Boat for Lake superior

K

kpsherm

New member
Hi I am super interested in C dory's. I live on the north shore of lake superior and am in need of a new boat for the lake. I was wondering how these boats are in rougher water and how they are as a fishing boat. I haven't seen many pictures with downriggers mounted. Was thinking of a 22 crusier for the family as a place to keep warm and dry when fishing and a place to crash instead of the tent. Thanks for the help. Do the c dorys have heaters ?
 
Just a few quick answers. The C-Dory boats are excellent in rough water. You need to slow down a bit relative to deep V hull or the boats will pound in the chop. I've had my previous CD-Dory (a 22) in some very rough water (open ocean, as far as 30 miles offshore) and the boat will handle more than the passengers. It would be a good boat for Lake Superior but of course there are days when no small boat will be good on that water (or in the open ocean on the west coast).

As for a heater, you can buy one with a Wallas stove/heater installed or do any one of a number of after market solutions to heat the cabin. I had a Wallas on my 22 and have a Wallas on my current Tomcat and have been happy with it. Do a search or two on this site and you'll find many recent discussions heat options.
 
My $.02,
A 22 Cruiser would be a great choice for your needs . If getting a new one you can opt for a Wallas Stove /Heater unit.Our experience has been good with both of our Wallas equipped C-Dorys ,but there is a thread here that debates all the heater issues.
Used boats may very well come the heater depending on the equipment list advertised . Also there have been several C-Dory's that have had heaters installed later and used Webasto, Dickinson ,Etc Stoves.
 
I have about 350 hours on our boat, all of the hours being on Lake Superior. Typically my first trip is early may, when lake temps are still in the 30's, and the Wallas heater is wonderful. My theory is that it is a diesel fuel heater, so each year if any is left in the heater tank, I put it in my tractor and add fresh diesel fuel. Always shirtsleeve weather inside. I have made many crossings to Isle Royale, and have continued to the North shore on several occasions. Several times, I have been out in uncomfortable conditions, but the boat has always been very predictable. With trim tabs and Permatrims on the twin engine setup, control is excellent, and if in choppy seas, I can force the bow down and still make good headway without pounding. I keep the boat on a trailer, but launching is very easy, and I often do so alone.
 
Kpsherm,

As a displaced Duluthian for most of my life, I will share a bit with y'all.

You may already know all this but in case you don't here goes:
Lake Superior is about the most unforgiving water I have ever been on not including the straits in SE Alaska. The weather can undergo big changes in short periods of time. You want to always keep your eye on the NE quadrant. That is where the sudden stuff will come from. In as little as 5 minutes it can go from a flat calm nice sunny day to FOG, HOWLING NE WIND, a 30 DEGREE TEMPERATURE DROP,and FOUR FOOT+ WAVES of very short period (steep). You can see it coming if you are watching. If you are lucky and your harbor is SW, no problem you can outrun it at least for a ways and then have a following sea to surf back in. If you are headed into it, you will not have a fun time even in a 35' V hull boat.

A 22 C-dory is what I have because I've been in just enough snot not to like it that much any more! It's always calm and dry inside. When you have to slow down you do. Your boat will get you home. Yes, there have been a few times when I wished I had a 25 or better yet a Tomcat, but I can count them on one hand.

C-dorys are excellent fishing boats, no problem mounting riggers. Gunwhales are more than wide and strong enough.

You must be prepared also for the adoration you will get from other people at gas stations and boat launches. C-dorys draw a lot of attention. Down here in S. Alabama they are somthing of a novelty and we have made many new friends just because of our boat.

We have the Wallas diesel stove/furnace and love it, but use it very little down here. I would highly recommend it on a Lake Superior boat.

Good luck with your boat.

Dan
 
We cruised a good part of this past summer on Lake Superior. Our CD-22 was perfect. As you know, and others have said, the Lake demands respect - but with proper conditions you will enjoy the C- Dory on Superior.

To see a few pictures of a CD on the lake:

http://cruisingamerica-halcyondays.com/years.htm#2010

Then scroll down to see the tales on Lake Superior - join us in the Apostle Islands and along Pictured Ricks National Lakeshore.

We also cruised the Canadian North Shore last summer but haven't written that tale (yet).
 
Journey On was in the Great Lakes, also: Great Lakes Trip. We stayed in fairly enclosed areas, such as the Apostle Isls, Keewenaw Peninsula, Hurons North Shore, Trent Severn Canal. I was impressed by some of the fronts that came through. Journey On held up, but a 22' or 25' boat is a small thing out there. The C-Dory is a great boat, but be careful. A good blue water sailboat seems the answer.

Oh, well on to the Mississippi. That's got to be calm. Bill, did you make the river in 2010 and are you going to write about that trip. Notice it's on the web page.

Boris
 
Thanks for all your replys. I thought it would take 3 months to get this many responses not 3 hours. Hats off to the C Dory owners hardcore bunch. Yes I know this lake is a monster but thats why I was thinking off a C dory seems a sea worthy boat. I have a 17 1/2 deep v and realize that I would have to slow down more in rougher water . Im not really worried about speed more safety and just trolling around and exploring. Is it really true they only have 8" of draft. Thats another great plus for getting into the shallow bays. Do they have a keel guard? My boat now is glass and realize you have to be a little more careful of they beaches you come up on. As for the trailering aspect of the boat is it pretty painless to launch and load? We live in Terrace Bay by Rossport and the Slate Islands which are only 10 miles offshore all great places to fish and enjoy the lake. I do like the idea of fishing in my t-shirt in the spring in my boat yay to heated cabins. I heard they ride the water a little more like a cork I'm guessing because of the flater bottom. Also one more thing while im thinking of it, are the trim tabs pretty much a needed necessity? thanks again for all the help and sorry for the rambling reply

ps If its rough I just stay off the Lake watch the fishing channel and tie jig flies

cheers
 
You asked about downriggers. Many C-Dorys here in the PNW are equipped with downriggers, usually Scotty brand, for salmon fishing.

Re: trim tabs. Most people have them, too, for a variety of reasons. One is to help compensate if the boat is loaded too heavily on one side or the other. It is better to adjust the weight but the trim tabs are good to have for fine-tuning. The trim tabs are also useful for fore/aft trimming.

The draft sounds about right for a 22. You can buy a keel guard to protect the hull but if you want to run up on rocky beaches an aluminum boat is probably a better choice. I think most of us would agree that the 22 is an easy boat to launch.

Hope this helps.
Warren
 
Yes, trim tabs are a necessity, particularly if your boat needs adjustments due to uneven weight distribution, passenger shifting, etc. The C-Dory responds quickly to tabs when on plane. John
 
I have about 600 hours on the lake and agree with all the above. The boat is a cork; if dead in the water the bow turns downwind and the stern just floats up and over the incoming waves. I recommend trim tabs for the reasons given = lateral trim and pushing the bow down in chop. I have a wallas and like it but could use more heat especially on the feet; I wear mukluks in spring runs on the lake. the most recent boat I've seen (about a '08 ) came with a brass half round on the stem; a keel guard would be a good addition for any Lake Superior beaching. Overall it's a great Lake Superior boat, dry and warm!

Jay
 
These boats are great ! We have cruised over 8000 miles on our 23 ft cruiser. We have a wallis stove/heater that served us well while in the Canadian waters. We trailered from Florida to Kingston, Ontario in 2007 to cruise the Rideau canal loop and in 2008 we left from Panama City Florida to do the great loop. In 2009 we trailered the boat to Lake Superior (slept on it in campgrounds on the way up) and cruised for a month around the Apostle Islands and slept on boat. Of course, we stayed in when weather was rough. We are now planning our trip to Brownsville , Tx from Panama City, Fl for 2 months.
I can't say enough about these boats. They must be pretty good if I could spend 6 months on one without Alan and I throwing one of us overboard!

:smile

Linda

http:voyageofsimplicity.blogspot.com
 
I agree with all that's been said. We cruise out of Red Rock a couple of times each summer and have weathered all sorts of conditions, more or less comfortably. The boat is indeed a cork; it has the strangest feel when in a big confused sea as if one is on top of it all instead of plowing through.

Where are you located? We've travelled everywhere between Thunder Bay and the Slate Islands in the MOOSE and Marathon to Wawa by canoe.
Al
 
We live in Terrace Bay. Was wondering about the trailering ease as it will be coming in and out of the water after each use. One guy here has a 22 cruiser and looks way less painful than my 17 1/2 silverline nantucket to load. Just wondering what the rest of the people with these boats think. Thanks again the C-Brats are amazing, great bunch.
 
I think it trailers like a dream. They are really not that heavy, as I recall about 3000 lbs. towing weight.

Tell Paul the MOOSE sends his regards.

Al
 
I think the typical weight is closer to 4000 lbs on the trailer and can approach 4500lb fully loaded with full water and fuel and "stuff". Still not that heavy.
 
If you are only on Lake Superior or almost all the time on the big lake you may be happier with the 23 or 26 Venture or 23 or 26 Cape Cruiser. I see these boats as having some big water advantages, bigger, faster, smoother, bigger cockpit. They are also a bit heavier and more expensive, but for Great Lakes operations, check em out. Lots of info on this site about these sister ships.

Regards,
 
The CD-22 is easy to load/unload on the trailer. I have rollers and can do it singlehanded with planning. I tow with a Dodge Grand Caravan - it's OK - slow on the hills and the caravan get pushed around some. I have also towed with a full size van (a conversion weighing approx. 6000#) and hardly knew there was a boat behind me.

Jay
 
My wife and I have a cottage on L. Ontario, adjacent to a SP with a good ramp.

The CD-22 is perfect on L. Ontario. (L. Superior is a much bigger lake, and can get much rougher, I hear).

As for launching and retrieving, with my setup (dual axles and side rails on the trailer), both are a breeze. Although the trailer has rollers, the boat literally floats off and on the trailer.

One small thing has made a big difference for me. The rope I now have clipped to the front of the boat is 30' in length (longer than the usual). Leaving the dock after launching, I drape the rope along the side "deck" to the cockpit. When retrieving, I walk it past the waiting (submerged) tralier all the way to my pickup. Usually I step onto the back bumper and sit in the middle of the tailgate to guide the floating boat into place. As needed, I can step to either side of the truck or climb into the bed. A gentle pull on the rope does it.

I frequently take guests with me, and typically they want to "help." I tell them, "It will go better if I do it by myself. But please close your eyes, as it is embarrasingly easy!"
 
I have to tell you that a 22' Cruiser may have been built for Lake Superior. All the items you listed you can do with a 22'. Myself like most boaters on the Lake pick and choose my days to fish and go out. When the wind is crankin is no fun for any boat. Like Osprey said a 22' will bring you home dry every time. Its no speed boat but I'm not into the testosterone gold chain wearing cigarette cocaine cruiser scene anyway. :lol:

It trailers well and one guy can launch it alone. (you do need a system in place.)

They fish very well. Track very straight. And make a nice family boat. But most f the time its a fishing boat.

I wouldn't spend too muck time worrying about a heater. Yes its nice but Inside the cabin even in late November its pleasant. Like a sun room. Just shut the rear door. I see these poor huddled pilgrims in an open Lund freezin their junk off wearing quad parkas and bibs and I'm fishing in a long sleeve flannel....living the dream....
You still need a Ice scraper for the morning frost. On the windows however.


:lol:

Chris
 
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