First Cruise in the C-Horse

mrexj71860 · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 3:51 pm Post subject: First Cruise in the C-Horse

After the 2000 mile round trip to pick up my 2002 C-Dory 22 Cruiser we made a first attempt to take her out for the first cruise around our local lake. We got her all set and backed down the ramp only to find the batteries dead!

We hit the reset button and after $180 in new batteries gave it another shot this weekend. We were NOT disappointed! What a pleasant experience. The boat handled well all around and despite the need to rebuild the carbs on the 2002 Honda 90, we ran all over the lake with no troubles.

My wife has posted the first adventure on her blog at http://www.mrspadillystravels.com/maiden-voyage-of-chorse-our-22-cdory-cruiser-lake-conroe-tx/#more-756

The batteries are just the start. I have all kinds of ideas on what to spend money on next. After all this is a boat...

Mike & Donna Johnson
CD-22 Cruiser, C-Horse

mgarr682 · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 4:20 pm Post subject:

I have a brother that fishes Lake Conroe often. I'll tell him to keep an eye out for you. As for keeping the batteries ready to go, I got a couple of small solar panels (7 amp) that plug into outlets in the cabin when the boat is on the trailer. They keep both batteries charged up and ready to go year round.

mrexj71860 · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 5:01 pm Post subject:

C-Dories are not hard to spot! Hope to meet him soon!

Bluechablis · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 6:52 pm Post subject:

Congrats on the maiden voyage! Loved reading your blog about the trip and about Lake Conroe. Back in the 70's my Dad managed Loch Ness Marina on the lake while he was working on his PHD at Sam Houston, I had the most wonderful summer working for him there on the lake and having the time of my life.

Hope you have many more adventures to come!

journey on · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 8:05 pm Post subject:

Great pic of the first mate. The question is: what sailboat do you have, (or just got rid of,) now. Just curious. A lot of C-Dory owners are ex-sailors. As an example we sold our Catalina 36 and got Journey On.

If you have a Wallis, I found the heater aspect works better with an Calframo Eccofan, which is heat powered. You can point it where you want the heat, it's quieter and takes no power. e-bay has the pest prices.

Boris

mrexj71860 · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 8:22 pm Post subject:

Boris,

After 40 years of sailing I can't bring myself to sell my Sea Pearl 21 (www.marineconcepts.com). She is in storage and I still plan to use her. If time passes and she sits for too long I may consider selling but that would be hard to wrap my head around.

We will see and time will tell!

Mike

Sunbeam · Posted: Sun Sep 21, 2014 11:49 pm Post subject:

The nice thing about a Sea Pearl is that it's no big hardship (in terms of time or money) to keep it around. I would do the same Thumbs Up

texasair · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 1:17 am Post subject:

Welcome,
There are very few of us C-Brats in Texas, so you are now members of an exclusive group.

Tex and Sharon

MikeR · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 12:13 pm Post subject:

Congrats on your maiden voyage. Nice write up and pics. Lake Conroe looks like a fun lake to explore in a C-dory!

journey on · Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 1:03 pm Post subject:

Why sell the Sea Perl 21? It look like a lovely boat to sail and I still think sailing beats motoring. Except for speed. I'm looking for a used Catalina 22, which is the boat we started with. I'd like to take it down to San diego Bay, and just enjoy the wind.

There are 2 ea marine concepts in Florida:
http://www.marine-concepts.com
and
http://www.marineconcepts.com/

Are they related? One builds the Sea Pearl, the other builds everything in fibreglass, except the finished boat.

Boris

mrexj71860 · Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2014 12:36 am Post subject:

Tex and Sharon,

Nice to meet you on C-Brats and nice to know that Donna and I are now part of an exclusive group!

As for the builder of the Sea Pearl, that would be the hyphenated marine-concepts website.

For my sailing friend, check out www.sailingtexas.com for their classified ads. They have a whole section devoted to Catalina sailboats. There are usually a lot of 22's available.

Mike & Donna