Cape Cruiser sold - Now What??

hank schneider · Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 7:13 am Post subject: Cape Cruiser sold - Now What??

Hi Brats
Didn't expect to sell the Ditch Witch until spring but ran into a nice guy (Andy) who was bitten by the C-Dory bug. Now to figure out what to replace it with. My hope/plan was/is to find a 25' Ranger Tug but I'm wondering about other boats to consider.
I'd like some additional creature comforts (AC and a Head) and would like a hull that has a deeper V so that it doesn't pound as much in choppy water. I plan to cruise the Bahamas some and wonder if I might be better off with with twin outboards rather than a diesel (or are diesel engines much more reliable?). There is a lot of shallow water on the Carolina coast and it is nice to be able to tilt the engine up.
Any comments about the "pound factor" for the Ranger, Venture 26, C-Dory 25, Tomcat 25 or some of the others Parker, Rosborough, etc.
I'm still a novice so if any of you old salts have opinions - I'd like to hear them.
Thanks Hank

rogerbum

JamesTXSD · Posted: Wed Nov 18, 2009 8:33 am Post subject:

Interesting dilemma; the only downside is currently being without a boat. Wink

Each of those picks (and Roger's suggestion of adding the TomCat to the list) has pros and cons. Of course, the best way to decide would be to get out on each of your considerations, and then decide what best fits the way you will use it.

Good luck with your search and decisions.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Byrdman · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:07 am Post subject:

Hey Hank!
If ya want to sea trial a Rosborough come on down to Nashville area. Have both a wheelhouse (powered up and in the water) and the RF-246 Heads Up version custom boat that myself and Les (EQ) have been working on.
I have to say I have ended up really likeing the layout on the heads up custom boat....to the point that I may sell my wheelhouse and just rig out this boat for Sherryl and myself....

Send me an email or PM if you would like more info.
I do not want to hurt anyones feelings on this C-Dory/TomCat/Ranger Tug/Cape Cruiser... owners site by talking about a Rosborough... Mr. Green

Byrdman

JamesTXSD · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:56 am Post subject:

forrest · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject:

Go into mourning. You just parted with the finest pocket cruiser ever made.

breausaw · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 7:52 pm Post subject:

forrest · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject:

Take a ride in one and compare it to yours. Then make a honest comparison of the two.

Dory-Ling · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 9:46 pm Post subject: Cape Cruiser Sold

maybe an Ocean sport from Island Marine
Martin

thataway · Posted: Thu Nov 19, 2009 11:29 pm Post subject:

There are several other small "trawler" type of boats, including the Seaway,Atlas, Acacia, some a bit larger, such as the Albin 25, 27, TE 28 or 30, the Mainship pilot, the Nordic Tug 26, Sundowner Tug 30, MotorCat 30, MotorCat 29, Glacier Bay 2690, World Cat 27,Willard 30 trawler, Dyer 29, Prarie 29, Cape Dory 28, Carver Riveria, NorthPacific 28, Outer Reef 26 tug, Osprey pilothouse, Nimble Nomad, any one of several Sea Sport pilot houses, Shamrock Mackinaw, Skagit Orca, Aylward 25, which I would include in my search. I have been aboard and ridden in most of these and those already mentioned in this thread.

Definately the Venture 26 and C Dory 25, especially with trim tabs and Permatrims, are better riding than the 23, but they are both subject to some of the same short commings. Generallly diesels are very reliable, but some of the small trawlers have had some trip stopping (not boat loss, or serious damage type) of diesel problems. The latest generation of 4 stroke outboards are also very reliable, they do have the advantage of shoaler draft, and being able to get the running gear out of the water.

My personal choice is the Tom Cat--and this choice was made after looking at most of the afore mentioned boats.

hank schneider · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:51 am Post subject:

Thanks for the thoughts
Forrest - I agree it is a great boat and already miss he - did I do the right thing??? I might be boatless for a while.

Bob - Those are too many options - could take forever to check them all out. Probably will not stray too far from the CDory line. The TCat came up in a couple of posts. It sounds like it would be less pounding than the CC, and I'd like twins rather than a single inboard for making the crossing to the Bahamas - looks roomy too.
Couple of questions. The CC was great on gas (~ 5mpg at a slow cruise) -How does your do on gas with twin 150's - how fast does it go? That seems like a lot of power for a 25 ft boat. What' the typical setup?
Thanks

jennykatz · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 8:40 am Post subject: Tom cat 24

Hank now the fun part again Looking and planning on which boat to purchase.You have all winter to make a good decision for your boating needs . Dr.Bob gave you lots of Boats to compare but if you want to stay in the C-'Dory fold .Go look at the Tomcat 24 , or TC255 with maybe smaller engines 115 -135 hp . These will give you twin eng reliability plus small head and shower and trailerbility . If these are not for you I would take up Pat's offer and go try the Rossborough 246 Good luck and Good Hunting . Jim

thataway · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:23 pm Post subject:

On our Tom Cat 255, the average planing speed/fuel consumption is 22 mph and 2.2/2.3 miles per gallon--just a little less than the C Dory 25, and 50% better than a similar sized express cruiser I had with an I/O which had 300 hp, and a bravo III outdrive. If you want to drop down to displacement speed: 6 or so knots, the boat will be very economical.

I disagree that the 115 are a good setup for the 255. It is a fairly heavy boat, especially when geared up for cruising. The max speed we have seen was 49 mph when the boat was new and not much gear aboard. Currently fully loaded, with fuel and water, generator, air conditioning etc, we can still hit over 40 mph, and cruise easily in the 35 plus mph. The information I have seen does not show any real advantage with 115 or 135 engines, and in my opinion the Suzuki is the best engine for this boat (I found it was more responsive than the Honda 150). The only advantage with 115 might be slightly less weight on the transom, but the boat runs perfectly with the 150's. I believe than only a couple of the 255s were set up with smaller engines.

The boat does better at high speeds when it does get rough, which seems some what paradoxical. However, with higher speed, opens up the tunnel and compresses the air in the tunnel more, which gives a smoother ride.
Yes, the 255 has more significantly more room for our purposes than the 25. The shower is much easier to use, with better headroom, and the bunk is considerably larger. The storage on the 255 is huge, with room under the bunk in the hulls.

I only mentioned the large number of boats, because there is such a variety; almost all of which will do the job. Don't discount any of these boats, if the oportunity comes along to look at them.

Rob & Karen · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject:

Bob,

What are the other good cruising speeds for the Tom Cat? You have mentioned 6 knots and 35 mph, but what mid-range speeds are good?

Thanks,

Rob

thataway · Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 9:54 pm Post subject:

I may not have been clear in my first sentance, but 22 knots is about our "normal" cruising speed. The boat is on a plane from somewhere around 13 knots (some think they are planing at 11 knots, that is not a very effecient speed--and 18 knots is more effecient than 13, because of the large amount of upward pressure of the Permatrims, with the outboards trimmed down.

The "mileage" is about the same at 18 and 25 knots (by flow meters). I do find the flow meters very helpful getting the best fuel mileage.

I was including in an E-mail from a distant cousin who spent some time with us this last week. He has owned mostly sail boats, and currently a Corsair F 24. His comment was that after a ride in our Tom Cat, he wondered why he had spent most of his life at 6 knots or less. The features he mentioned included the quiet engines, the smooth ride and comfort of the pilot house.