gauge… more than likely pints or quarts instead of a gallon. That was for sure nice. This boat simply stopped people from what ever they were doing. We drove past a restaurant where some were gathered for lunch, and you could see them get up and press against the glass to get a better look. Guys walking the docks, stumbling over nothing at all but maybe a board just a bit higher than the previous board… simply spell bound by the charm and salty look of the tug. I feel this vessel will give many of the grandparents and fathers who worked the workboats in this area a great way to spend time with family simply enjoying the waters that have provided for them over the years. Need a little stress relief, go get a dose of the CD-21-EC, slow down and enjoy life. I liked it. Tugs are a large part of American history…and this is for sure true and witnessed in the Apalachicola/Eastpoint FL area. I love tugs.

On and off the trailer with no effort. I actually had the trailer in the water too deep, and had to pull back up the ramp about a couple of feet to allow the angle to change a bit, a few loops with the crank with basically no effort at all, and she jump up perfectly onto the stable trailer. Forget powering up onto the trailer with this vessel. It aint going to happen. But, the winch brought her up snug with very minimal effort.

If you do not have time to enjoy the water for just over an hour to go about 10 miles, get a different boat. If you do have that time and the low stress pace fits you, travel on this boat and treat yourself to dinners at the water food joints and shower and stay in the hotels every other night….you can basically take fuel cost out of your travel budget…and at today’s dock prices, that is important if you plan to really travel. Just forget the tow vehicle and fly back from where ever in a month and go get it.

Marc and the staff at Wefings have a great set up and will represent our C-Dory boats in a very professional manner. It was great to see folks Marc had sold boats to come up and thank him and let him know they were enjoying their boats. He takes the time to talk about the intended use of that boat, for that family, and it truly shows at the launch ramps. Great day to be a C-Dory owner.
The End.

[Byrdman]

OK... I am learning... These pictures are in my FreeByrd Photo Albumn.... page 10 or our C-Dory photo albums, and page 3 once you get into the FreeByrd Albumn.

[Byrdman]

Oh....but wait.... Dusty did not tell the rest of his sea trial....???

Looks like he has borrowed some shrimp baskets from Roger on SENSIE...? Hummmm.... Taters must be done too???

Byrdman

Now, one of you guys smarter than me feel free to go to FreeByrd albumn and copy this to make it bigger... I could not get there.

[Byrdman]

Look what we saw ....

[Alyssa Jean]

Your going to get Mr. Dusty in trouble with Mrs. Dusty yet.

[Byrdman]

Yea, and he ain't wearing his WA licsense around his neck either...

The Tug is a great boat!

[Sawdust]

Hey Pat,

Good Photoshop work! And come on up - got a treat for you --

That many shrimp and a crab out of season could buy a new 25 - jail ain't fun.

Pat glad you liked the 21 - but I think you got a sick chick. The factory water tests each of these little guys (or used to), and that little diesel should turn 3550-3600 out of the box.

Easy 10 knot cruise at 3000, still almost 600 under max. At WOT she thinks she's a speed boat, which she ain't.

Dusty

[Byrdman]

OK Dusty... I'll send a messge to Marc at Wefings on his 21 Tug....and, too... it may climb up to that high of rpms...but it did not.. Also... we were in current all the ride... but, I do not think it was running as strong as you indicate at 3000 rpm... Warrants another look see by Marc and his crew for sure.