Tomcat 255 questions

[thataway]

Has anyone ordered the canvas aft camper back for the Tom Cat 255? If so I would appreciate a critique on the ease of use, getting into the boat, snapping etc. (We have a custom built camper back on our 22). Or would you order a custom cover locally?

Does the cockpit sea, come with a liner, or is this just an open place? The boats we have seen either had the dive compressor, or an aerated bait well.

Does anyone have a good fuel consumption table over several trips with full loads. ( I saw that Bob Searles had about 2.1 miles a gallon on his trip to the channel islands, but wondered if any other boats had a fuel burn rate-I wonder about the motor boating article which showed an actual per hour burn less at 33 mph, than a 26 mph?--2.54 mpg at 33 mph, 1.9 mpg at20 & 26 mph,

Any comments by owners about what they would order differently, or do differently?

Anyone have an auto pilot--if so, what is you experience with installation on the double ram steering system?

We are very close to making a purchase and would obtain any information from other owners of the Tom Cat 255.

Thank you in advance!

[Hoop]

Rgarding fuel burn, you can check out the following URL. Select C-Dory as the manufacturer.

www.boattest.com

[Discovery]

Thataway,

We have TC255 #5, Discovery.

Don't have a camper back, but do have a bimini top. The cabin is so roomie (for 2 people) that the camper back has not been necessary.

Under our cockpit seat is a storage area, where we keep the Magma Grill, small propane bottles, etc. There is a shallow pan ( about 2 1/2 ' deep) attached to the deck. the ends are open to the bilges.

Fuel consumption has been in the neighborhood of 2 mpg. The rate seems to be the same over a wide speed and RPM range. We have always been rather heavily loaded. Camping trips with full fuel (150 gal.) and water (40 gal.) and all the camping stuff for 10 day, totally self contained trips.

We have a Raymarine ST6001 Autopilot. The installation is the same, there is a hydraulic tie between the two motors. Only one hydraulic pump connection. We have not used the Autopilot much, only set it up and verified that it was working properly.

We had Suzuki 140's on the previous TC24, and have Honda 135's on the TC255. The fuel burn rate seems to be about the same. The Suzuki's are lighter by about 60# per motor. Only have about 50 hrs on the Hondas but like them just as well. Would have gone with the Suzuki's, but no servicing dealer for 600 miles from us. The Honda dealer is 150 miles away.

Look at the Discovery Sub Album, in the Cygnet photos, for ideas on how we are outfitted.

Brent

[thataway]

Brent,
Thank you so much for the information! We had a full camper back on the C Dory 22 and probably will get one for the TomCat 255; probably one with zip out screens/ windows.

Hoop, the fuel burn on the various boat tests are very interesting:
Typically boat tests are done on new light weight boats with only a couple of people and a partial load of fuel. In the Tom Cat 255, it is especially interesting comparing the Boat test.com with the Motorboating May 2006, page 38. Motorboating gives the best fuel economy at 4500 RPM, 33.1 mph and a consumption of 2.54 miles a gallon (at 3500 RPM, 20.5 RPM and 1.9 mpg). Boat test.com gives best fuel consumption 3000 RPM, 20.5 mph and 3.2 mpg: at 4500 RPM, 35 mph 2.4 mpg. Both tests were with 150 hp Hondas and 15/ 15.25 x 19 props. The few personal reports with loaded boats tend to be at the 2 mpg range--with Dive Cat reporting 2.4 on one run. The reason this makes a difference, and I am glad that C Dory upped the fuel capacity, is that I like to take several cruises when 250 to 300 miles is a necessary range. There is one new cat (29 feet/ 8.5 beam, which is claiming to get 4 miles a gallon. I don't believe it--but only some owners experience will tell.

I wondered if the area under the cockpit seat would make a nice well insullated ice chest--maybe even using the bait tank without the sea water in take? However this may make a better battery compartment/ other storage. We usually take two ice chests in the C Dory 22--and eliminating one, would give a good deal more cockpit room.

Thanks again to both Hoop and Cygnet for your replies!

[Discovery]

Thataway,

We are going to the Sacramento/Delta Cruise next week. We will be travelling about 300 miles and will be loaded lighter than on the past two trips. Also we will be at sea level most of the time. Last two cruises were at 3600 feet. I expect to have better fuel consumption rates on this trip.

The area under the cockpit seat contains a lot of electrical wiring on our boat. It's where most of the ground wires go to. I built a cover for the electrical areas, but don't think I would put anything permenent over it. Like a built in cooler. A few fuzes there that need access.

Every boat seems to be set up differently. That area on Dive Cat is where the compressor is located. Haven't seen the bait tank option yet. Is it permenently mounted, or can it be lifted up?

We plan to cruise in the Vancouver Is. area for two months, starting in late June. Will have a better handle on the performance of the TC255 after the summer.

Brent

[thataway]

Brent,
Thanks. For some reason I am not able to access the photo site, I keep getting an error--hopefully it will be "fixed" soon.

The bait well seemed to be sealed in place. There was a flange on the laminate which comes up from the cockpit floor, and there is a tub which appeared to be sealed to the flange with black sealant. It appeared perment. There were round access ports on each side of the laminate base of the seat. The batteries and wiring was accessed thru the large access hatch on the aft side of the cockpit on each side. The batteries appeared to be pushed back onto trays toward the center from this access hatches. It looked as if the batteries would be difficult to access and wondered about this. The bait tank had a fixed drain/pump in the bottom, which a pedistal with holes for the water to flow out of could be attatched. I assumed that there was also an overflow tube from the top of the bait well..



We use a 2" lower pitch prop on Lake Powell (which is where I assume you have boated so far) on our C Dory22--than we use at sea level--and so I would also assume that fuel effeciency and speed will definately be effected by that altitude, and you will have an increase fuel effeciency on the Delta.

I will be out your way in a month or so--perhaps get a chance to see your boat....I seem to miss all of the C Dory gatherings! We were in the PNW last year and the year before--but in early June, with the 22.

[Byrdman]

Yes it is always interesting in watching the mag's post fuel mileage test. I can never get away with running a boat as empty as they do. Ya just gotta have your "stuff" on board, and, like Brent pointed out for sure, when you really use your boat, it will be loaded. I am one that thinks they should do a fully loaded fuel test too. They do it with tow vehicles. Towing and non-towing numbers. Why not out of the showroom, and then the way we really use them. Another great reason for this owners group. You get real numbers from real people. Ya might want to hook up with James on Molly Brown too. He generally takes the trip across from FL to Bermuda...and had used "jerry cans" at first for temp fuel storage, then, I am not sure what he came up with ...maybe some of those collapsible bladders.... The storm season kinda changed his schedule.

Bob: I always kept two coolers on board anyway... or...two large capacity coolers....and a little one that holds about 18 cans and about 8 pounds of ice. That way on long cruises, I can have one cooler dedicated to ice storage, and I attempt to only open it during the cooler hours of the day either right at day break, or just after sun down and pack the other larger cooler for the next 24 hours of use. Now, thinking back to my TC24, and using some gray matter recall.... when on FreeByrd, on the aft starboard bulkhead wall, have a removable "wall cooler" that was built from about 2" to the right of the opening side of the door (looking from the back of the cockpit towards the bow of the boat), over to about 2" to the "boarding step" area. Take a look at the "Air Conditioning stand in the FreeByrd picture album when our photo album problem gets fixed. This stand got me thinking, and verified that I could use this area for something, without giving up too much cockpit space, which is even more abundant on the TC255. This stand is 11" deep, 22" wide, and you could pick your height. Take away about 1.5" of each for inside foam and the building materials, giving you about 1" of foam....and that would give inside dimensions of about 9.5" x 20.5" x the height of your choice....say about 34" interior height giving you an overall height of 36"...about like a counter top. This would give you a XX quart cooler. (I'll let some of our number geeks figure that out). This would alow you to still use the boarding step, ( as I did with the AC mounted) and you could put a "cutting board" top as a lid, as to allow you to cut bait and stuff... like a little cheese for a little snack while enjoying a sun set. This hole "removable" box could be mounted with those little brackets like on a Garlick divers ladder. Or, you may want to just look at insulating the lid of the "fish boxes" on the floor of the cockpit... They are some pretty good size boxes...

[thataway]

Great ideas, Pat, I know exactly what you are talking about--still remember the photos of the AC unit. Another thought, one could even put in holding plates and one of the 12 volt refigeration (Danfoss) compressors--and have a good sized "ice box", plus use a freezer of 2.8 cu feet inside.

With 150 gallons it seems as if the 255 should have enough range for the Bahamas. Some extra water might be handy. I think you could fit another 20 gallons on the opposite hull--but being careful about the weight. With all of this.

We are talking about putting an RV (marine type) airconditioner on the roof--which allows trailer camping--as well as using the EU 2000I generator for AC. In hot weather a small converter/battery charger would keep up with the demands of the refigeration systems when at anchor and not running the engines.

Regards,

[Byrdman]

keep us posted Bob... Yep, a lot of folks seem to like the roof mounted RV type AC units. Vertical clearance of the TC255 on the trailer is also an issue to for sure keep in mind. I am not too sure that a trailer with wider wheel span (?) with the boat lowered between them may not be a better idea and would also help with the amount of water available at the ramp for launch/retrieval to use with or without some type of removable trailer tounge at the ramp site...just to keep the aft end of the tow vehicles out of the salt water once backed in. There always seems to be someone in a 30' boat that wants to come take a look at that cool boat on the ramp....and simply rolls ya a sweet little 2' to 3' wave as they approach... giving the back of your tow vehicle a nice salt water bath if you are in the blue water. Ya gotta love'em.

Byrdman

[thataway]

Good points about the clearance--I think that the AC is lower than the rocket launchers on the Short Radar Arch. Also the Radar has to be below the trailer max level, or on a fold down bracket.

The problem with the wheel span and a cat, is that if you increase the width of the wheel span, the trailer becomes over 8'6" and you are into wide load territory.

The smaller wheels will get you lower, but probably have to go tripple axle to carry the load. I also worry about the differential and water ingestion. I have an Excursion, so it has little overhang aft. I am thinking a dolly and trailer extension. I have seen deep draft sailboats launched that way on shoal ramps. Powell is probably the most gradual ramp we use. I suspect easier to get on, than to back off. I am not keen on loosening up the cables and slapping on the brakes approach. My RV had a lot of road clearance and long overhang--but not rated to tow 10,000 lbs! There are also slide out trailers, with extension rails on the bunks I have seen on shallow ramps. Lots of ways to handle the problem--just finding the best takes some experimention.

[Dreamer]

Bob, Regarding the differential on your tow vehicle, find the vent on the diff housing, unscrew it, find a barb fitting to replace it, usually 1/4" pipe thread. Then add 18" of rubber hose and route way up under the chassis, insert the original fitting in the hose and secure.

The Cat is a heavy load on a big heavy trailer. Ours slides off very nicely and the new mods in the works should make it even better. We retrieved it with out a snag with our 2wd F-250.

[thataway]

Dreamer--great tip! I hadn't thought of that. If you launched at Sequim--that is an excellent ramp. We used it several times with the C Dory22. We also kept our Cal 46 at the John Wayne Marina for 3 years. Incidently if you are there, drop by the first house on Sequim Bay Road, on the bay side, North of the Bay--a good friend of ours lives there--and he would be fascinated by the TomCat255. He usually walks his two labs around the marina early in the AM--Name is Al.

We also did a Crystal lake cruise last year--neat place! Then have dinner at the lodge.

I am more worried about very shoal angle such as Powell. But maybe by the time we get our boat, the trailer issue will be resolved.

Thanks!

[thataway]

We know that -- THATAWAY-- is in the rigging shop and is hull # 39. Talked with Jeff at the factory about a few details and everything is on track. I think that 39 boats since the first boat was finished last fall is very amazing! If this rate keeps up, C Dory will be producing close to 10% of all of the cats produced in the US per year.

The standard boats are now made with divinycell in the sides of the fish boxes--we wanted additional foam--but apparently our order didn't get there in time, so foam will be added from the sides/back. We will do ice melt tests to see how effecient the boxes are and see if we will want to add more insullation inside of the box (we are putting in a freezer inside under the foreward dinette seat, and using the fish boxes for ice chests).

We will also be adding a second water tank in the port hull to bring capacity to 60 gallons (when necessary) plus hot water tank. This will be done as a retrofit by ourselves, and we will document this with photographs.

We want to welcome aboard member #1648 "C-Pelican". Jeff is going to be purchasing our 22 and taking delivary at Lake Powell in a few weeks, after our last cruise on her. He is a person who will fit right in with the C Bratt crew and will be a great member--so look for him around!

[Dreamer]

Bob, IMHO, the area under the rear seat in the cockpit is the best place for batteries. See our photos, page 3 item 4. Just buttoned it up today and it's a nice package. We're looking forward to trying out the capacity on a Puget Sound cruise. With the Honda 2000w. genset, we don't anticipate any amperage shortages.

On a trip over to the San Juans, we saw 3.2 mpg on the Honda digital speedo/fuel monitor. That was at 26 mph, full fuel, full water, new batteries and inverter on board. Back in Sequim Bay, we saw 36 knots at 5100 RPM. For those interested, no spray on either engine at this speed.

Hope to see you in the PNW this Summer.

[thataway]

Nice looking installation. We are gong to play around with weight before going permently. We have AGM for the house/freezer bank and can move them easily.

Great fuel economy! Thanks!