New Guy - Introduction and looking for a boat

[Stearmandriver2]

Hello Brats!


I'm Joe, in Port Orchard WA.  I've been a semi-regular lurker here for about 5 years now, keeping an eye on the C Dory line for whenever my family and I were ready to join the powerboat club.  Really great forum you have here; I've learned a lot and enjoyed following it.  I figured it was about time to introduce myself...


We've been sailing my father's Catalina 27 for about 9 years now, exploring Puget Sound, and we're finally about ready to purchase a more versatile vessel of our own.  We've greatly enjoyed the sailboat, but are ready for something with a bit more speed / daytripping range, and something we can trailer over to explore the east side lakes etc.  As near as I can tell, a 22 Cruiser or 23 Venture would be perfect for us.  These boats seem to be the ideal compromise between comfort, efficiency, and versatility.  Plus, I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for the looks of the Dory hull with its upturned bow.


I wanted to post now not only to introduce myself and say thanks for all the great forum content over the years, but also to submit myself as a serious buyer, if anyone might have plans to sell soon.  We'll be ready to pull the trigger come February 2020, and we'd ideally like to have a boat in the water by July, but it'll take as long as it takes to find the right boat, of course. 


Closer to home is certainly preferred, but I'm willing to travel anywhere in the US or most of Canada for the right boat.  Based on all the used listings I've seen over the years, I think our budget would cover a very nice used 22 Cruiser, or a decent 23 or *maybe* a 25.


So if anyone with such a boat thinks that you'll be looking for a serious buyer after the new year, please feel free to PM me, or just post here.  I'll be keeping a close eye on the "for sale" listings going forward as well.  And if anyone has any advice for a prospective buyer I'd be glad to hear it! 


Oh, and if whoever owns "Bucket List" in Bremerton happens to read this... 👍.  I look at that boat every time we stop for lunch!

[Robert H. Wilkinson]

Welcome to the group Joe and good luck with your search.

Rob

[Chester]

Welcome aboard.

[Micahbigsur@msn.com]

Welcome Joe, are you also watching Yachtworld and the other boating sales sites, that is how we found or 25 in South Dakota, good luck!

[hardee]

Good Morning and Welcome here. Good to see another (near) local onboard. If you have been looking at the 4 sale postings here you probably know about a 22 on Port Townsend and a V-23 in Portland, OR (area). Those two are at the extreme ends of the price per package, as you know, but sometimes, (dare I say most of the times), you get what you pay for. Don't be afraid to travel for the right boat, and have your $$$ all lined up. The good deals go quick, for a good reason.

You have been lurking here for a while so you are acquainted with the CBRATS and have some idea of the quality of the group, the level of information available and the reliability. Now you can come out and meet in person, check out some boats and move into that next step in the process. Take what time you need. Define what you want in a boat -- uses and longevity, and go forward. Enjoy.

Harvey
SleepyC

[thataway]

Welcome aboard. I always say, if you want a C Dory, and see what you think is a good deal--go for it now--not in 4 months...The 22's come up for sale fairly often--a bit rarer is the 25, or the 26 Venture. You probably already know, but the tow vehicle is going to have to be significantly larger for the 25 or 26. So that has to be factored in--and can be more expensive than the boat.

[gulfcoast john]

Not to dicker with my respected mentor Bob...but it is possible to snag a new well-equipped F250 diesel 4WD truck for half the $160,000 price of a new TC255.
So there.

John

[thataway]

[ssobol]

[Micahbigsur@msn.com]

In 15 I bought a 07 Cummins Ram 2500 4x4 (I need a 4x4 to get up to my house I never have needed it on a ramp with a locking differential) for $30 k with 90 k miles on it, it had leather heated seats and a lot of bells and whistles, in 16 I decided I wanted a new truck with a better type of transmission so I bought a 3500 4x4 with a 900 lb. Ft. Cummins with an Asin heavy duty truck transmission. It is a Low accessorized "Tradesman" base model with just better seats and a chrome package, with rebates just over 44K new, it is an incredible truck for the money in this new crazy priced age. They will try to sell you a truck off the lot gussied up like a Cadillac for 65-75K but you can still special order a base working truck for a lot less.

[Stearmandriver2]

Thanks all.  Yep, I've been eyeing both those listings, the 22 and 23.  As far as tow vehicle goes, we've got a Suburban with the max tow package, so we should be in good shape for the 22 or 23.  I think it's probably a little more marginal for the 25, but I'm not really expecting that's the boat we'll end up with - at least this time around - unless the perfect boat pops up at a price we couldn't pass on. 

Micah brings up a good point I meant to ask about: other than listings here, what would be other sources worth watching for used listings?  Yachtworld looks good and I'm sure there are others, but I've mostly been googling up till now since I wasn't actively looking to buy. I'll have to start keeping an eye on all the likely sources. 

Thanks, 

Joe

[Micahbigsur@msn.com]

Boats.com and Boat Trader on line.
I've had a Suburban, I would think a max tow would work out OK with a lightly loaded 25 in non mountainous areas.

[thataway]