Tomcat vs 25 Cruiser

[JamesTXSD]

Les, that deserves to be laminated and distributed. We were frequently asked by observers what the differences were between Wild Blue and Discovery while cruising the Keys. People can see the family resemblence, but they are so different.

Just for some true-life cruising weights, when we weighed our boat on the trailer, it came up 8440 pounds. Less than half a tank of fuel, half a tank of water, and much of the cruising "stuff" still in the bed of the pickup (generator, dinghy & motor, tools, etc). I didn't weigh the trailer sans boat, but estimating the trailer at 2000 pounds, the boat is 6440 before we put a couple hundred pounds of stuff, more fuel & water, and then ourselves onboard.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

[drjohn71a]

Wow.... Les, thanks so much for that detailed comparison.

One thing mentioned by Squidslayer ( I think it was him ) echoes loudly in my mind: "...LIKE RIDING A GYROSCOPE." I just love the feeling of that condensed foam passing underneath and the rock solid feel of riding a gyroscope.

John

[thataway]

Fishbob, The slicks go over the carpet on the bunks, so they can be added. The disadvantage is that you have to keep the TC chained down until you launch.

I can attest to the difference in trailer costs. I just got the Trailer for my CD 25--it was $4,000. The TC trailer was about $7500. The two trailers were comperable--with disc brakes on both axels and the same winches.

I'll have to see what the weight of the hull of the TC is. We tend to use Aluminum trailers down in Florida--and my CD trailer weight is about 900 lbs--a lot less than the TC trailer (also Alunimum).

The TC 255 is definately more uncomfortable at lower speeds (below planing speeds) than the CD 25. However at rest, the TC 255 is a very stable fishing platform. There is also quite a steep learning curve on handling the TC 255.

[squidslayer]

I posted this a couple monthes ago in a fishing forum
Thought I would add my two cents
I'm sure that "Thataway"will correct any errors in my assessment

Dick
Orinda
"ShirleyMae

Why I picked the Tomcat over other Catamarans

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
planing 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

After much soul searching and laying out the most important features I compromised and got a planing 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 attacking wind waves
2) Twin Engines
3) Pilot house design…. totally enclosed.. lock door behind you
4) Best Fuel mileage MPG
5) Fast
6) Stable platform when drifting in bad seas
7) Good handling in beam seas
Good handling in following seas
9) Reasonable price
10) Local dealership for sales and service (C-Dory) Outboard Motor Shop ..Oakland)
11) Livewell

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

If you want to take a Video test drive and get all the specs about the C-Dory Tomcat 255 Catamaran go this Boat Test Link…its really neat

http://www.boattest.com/boats/1106/overview.aspx

Tight Lines
Dick E
Orinda,Ca

[thataway]

I agree with Dick in his comparison with Glacier bay--but with a couple of additions. There is a Glacier Bay which does have a pilot house the 2690--it has a smaller dinette and smaller galley than the Tom Cat, plus the head is next to the bunk (which my wife didn't like)--and the head, bunk is down a flight of steps.

When you learn how to drive the Tom Cat--it definately out performs most comperable sized monohulls.

The other thing to remember that the "test" runs don't realistically cover the mileage. These test boats are abnormally light--and I don't know of any of the Tom Cats which get 3 miles a gallon. The draft is given at 13"--we find that realistically the draft is closer to 17". However, the realistic mileage is excellent--and we are getting almost 50% better than a slightly bigger express cruiser with an I/O--same HP was getting.

[Pat Anderson]

This really is not a "versus" comparison. I am glad for the people who have purchased and enjoy their TC255s. They paid a lot more and got what they paid for, mainly, the ability to go considerably faster than a CD25. Plus a larger berth and more storage. They paid more to acquire the boat, and will pay more to own and operate it. Les, and others, have pretty accurately captured the differences - everyone has to decide for themselves which boat they want based on what is important to them.

[drjohn71a]

Pat,

Is this a call for the jury to meet? JJ

Acutally, you all have summed it up well.

I think proposed usage is the key here. e.g., for Gulf fishing, you have to be able to get out 10-60 miles fast thru 2-4 foot seas, and then back. The distances are much further than Puget Sound, Gulf Island cruising. The water is much shallower, and safe havens (bays) are maybe 80-100 miles apart. Without speed, you'd get caught in alot of bad weather.

The San Juans and Puget Sound have rough seas, but many nearby places to duck out of the weather. Cruising at 9-18 knots is no problem up there.


The Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas and Missouri Lakes can be huge with rapidly changing, high speed winds, and lots of shallows to pump up the water. Thunderstorms with 60+ mph winds can pop up out of nowhere. Grand lake, OK has 1350 miles of shoreline, and is about 70 mile long. You've got to be able to speed up to get out of trouble. Beaver Lake, AR, and Lake Texoma, TX, have great striper fishing, but you have to stay out all nite, or get up early and haul oats to get to where the fish are in time. Gulf Coast fishing, you've got to make it to a bait ball before it's all eaten.

So, the TomCat is almost a necessity for these things.

John

John

[thataway]

Or....if you cannot outrun the storms--which even the Tom Cat cannot do in many instances--which boat will do better in the heavy waves with the seas from the squalls? If caught out in some really rough stuff, I would rather be in the CD 25 (I'll know a lot better shortly--since I am 500 miles from the Frequent Sea. But my comparison is based on the CD 22 and some rough weather. The reason is that it is too rough to get up on a plane, the TC 255 will slam when bucking into the seas.

Both are great boats.

[squidslayer]

All boats SLAM in BIG short interval wind waves ....they ALL have to slow down....the difference in a TomCat is that it is more of sound slam rather than a bone jarring.. teeth ratting slam like in a monohull...planing does not stop slaming...except in the tomcat.
.my 5 years experience fishing on my friends 10000lb 27ft ORCA Monohull in rough seas was so painfull and uncomfortable from slaming and rocking I vowed my dream boat had to be a cat....so far the dream has come true.

Dick

[drjohn71a]

Tacking, both into and with the waves, seems to alleviate what you refer to as "slam", I think. Of course, the dead flat belly of the TomCat is going to get a wave slap if you drive it slowly straight into waves.

All in all.... I love it... John

[Alasgun]

Hey guys, way back at the beginning the folks were asking to have the differences pointed out probably to help them in their decision between the 2 boats. All of a sudden we got this "yea Tomcat thing going on". Maybe we need a Tomcat section like the Ranger Tug section and you guys can beat your chest all you want over there!

As Pat pointed out it all boils down to which one you want and what is important to you". We are totally happy with a 25 as I assume a lot of you are. Now if lust gets brought into the picture, I want the Nordhavn these folks are abandoning!
Mike

[drjohn71a]

CdWorld.... Relating to kids sleeping in boats:

I've had cruisers and houseboats for decades. My kids are now grown, but they ALWAYS preferred to sleep in odd places - the floor, the cockpit, the roof in a tent, on nearby land in a tent, and so on...

Whether on a cot, or in a sleeping bag, I would bet your kids will find some odd and new way to sleep in either the CD25 or the TomCat. The TomCat has a larger cockpit, wider floor space, but narrower dinette seats. Of course you'd want the camper canvas on either boat.

John

[cdworld]

Surprising even myself we have purchased a new 2006 Cdory 25 cruiser.

We looked at the CD25, Tomcat and Orca 27xlc.

Decided this boat would work for us the best.

Take delivery next week. Will post photos once we have it home.
Andre

[thataway]

Congratulations! You will enjoy your CD 25.

[Pat Anderson]

Cdworld - I can pretty much guarantee you won't be sorry with your choice!