Let's talk 23 Ventures

[fisharizona]

So after owning many boats (Whaler and Centurion currently; Parkers, Grady, Sea Ray, etc.) We've decided the 23 Venture fits our current situation perfectly. There are a few things my research hasn't been able to FULLY determine:

1. How much larger is the V berth vs. the 22 cruiser? Im 6'3" and have tall teenage boys that continue to catch up to me so we need to sleep 4 as reasonably as we can. (I sleep outside as much as possible)

2. Is the 6' 4" headroom in the 23 consistent throughout the years? Our budget means we'll be shopping for an older version (2000-2010ish) based on what Ive seen on the market in the past few years.

3. This will be a boat mainly for Lake Powell for us. (We live close)...Anyone towed a jetski? We made a deal with the boys and they negotiated the ski; but I get to sell the Centurion (YES!)

4. There seems to be a lot less out there...am I going to have to wait years to find a good one?!

So there's the start of my diatribe. We plan on doing the GL in a few years when the boys are off, and for now think it's a perfect boat for our Powell adventures. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated!

[NORO LIM]

Welcome to the best boating site around! Lot's of good information to be found here.

The 23 is a great boat. Owning mine was the best time of my life.

Here's a few things in response to your questions.
First, the 23 Venture was first built in 2006 - you won't find one older than that. (And the first ones weren't built by C-Dory. My '06 was a Cape Cruiser. Long complicated story about the Venture model - but it is the same mold and basically the same boat whether a Cape Cruiser or a C-Dory.)
Second, I'm 6'3" and had no problem in the v-berth and plenty of head room in the cabin. Never owned a 22.
Third, can't comment on towing watercraft. Never tried it.

Best of luck in your search.

[thataway]

If you want to sleep 4, one will have to be in the cockpit. In which case I would get camper back. I also would buy one of the "Privacy curtains for the port-potty which will move to the cockpit at night.

You will probably sleep catty-corner in the cockpit (5'1" fore and aft, and 6'1" With. the full camper back, you will not have to worry about rain/storms at night; also helps to keep bugs out, especially if it has zippers on the clear vinyl, with no seem netting when the vinyl is gone.

Personally would be looking at one of the larger boats, such as the C Dory 25, the Venture/cape cruiser 26, or Tom Cat 255.

There is one family which had 3 boys and mom and dad. At least two slept ashore.

I have used the 22 and 2nd 5 on Lake Powell. They both (as well as a slight more dead rise--any of these are almost extreme low dead rise(Measured at the Transom. The progressive "V" is also slightly deeper on the Venture group.

Why did you void the C Dory brand over the Venture? What features?

[Gulfcoastjohn]

Towing a PWC behind your boat risks flooding the PWC engine through the exhaust. Let the boys ride it instead.

https://outdoortroop.com/how-to-tow-a-jet-ski-behind-a-boat/

Happy hunting!

John

[fisharizona]

Thanks for the info all. I thought Cape Cruisers built the 23 for a while longer; looks like 2006 is the earliest version of the 23 out there. 99% of the time 4 of us will not be sleeping on the boat, just traveling. We love sleeping under the stars but need an option if the weather doesn't cooperate. Seeing a RTT on a 22 expands the options tremendously. The rear enclosure is mandatory as well. Were in a Baja a bit too so I don't want to go larger or heavier than the 23 so we can get the boat to Gonzaga easily.

John, I appreciate the info about towing a ski. We've seen literally hundreds of skis being towed at Powell over the years; never knew about possible motor swamping issues; I'll read into it more. Ideally we get a stand up and traditional ski (Lake lice as my good buddy calls them.)

Bob, not sure what you mean here:

Why did you void the C Dory brand over the Venture? What features?

I thought they were all the same molds just acquired by CD in 2008 ish? The feedback seems to be that either brand is equally as stout.

[ssobol]

[NORO LIM]

[JamesTXSD]

To fill in any further gaps in the 22/23 and 25/26 saga, we bought our CD25 (Wild Blue) in 2006. Some employees at C-Dory and one of the original family that brought the C-Dory to market broke away and started the Cape Cruiser boats. The original premise of the 23 and 26 was: like an updated C-Dory. It turned into a court battle between the two companies (because of the VERY similar designs) that settled in C-Dory's favor, but ultimately tanked both business entities... but C-Dory acquired the molds for the Venture 23 and Argonaut 26 in the lawsuit settlement.

The Venture boats (23 and 26) have a bit more deadrise in the hull, but are very similar designs (the reason for the lawsuit). If you are considering a 23, then you might consider the 22; likewise with the 26/25.

A family of 4 with two teenagers is going to be very snug in the 22/23... and moderately snug in the 25/26. (The v-berth will sleep 2, the table can be converted to a short single berth, and someone is going to be sleeping in the aisle or cockpit... and during those middle-of-the-night trips to the head, everyone is going to be awake.) We cruised our 25 from coast to coast to coast, spending up to 6 months at a time in it for years... and we are still married. I couldn't imagine having two more adults in there with us, but some families do togetherness better than others. There is a significant increase in space between the 22 and 25, beyond the fact that the 25 (and 26) has an enclosed head with a shower. There are folks in this group that have taken longer cruises with 4 or 5 people onboard... but realistically (in my experience), any of these models are great for a couple... well, some couples.

When we were on the Erie Canal with Wild Blue, a guy in a 55' boat was intrigued by the fact we were traveling as much as we did in our boat (it took him 2 years to get from Houston to the Erie Canal in his boat... it took us a week or so with Wild Blue on the trailer). In the time it took him to run the ICW up to New York (admittedly, at a leisurely pace), we had done the Pacific Northwest 3 times, Florida twice (including a winter in the Keys), the Gulf Coast, Lake Powell a couple times, Yellowstone and the Tetons, and a bunch of other cruising. He asked if I would show our boat to his wife... "Sure." She didn't get beyond the cockpit: stuck her head in the cabin doorway and said, "Oh, hell no!" To be fair, they had more square footage on their sundeck than we had in our whole boat.

The trailer is the best accessory with these boats and it allows you to have the boat in the best places at the best times. We all travel in the way that suits us.

Good luck with the search.

[fisharizona]

I really should have named this thread "Lets talk 23 footers"...mods? The devil is absolutely in the details (that's why I'm here; admittedly, I love this stuff)...My decision to go 23 is based on the 6' 4" ceiling height. I've read on here accounts of folks that struggled with the lower ceiling heights and it was an issue. I like the self bailing cockpit, 4" beam increase, larger fuel storage and higher HP motor option as well.

James, I appreciate your in-depth input; your perspective is exactly how we've come to our decision not only to look for a 23, but also C-Dory. I've learned through the years that K.I.S.S is a philosophy that should be trusted...I stare longingly at the Ranger and Nordic tugs only to realize that my pride lies in the build and my abilities to fix, improve and maintain all systems...

Just to throw a wrench into it all. When was the first year of the "high top" 22? Can't seem to find that anywhere. If the right 22 with a 115 popped up....

[clayhubler]

I'm 5-11 and I find the v-berth on the 22 somewhat cramped. The length is okay, but it tapers to about 12" width in the bow and my feet and my wife's feet are always trying to occupy the same space. I can't give any info about the 23, but the high top 22s are kind of rare and that wont fix the footbox issue.

[NORO LIM]

[fisharizona]

[thataway]

You have to go to the CD 25 or Venture 26 to get the self bailing cockpit.
The issue I have with the foam lined cabin sides and overhead, is that it is very common to get delimitation of the 1/4" of foam between the hull and the vinyl. Also getting mold under the headliner/hull liner is common in the South. AZ may be dry enough that you may not get the mold, but it may delaminate from the heat.

I am 6'2" and about 180 lbs no problem for us (including at least one small dog) in the V berth--My wife is about 7" shorter than I aim, which may be part of the equation. We have been boating most of our lives, and are accommodated to V Berths. The only boat in the C Dory line which gets away from this issue is the Tom Cat. There the entire beam of the boat is available for the bunk--or as we did with our grandchildren; one person on the port side sleeping fore and aft, with up to 3 sleeping thwarts ship. A separate filler cushion in the forward foot well of the navigator seat, to allow the port person to have full length fore and aft. With the C Dory 25 or C Dory 22, with the front navigator seat which slides aft, you can remove the forward bulkhead in the cabin. This allows the person sleeping on the port side to have an additional 24" or so in the port side of the V Berth. Again you have to make a cushion for that area or have soft gear there to extend the sleeping length, as well as making Access easier.



Also the major issue with headroom and the 22, is going through the cabin door. You do have to duck. Again for us having many sailboats, we are acclimated to a less than ideal head room. The C Dory 25 has over 6' 10" headroom in the center. On our last boat we had the canvas for the camper back and several life jackets in the "high" part of the center roof, and still no issues with my 6' 2" height. This storage rack brought the entire ceiling down to the same as the non elevated roof. By riding in a boat, you can see if this will be an issue for you.

I do suggest trying to board and if possible to take a ride in all of the various boats. Attending one of the gatherings would give a person a good shot of both of these goals. Plus a gathering would give a chance to ask a lot of questions.

[ssobol]

One thing to consider with a 25 and the self bailing cockpit is that if the boat is loaded heavily, the cockpit drains can work the opposite way and let water in.

The 22s do not self drain, but there is a sump at the back of the cockpit at a pump that removes the water.

[fisharizona]