Upgrade to a 24' TomCat?

[trpsurf]

C-Brats-
In a recent post I mentioned something about already thinking about upgrading to a 25 or a Tomcat. We have been using our 22 Cruiser nearly every weekend and LOVE it. Our two girls (5& 18mo.) love the time on the water and our younger one literally learned to walk on the boat. With 80+ days on the water since we bought it, we have two chief complaints:

1)Seating for 4: Given that out kids have doubled in size in the last 18 months, the dinette has become cramped for eating and crossing the channel from Huntington Harbor to Catalina. We have crossed several times with the table down in “couch mode,” but the kids are so small they have a tendency to slide off and dont have anything to hang on to. They usually tend to lay down in the cabin and watch movies (they have iron stomachs) but now are fighting for a seat so they can spot whales and dolphins.

2)Choppy Seas- The last two months we have been plagued with a South/South East wind on several occasions, which creates 2-3 foot chop, against a 3-4 foot West swell. The result is sloppy, washing machine conditions and a slow crossing. I have never felt unsafe and the boat has operated like a little jeep, but it sure would be nice to cross a little faster and not get tossed around as much. Also, it would make it easier to head out to the outer islands like San Clemente and Santa Barbara.

Given that we just repowered, it seems crazy to be looking into other boats, but the ad for this 24’ TomCat caught our eye.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2002/C-dory-TomCat-Catamaran-2617250/Anacortes/WA/United-States#.UdyH4z6G29Y

I have read through every posting on this site about the 24’ and understand how they have certain limitations (small head, no shower) which led to the creation of the 255. Frankly, I would love to drive up the road to Oxnard and purchase the Dreamer, but it is way out of our price range.

A few questions:
Does anyone have any information on this boat? It looks like it is stored at the Two Harbors Marina in Anacortes, WA, which seems like a popular spot for many C-Brats.

How does the 24’ handle choppy seas in comparison to a 22’?

Can you really sit 4 people at the dinette? Two of my four are under 4 feet tall, so I am guessing the answer is yes.

This one is probably a source of some debate:
Do you think it worth the upgrade? We essentially have a tricked out 22 Cruiser (full electronics, camper canvas, custom drawers, radar arch, and a new motor that is under warranty for another 700 hours/ 4years). Is the ride in a 24’ that much better? I know it is a matter of opinion, but I would like to hear yours

I appreciate all of the thoughts and opinions.
Tim
C-Pelican

[Alyssa Jean]

First off I have not owned a Tomcat. I have owned a 22, 2 16's and my 25 Anna Leigh. I have also been on several Tomcats and can tell you that they handle the seas differently than a monohull. They are more stable and track very well in larger seas. They turn like a go cart with little discernible rolling. Because the boat is basically a rectangle with no pointy end, you have more room in the berth.

Someone else will have to attest to the dining table as to how many it really can seat.

[c-ness]

We've owned a 16', a 22' angler, and a TC24. By far the TC24 had the most room and the best handling. We felt more confident in chop and could maneuver much more easily.

[thataway]

First I know the weather conditions very well--having boated over 50 years out of Huntington Harbor and Long Beach. I even ran back and forth to HH leaving my larger boat at the Isthmus with the family aboard for several weeks in the summer--which meant going back at 5 PM when it is really rough (in a 18 foot Ray Hunt design).

The Tom Cat 24 wil have a little more wing deck clearance than the 255, because the boat is lighter-lighter engines, and no full transom,so a little less weight aft and less tunnel drag at lower speeds.

The Tom Cat does do chop much better than the 22. 2 1/2 to 3 feet is the max to have a good ride still.

Seating--a little more in the TC than the 22. The beam is wider and is wider inside by almost a foot. The bunk is much larger--and will be much better for the kids. The head will not be an issue for the kids.

The other issue with the 24 TC is the windshield--many are not opening--the slope does give a green house effect and heat the cabin more. You may want to devise a "eyebrow" for the front--some have done this with a SS tubing and laced on acrylic canvas.

Is the ride that much better? We have been in a 22 and 25 (some time in S. Calif--and all of them to Catalina. We did sea trials in a 25 out of MDR in the late afternoon--and the boat handled the conditions well. (Of course the several thousand miles in the 255 in Florida).

After all we sold the 255, and went back to a 22 because it is much easier to tow. Another issue is if your tow truck is going to be enough for the Tom Cat 24? My neighbor who had a TC 24 felt that the 1/2 ton truck was light--and preferred a 3/4 ton truck. But many 1/2 tons will do it--and if you add electric over hydraulic Brakes along with a weight distribution hitch might allow a lighter truck to handle the load of the 24.

Over the next 5 to 6 years, the TC 24 will be a better boat for you with the kids. So my vote would be to up grade....even if it means selling C Pelican.

[Sea Wolf]

I'm surprised at how little the price difference is between the asking price for the TC 24, and what I would guess your 22 might bring.

However, don't forget to include all the "hidden costs' of selling and buying such as sales tax, licenses, transfer fees, commissions, transportation, sea trials, surveyors, travel expenses, minor repairs, tow vehicle adaptations, insurance differentials, loan and bank costs, advertising, etc.

Could be a tough decision, at least financially, for someone from the frugal or limited budget world (!)

Good Luck!

Joe.

[rogerbum]

I haven't been on a TC24 but I did own a CD-22 and now have a TC255. The TC24 and the TC255 have the same hull but different cabins. In the TC255, the dining table barely seats 3 and that's if two squeeze in on the forward side of the table. Seating for four is more easily accomplished with a separate table in the cockpit.

As for handling chop and rougher seas, there's no comparison. The Tomcat wins hands down. Chop that would cause me to slow to 12-14kts in the 22, can be cruised over at 30kts in the Tomcat. As stated above, the Tomcat handles like it's on rails. Turns are flat and stable. However, I do note that at speed, the turns are quite a bit wider than in a mono-hull. So it takes a little while to re-adjust your piloting to avoid debris in the water. E.g. you have to make your moves earlier to steer around debris relative to the 22.

[thataway]

Roger hints at another issue. That is in the Tom Cat if it gets rough often the ride will be better if you speed up and increase the air pressure under the wing deck. For example coming up our bay with 12 miles of fetch against 35 knots of wind, we would ride better at 35 that at 25.

[redbaronace]

Never been inside a 22' but I can tell you that our 24' tomcat feels very spacious. We have a 5 year old and a 3 year old and we can sit 4 at the table. (2 children, 2 adults or 2 smaller people). In looking at it, our table might be slightly oversized than the standard.

It is a very stable platform for cruising and fishing. I love the boat and despite the limitations that some have placed on it, I see it as the perfect size. I can admit that I wish I had the 255, but honestly, that boat is more than we could reasonably afford. The better windshield angle, armstrong brackets, shower/head, hot water, and extra space, come at a pretty steep price.

We have done alot of mods and repairs to our boat since we got it to make it better than how it arrived from the factory. That probably has something to do with our enjoyment of it. Even as I type this, I am working with my marine guy to get the port side bilge pump working and the windlass back in working order. Despite all the long hours into the refresh, I am loving it more and more.

Send me a PM with your phone number and I can share my experience with you. I received alot of help from other 24tomcat owners prior to my purchase and I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.

[starcrafttom]

Ditto on what has been said about the ride. At that price I would jump on the 24. I have always wanted one and think that they are a great fishing/ diving/ hanging out platform. sound like you are going to mostly crossing to Catalina and then hanging out with kids. The more room the better. Hands down the boat I would pick if I don't have my 27 and I might even pick it over my CD27.

[redbaronace]

Ditto on that being a great price. It also has some modifications which we spent additional monies to add (radar, fridge, working wallace stove). Interesting to see the blue hull as I have mostly seen white 24's

I anticipate that this is going to sell fast.

[rogerbum]

I took a quick look at the photos and the TC24 has a different (and more spacious) dining table than the TC255. On my TC255, the dining table is trapezoidal and the aft end is narrower than the forward end. It looks like you can squeeze 4 in on the TC24 where as it's really only 3 on the TC255

[haakebecks]

Had I seen this, I would have bought this over my 26 Venture which I felt I got a good deal on. That price is quite good even without a trailer. That being said, I wonder if that hull hasn't had some damage at one point or another and that you are not looking at nice shiny gel-coat, but perhaps an awlgrip job. Did they even make a C-Dory with a colored hull until the last batch of owners? Also notice the gray console... that also seems a tad odd.

I've been in one and it does feel very spacious, although the head issue is a little strange. That being said, coming from a 22, it won't be any worse in my mind. This one has the opening front window which is handy.

All in all a very nice deal. Let us know how it goes!

[redbaronace]

[trpsurf]

Thanks for all of the feedback!

I got a call back from the boat broker today and he said that they just got an offer on the boat and that it is officially off the market. I sure hope the new owners show up here and share more info about the boat. I love the blue hull and wonder, as others have said, it has been re-gel coated.

WIth this off the market, I will continue to keep my eyes out for another 24'. Looking at the Brat Map, there are none in the SoCal area, so I will likely have to venture out of state to see/ buy one.

I would obviously have to sell C-Pelican first and the idea of being "boatless" for some time until I find a 24' seems unbearable! It would mean that I would actually have to spend my weekends on land.

We are headed to the Catalina tomorrow and I will likely try to figure out some other seating mods so we have room for the kids to sit comfortably while we cross the channel.

Thanks again for the feedback. If you hear about a 24' coming onto the market, let me know!

-TIm
C-Pelican

[redbaronace]