Appoximate towing weight of a C-Dory 25

F

fred25

New member
Hi everyone, I just joined.

I don't have a CD yet, still trying to figure some things out. Thanks very much for any ideas:

1. If a CD25 with typical power has nothing in the gas/water/holding tanks and is on an aluminum trailer, is it possible to stay in or near the 5,000 lb towing range?

2. Is 10% tongue weight how these are towed or is more needed?

thanks,
fred
 
This is a topic which comes up from time to time. Here is a chart which I developed that shows the weight of a C-Dory 25. The final tow weight of 8000 lbs includes a galvanized E-Z Loader trailer. You can substitute your own, but don't expect a great weight savings with an aluminum trailer, since only the main beams are Al. You can pick and chose what weight you want to include, but dont forget to include what's in the back of the truck and in the cab. Remember, if you're going to launch and cruise the boat, you'll need all the cruising gear and ancillaries when you get there. I think you're looking at pulling 7500 lbs.

Boat_Weight.jpg

7% to 10% tongue weight is adequate. In this case 500 lbs to 800 lbs.

Boris
 
The weights for my last road trip are listed below. The boat is an original CD25 which likely weighs a little more than the new model. It was loaded for a one to two week stay in the SJ Islands.

Truck hitched: 7950
Boat hitched: 7650
Truck unhitched: 7200

That leaves the boat and trailer weighing about 8400 pounds if the math is as simple as I make it. The scale I used was not long enough to weigh the entire 50'+ long rig.

If you take out 100 gallons of gas and 60 gallons of water you can subtract about 1300 pounds.

Again using my simple minded math, the tongue weight was 750 pounds, which is close to 10%. My hitch has a scale built in and it showed about the same. The Chevy 3/4 ton truck pulled it just fine with no sway or pushing things around.

Getting close to 5000 pounds towing a CD25 would be real tough.

It looks like I'm a little heavier than Boris, but I probably eat more so we needed more provisions.

Welcome to our little hole in the web! Keep up the boat search and research and you will figure out a way to make everything work.
 
If you end up curious what the CD22 comes in at, my 2007 on an Aluminum twin axle trailer comes in right around 5100 lbs, fully loaded with a tongue weight at 405 lbs. Colby
 
When we weighed our boat/trailer, including the tongue weight on the 25, it came to 8,700. That was with less than a quarter tank of gas, full fresh water, empty holding tank, King galvanized Salt Water Series trailer. Some of our cruising gear (dinghy, dinghy motor, lines, fenders, life jackets (all things we wouldn't need in the boat while on land) were carried in the truck bed (locking cover).

I was told the towing weight "all up" would be 6,500 pounds (by the factory, at the time) when I ordered the boat. They missed that by over a ton! The specs on the brochure and website have not been updated in years... and it seems each factory entity that has taken over just keeps re-using that inaccurate information.

Fortunately, before we went to the factory to pick up our boat, other 25 owners told me what to really expect for towing weight. We bought a 3/4 ton diesel pickup to do the job.

The 25 is a great cruising boat, but you have to be prepared for what the boat will actually weigh. In my experience, I can't imagine getting the towing weight down to 6.500 pounds on the boat and trailer, beyond a bare boat.

We converted the surge brakes to electric over hydraulic, which makes a significant difference in safely towing, as well.

Getting the right tow vehicle for that boat will make your cruising/towing experience safer and less stressful.
 
To give you some idea, I have towed my own C Dory 25 over 15,000 miles with a diesel Excursion--basically a 3/4 ton rig. We towed my son's Cruise Ship (like Mikes)--with no water, less than 1/4 tank fuel, and only gear was the kicker (8 hp) and a couple of anchors. It was straining the capacity of my GMC Yukon XL with HD towing package (rated at 6800 lbs.) We overheated the transmission going over the Grapevine on I 5 in Calif. (No harm, we were watching the temp carefully, had synthetic fluid, and stopped to let it cool off on a pull out. I changed the fluid which was not burned.) My son bought a Toyota Tundra with a tow capacity of 9800 lbs.

There are a few 1/2 pickups which are rated for the higher weights, but be sure and check all of the specs of the hitch and the truck--many hitches/trucks are rated over 5,000 lbs only with a weight equalizing hitch. A vehicle such as a Highlander or 4 runner would not be safe or satisfactory for towing a C Dory 25.
I don't think you could get the weight down to 5,000 lbs.
 
I have not owned or towed a 25 but I have scaled my 22 Cruiser with full fuel and water (45 & 15 Gal), on a Pacific tandem, galvanized trailer. It is 4900 pounds. And that was with provisions for only a weekend. No cooler, fish box or dingy.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP6704.thumb.jpg
 
A moderately loaded 22 will barely meet your 5000 lb weight. In my opinion, no one should be towing at max weight because of emergency stopping and wear and tear on xmissions and engines. I upped to a 2500 diesel when I stopped towing fishing boats and started towing pocket cruisers like the 22 and 25. But I'm not just going a few miles on the flat to a launch ramp. I'm always in desert heat or mountains.
 
The C-Dory 25 brochure states that the boat weight is 3600 lbs and it hasn't been changed in the past 15 year. What is missing is that this is the bare weight of the boat without any of the standard equipment: refridg, trim tabs, hydraulic steering, winch, batteries, etc. Probably no windshield wipers.

So the factory weight may not be off, but we're looking for the weight of an "out the door" boat which isn't given. You have to build it up and I've tried. Missed a few things, added more cruising gear, etc. But it's close and I've started with a bare boat weight of 3600 lbs.

You're going to be towing close to 8000 lbs, don't forget what's in the back of the truck and cruising with at least 7000 lbs.

Boris
 
In my opinion, no one should be towing at max weight because of emergency stopping and wear and tear on xmissions and engines.
Click to expand...

I would disagree. If you have your tow vehicle and trailer set up appropriately, no reason you can't tow right up to the limit. I'd bet that those limits are set for legality, not structural. But I wouldn't push over the limit. I towed my CD22 for several years with a Toyota Highlander before I got the F150. And that included 3 round trips out over the Rockies. But I also had electric brakes and didn't "overtow" my capabilities by speeding, etc. And I maintained both the vehicle and trailer fairly well. Now I'm not saying that towing with the F150 isn't more comfortable than it was with the Highlander, but at the time the Highlander did a fine job. Now that I'm used to the F150, I'm not quite as comfortable in the Highlander, but that is due more to getting use to something bigger! :mrgreen: Colby
 
I certainly disagree too. It'd be far better to tow right up to the maximum carefully, watching your speed, leaving a good distance, loading the boat evenly for a proper tongue weight, and anticipating and preparing for braking compared to towing a lot less the the max weight with an unevenly-loaded trailer, going too fast, weaving and tailgating other vehicles.

Where you tow is also a big deal. Going over mountains, towing in excessively hot areas, snow and ice all affect what is safe. I'd be much more inclined to tow more in flat terrain then over the Rockies or Cascades.

That said, I would much prefer to be towing half the max limit than the limit all other things being equal. If you can afford or plan, getting a vehicle that is more than capable of towing your max weight, boat, trailer, water, fuel and toys. I have never heard someone that bought a F-350 or equivalent, for instance, unhappy that they didn't buy a F-150, even when towing a C-dory 22. I have known people that wished they had a bigger tow vehicle, including myself.
 
Since I also use my tow vehicle for my around town vehicle, there are a lot of trade offs. Size and mileage come to mind immediately. Actually, my Highlander was a lot easier to get around town. However, the F150 isn't that bad and fuel is about the same. Maybe just a few miles per gallon less. However when I'm towing, the F150 with it's small V8 actually gets a bit better mileage than the Highlander with it's V6! I did test drive a F250 earlier, and it was just bigger than I wanted. That's the nice thing about the CD-22. At 5,000lbs, there are a number of vehicles out there that can tow it. But even my F150 is not set up to tow a CD-25 due to the drivetrain set up.
 
Towed my 25 fully loaded all over with a Silverado 1500 (9400 lb tow capacity) and it never complain once. My only concern would be in the mountains and the brakes. Got rid of the 25 and the Silverado. Now looking at a 22 with a diesel Canyon (7700 lb tow capacity) as my tow vehicle.
 
I'm pretty sure C-Dory never actually put any of their boats on an actual scale. Instead, they put their boats on the sales department scale.....3500 pounds with boat, motor, and trailer is a fantasy for a 22. Perhaps one with a 2 stroke johnson 70 hp, no gas, no water, and the cabin full of helium.

Mine (and others) are tanks with dual Honda 45 outboards, 4 batteries, 76 gallons of fuel, 4 shrimp pots, 2400 feet of sinking line, 6 gallons extra water, 3 hardshell kayaks, a 3.5 kicker for the kings, fishing poles, food for 5 days or more, adult beverages, kid beverages, ice, BBQ, camp stove, propane, anchor, 4 person tent, sleeping bags, various guns and ammo, 400 feet of anchor rope and anchor, 40 feet of chain.....and other stuff that adds up....I know you don't believe it, but it still doesn't really have any trouble getting on step and going 20-25 MPH with 2-3 heavy adults and 2-3 kids. I'm actually afraid to put it on a scale.....It's a good thing everything I have is rated to pull alot. The pounding some have noted with chop I don't get much of...go figure....

I know you are looking at a 25.....I'm sure you'll never get it down to 5000 pounds - ever.
 
That light boat weight by the factory sounds like it is w/o engine(s), no gas, water, batteries, anchors, etc, kinda like Boris on Journey On put it.

I'm probably the oddball in the group. My 2003 C-Dory Cruiser appears to be lighter than most, it is s/n 007 (3rd of the newer style since 1996). I weighed it on a Salvation Army scale, unhitched and tongue included on the scale. It weighed 7,425 lbs, and that was in late 2006 after 3 years of use, so all the basic equipment on board. This model year has the thin (1/4") roof, no extra fiberglass cover panel for the batteries, and without several other weight additions that came in later years -- though those additions look very nice.

I have towed it since 2004 with a 2003 Ford Expedition, 5.4L, 3.73 ratio differentials, 4-wheel drive, tow package, rated for 8,700 lbs tow capacity (including passengers and any gear in the tow vehicle). 8,900 lbs tow capacity for the 2-wheel drive model. The Expedition is a 1/2 ton vehicle, but in 2003 it was redesigned extensively for a higher tow rating, rear independent suspension, etc. In these past 14 yrs I estimate I've put at least 20k+ miles towing, including every year over the Grapevine (between SoCal and Bakersfield, CA), about 6,000 ft climb. I don't "muscle" the Expedition, rather I watch the speed and RPMs religiously, dropping manually into 2nd gear on ANY incline, just to keep it easy on the trans and power train. Most hills are taken at 45-50 mph, although some of the very, very steep ones I drop into 1st gear and hold 35 mph at 3500 rpm until over the hill. Down steep hills, I watch my speed as well. I have gone 65+ mph and tested the stability, no issues, it is a great setup, the best I've every had with any boat. Not towing I see 17-20 mpg, depending on wind, terrain, # of people/gear, mostly camping trips. Like Colby said, it's a trade-off. I use my Expe enough throughout the year that the gas mileage is somewhat significant and worth the babying I do for towing (to me).

I have an equalizing hitch and surge brakes (4 wheels), the combo works fine. The trailer was built with a sliding hitch just to accommodate. The trade-off though is you have to keep the hitch weight fairly light, because if you crank up the equalizer too tight, it will bind against the surge brakes action.

7,425 lbs with the following conditions:
- Galvanized steel trailer (27 ft model), dual axle, 102" wide -- its estimated weight by Pacific Trailer is 2000-2200 lbs, leaf springs, wooden bunks and side bunk guides
- Twin Yamaha 80 4-strokes
- 1/2 tank gas (50 gal)
- 1/2 tank water (8 gal)
- 2 batteries, small amount of extra oil/maintenance supplies, tool box
- 2 anchors/rode, windlass
- Small bait tank (17 gal), plastic, empty
- Bimini for cockpit (no side windows), aluminum tubing
- 24" radar, stereo, VHF, GPS chartplotter, fishfinder
- Plus food, ice chest, kitchen supplies (always on board), clothes, sleeping bags for a weekend trip for 4

I watch carefully what I put on the boat, and unless it is REALLY needed, I don't leave it on the boat. I have had 14 previous boats (sail and power) and have watched some of them get overloaded by being lazy, just won't let it happen with this one. Now I'm curious, I'll have weigh it again, I have load range E tires now, and who knows, maybe weight creep has hit me too...

Average gas mileage over all these years is steady at 2.75 nmiles per gal. With twins and Permatrims, I'm happy. But it also supports that my boat is light. The CD-25's ride best as light as possible, the 22's don't seem to be as sensitive to weight for a good ride with their steeper bow entry angle.
 
Out boat was loaded up for a trip so I finally took advantage and put it on a WASDOT scale near our house. The scale is used by the WSP for truck weight enforcement. However, I don't think they've used it for a few years. I can only assume it's correct or close. I disconnected the coupler from the truck so all the weight was on the scale pad. 8480 pounds.

2007 25 Cruiser
2006 150 horse Suzuki main
2010 9.8 horse Tohatsu kicker
2010 2.5 horse Suzuki dinghy outboard
1 ea group 27 and 31 batteries
~43 gallons of water (we carried extras in 5 & 1 gallon jugs)
100 gallons of fuel
22 lb anchor with 50' of 1/4" chain and 150' of 3/8" nylon 3 strand
provisions/supplies for 4 days (food, ice, drinks etc)
King Saltwater dual axle trailer w/ spare tire
dingy ~60 lbs
Honda genset
crab pot/gear and puller on board

I'm going to weigh it again, to confirm, at a commercial truck stop in Arlington next trip.
 
Your weight on the trailer is about what I have found. That is why a 6800 lb trailer which some of the boats came on is not adequate. It would also be interesting to see what your tongue weight is, and the weight of the truck, to see if the truck is maxed out.

What is your trailer rated for?
 
IIRC it's a 7200 lb trailer. No way to confirm now as the sticker with serial number, model number etc has long ago faded to illegible. I have no idea on tongue weight, but I suppose I could weight it somehow. Truck weighs about 7600 lbs (full liquids, empty of humans and no gear). Weighed on the same WASDOT scale as the boat/trailer. Bone stock 3/4 ton diesel, 4x4, crew cab, short bed.
 
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