C Dory history

rstinge1 · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 1:54 pm Post subject: C Dory history

Brats: For those who want a slice of C Dory history, pick up a copy of River-Horse by William Least Heat-Moon. Across America by boat in a 1995 C Dory 22 Cruiser.
Bob

ssobol · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 2:26 pm Post subject: Re: C Dory history

JamesTXSD · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 3:11 pm Post subject: Re: C Dory history

thataway · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 3:35 pm Post subject:

"River Horse" is an interesting read, in that it is an example of taking an outboard powered boat from the Atlantic to the pacific across America (OK a powered Canoe and kayak did port of the 'voyage" , with minimal portage. The seamanship is somewhat lacking at times. "Blue Highways" is also interesting, but suffers from the same issues that "River Horse" does.

I agree that it is a book all C Brats should read. It is also full of geography and some history. We followed part of the route one summer when we followed the route of Lewis and Clark in our RV as part of my grandkids "American History, on the Road" experience.

Hunkydory · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 4:27 pm Post subject:

I read it years ago, before we knew anyone else who owned or had experience with a C-Dory boat. There wasn’t a C-Brat site at that time & here in Wyoming, no other information about them to be had other then a simple factory brochure. We had that brochure for 20 years before finally making the purchase of our CD22, 18 years ago. When we found the book in our small town library & saw it was about a C-Dory boat, I starting reading with much anticipation. Yes, there is history, geography & River travel involving a C-Dory, but with it came to much pompous high octane drivel for me. Other opinions will vary. Riverhorse has been discussed several times here in the past with reviews seemingly very positive or negative with not much middle ground.

Jay

ssobol · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 5:03 pm Post subject:

In Riverhorse, the choice of a C-Dory was fairly serendipitous and not really a boat that was sought out. The C-Dory is incidental to the story. Quite a lot of other boats would have worked too. There are some parts of the journey that were completed in other types of boats.

The story in Riverhorse is a travelogue of river travel and the sights encountered. It is only incidentally about boats and not really about C-Dorys.

BillE · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 6:10 pm Post subject:

I had read some of the negative comments here, but with such an amazing adventure, and with a C-Dory, how could I not love this book? Well, it took some doing, but the author managed to convince me to not bother finishing the book, or to ever bother reading anything else by him.
It is hard to convey just how much I came to dislike him in those pages.

dotnmarty · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 6:14 pm Post subject:

Some years ago there was a German documentary film maker on here posting his adventures going up river on his 22 footer in the Yukon or NWT I think it was.I do remeber that Lake Athabaska was involved. I really did enjoy following him day to day . At the end of his journey he sold the boat up there and returned to Germany. Hopefully somebody can point me to it again.

Hunkydory · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 6:50 pm Post subject:

rstinge1 · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 8:03 pm Post subject:

Ouch.

thataway · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 9:35 pm Post subject:

Here is the link to Chris's adventure with the C Dory on his web site. He has an excellent web site, and documents well what he did to and with the boat. He had it outfitted so it could carry somewhere in the 134 gallons of gas, plus food for the 6 month expedition, which he carried under the V berth (foam removed).

This also is worth a read.

robhwa · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 9:37 pm Post subject:

Hmmm...I really liked River Horse, enjoyed his writing, including the honesty of his lack of planning, and didn't find WHLM to be the "perfect bore" at all.

While we're talking books that include C-Dorys, I'll throw in a recommend for "Arctic Solitaire" by Paul Sounders about his quest for the "perfect bear" (Polar Bear pictures) in a 22 Cruiser on Hudson Bay. The planning logistics of Paul's trips is unreal and a tribute to the forgiving nature of C-Dories. Great pictures and not too many big words.

Both these guys had double motors, and apparently needed them.

From some down under authors "America's Great Loop, Aussie Style" in a 25 Cruiser is also interesting, though the Aussie's quest seems primarily for the "perfect beer".

Does anyone else have C-Dory titles to share?

TyBoo · Posted: Sun Dec 06, 2020 10:09 pm Post subject:

hardee · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 1:04 am Post subject:

And there is one that is not about a C-Dory but is on a C-Dory.

"Cat on A Leash", by our C-BRAT friend Capn Jim TXSD.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/27714

Who by the way has a cool music video worth seeing becasue of its timely content. (Be warned, this is an unabashed attempt at Hyjack) You can go back to reading after you get your daily You tube fix here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsvU6Pirvi8&feature=youtu.be

Harvey
SleepyC Moon

dotnmarty · Posted: Mon Dec 07, 2020 12:17 pm Post subject: