A friend from Oriental, NC...

C

C-Gypsy

New member
Some of you know James, a friend of mine who bought a C-Dory 25 from Gene & Carrie Wooster (Mobile East Marine in Alliance, NC).

I just hung up from talking to James. Those of you who know him may be interested in knowing he is doing well.

James left Oriental, NC in October of 2008, single-handling his boat to Florida for the winter.

He is currently in Biscayne Key for a couple days and is getting anxious to head north; back to Oriental.

He told me this evening that his trip has been an adventure and sure beats sitting in the house he used to live in (in Charlotte).

If you know James at all you know he gets easily frustrated. He called me yesterday to tell me a marina in Miami was charging him $2,000.00 to do a 100 hour service on a Yamaha 135 outboard. He was a bit upset about it.

I confess I think that price was outrageous.

James said this evening the marina "only" charged him $1,300.00 to perform the work. I still think the price was outrageous.

I have done some cruising here & there and am always curious how people handle meals and everyday life.

James said he usually eats cheese & crackers for breakfast (or crackers & peanut butter), a sandwich for lunch and fries a steak or a burger for dinner. He makes a pot of coffee in the morning if he has electricity.

I did not mention several hundred mornings when I fired up a butane grill and made coffee in a perculator. But that was back in my sailing days... ;)

One of his biggest complaints is that the cruising guides are so outdated. He is buying current guides, but the information is incorrect.

At one point he traveled to a marina and was told he could not stay there because the docks were condemned in 2005. His guide is dated 2008.

Another guide states that the marina he is currently at has showers & laundry facilities. Turns out the marina is "under renovation" and has only outside (cold) showers and no laundry facilities whatsoever.

OK, I just posted this for Gene, Carrie, Tracy and a few others who know James.

He is doing well. Gene? James told me yesterday that he has called you quite a few times in the past few months and you have always taken the time to help him or offer some advice. I'm glad I bought my C-Dory 22 from you folks.

And for those who have not done any cruising as yet let me say.. Every day is an adventure! :D

Al
 
Hi Al
Thanks for the U-Date I heard that he was heading South for a While, I don't know him but I adore someone for doing that great trip. I would like to do it also but would like to have another boat along.
Our C-Dory has not give us any trouble we are now in Fort Myers Beach Fl with the RV & Pandy Girl, we have be doing some fishing & crusing.
Hope to see you again in NC or on the water somewhere.
Jim
 
Hi Jim how are you guy's doing Doryman is down here in Fl. Punta Gorda We plan on doing a day trip with him next week some time give a call

Jim and Loree
 
What could cost hiim 1300 dollars .100 hr serv is servicing the lower unit changing the lower unit's oil and changing the eng. oil and filter Maybe $400 That dealer either did some more work maybe changing all the anodes all oil changed and maybe they pulled the boat out ,I still don't know what could have cost him 1300 ?? There has to be more to this story
 
Wow, that price sounds way out of line. I've paid as much as $380 for a 100 hour service and as little as $175 (depending on where you are). As Jim said: oil, filter, lower unit oil, lube, check the plugs. I would have run over the 100 hours to get to a different service place. I'd be interested in hearing "the rest of the story."

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
hello al,
i'm not sure that i know james, but never the less, enjoyed reading of his boating experience.
when linda and i are aboard in the a.m. we fire up the alcohol (or paint thinner) stove and like you, throw on the trusted percolator. the smell fills our cabin and makes for a great start to the day.
just a thought regarding food aboard, we always carry assorted fruit, canned tuna, smoked salmon, eggs, peanut butter, including cans of peanuts, whole wheat breads, etc. all easy to stow and provide the proteins and related nutrients, and always find a way to walk, run or exercise, while tied to the dock.
thanks for keeping us informed.
pat
 
Hi everyone.. I heard that my name came up so I figured I best check it out.. my ears we not burning. LOL Glad to hear that James is doing good,except for that bill ! :cry: I can't wait to see photos that I hope he took on his trip. We plan to take off for the St.Johns in the next week or so. We won't be taking the trip that James is taking. We haul our boat down. We take snack bars for breakfast and I make coffee every morning. We have ham or turkey sandwiches for lunch with chips then for supper we eat in town if we are at a dock. Other wise it's grilled cheese with soup..or something like that. Take care all and be safe James !
Tracy :D
 
I just hung up from talking to James and part of the problem is my own confusion...

James had BOTH engines (twin Yamaha 135's) serviced. I apologize for the confusion; I thought sure he told me he was only having one engine serviced.

In any case his bill was (with general cell phone confusion):

2 Water Pump Kits: $119.90
2 Oil Filter Elements: $49.90
2 Thermostats: $76.12
10w30 Oil: $49.70
Yamaha 10w30 Oil FC-W (3): $21.75
Shop Charge: $30.00
Labor: $525.00
Haulout: $276.00

I guess since it was 2 engines the cost was not as bad, but still seems a bit stiff to me. (?)

For those who are interested, James is planning to head north tomorrow morning. He is hoping to make Ft. Pierce City Marina by Friday afternoon.

James said he stayed at that marina on his way south and it is a good place to be. He is planning to spend another month in Florida and hopes to be back in Oriental around April 1st.

Al
 
What kind of boat is it a c-dory 25 with twin 135 honda's or a tomcat 255 with twin 135's I didn't relize you could put twin 135's on the c-25 ??
 
JamesTXSD":3lvs2fpx said:
In the words of the great philosopher Emily Latilla, "Nevermind." :roll:
Click to expand...

In any case James is doing well & having a great time. He has really been bitten by the cruising bug!

Told me he plans to stay in Oriental for a month or so then perhaps head north to Maine.

Good to see a friend enjoy life!
 
OK, I made a feeble attempt at redeeming myself... ;)

I just hung up from calling James. He is anchored out at Lantana, FL for the night. I ask about the water and he said the TOMCAT is rocking & rolling right now (thanks Trcay! :) ).

When I called he was eating tuna for dinner. He bought some fresh tuna yesterday while in Key Biscayne.

James enjoys anchoring out but said he misses his TV (no shore power & no generator). I told him I would ask you folks for your thoughts on a 12 volt television.

Beyond that it was just chit chat about Oriental and cruising. I think he's addicted! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 
Hi Al,

That "nevermind" comment wasn't for you, it was in regards to my post - thinking it was a single engine CD-25, well... you get it.

Frankly, it's always interesting to hear about how folks cruise with these boats. Now, regarding the TV situation... two years ago when we cruised in the Keys, decent TV reception was hard to come by. We did without TV for the better part of a couple months. With the new requirements for digital broadcasting, the options for a 12v TV are more limited; we looked a few months ago. We did find a 12v TV, brand name Axion... 7" screen, has an internal battery or can run on 12v or AC. The other option would be to get any other small flat panel and a small inverter.

We find that when we can't get TV on the boat, we'd like to have it... when it's available, we don't watch it that much. Go figure.

Since it is always the two of us, the situation is different; if I were singlehanding, I think I'd like to have some TV more often.

Best wishes,
Jim B
 
JamesTXSD":3cj4x3mn said:
We find that when we can't get TV on the boat, we'd like to have it... when it's available, we don't watch it that much. Go figure.

Since it is always the two of us, the situation is different; if I were singlehanding, I think I'd like to have some TV more often.

Best wishes,
Jim B
Click to expand...

Jim,

February 28th of this year will mark the 3 year anniversary of me doing away with television in my home (I live alone).

I used to have a home phone, 2 cell phones and satellite TV.

I woke up that morning & was paying bills. Too many bills. So I cancelled service with Nextel, Embarq & Direct TV.

It's funny how many people look at me like I'm crazy when I tell them I have no television. And just about as many people tell me I have the right idea by not having television.

I can check the news on my laptop. I have no need to watch sitcoms. If I want a laugh I just think about all the mistakes I have made in the past 53 years! haha.

Thanks for the info. I will tell James about the Axion.

Fair Winds,

Al
 
hello, Well to tell you the truth..Larry could do without TV all together . I miss it when we are not home. I take the Laptop and DVD movies. If we are at the dock I can watch the night before's tv shows on my laptop. LOL I like the tv or radio for background noise. Take care, Happy Valentines ! :love :love :love Tracy
 
I spoke with James earlier today. He is at Ft. Pierce City Marina but only planning to stay for a couple more days.

He was hoping to spend a month at that marina but they only have a 35 foot slip available. So they are charging him the same rate as a 35 foot boat even though his TOMCAT is only 25 feet long.

If anyone can suggest a marina north of Ft. Pierce that has nice laundry & shower facilities I'll be happy to pass that information on to James.

I am heading to Oriental tomorrow (Sunday) morning. This evening I visited the local deli and purchased 3 lbs. of Lebanon Bologna to take along.

Lebanon Bologna was developed by the PA Amish community and for the most part is not available in the south. I always take some along for my friends in Oriental who know what it is and love it! :)

Tracy? Have you ever eaten Lebanon Bologna? If not I'll save some for you & Carrie! :)

Donna... James is having all his mail delivered to his sister's place. I do not know her address. You can mail the DVD to me if you like; I am planning to be in Oriental when James gets back.

I want to be the first to shake his hand for actually doing some cruising.

Al
 
Back
Top