2008 C-Dory 28 ft Diesel

I wish I had a bow thruster on my 25.

When it is windy down here in the Delta (notice those windmills by Pittsburg/Rio Vista?), docking is "interesting". Once the wind comes across the bow, the bow falls off very very quickly. That is one of the major problems with the c-dory bottom - doesn't grip at all. I had an albin trawler (36 express) with a single diesal and bow thruster - once you learned to back and fill on a single you could get anywhere. And the keel held the boat firm on course even in very high winds.

Not a fan of inboards myself though....
 
It has also been called a Venture 29. There were some diesel I/O in the 26/27 foot boats back in the earlier models. There are not many of the 28/29's. The Naval Architect who designed the boat came onto the forum and suggested that there were some tunnel modifications which would help the boat.

Here is the designer's comments on the tunnel modifcations he felt were necessary

Anyone interested in the design should read these posts. I believe that only 3 of the 29's were made.
 
Thanks for posting the link Bob. Good read. I'm very interested in this boat. Emailed the seller, no response yet but will keep you all posted.

If anyone has any other info good or bad. Please don't hesitate to share.

Rob
 
I have seen one of these up in the South Vancouver Island waters. Not sure but I thin the owner is in the Victoria area. I did run beside for a while, and chatted with the owner. He was very happy with it.

It is very well proportioned so it looks like a 22 from far a way, then you get close and can't tell if it is the boat or your eyes that are on steroids. :shock:

I would differ some with Bob on the choice of an older Ranger. Service, and some parts replacements on those are very difficult due to the mfg process and some components are not very accessible making R and R difficult, time consuming and/or very expensive.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Harvey, I don't disagree with you about service of the Ranger Tug Diesels. But what I wrote is that if the individual wanted an inboard diesel--the RT would probably be a better choice.

I doubt that any of us know what the access for the Diesel engine on the C Dory/Venture 29 is--and talking about orphan boats....the C Dory 29 is far less common than any of the Ranger models!
 
I'm sure it's due to cost and price point, but you just don't find many diesel trailerable boats. My personal opinion is the the Rangers are super nice, but there are others. The Seasport Pilot 26/27 can have the gold plated Volvo diesels is one that comes to mind. There was a Seasport 24 up here not too long ago for sale with a Volvo diesel for sale. You also will see some Osprey boats in that class with diesels. One thing they all have in common is they are really expensive with diesel power. It would be hard for me to justify given the extravagant extra cost.
 
I don't plan on trailering...much. Whatever I buy will live in a marina 5 minutes from my house in Tacoma most of the year but will get trailered to the coast for a few months at a time and either live in the water there or very close to it. I'm looking for a hardcore fishing rig that will serve double duty as a cruiser/entertainer.

I sold my Shamrock Mackinaw 270 recently after 7 years. Great boat, but just needed to sleep another person or two. The Venture 29 fits the bill, and has a nice enough interior to get me the green light from the wife. Decent turn of speed and reliable drivetrain are a real plus. 18 mph is all you can really depend on in the open ocean up here anyways, at least for a boaterhome type of fishing boat. Minimum planing speed is the number that's most important to me.

Already owned an R25. Not ideal for offshore.

Seasport 27 Pilot would also fit the bill, but no outdrives for me and they are pretty tender for my taste. Outboard versions are still insanely expensive despite plummeting boat prices.

Still have my eye out of for a Tomcat, that is the smallest boat that would check the boxes. Ten years ago on this forum, someone gave me some solid advice that has served me well in boat purchases. "Don't get the biggest boat you can afford, get the smallest boat that will do all you need it to do"
 
I talked to the owner today. Boat is not going to be for sale until the end of September. I guess he had a smaller replacement picked out, but was sold before he could get it so now he's keeping his boat.

He said it cruised about 15 mph, when I asked about minimum planing speed, he was under the impression that is was not a planing hull and didn't think it ever planed out. He was not aware of a tunnel wedge being installed. He reported the engine ran good and boat was in good shape.
 
I was just in Conover Cove (Wallace) yesterday and saw what I think was a 28' diesel version anchored out with stern lines to the rocks. I thought it was a 25 cruiser at first glance but no outboard and sat much higher and with chines on the bow.

I think it was C-Bessie or C-Bess? I was leaving so was concentrating on other things at the time.
 
South of Heaven":2nl8ji1z said:
No standup head?! The 25 and 26 seem to have a better head. That's interesting
Click to expand...

The head is on the Port side, in front of the navigator's seat--the top makes a high dashboard at that point. I believe that there is decent headroom in that area.
 
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