A CD22 Cruiser found almost in hailing distance from my home

[cajuncanoe]

Greetings All! I have been registered on this site for a while now, and still dream of one day becoming a full fledged member. My wife and I have met some wonderful C-Brats, and have looked at a few boats that were for sale. The time was not right in the past, and may not be now, for a purchase, but I have recently looked at a 2003 22' Cruiser. Our first thoughts were that we would appreciate the extra room, and the enclosed head, of a CD25, but a 22' may fit the bill, especially at the right price.

This boat has been sitting outside, under some Pine trees, for several years, and it looks it. Overall, the hull and pilot house appear in good shape, though there are some spider cracks in the gel coat near the pilot side window, on the gunnel. This C Dory is not equipped with many of the options, or add ons, that a lot of the C-Brats boats have. It does have an electric window wiper on the starboard side, an electric windlass, a small Garmin chart plotter, the alcohol stove, a vhf radio, and a compass. She is sitting on a decent trailer. No trim tabs to compliment the twin Honda 50 four strokes.The port engine has the common cracking in the lower unit unit, at the prop. Both have some scrapes and bruises, and have aluminum props. I will likely get a survey done on her if I decide to make an offer. The current price is just less than $30k, and I know that the price is negotiable. With the condition of the boat, and the upgrades and repairs that my once over suggests for me to plan for, I believe that perhaps a more distant boat, a bit more expensive, but better equipped (Wallas stove, radar, trim tabs, etc.), would be something to consider. Most of you Brats seem to take great care of your boats.

Sorry, folks, for the lengthy post. If anyone wants to share their thoughts about the "find in my backyard", please send them on. And, if I choose not to purchase this boat, I would be happy to assist potential buyers in their investigation into this C Dory. The boat is in the Ozarks region, near some beautiful lakes. The owner is an older gent, with health issues, and did offer to take the boat out for a test run with me, so I am sure that he would offer the same to others, should I not buy it.

 

[hardee]

Kelvin and Joan,

Not everyone finds a great boat tight next door. I had the record for the closest boat to my home until Tom sold his to his neighbor around the corner.

If the one you have is in decent condition, only in need of cleaning and TLC, it might be worth the few extra boat units ($$$). Getting a boat from far away is not easy or inexpensive. It is also not unheard of here, in fact fairly common for boats to be bought from across the country. There are pluses an minuses for each scenario. The close up boat might be a bit more $$$ but it could save you from hundreds to thousands to transport your dream boat to your home location.

I guess it would depend on how much elbow grease you are interested in spending vs real $$$ for transporting, and your timeline perception.

A good cleanup would be a place to start. A survey would be good. A mechanic inspection would be a step I would take. And I would probably replace the tires on the trailer before I towed it anywhere and get the bearings done too.

Hope that helps some. 30K for a decent boat seems like a pretty good deal. Would certainly be worth some inspection.

Best of luck making good choices.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[cajuncanoe]

Thanks, Harvey! This boat is about 35 miles from home...close, indeed, but no match for the record belonging to the neighbor of Tom's, I suspect. I do believe that there is great value in this 22 cruiser. The exterior can certainly be buffed and polished, and should look much better afterwards. Most of the bright work is in good shape. The engines are my biggest concern, other than a more thorough inspection of the hull.

All great points about the issues related to purchasing any boat at the distances that many people do. I do have a 1 ton p/u, and extensive camper, or commercial trailer hauling in my past. We shall see how important having an enclosed head, and a bit more cabin space will be for my wife. If this CD22 is not the boat for us, I will be happy to send photos and the owner's contact info to all who have an interest.

 

[potter water]

Anything much above 20 grand for the boat as you've described it would probably turn me off. So much can be wrong on a boat that has been sitting out in the weather, unused and uncared for. But, at 20 grand or thereabouts, you can afford to take a chance. 40 grand would get you a newer, cleaner, better cared for boat that is ready to reliably get you around for years. Boat projects are time away from boating. In this case, you have the choice of taking 6 months on a project doing your own labor, or running the cost of the boat in professional attention up probably 10 grand. In either case, you sit on the dock and watch others having fun.

I've not owned a 25, but I've been on a couple and both of those had a smell issue from the head area. Also, while showering on the boat sounds great, I had a 32 foot cruiser with a nice shower, but it was very small, and I always preferred to pack a towel and a bar of soap to the marina showers if that option was available. Weighing buying a newer very nice 22 for a price close to that of a tired 25 would put me in the 22 for sure. The shower would be a tertiary consideration in my world.

 

[thataway]

Without seeing and inspection or at knowing the history of the boat (especially the engines--price is always sort of an unknown. Also how badly the owner wants to get rid of the boat. A boat sitting for 4 years, and the owner suggesting he may be negotiable, is always a sign that he really wants to sell. A buyer nearby, who has money, is a real incentive--and needs to be pointed out th the seller if necessary in the negotiation. I would not entirely agree that under 20K would be fair--more like 25 to 28K. You discount any of the older electronics--and if there are engine issues--then go toward the lower # of 20K

Any idea of how many hours on the engines? Is there any moisture in the lower unit which has the cracked outer casing? (Although these can be welded, it is cast aluminum, and there are issues enough, that I wool suggest a new lower unit ~ $1,500 +/-.

The had and shower question. I rarely used the shower in our 25, but I am a fairly big guy--the shower is a little smaller than in the Tom Cat (where I was slightly more comfortable showering). Yes, the enclosed head is nice--but then you have a pump out issue. I find the port potty is easier to deal with. (but not pleasant).

Definitely more storage, and slightly a better ride in the 22. Uses more fuel. We have considered going back to a 25, but the ease of trailering and launching etc makes us content stay with the 22.

 

[ssobol]

One issue with the marine toilet is finding a pumpout station. Where we travel in our 22 we don't usually find them. Some state parks have them for RV's. I don't know how those would work on a marine installation. I certainly don't have anyway of pumping a holding tank at home. A porta-potty can be "serviced" in any restroom.

 

[thataway]

One issue with the marine toilet is finding a pumpout station. Where we travel in our 22 we don't usually find them. Some state parks have them for RV's. I don't know how those would work on a marine installation. I certainly don't have anyway of pumping a holding tank at home. A porta-potty can be "serviced" in any restroom.

Several Brats (including myself) have made adaptors which fit in the macerator pump out thru hull. The issue is getting a good seal on the adaptor. It does work. I happen to have a sewer RV pump out at my house, so it was fairly easy to back the boat near the RV site, and then run a 1" hose over to the sewer pipe. There are also diaphragm pumps, which will pull against a head for 3 or more feet, and suck the materials out of a holding tank. Not insurmountable issue, but not as easy as the dump in the toilet--easier if you have a bathroom accessible from the outside of the house, and nearby water to rinse the porti potty tank. (which we do have)

 

[cajuncanoe]

Great tips in all of the replies....Thanks! The condition of the boat, and the foreseen costs of engine repairs and updates do have me thinking that $20-24k is the ball park that any offer from me might be. I know that some boaters who had a marine head in their craft have converted to a composting toilet, or some similar option. My wife is a very hearty, go getter type of a gal, and perhaps a porta potty would suffice. Without a real on the water experience, it is one of the many unknowns about considering a cruising vessel. The engine hours on this 22' are said to be "low". When asked, the owner was not sure of the year of the boat, or the engines. I suspect that the engines are the original ones. I took a pic of the boat's HIN, and it is a 2003 model, built in Oct. of 2002. The cruiser was purchased used, in Crystal River, Fl. in 2007 by the current owner. As was mentioned in my OP, and by some of the ones replying, I do believe that 20-25% more in my budget could result in a boat that is newer, much better maintained, and more nicely equipped. The owner seems like a good guy, a Navy veteran, like myself, who has had a tough time battling cancer. It would be nice to see the C Dory sell, whether I am the new owner, or not.

I hope that you are all having a wonderful weekend. It is a gorgeous day here in SW Missouri. A bit windy, but a perfect day to dream about being out on the lake in a C Dory!