Skagit Orca

[Cheesehead]

Hello,
I'm still looking to sell my 1988 SeaRay 268 Sundancer, and possibly replace it with a Pilot House boat. Right now, after seeing both the C-Dory 25, and the Orca 24XLC, I find the Orca much more to my liking. I understand this boat is also made, but not designed by C-Dory. I have also considered the Roseborough, but at this time, without seeing one yet, not sure I would like it over the Orca. Anyway, is there much chatter on this site about the Orcas, or even any used ones for sale. (I didn't see any with a quick look at the sale page.) I'd be interested in hearing more about this boat from owners or past owners. I'd more than likely rig it with twin outboards. Thanks for any info. Colby

[Captains Cat]

You won't find much on this site about Orcas except in passing. We're C-Dory fanatics with a smattering of the C-Ranger line! Welcome aboard though. Take a look at the TC255, I just bought one, they are great!

Charlie

[matt_unique]

Before I purchased a Tomcat, I looked at the Orca 24XLC. I like the idea of a lifetime warranty. The purchase price of a new Orca is close to the Tomcat, you may be able to find good deals on a used Orca. I found a 2006 24XLC with a single 250 Suzuki on the East Coast for $80,000.

I was impressed with the finish and quality. You get a lot of space for a 24' boat. However, the v-berth on the 24 is relatively small. I'm 6', 170 lbs and I just barely fit in the v-berth. There would not be room for another person in the v-berth unless they were short. If you were heading out with fishing buddies or something you could only really sleep two (one in the v-berth and one on the dinette). The bathroom felt spacious. You have to step down from the cockpit to the cabin.

I had already been aboard a Tomcat and was spoiled by the space. The Tomcat is level from the cockpit all the way to the forward queen size bunk. Also of concern, I was able to find only 1 Orca owner and it was on this website (Dusty). I was not able to find another Orca owner after quite a bit of research online. This concerned me in terms of help troubleshooting, ideas for modifications, etc. There is significant value in having a venue with other owners.

[Chester]

Ya gotta ask yourself how the boat will be used.
How fast do you want to run the boat.
Do you want a boat that has a stable ride at trolling speeds and dosen't wallow when stopped in lively water?
In rough seas do you want to go fast or do you have the patience to slow down.
What are your fuel milage expectations?
The Orca with it's deep V hull can go fast in choppy water. It will use more fuel than the other boats and won't be as stable when not planing.
The flatter bottomed boats you mentioned have to slow down in rough water but they are less rolly than the Orca when they do. They will plane at half the speed the deep V requires.
There are other differences I haven't mentioned.
I guess my point is you have to decide on a hull form before you decide on the layout.

[matt_unique]

I think it's more about the ride. A flat bottom boat at any speed (beyond displacement) will pound more than a deep v or cat in my experience. The advantage is certainly stationary stability and the power/fuel necessary to get a deep v/cat on plane compared to a flat bottom boat.

[Cheesehead]

As I stated, right now I have a SeaRay. It's mostly just my wife and I, and maybe some other adult family members. My wife and I use it for camping maybe 4-5 days at a time. With other family member aboard, we are just doing day rides or picnicing, swiming, etc. However, I do like salmon fishing occassionally. Use is on inland lakes, the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River. The C-Dory just doesn't have enough storage space. The Great Lakes can get very choppy, and I'm also not sure the C-Dory would provide a comfortable ride. As it is with the SeaRay 268 Sundancer, I do slow down when it gets fairly rough. However, I do like the idea of having a boat that can make more than 2 speeds. (On plane or off plane.) I haven't seen the Roseborough yet, and that might be another consideration, but I've heard they aren't so hot in following or abeam seas. I don't need a speed demon, but 25 mph would be a good minimum maximum speed. I trailer the boat everywhere, so 25' with an 8.5' beam seems to be a good size. I don't know if the Tom Cat would be worth considering or not. I do like the C-brats site over the Roseborough use of yahoo groups. So I understand the comments about being able to communicate with other owners. Also, I was pretty set on single outboard with a kicker, but now leaning towards twin outboards. (I'm ok with a single, but seeing more freeboard on the Orca, and looking at resale value for later, twins seems to be the way to go. That and I hear many folks just run on one with the other shut down if they are not running at cruise or top speed.) Anyway, this pretty much lays it out. I think the V-Hull is probably going to provide the better ride where most of my boating is done. But I haven't taken either the Orca or C-Dory for a sea trial. Unfortunately, around these parts (Madison Wi & the midwest) there are not a lot of accessible pilot house boats that I'm interested in. (Most do not have galleys, etc.) COlby

[CW]

I too am considering the Orca and C Dory in reboating. Another great pilot house boat contender is the Sea Sport, also available in outboard configuration (see my post, disillusioned with Big Block V-. The WDFW game checkers use a Sea Sport 22' and run up and down theColumbia River in its 2 ft. chop like a house afire, way faster than my aluminum jetsled can comfortably travel. There are more used C-Dorys for sale, and at lower prices.

CW

[Cheesehead]

I just looked at a Sea Sport out here on Washington Island in Lake Michigan. No galley, other than a stove. That's the problem with alot of the other pilot house boats. They really don't seem to be set up for cruising/camping several days on board. Stand up head and shower, sink, dinette, stove are a necessity. A refrigerator is nice, altho I suppose one could just use coolers.

[Cheesehead]

BTW, regarding the length of the Vberth on the Orca 24XLC. The one I looked at (unfortunately with diesel I/O), had an extended Vberth on the port side. This was done by cutting out the area below the dinette seat. It was done nicely, and looked almost like it was meant to be that way.

[Jack in Alaska]

Cheesehead,

Another V hull pilot house is the Parker 25' extended cabin modified V hull. It is an east coast boat. Another is the Osprey, a west coast boat. Check them out on the net.
I am originally a cheesehead from Watertown but an Alaskan for 44 yrs. Go Packers...

Jack

[matt_unique]

I too looked at Parker and Osprey, but their cabins are more spartan than the C-Dory products in terms of places to sit, head, etc.

[Cheesehead]

Hello Jack in Alaska,
Watertown eh? Then you probably know where Stoughton is. I call that home. I did spend a year in Kodiak in the Coast Guard. There are some very nice areas up there! Colby