C-Dory Meet Up in Midwest

RRThompson · Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 4:06 pm Post subject: C-Dory Meet Up in Midwest

Hello,

We just brought our C-Dory up to Minnesota from Florida. Wondering if there are any C-Brat meet ups in the greater Midwest region?

BigSwede · Posted: Fri May 30, 2025 5:45 pm Post subject:

I don't know, but I would be up for a get-together. My boat is new to me, and I have a lot to learn.

DKennaC25 · Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 7:21 am Post subject:

We would be interested in attending with our C25 " DoryBelle".

thataway · Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 1:38 pm Post subject:

Historically there has been a gathering on the Mississippi in the Alton Ill area. The last gathering was in Lake Barkley/Lake Kentucky. The main person sponsoring these, unfortunately has passed on, and no one has stepped up to the plate to do these.

I am too old to travel to them any more. Tex of Bixby Club had also been involved. I am sure you would get good attendance if you were to organize and hold one of these. There is not much involved. Reserve slips in a marina, put out the notices, and organize one to two presentations, maybe some local entertainment. I know that the Marina at DUBUQUE, IOWA, where the National Museum of the Mississippi and Aquarium are located would love to have another C Dory gathering, as well as the other marina in Dubuque, and the Marina at Alton, Ill has done a good job in hosting the C brats in prior years. There are good restaurants close by all of these, plus the historic Mississippi River to cruise. The Mark Twain country!

We have cruised most of the Great Rivers in the Eastern US, and these gatherings are great points to start or end a cruise on the Mississippi, Cumberland, Kentucky, Ohio, and Tennessee Rivers.

BigSwede · Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 2:18 pm Post subject:

I would love to cruse down the Mississippi to Dubuque or thereabouts.

thataway · Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 3:07 pm Post subject:

You guys want to have one--do it. It is always the volunteers who put these on. It is an easy gathering to manage. Do it.

colbysmith · Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 10:23 pm Post subject:

It was a newby that did the gathering at Land Between the Lakes in Lake Barkley at Prizer Point KOA and Marina. He ended up selling his C-Dory before the gathering, but still hosted it and came with his 5th wheel trailer instead. Alton is a beautiful marina, and enjoyed having the C-Brats. The Dubuque marina at the Museum is a nice spot but no covered slips. The other marina there that has been used some in the past for gatherings, has covered slips, however has become more of a party marina. Prizer Point was pretty nice as well, with covered slips, a pool and some other nice amenities, and I think they'd love to have us back. The Mississippi offers some great cruising, as long as you are aware of and keep clear of the wing dams. Prizer Point on Lake Barkley offers you the Cumberland River, and with a little backtracking, the Tennessee River. Both Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake have a lower winter pool that draws down in October, which is a nice month to do a gathering due to the colors changing, but with the drawdown, you need to stay in the main channel alas you learn about grounding. Colby

thataway · Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 10:42 pm Post subject:

The other issue was with the river rising rapidly. We were told we had to leave the Dubuque River Museum Marina--because the flood gates were going to closed, and might be closed for some time. Any time of the year might bring this complication.

Lots of gatherings don't have slips under roofs. As I recollect, the place on the other marina in Dubuque did not have roofs in the part we were tried up at. There were a handfull of other C Dorys.

Colby--why don't you organize a gathering there?

colbysmith · Posted: Sat May 31, 2025 11:33 pm Post subject:

Molly Brown · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 6:28 pm Post subject:

And yet you are the most prolific gathering attendee that I know!!! 😁
At a minimum I bet you trailer more miles per year than anyone else.
Good job on FindPenguins for the Powell trip and the Friday gathering 👍

James

colbysmith · Posted: Tue Jun 03, 2025 10:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks James. I do tend to average around 10,000 miles a year on the trailer. Cool

Donald Tyson · Joined: 24 Jul 2023 Posts: 545 Photos: Thistle

What is the significance of the covered marina slips? I always thought they were leftover from the By-gone era of varnished boats. The Chesapeake has a lot of of them. Are they really that much worthwhile?

I bought my dog in Dubuque, Iowa and watched the tugboats work some barges around. That looks like such a gorgeous area to explore.

Conan2324 · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2025 10:46 am Post subject:

Clinton Iowa would be a great place for reunion

thataway · Posted: Thu Jun 05, 2025 2:00 pm Post subject:

RRThompson · Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2025 12:16 pm Post subject:

Wow, lots of responses!!! We would love to meet up with the team in Iowa. Would anyone have interest in meeting up in Bayfeild Wisconsin next year?