27' C-Dory Crusier

Furry

New member
Hi I am new to the forum and to C-Dory's but have been admiring them for the last 5-7 years. I found a 1984 27' C-Dory Cruiser that I am interested in and would like to know what these boats were like. The engine is old and is not a concern to me but the hull is. I would like to hear all good and bad points of this model. I know there will be things to repair just because of age and "NO" I haven't seen it yet but will be in a while. Just doing a bit of research first before I go traveling. I thank any and all in advance for your input.
 
Furry-

C-Dory hulls are forever! The life of the hull has virtually never been a factor with these boats.

There are a couple of 27 ft configurations, from Pilothouse to longhouse and others. Which one is this boat?

Plan on a repower. If the boat's a Sea Drive (basically an outboard on a large bracket, it can be replaced by another outboard with a custom made bracket or a bolt on box like transom extension which has both flotation and is an extension of the boat's bottom.

Outdrives and inboards can also be replaced, either singlely or together.

Either way, check out the cost of the repower, though, because it will not be cheap.

Financially, you need to consider the overall cost of the boat, the repower, and other additions or replacements/undates such as electronics. It will probably cost more than anticipated at first.

As far as the hull goes, it's just a question of whether the particular hull meets your expected needs and use pattern.

I almost bought the 27 ft Pilothouse that became Alvig a couple of years ago, but backed out because I didn't need that big a boat here on an inland lake, and because I had all the features needed on my CD-22 Cruiser that is much more trailerable.

If you like or don't mind some project work and planning, go for it!

Good Luck!

Joe.
 
The 27 was a terrible boat. Let me know the address, phone number and email of the one who's trying to pawn this thing off on you and I'll save you from a fate worse than...

Oh, heck. I've never been a good liar. You've latched on to a serious treasure. Unless someone's unloaded their .44 through the hull and patched it with chewing gum, you should be OK with it. OK? What did I say? To have found one for sale is luck enough. If you have enough skill, interest in developing skills, or money to pay someone else to do the job properly, you have probably found the boat of many of our dreams.

Best of luck Furry...

I hope to run into you and your project in Georgia Strait sometime next year...

Tom
 
Furry
I have a 22' with a 1981 hull and it just fine.
I had a survey done on a 27 that was in the southern states. The hull came out very good but the power plant was a problem so I walked away.
How far do you have to go to see this boat?
Good luck
Jimbo
 
Yes, it has an OMC Sea Drive on it and that is the question right now as to cost. A 150 Yamaha will cost me about 15000-16000 plus gauges about the same money for an Evinrude E-Tec 175 and plus the bracket and probably a new hydraulic steering system. As I am not sure if the present one is adaptable to new outboards. I am not sure what a bracket will cost wish I knew where to look here in Canada unless I would get one custom made. Then is the question will I have to reinforce the transom to be able to hold up to trailering and the weight extended out about 27" further than before. I just don't want to put out more than I can chew as I did this once already. So you see I am full of questions and yes I would love to own this boat as it would fit 90% of our needs. The boat is about 8-9 hours away from where I live this is why I am trying to do all the research that I can before going for the drive. :?
 
Furry,
You might look at the photo album for "Haileigh's Comet". They have numerous pictures of their 27' C-Dory with the "before" pix of his 115 HP OMC Sea Drive and the "after" pix of his repower project with a 225 Honda.
 
Furry
I am also thinking about putting a bracket on my 1981 22' one day and made some inquires about getting one made. I found a place in Richmond that makes mostly custom aluminum fuel tanks but has made outboard brackets in the past. I never got as far as price but did talk to him and he didn't seem to think it would be a problem to do. His only concern was that he wanted a minumum of 3" of solid transom to bolt to.
If you want his name and # send me a PM and I'll get it to you
Jimbo
 
Furry,

Good luck on the 27'!

Here is a picture from Haileighs Comet showing the transom without the OMC outdrive.

PICT0060.sized.jpg

It is a totally different configuration than my transom.
C_dory_2.sized.jpg
I would also guess that if the boat currently has Hydraulic steering that you would simply need to run new lines and get a new steering cylinder for the engine but the helm station would be fine.

I'm repowering my 27' with a longblock since I have an I/O. When I looked at the cost of an outboard and bracket plus the labor to install I decided to save the 20k + and purchase my long block for $1800 instead. Granted that doesn't upgrade the outdrive but from everything I have looked at on it I'm hoping to get a few more years out of it.

Do yourself a favor and hire a Surveyor to come out and do moisture readings on the hull. This will let you know the condition of the hull and that to me is the most important thing. You can always repower IF the hull is in good shape, but if it isn't then they better be giving the boat away.

Also, please take some pictures so we can see this rare boat! There aparently were only 24 boats pulled from the mold so these are pretty hard to find!

As for towing. These boats are about the same weight as a 25 (mine weighs around 7000lbs on the trailer) so there should be little difference other than the extra 2 feet. I tow mine with a 93' F250 Diesel 4x4. While it works fine I do wish I had gotten the turbo charged version instead. It is dreadfully slow going up hills with this truck. In fact, I'm currently trying to decide if I'm going to upgrade to a newer model or just put the turbo on this one :)
 
hi, I'm looking at a 27 C-dory. Does any one know fast this boat should
go . It has a 150 c-drive on it . what does a 25 ft do with about the same power. I'm wondering if the hull is saturatedand i hear moisture tests are
inconclusive with the way they are made.

thanks hogan
 
You may want to wait till Don or Deb Pacini answer up. They have a 27 that had a C Drive not sure if it was a 150 or 130. I know before he repowered his boat it wouldn't do much over 17 knots. He repowered it with a Honda 225 and I have seen that boat do way over 30 knots.
I have a 25 with a Honda 150. It will do 30 knots at 5900 rpm. Hope that helps some.

Fred
 
Well I can reply to this 27' C-dory. I think there is a reason they didnt make to many of them. It is indeed a rare find but....you may want to look farther into this boat :roll:
 
For what it is worth..........when I was at the factory in 1983 buying my 22' C-Dory I personally talked to the man that designed the 27' model. His comment to me was "it is not my best design".
That is alll I needed to know although there are some that still use them and have good luck.
There is one(stern drive) in the Homer, Alaska harbor that looks almost new.
There are at least 4 or 5 others around SC Alaska and one is a bow picker.
 
Andrew Curtis: Now I may be all wet here....but I think you are one of the fence jumpers that just went back accross town??? How long have you been gone from C-Dory now?

Interesting comment on the 27. Are you talking about the exact hull....or all the 27 hulls? How many did the Tolands make? I thought one reason they may not have made many of them was for sure the CD22 was their known good bread and butter boat so to speak...and with the size of the plant...that they had to basically shut down the CD22 flow to make the CD27, CD18A (14 of these I think), the CD19A...CD16A & C...or the original version of the CD25??

Please ....tell us more that is factual.
 
Well all I was speaking of was an opinion. Im not quite sure if it was you asking for opinions or not? I could be mistaken. Sorry to offend you Brydman.
 
Andrew... I was asking if the entire hull series had issues that you knew of on the 27 or...were you speaking of the particular hull on the 27 that is currently for sale?? I have been on a 27 and it was sweet. I just thought that with the majority of them "living" in Alaska, that in itself spoke about the boat being dependable.

??
 
Back
Top