Another competitor for the C Dory 22.

T

thataway

Active member
Bad enough that Ranger Tugs has come along with the outboard powered 23, but now Rosborough has redone their unsung Sisu 22-- 22 Cape Breton. Recently the interior was redone (I believe with input with Marc Grove from Wefings) and a new version was released:Rosborough 22 Cape Breton.

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My assessment is that the low freeboard in proportion to the pilot house, does not have the visual pleasing lines as the C Dory. However, this is one of the very few boats of 22' which has opening cabin doors on both sides. My guess is that the C Dory 22 is going to be more economical to run. The Rossie will do betting into chop, but the C Dory 22 will do better down wind. Hep that is a Honda 135 on the bracket-- a bit more dead rise than the C Dory, but less than the Ranger 23.

I do see this as serious competition. It might stimulate NWI to make some changes--such as a closed transom, with bracket, and then even an enclosed head on the 22 might be possible.
 
Bob, I requested a brochure the day they released these pictures! Eastern has done an amazing job on this boat!

Although the 246 would be my dream, the 22 Sisu/Sea Skiff/Cape Breton is closer to my budget. Both in cost and upkeep plus ease of towing. I talked to Peter Brown in 2011 re. this boat but priced a bit out of reach at the time. Peter probably knows this boat as well as anybody having been involved with it for many years.

Base boat - $70,US$ and $15, for the recommended power - 135hp Honda.

Sorry, got to sign off now before my laptop shorts out from all the droooool.

Rob
 
Thanks for posting that Bob. It was a labor of love and designed [last Aug.] with a bit of inside knowledge of what the small boat cruiser needs . We should have her here [sans Honda ,that was a photo prop] so we can install whatever motor our beta buyer wants . I would lean towards 150 HP in any Japanese flavor . Ill post sea trial info and more pics when we wash the snow off and get her motored up.
The Sisu hull is well loved and well proven and has a longer history than our favorite Dorys .
The interesting thing about the project is that its all made with existing parts from the 246.I.E roof, galley cube , setee, etc.... That made it possible as tooling expenses are large and a couple days measuring and mocking up and we made it happen .
It will price out very close to a 22 cruiser,which now tip the scales at around 80k out east . I believe its more boat .
Marc
 
Bob, you stated it so much more eloquently, but I agree. Its UGLY! I am a fan of Rosborough this is an interesting boat.


A closed transom, bracket, and saddle tanks like the Marinaut has would open up a huge area of cockpit in the 22. It would require reconfiguring or removing the lazarettes, but it would be so worth it. That would really improve the cockpit and at least for me make a brand new boat that much more desirable over the used boats.
 
I've looked at the 246 in person and photos for the 22. From the outside the boats look nice, but IMO, there is something off about the interior. It just seems too utilitarian somehow. While the CD22 interior is also utilitarian (and a lot of people like it that way), somehow it seems much more warm and inviting than the Rosborough interior. Part of it may be that the Rossie 22 does not have a dinette and CD22 does. However, the 246 has a dinette and it is still somewhat off.

The best analogy I can think of is seeing a room lit by incandescent lights vs. the same room lit with overhead fluorescent lights.

From a practical standpoint the exterior of the Rossie's are better. The side doors are great, the cockpit is bigger, the bow rail extends further back, and the extended hardtop on the 246 is nice. The plastic hand rails are out of place with the rest of the boat. IMO, they should be stainless.

I like the enclosed back of the dash. The cloth cover used by the CD22 is not very good.

You can probably get the extended roof on the 22. They should have made the bracket the full width of the transom so it could be used as a boarding area, a place to mount a generator, mount a kicker, etc.
 
Marc: will there be an option of wider transom bracket for twin motors? (Twin Yamaha 70's with no kicker come to mind). 150HP seems like a lot for the SISU 22 hull. Most that I've seen have just under or over 100hp, often inboard. Those were older and I believe had a round hull at the transom. This model appears to have a horizontal flat section at the chine: Maybe the intent is higher speed to create more of a planing hull? I'd be very interested in performance numbers, and also a video of this boat running in rough seas. Like some others I think the house is a bit clunky (especially going aft) but I love the sheer lines to the bow and I really like the interior, which has very practical seating. What is the composition of the hull lamination? Seems pretty robust from the photos. Who is your intended buyer?

My interest is practical: I love my current boat and it's quite seaworthy. But it has an open back behind the hard-top and my wife really wants a hard back with a door to not only be out of the wind/rain, but be out of the noise and spray on rough crossings to our cabin. I've looked at the 246 as well as the Albin, but I feel like they are just more boat than I want at this time and would only be practical if I kept them in the water. I prefer the option of trailer storage/sling launch in my current situation. I'd really like a safe and stable 20 MPH without slowing down for 1' wind chop, but I don't necessarily need 30 MPH, though I currently cruise at 30. Hull speed is impractical for my use d/t our time constraints.

I hope you have a winner with this new boat! Keep us posted.

Mike
 
Any ideas on what a fully cruise ready 22, sitting on an aluminum trailer with half fuel and gear will weigh? It has to be more than a C-Dory 22 as it has more gear inside and the side door will add a bunch. It is a few inches narrower though.

David
 
I like Rosborough boats and I like the side doors but I like the C-Dories better. To me they have more character. I also like the headroom in the 25 over the 246. Competition is always a good thing however as it makes everyone better.
 
Looking at photos of the older 22 Sisu, it was initially built as a "Bass boat" or down east "lobster boat"... The very early ones did have the rounded chine--but following the evolution--it appears as if there was a "lip" first added in the early 80's and then has increased ins size, and almost a slight reverse angle as the C Dory 22 has. The lobster/fishing boats were intentionally made with low freeboard, so boarding of fish / pots was easier.

Even the older boats have been retrofitted with bigger motors--up to 200 hp, and they seem to carry it OK--in the photos. But, you do pay a bit of a price in the economy line when you push a boat which initially was designed as a semi-displacement up to a planing hull. Also there is still a residual keel--helps in tracing, and probably some in a chop--but again, may decrease the effeciency--all pure speculation, until Marc gives us some numbers.

I noted that one older one for sale, with an inboard, gave a weight of 7500#, with the partial hard top and the cuddy.

I also wonder about the doors--how easy they are to get in and out of? I know that I didn't feel that the 246 door was easy to get in and out of because of my size. Also, I prefer the opening window for ventilation, and perhaps less chance of spray??? There are enough questions, that a weekend trip to Apalachicola is in order when Marc gets his boat---maybe even on the way back from Hontoon?
 
Interesting, but different. The cabin is going to be narrower due to the side doors, and getting between the cabin and the aft extended bow rail may be tighter for some. Agree, the bracket should be full width, enclosed would add some flotation and certainly clear some space in the cockpit.

Personally, I like the high free board on the CD 22, and I like the lines. Guess I'm hooked.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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South of Heaven":16rns89x said:
Does Eastern make Rosboroughs???
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Eastern bought the molds and rights to the Rosborough 246 and the Sea Skiff - formerly the Sisu and now the Cape Breton. They are now marketed under the banner Rosborough USA.

Rosborough Canada is still building boats in Nova Scotia. Their main focus now is contracts with the military, law enforcement, first responders, etc. for their Rough Water RHIB.
 
I'm confused. Bob's post indicated that this was a new model. However reading the Rosborough web page says the boat was released in 1995. If that's true, it's been around for over 20 years.

If the boat is 20 years old, it becomes an East vs West deal. Take your pick. And look at the Ranger.

Just a random thought: if you step out of those side doors you better have something to step on to, like the dock. There can't be much of a ledge there.

Boris
 
journey on":37rpz4ob said:
I'm confused. Bob's post indicated that this was a new model.

Just a random thought: if you step out of those side doors you better have something to step on Boris
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Borris, the original Sisu was a 1976 Royal Lowell lobster boat design. Bob Rosborough brought the molds to Nova Scotia in 1992. He did some tweaking and the boat was re introduced as the Seaskiff 22.

The molds were returned to Eastern along with the 246 molds around 2012-2013?? Eastern has done some more "tweaking" and re introduced it as the Cape Breton. Thanks and a shout out to Mark(Wefings) for his input in to the design. Excellent job!!

The pilot house side doors are not designed for egress per say - they are for ease of line handling from the helm. They are the top features on this boat IMHO. My last boat was a Campion hardtop and I felt trapped at the helm when coming to the dock with any wind. Last time I was on the Trent I had a lock partner for most of the day in a 246. He was single handing and never left his seat at the helm to lock through over 6 locks.

Regards, Rob
 
PaulNBriannaLynn":1j0wk2zy said:
Yeah Eastern bought Rosborough, 5 or so years ago. They also make Seaway boats. They certainly cornered the market on recreational downeast cruisers.
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Thanks. Yeah, I knew they manufactured the Seaways. Easterns are VERY popular in my neck of the woods.
 
Bob,

So this boat was introduced in '95 by Roseborough, built until ?, the molds sold to Eastern and now reintroduced as the upgraded Roseborugh 22 by Eastern? I do note that there's a Roseborough web page touting the 246 and 22. I assume that Eastern put it up.

Sounds like the saga of the C-Dory line.

If there is no, or very little boat when you step out of the side door, how do you get the the bow and anchor? I will say when we went through the Trent Severn locks with our C-Dory, Judy was at the front and I was at the rear and some locks required that. Singlehanding must be difficult.

Boris
 
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