C-Dory 25 Engine Choice

[yelenik]

Folks, I am new to C-Brats and I hope I am not repeating anything recently/previously covered. I am giving serious consideration to buying a C-Dory 25. I most recently have had a 2002 Sea Ray 260 Sundancer and for the last three years a 2003 Sea Ray 300 Sundancer. So I have had single and twin engines and I understand how much more maneuverability a twin screw has. My first question is anyones opinion/experience with the single versus twin outboards on the 25. One of my reasons, and only one of them for considering the C-Dory25 is because I am currently getting 1.3 miles per gallon and the C-Dory is much better than that. Does the twin setup take a hit on gas mileage versus single? My second question is brand. I seem to be seeing a brand preference for Honda's. I was wondering why? The T90 is carbeurated and old technology? Any brand preference other than Honda for the outboards?

Thanks.

[Pat Anderson]

Can't answer your question - I don't think there is ONE answer! The single versus twins question has been discussed a lot, consensus is that it is more a matter of personal preference than anything objective. We had twins on our CD22, and have a single on our CD25. Both great. We have the Honda BF150, some swear by Honda and others swear at them! I think they are all good, the main deciding point may be what dealer with a good reputation is closest to where you live and boat. Have a Navman fuel computer, and we are getting right around 3.0 mpg overall. Sustained instantaneous mpg readings of over 4 are not uncommon at all. If I were willing to go slow (7 knots) that would go up to around 10 mpg...

[Dora~Jean]

El and Bill told me a 'private' joke while in San Diego at the last get-together. They said if you ever have need for some conversation around a table of boaters, just ask whether a single or twins are better?

This subject has been discussed a great deal. Your question specifically on the CD25 may be somewhat lacking though. What Pat said sums it up pretty much, your preference. I'd say it has to do with how much 'open water' boating you plan to do. A kicker will get you back as long as the wind and waves aren't too great to make good forward progress (or just head for shelter and wait for the weather...).

I have twin Yami 4-stroke 80's (now they're sold as 75's). These are my first twins on any boat. I boat offshore up to 100 miles on some trips, I enjoy the feeling of having two powerful motors out there. Several times I've run into seaweed and plastic bags (overtemp), but easily cleared by shutting down the alarming engine, continuing on with 1 engine, raising and clearing the shut down engine, restarting and resuming -- all still seated at the helm! Maneuverability is great, but not enough to justify twins by itself.

I average about 3.0 mpg with my twins, but I also watch excess weight on the boat and always optimize trim underway. So mileage hit isn't much, a 4-stroke single will do slightly better I believe.

Hope this helps, good luck with your choices.

[Captains Cat]

Hey Stephen, come on down to our gathering in Early June on the Chesapeake. There you can see 25's with twin Honda 90s, twin Honda 75s, single 150s, single 135s, just about any combo you can dream of. You can talk to the owners too and I bet you they'd be happy to let you have a demo ride!!

Charlie

[New Hampshire Guy]

An earlier option is to come to the Owners' get together in May (5th,6th,7th) on Lake Winnipesaukee. We'll only have one or two 25's available, but usually worth the trip to see the boats, have a test ride and meet the owners. For sheer volume the Chesapeake meeting can't be beat on the East coast, but we have at least as much fun with the smaller crowd in New Hampshire.
The 25 will take up to a 200HP rating and twin 90's have been done before. You could have as much as a single 200HP and a kicker (alternate twin set-up) and still weigh less than the twin 90's. You have many options with this boat, and all will be fuel efficient and workable.
Good luck and let us know if you'll be joining us up north.
Fair winds...
John
Y-Landing
(603)279-5050

[yelenik]

Well folks. Thanks for the invites and the feedback. I just might take you up on the invites. You sure are a friendly and welcoming bunch. I like that. I knew I would probably be asking something already thrashed out. Chat rooms are kind of like that. Today I spoke with the dealer again down in Florida and we have a ways to go negotiating purchase and trade in price, but I think the salesman is working hard on it, in his words. I am 99.9% sure it will be single engine due to weight, fuel consumption, less maintenance and less purchase price. I am sure if this goes through I will miss what twin screws do for docking maneuverability, but that alone is not worth the second engine and my dockmaster advises that with twin outboard its not as dramatic an improvement as twin inboard, or twin i/o. In his words, get a suicide ball on the steering wheel. I think I read that in this forum last night by a c-bratter! I had some concerns about Honda, but my dockmaster had no reservations about them. The selling dealer has a Suzuki 150 on it anyway. I might want it upgraded to a 200. It will depend on whether they get into a better price range than where they were today. Because my trade in is in St. Petersburg, I am sort of locked into dealers down there. If I do this the C-dory will come up to NJ to my barn, not stay in FL. My dockmaster laughed and said save the money from a second engine and get a bow thruster! All I need is a decent price on trade in for the Sea Ray 2003 300 Sundancer and I think I could be a happy C-Bratter. We'll see how it goes. Thanks again for replies.

[Fish Mode]

I still don't have a C-dory, so I don't know anything. BUT...what about the performance of the 135 or the 150 on the 25'? Does it seem that it doesn't have enough power or very close to its edge? I wonder why with all of the weight that some CDs have with their 90 pair that a 200 with less weight + 20 more hp would give the engine less work for its stroke...just wondering, I don't know the performance the 150 does on a 25' so I can't say...

What would the price difference between the 150, 200, and 90 pair be you dealer guys?