Appoximate towing weight of a C-Dory 25

[T.R. Bauer]

I'm pretty sure C-Dory never actually put any of their boats on an actual scale. Instead, they put their boats on the sales department scale.....3500 pounds with boat, motor, and trailer is a fantasy for a 22. Perhaps one with a 2 stroke johnson 70 hp, no gas, no water, and the cabin full of helium.

Mine (and others) are tanks with dual Honda 45 outboards, 4 batteries, 76 gallons of fuel, 4 shrimp pots, 2400 feet of sinking line, 6 gallons extra water, 3 hardshell kayaks, a 3.5 kicker for the kings, fishing poles, food for 5 days or more, adult beverages, kid beverages, ice, BBQ, camp stove, propane, anchor, 4 person tent, sleeping bags, various guns and ammo, 400 feet of anchor rope and anchor, 40 feet of chain.....and other stuff that adds up....I know you don't believe it, but it still doesn't really have any trouble getting on step and going 20-25 MPH with 2-3 heavy adults and 2-3 kids. I'm actually afraid to put it on a scale.....It's a good thing everything I have is rated to pull alot. The pounding some have noted with chop I don't get much of...go figure....

I know you are looking at a 25.....I'm sure you'll never get it down to 5000 pounds - ever.

[Dora~Jean]

That light boat weight by the factory sounds like it is w/o engine(s), no gas, water, batteries, anchors, etc, kinda like Boris on Journey On put it.

I'm probably the oddball in the group. My 2003 C-Dory Cruiser appears to be lighter than most, it is s/n 007 (3rd of the newer style since 1996). I weighed it on a Salvation Army scale, unhitched and tongue included on the scale. It weighed 7,425 lbs, and that was in late 2006 after 3 years of use, so all the basic equipment on board. This model year has the thin (1/4") roof, no extra fiberglass cover panel for the batteries, and without several other weight additions that came in later years -- though those additions look very nice.

I have towed it since 2004 with a 2003 Ford Expedition, 5.4L, 3.73 ratio differentials, 4-wheel drive, tow package, rated for 8,700 lbs tow capacity (including passengers and any gear in the tow vehicle). 8,900 lbs tow capacity for the 2-wheel drive model. The Expedition is a 1/2 ton vehicle, but in 2003 it was redesigned extensively for a higher tow rating, rear independent suspension, etc. In these past 14 yrs I estimate I've put at least 20k+ miles towing, including every year over the Grapevine (between SoCal and Bakersfield, CA), about 6,000 ft climb. I don't "muscle" the Expedition, rather I watch the speed and RPMs religiously, dropping manually into 2nd gear on ANY incline, just to keep it easy on the trans and power train. Most hills are taken at 45-50 mph, although some of the very, very steep ones I drop into 1st gear and hold 35 mph at 3500 rpm until over the hill. Down steep hills, I watch my speed as well. I have gone 65+ mph and tested the stability, no issues, it is a great setup, the best I've every had with any boat. Not towing I see 17-20 mpg, depending on wind, terrain, # of people/gear, mostly camping trips. Like Colby said, it's a trade-off. I use my Expe enough throughout the year that the gas mileage is somewhat significant and worth the babying I do for towing (to me).

I have an equalizing hitch and surge brakes (4 wheels), the combo works fine. The trailer was built with a sliding hitch just to accommodate. The trade-off though is you have to keep the hitch weight fairly light, because if you crank up the equalizer too tight, it will bind against the surge brakes action.

7,425 lbs with the following conditions:
- Galvanized steel trailer (27 ft model), dual axle, 102" wide -- its estimated weight by Pacific Trailer is 2000-2200 lbs, leaf springs, wooden bunks and side bunk guides
- Twin Yamaha 80 4-strokes
- 1/2 tank gas (50 gal)
- 1/2 tank water (8 gal)
- 2 batteries, small amount of extra oil/maintenance supplies, tool box
- 2 anchors/rode, windlass
- Small bait tank (17 gal), plastic, empty
- Bimini for cockpit (no side windows), aluminum tubing
- 24" radar, stereo, VHF, GPS chartplotter, fishfinder
- Plus food, ice chest, kitchen supplies (always on board), clothes, sleeping bags for a weekend trip for 4

I watch carefully what I put on the boat, and unless it is REALLY needed, I don't leave it on the boat. I have had 14 previous boats (sail and power) and have watched some of them get overloaded by being lazy, just won't let it happen with this one. Now I'm curious, I'll have weigh it again, I have load range E tires now, and who knows, maybe weight creep has hit me too...

Average gas mileage over all these years is steady at 2.75 nmiles per gal. With twins and Permatrims, I'm happy. But it also supports that my boat is light. The CD-25's ride best as light as possible, the 22's don't seem to be as sensitive to weight for a good ride with their steeper bow entry angle.

[localboy]

Out boat was loaded up for a trip so I finally took advantage and put it on a WASDOT scale near our house. The scale is used by the WSP for truck weight enforcement. However, I don't think they've used it for a few years. I can only assume it's correct or close. I disconnected the coupler from the truck so all the weight was on the scale pad. 8480 pounds.

2007 25 Cruiser
2006 150 horse Suzuki main
2010 9.8 horse Tohatsu kicker
2010 2.5 horse Suzuki dinghy outboard
1 ea group 27 and 31 batteries
~43 gallons of water (we carried extras in 5 & 1 gallon jugs)
100 gallons of fuel
22 lb anchor with 50' of 1/4" chain and 150' of 3/8" nylon 3 strand
provisions/supplies for 4 days (food, ice, drinks etc)
King Saltwater dual axle trailer w/ spare tire
dingy ~60 lbs
Honda genset
crab pot/gear and puller on board

I'm going to weigh it again, to confirm, at a commercial truck stop in Arlington next trip.

[thataway]

Your weight on the trailer is about what I have found. That is why a 6800 lb trailer which some of the boats came on is not adequate. It would also be interesting to see what your tongue weight is, and the weight of the truck, to see if the truck is maxed out.

What is your trailer rated for?

[localboy]

IIRC it's a 7200 lb trailer. No way to confirm now as the sticker with serial number, model number etc has long ago faded to illegible. I have no idea on tongue weight, but I suppose I could weight it somehow. Truck weighs about 7600 lbs (full liquids, empty of humans and no gear). Weighed on the same WASDOT scale as the boat/trailer. Bone stock 3/4 ton diesel, 4x4, crew cab, short bed.

[thataway]

Weigh the trailer as you did, then weigh the trailer with the truck hooked up to the truck.

The LoadRite trailer: LR-AB26T8400102LTB2 which most are using is a 8400 lb trailer. This is just for reference of those who pick up this thread and want to see what capacity trailer is being used. There are 9600# and 10,000# trailers for the C Dory 25.

[colbysmith]

C-Traveler (25) loaded.

7660 lbs weight on the trailer axles.
8304 lbs weight of boat and trailer
644 lbs tongue weight

[Doug & Fran]

We have a 2007 25' C-Dory, twin 90 hp outboards, on a Road Runner 6500 model trailer and a 1995 Ford F350 RWD one ton long box crew cab dually 7.3 litre turbo diesel.
When I worked out the towing capability of The Truck from the owner's manual, it appeared that we were exceeding its capacity (manual has gone missing (stolen) so I can't duplicate it; my message is to ignore what appears on the Internet and work out the specifics for your vehicle, using factory information. And I'll be trying to source a manual so I can redo the calculations). We're also exceeding the capacity of our trailer.
C-Dory's information showed the bare weight as 3602 in 2012; it now shows 3950. I calculate ours as weighing 5008 pounds (sans motors etc. etc. etc.)
They cited the average towing weight as 4800 lb (all in: trailer, motors, etc.) in 2012; in 2023 they show a more realistic 6340 pounds.
Based on a truck weigh scale in 2021 (and I have no idea how precise the scales are), with motors, fuel, dinghy, batteries, water etc. (but no personal supplies like food etc. etc.etc.) we're at 6556 pounds. This exceeds the trailer limit, but is only a bit more than 200 pounds above C-Dory's web-site estimate.
Our visually hairy-chested Truck gets remarkably limp-wristed with this load: we're over with the 18 wheelers with our 4-ways on, going up the steep hills along the TransCanada highway through the mountains of British Columbia.
Our tongue weight appears to be 1200 pounds.
The above seems consistent with the experience of others.

[colbysmith]

[thataway]

Our first C Dory 25 (2003) was only on about a 6500 lb cap. trailer. We also had a Ford 7.3 Liter on a Ford Excursion. (3/4 Ton SUV). It was wearing out tires, and not a good match up--also had the surge brakes (actually not legal in some Canadian provinces). You have to be able to apply the trailer brakes from the truck cab. Only electric, air, or electric over hydraulic brakes.

[Doug & Fran]

The trailer is 1500 pounds, so our total load is a bit over 8000 pounds (sans all the stuff humans need, like food and a good book). Tongue weight of 1200 pounds is as calculated (front axle; rear axle; trailer axles; etc.). The jack (if that is the proper term) is rated at 1500 pounds, but it sure looks a wee bit spindly.
We also have the good electric hydraulic brakes with the separate controller under the dash of the Truck - I gotta fish out the manual and have a read to make sure I understand how to use it, and also to ensure it's properly adjusted.
Story: the plan was to bring Squirt II back from charter service out of Comox in Sept. 2020 and have her in Calgary and explore (primarily) some of the lakes in BC for a couple of years. We left the Truck in the adjacent city of Courtenay at a diesel shop so they could make sure the trailer was suitable for highway travel (it needed work!) and to check the Truck - which they advised had turned into a six cylinder as the rings on two of the pistons were no longer sealing. Dang! They had a used 7.3 litre power stroke that they were confident in, so we headed home sans boat sans Truck, and the shop pulled the full body off and swapped the engines out - an approach I hadn't thought about. I flew out in the Spring when the shop had this all done, and brought the Truck home, and Fran and I and Rolo the dog went out in late June and brought Squirt II back.
Didn't get her into the water until late summer, and the cooling water wasn't flowing when we fired the motors up. Took her into a shop and they identified the problems and ordered the parts that fall/winter, but didn't get the work done, and their sole marine mechanic quit that Spring. Well, he came back this past winter and we just got Squirt back at the beginning of July, and have been chasing where all the rain water is getting in etc. etc. etc. Pardon me for babbling on!

[Doug & Fran]

I should have commented that our tongue weight is calculated, not measured: Weighed the front, rear, and trailer axles separately; came back with the Truck only and weighed the front & rear axles sans trailer; and calculated the tongue weight.
The scale is pretty busy, and I surely don't like chances of being able to disconnect and get a reading on the trailer jack (and not a hope in heck of being able to lower the hitch end onto a jackstand to get a really accurate read) but I'd like to.