What Should I Know Before Buying a Boat?

Grumpy · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:09 pm Post subject:

Marty,

Way to go!!!
When I get past my period of incarceration to the work thingy I will go back to my personal choice of communication media. Yellng for the barman!

Lovely day today in the Great PNW. Got the old cancer filter working in the sky, no wind, no waves and I am stuck at my desk.
It must be Winter 'cos James is posting sunny tales from TX and there are commercial crab pots everywhere I go.

Merv

dotnmarty · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject:

Jim-
I danced for fishermen, for James & John
They came with me & the Dance went on:
Dance, Dance, wherever you may be......

Merv--glad to hear you're enjoying the here and now. Retirement is great, but garbage day comes around real fast. Best regards.

Pat Anderson · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject:

With his story telling ability, I think the second career Jim missed was TRIAL LAWYER!!!!

Grumpy · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:50 pm Post subject:

James.
Takes two to Tengo.! Shocked

(British joke)
Keep the "stuff' coming we are all talking ourselves into hibernation up here.
Already done the 200 Hr "cough/sneeze/ bend over" on Kingfisher at EQ. (where else is there?)
Just hoping we can make the Snohomish cruise if I can get back from a trip to the Big Easy in time.

Merv

patrick and linda · Posted: Wed Nov 07, 2007 3:57 pm Post subject:

18. will i have the required annual maintenance fund, plus 10% more for the unexpected problems which will occur?

19. do i have the proper and/or volume of medication to sedate my urge for a larger boat?

CW · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:

20. If I plan on trailering it, will I have to re-truck?

A friend of mine was talking of re-boating to something he could fish with. We talked about the pros and cons of various styles and sizes for thirty minutes. Then I asked, "What are you going to pull it with?" He answered "A Subaru ____________". Well that simplified our discussion. I referred him to a 12 -- 14 ft. open aluminum skiff with a 7 - 15 horse motor. C.W.

ryder · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:11 pm Post subject:

dotnmarty · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 6:43 pm Post subject:

TomRay · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2008 11:11 am Post subject: Re: Buying a C-dory--legal stuff

squidslayer · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 12:30 am Post subject: New Boat

Why I picked the C-Dory Tomcat 255 over other Catamarans and other C-Dorys

All boats have their good and bad points
It's really hard to find the "Perfect Boat"
A perfect Catamaran is even harder I found out after much research
.
There are basically 3 kinds of Cat hull designs..
Displacement hull
Semi displacement hull
planning hull

At first I was all set on the Aggressive Displacement Hull like a Glacier Bay...no cat can beat these kind of boats for cutting though chop at high speeds but.. it was prone to tipping over…had a bad cabin lay out.

After much soul searching and laying out the most important features I wanted I added things up.. and got a planning cat …the C-Dory Tomcat 255

Here was my must have features” when I looked at all the boats

1) Must be a Catamaran.. for comfort…. attacking wind waves & anti seasickness…wave crusher… minimal slamming and back friendly..in sloppy seas.
2) Twin Engines…case one goes bad…long range.. up to 300miles
3) Pilot house design…. Roomy….. comfortable totally enclosed.. lock door behind you.. Bathroom for the ladies. .Mini RV inside.
4) Good Fuel mileage MPG
5) Fast.. up to 40mph
6) Stable platform when running or drifting in bad seas.. sea worthy. Minimal “Rocking”
7) Good handling in beam seas
Cool

Good handling in following seas
9) Reasonable price (as cats go…TWO HULLS!!!!)
10) Local dealership for sales and service (C-Dory) i.e. Outboard Motor Shop ..Oakland)
11) Live well.. Insulated fish boxes
12) Trailerable
I really wanted a displacement Cat …like a Glacier Bay because these type of aggressive hull cats blast thru waves like no other but
I decided against the Glacier Bay because when I test rode one and did A LOT of research it was weak or was compromised in items #3 thru #8

When I rode in a Glacier Bay 2680 I really loved the boat …well made wave puncher
But I did not like the following:

1) the cabin layout.. no pilothouse …toilet next to queen bed??mama said NO! No door to lock out weather
2) Speed was ok but not great
3) When drifting in seas the boat had an uncomfortable yo yo bobbing motion because of its sharp hull design
4) In big following seas I had read from numerous sources that the boat was hard to handle
5) had read from numerous sources that the boat was hard to handle in beam seas

6) did not plane so fuel MPG was lower

7) Higher profile hull made it rock more…had read online about one overloaded Glacier Bay rolling over in Beam Seas!

So… to each his own
I think that Glacier Bay Boat is a great boat
No boat has everything you want it to do however

So I compromised some wave slicing ability for….. comfort ,layout ,speed, MPG, and overall handling. So what?
I can run full tilt into 3 ft WWaves
A displacement cat can run full tilt into 4ft Wwaves

Tight Lines
Dick E
Orinda,Ca

Bryant · Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 1:35 am Post subject: buying a boat

Here's my take. If you are married then you obviously want to enjoy the boat with your wife. For her to enjoy a boat it needs to be safe, dry and comfortable. You need an enclosed cabin, a place for her to change clothes and relax and you need a head of some sort. Trust me, your time on the boat will be directly related to how much your wife enjoys being on it. I like trailorable boats because that just allows you to go places that you couldn't enjoy because of time. I live in Washington. I can take my boat to Key West if I want to in about a week or I can go to Lake Powell or San Diego or wherever.
In every respect, C Dorys fit this bill and I would recommend the 22 or 25 and you won't be sorry. Happy boating!

jklfairwin · Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 12:07 am Post subject:

Most important is #1 on the first post. How are you really going to use the boat? There are a lot of ocean capable cruisers that have never left the bay, or even the dock. Be really honest with yourself. How much time do you really have? Do you really intend to live aboard? Do you really want to cruise, or do you want to fish? Do you really need hot and cold showers? Do you really want to charge along at 30 knots or do you want to see the scenery at 5 knots? Do you really want great comfort or do you want to be able to cruise the Pacific northwest one month and the Gulf of Mexico the next? Dreams are great in their place, but we live in reality - which ain't half bad.

cbull · Posted: Fri Feb 05, 2010 1:34 pm Post subject: funny questions

I have been asked some crazy questions. look at my boat for sale below. All good questions but I found some of them funny.

Byrdman · Posted: Mon Feb 08, 2010 2:41 am Post subject:

DRAFT....... Can you get back in the little creeks and coves or do you have to hang out there where it is 4-5 feet deep as to not bounce off the bottom when that big ol 30-40+ footer comes roaring in to see that neat little boat...... Kinda interesting watching them find that little sand bar with between 12-18" of water going over it..between your anchorage and their channel.... and no long legged birds standing there to give the secret away... Mr. Green

Ya gotta like a shallow draft...unless it is in your mug. Beer

janenelson · Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2010 10:26 pm Post subject: What do you need to know?

How to get to our house... so you can see our 2007 Tomcat 255 with full Bimini and cockpit enclosure - blinds etc and trailer!
We have just reluctantly put her up for sale - you can see her in the boats for sale forum - She lives in port Hadlock in WA.