Glacier Bay vs Tomcat 24/25

[CADiver]

I know there has been some reference to the Glacier Bay as a competitor to the Tomcat, however these seem to be two completely different beast in their hull design. The Glacier Bay is designed to be a displacement hull while the Tom Cat is a planing hull (at least I think this is correct). One of the main motivators for me considering the purchase of a trailerable boat is SCUBA diving and SCUBA gear can weight alot, especially if there is an onboard compressor. My understanding is that discplament hulls will take on significantly more weight than a planing hull.

So my question is ... how much weight can the Tom Cat actually take without dramatically affecting its sea worthiness? Will the new Tom Cat 25 be able to handle much more weight? I think I read in a brochure, and please correct me if I'm incorrect, that the Tom Cat 24 hull can handle 800 lbs and that's including the motor, fuel and passengers. Is this correct? If this is true then it looks like 5 passengers plus 10 tanks (or 5 tanks and a compressor) plus other gear will bog down the TC24 ... or will it still plane at a reasonable speed and have good performance?

Paul

[Byrdman]

Have a TomCat. Have not put tank/divers and or compressor on board...but I believe that someone did in one of last years gatherings... You may attempt to use the search engine to find that response... Mine is the 24TC, powered with twin 90s. "Estimating" that 5 divers would weigh an "average" of about 250 with ALL their gear, I am thinking I would have to just re-prop a bit. I feel the boat would handle the weight....but I yield to those who have done it. I too looked at, and drove the GB.. Very sweet ride indeed. I used Destin Pass and out about 3 or 4 miles as my test ride. Price, weight, size, 90s ILO 150s drove me to purchase the TC24 with the twin 90s....but then, once the TC25 comes out.... it will be much more in line/similar to the GB.. weight, twin 135/150s... BUT.... LOOK AT THE FLOORS.... I did not and still do not like all the crawling up and down of the GB to get into/out of the bed...where no matter how you use your boat.... will end up with some things tossed on it that you have to get. It will warrant a ride on both once the TC25 is on the water with power. I do love my TomCat....and the owner's groups relationship and continued efforts to help each other thru any and all items of interest.

[CADiver]

Thanks for the reply. I actually posted almost a year ago about the TC24 and Molly Brown answered about the diving and answered some of my questions. I guess I'm wondering about the comparisons between TC and other manufacturers and not between the CD-22/25 and the TC24 (which is what my original post was about). I've been onboard a GB and love the standard transom swim platform/step with grab rails as it makes it easy to get back on the boat. I notice that this is an additional $900 option on the TC. I didn't get a chance to take the GB for a ride unfortunately. But the main question I have is whether there is much difference there was between a displacement and planing hulls when carrying a lot of weight is concerned. Hopefully someone will be able to make a comparison between the GB and the TC, especially in regards to the hull design.

[C-Hawk]

We had 6 divers + 2 passengers on a TC24 last year at Catalina. It ran out pretty good. I also saw a TC24 at Anacapa that had a film crew on board with a couple divers.
I have been wanting to get a TC myself,but----- there just ain't a darn thing wrong with my CD22 that would make me sell it. Now I want to see the TC25.
You're right about the planning hull vs displacement. The GB's are nice boats, but a bit heavier to trailer and the helm is in the elements.

[Bob Cat]

CADiver,

I looked around fora couple years before settling on the new TC25 as my dive platform. We'll put a Max-Air compressor in the transom and be off to the islands for days at a time. Trailering will be easy from Santa Barbara to San Diego on the coast. One of the best things about the TC25 is it's easy to modify to meet my particular needs. I'll be up at the factory when it is born to participate in installation decisions for the compressor, watermaker, electronics, etc., etc. The swim step is yet to be seen on the new hull with the engines off the stern, but there are plenty of options to choose from.

It should be ready in April, so if you can wait, please plan on coming aboard for a trip out to ????? Are you near Marina del Rey?

Scaley Waterman

[Pat Anderson]

Scaley - keep us all posted here! I think we could spring for a keg for birthday party at the factory! Seriously!

Pat Anderson aka "One of the Beer Guys"

[CADiver]

[C-Hawk]

Paul-
Diving around the northern/western Channel Islands is great. You have to pick your days for San Miguel though- gets rough, they get all the wind that comes around Point Conception.

[CADiver]

[CADiver]

[C-Hawk]

Paul-
You should check out http://www.peaceboat.com/ The Peace is a good boat (even has a nice hot tub) out of Ventura. I some times hop on board for some good multi diving days at the Channel Islands.

[Forty Two]

CADiver; That 800 pounds on the TomCat 24 is the max recommended weight for motors and batteries. It has little to do with passenger capacity, more to do with messing up the trim of the boat by hanging lots of weight off the transom.

I have seen a TC24 with a pair of Yamaha 115s and a monster custom fishbox built onto the swim step. This boat (bright yellow hull) is used as a fishing charter (Banana Bob). The last time I saw him, he had 4 or 5 guys salmon fishing off the back. He has to be way over that 800 pounds, and he still carries more people than I will likely ever carry.

[CADiver]

[Sawdust]

I've had 12 big folks aboard the TC with a pair of 90 Hondas. Up on top and away we go. Piece of cake. And full gas and water.

Dusty