C-Dory Venture Series!! @ Seattle Boat Show!!!

[C-seller]

Hi all,
Well yesterday was the first showing of the Venture series and it seems to be very well liked! The factory was able to finish the 26' Venture so we could have it for the show so come by and have a look! Thanks for those of you who were there on opening day. I met Dory owners from as far away as Maine ans Maryland who flew in to see the Ventures. See ya at the show!!!

Brian Taliaferro
Master Marine
C-Seller

[al and judy]

Hopefully someone will post photos for us "misfortunates" who were unable to attend SBS

For those in attendance enjoy the show and the comraderie!

[Jazzmanic]

[Rob & Karen]

Agreed....pictures of the 26 Venture would be appreciated.

[TyBoo]

[dave]

Second year in a row I have been unable to get to the SBS. We will be there next year. Will be retiring, more or less, in 2009, so we will be looking for another cruising boat for retirement. Actually we, I, need two more.

[timflan]

I looked over the boats yesterday at the show, and I was a little confused:

Why does the Venture 26 "feel" slightly smaller than the C-Dory 25? Is it narrower?

[Nan-C]

If I recall correctly, the walkways to the bow are a little wider, reducing the cabin width a bit.

Greg

[Pat Anderson]

Sorry , I did not have my camera with me, so no Venture pix. My impression is that the Venture 23 and 26 are winners! Clearly family members but different enough to be a legitimate alternative choice to the C-Dory line. Mom said not to say anything if you can't say something nice, so I won't mention the Venture 29 - oh, what the heck, yes I will. I don't get this boat at all, its size, design, price...this one will never be featured in Trailer Boats, more like Kenworth Boats (if there is such a magazine). At the price, why wouldn't you buy a Camano or a two or three year old Nordic 32, with lots more amenities? I wish C-Dory well but I just do not see any market for this boat among existing C-Dory owners, and frankly I have to wonder what market research went into this boat so they could decide that this was a market niche that was under-served (sort of the main principle for introducing a new product).

[Spike]

After walking through the 29 at the SBS I came away pretty impressed. I agree it is alot of money for what I saw. I think that it is one of those boats that is going to look much better in the water than up on dunnage. Sitting in the water will take away some of the clunky look it has. The things that I saw and did not like, not counting the price tag, were the way the molded dash comes up and blocks the lower view from the helm, and the lack of the typical C-Dory arched roof in the back. Did not like the stepped back roof. All just my opinions.

Chuck
Bootleg Hooch

[Sarge]

I agree completely with Pat that the new Venture series boats are different enough to compliment the current C-Dory line. Looking at the Venture 26 from the standpoint of a CD25 owner, it looked very nice for a couple, but a little small for a family. As TimFlan mentioned earlier, it seems narrower and it's table only seats 2 people. If I was at the post raising children age, it would definitely be on the list of boats to consider.

Which brings me to the Venture 29.

I have always questioned my wife's judgment and eyesight, because of her track record. She did willingly marry me... (rimshot!) She likes the Venture 29 and she had some persuasive arguments.

1. It will sleep a family of 4 fairly comfortably without having to constantly dismantle and reassemble the dining table. (To the best of my knowledge, this is not the case with a Camano 31 or a Nordic Tug 32)

2. The coffin area is pretty big. I'm 5'9" and I could lay stretched out in it. Someone taller than me might have an issue, but then if alone could lie diagonally in the space. It is wide enough for 2 people my size to sleep side by side.

3. Like the other C-Dorys, the cooking area is above deck and has windows all around it, unlike many of the other 'cruiser'-type boats which have the cooking area in the forward berth below deck.

4. It is about $100K cheaper than an Ocean Sport 30 (which I believe is a nicer boat - no doubt about that) and comparable in general layout terms.

Issues that I had with the boat are:

1. The helm position was designed for someone to stand when operating the boat. It was very comfortable to stand and hold the wheel, but when sitting, the steering wheel is very low and uncomfortably far forward.

2. The head sits high into the cabin. Although I didn't find that it blocked the view very much, it does block access to the port side window.

3. The interior doors, not the cabinet doors, are a little flimsy for my liking.

Overall look of the boat...my wife thinks it kind of looks like a tug boat. I think it looks like a Pudgy C-Dory.

Concerns I would have:

1. There is an optional bow thruster, but no stern thruster. With its small rudder and single screw, how does the boat handle at slow docking speeds?

2. Are the rear deck hatches waterproof? They do have 2 latches, but...

Summary of the boat (my opinion):

Boats that come close to this type of boat, the Ocean Sport 30 and the larger Sea Sports, are probably 'better' boats but also cost more. The Camano 31 and the Nordic Tug 32 - to me are fantastic boats for couples, but the lack of a designated second sleeping area make then a little less desirable for a family with kids. The Ranger 25 is a great boat, but significantly slower. Cruisers of various makes, with their below deck galley tend to be a little darker and confining (again, my opinion).

There are some definite compromises with this boat, looks possibly being one of them, but I can see a market for this boat.

I understand if your opinion is different.

[Ron on Meander]

I must admit I kind of like the looks of the "pudgy" venture 29. I looks somewhat similar to the Osprey's. In comparing the venture 29 to the Osprey, I think it has more useable storage and a better lay out for people who primarily cruise with only some fishing and crabbing like we do. Also its priced less and because it has single diesel power, less of a v on the bottom, and is designed to cruise slower, its probably quite a bit more fuel efficient. I liked the interior except for the head. The way it blocks the windows is hard to get used to for me. I also don't care for the v-berth or the coffin berth doors, they're pretty cheap and flimsy looking. The cockpit seems pretty functional and spacious to me. Way more room in the cockpit than a Camano. The Camano is a much nicer finished and slightly beamier boat, but it costs quite a bit more, is not as fast and doesn't have co-pilot seating inside. The 32 Nordic is even more expensive. Everything is a trade off. I really don't think there is a lot of new boats that are under 200K, in the Venture 29 size range that give you the combination of cabin size, single diesel economy, storage space, a decent cockpit to fish from, and membership in the C-brats, all in one package. I think C-dory will sell some of these. Certainly not in the same volume as the 22's or even the 25's, but I think we'll start to see them on the water in the Northwest before too much longer.
Ron

[dotnmarty]

..and if you named it "Wide Load" you wouldn't need a sign. I kid....

[Hunkydory]

No need for the red face, Ron. You have some good reasons for kinda liking the "pudgy" venture 29. Not many of these tug wanna look alike boats aren't a little pudgy in their looks besides how can you kinda look tug a like without being a little pudgy.

I would love to see one in the water especially up around the northern inland passage. 30 feet and less may be common in the southern inland passage-I really don't know, but in over 4000 miles on the water in the northern inland passage I have not seen another c-dory, Osprey or Seasport more than 10 miles from a boat harbor and town except for one 24 foot Seasport in Tracy Arm Inlet and a 14 foot c-dory used as a dingy. In fact its rare to see anything less than 30 feet even sailboats. Most boats in this area under 30 feet are fishing or crabbing on a day trip or being used for transportation to and from isolated home to town. Not saying that there isn't some out there a few stories on this site show they are.

The 29 may well be a less expensive way then others in its class to do some extended cruising with a lot more room, comfort and amenities then come with either the c-dory or venture 26 foot or less boats.

We for many reasons will stick to our perfect for us little 22 footer, that has the ability if the crew has the desire to reach those areas where few other boats are seen and the ones you do see are most welcomed.

Jay

[Capital Sea]

I did take a walk through and it was nice, but as a new Cdory owner, I had my desire for more in check. I did see a very nice use of flush mount stainless cup holders in the dinette table. My table folds but still could have two of those installed without conflict over to the window on the stern half. Hmmmmm cup holders what a concept.