We are a family of four with kids 8 and 4 years old and are looking for a family boat mainly for day cruises on the Puget Sound. Our current boat is a 14 foot duroboat, which is lots of fun. We want to upgrade in the next couple years to a bigger boat with indoor space, and love what we've learned about the C-dorys. I was wondering how many people can sit inside the 22 cruiser. It's not clear to me whether the dinette is strictly a two person space or whether it could fit more people. Thanks, Steve
C-dory 22 cruiser cabin size
- Thread starter C-Steve
- Start date
Hi Steve,
Welcome to C-brats. There is a lot of discussion on size and families etc. Here is an excerpt from a past post I made on the subject:
"You and I have a very similar situation. I have three boys, age 6,8, and 12. And I have a wife who doesn't enjoy boating. She did however instruct me to buy the C-Dory. Her exact words were, "if you buy a different boat you aren't taking my children...".
I liked the C-Dory for all of the reasons C-Brats note every day on the site, but also for the ability to lock my boys inside a closed cabin with me while at sea. I take the boys out regularly -- usually to Catalina or Santa Cruz Island -- in both cases about 25 miles over open ocean. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking them out in an open cockpit boat (or with them in the cockpit of the C-Dory) since I am often busy with 2 hands on the helm in 2-4 foot seas and would not be able to keep my hands on them. And as you know, boys will climb onto almost anything to get a better view (transom, gunwhale, chair, each other...)
The trick is to configure the interior in a manner that allows 3 boys to find solid seating when the boat is moving. I found great ideas from other Brats -- I converted the dinnette into the commuter bench (based on Little Mac's ideas pictured here).
Once I had the commuter bench, I found that the boys slid around (and off) like we used to slide across the vinyl backseat of the old Ford station wagon in the 1960s. So I installed a hand rail for them, and built a step for them to grip with their feet -- the step doubles as a chart cabinet (I'll try to post some pictures when I get a chance). So far so good.
The kids can drive the boat, romp around the cabin, and play (the 6 year old gets a bit sleepy so I keep a spot in the V-Berth clear for him. When the trip gets long, and the swell picks up, they can sit comfortably and hold on. They LOVE the waves -- me, not so much. But I always know where the boys are, and that they are safe. "
The whole thread is at http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... sc&start=0.
You can also look at the photo albums of various folks to see how they've modified the layout to accommodate several people. I leave my dinette down and use it as a settee all the time, which allows me to accommodate 5-6 pretty well.
Cheers!
Matt
Welcome to C-brats. There is a lot of discussion on size and families etc. Here is an excerpt from a past post I made on the subject:
"You and I have a very similar situation. I have three boys, age 6,8, and 12. And I have a wife who doesn't enjoy boating. She did however instruct me to buy the C-Dory. Her exact words were, "if you buy a different boat you aren't taking my children...".
I liked the C-Dory for all of the reasons C-Brats note every day on the site, but also for the ability to lock my boys inside a closed cabin with me while at sea. I take the boys out regularly -- usually to Catalina or Santa Cruz Island -- in both cases about 25 miles over open ocean. I wouldn't feel comfortable taking them out in an open cockpit boat (or with them in the cockpit of the C-Dory) since I am often busy with 2 hands on the helm in 2-4 foot seas and would not be able to keep my hands on them. And as you know, boys will climb onto almost anything to get a better view (transom, gunwhale, chair, each other...)
The trick is to configure the interior in a manner that allows 3 boys to find solid seating when the boat is moving. I found great ideas from other Brats -- I converted the dinnette into the commuter bench (based on Little Mac's ideas pictured here).
Once I had the commuter bench, I found that the boys slid around (and off) like we used to slide across the vinyl backseat of the old Ford station wagon in the 1960s. So I installed a hand rail for them, and built a step for them to grip with their feet -- the step doubles as a chart cabinet (I'll try to post some pictures when I get a chance). So far so good.
The kids can drive the boat, romp around the cabin, and play (the 6 year old gets a bit sleepy so I keep a spot in the V-Berth clear for him. When the trip gets long, and the swell picks up, they can sit comfortably and hold on. They LOVE the waves -- me, not so much. But I always know where the boys are, and that they are safe. "
The whole thread is at http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... sc&start=0.
You can also look at the photo albums of various folks to see how they've modified the layout to accommodate several people. I leave my dinette down and use it as a settee all the time, which allows me to accommodate 5-6 pretty well.
Cheers!
Matt
The dinettes on the Tom Cat and C Dory 25 are wider and have a conversion of the front seat to forward facing. The newer and some older C Dory22's have the "barber chair" conversion, which folds down part of the table and allows forward facing front seat.
There is also the option of seating in the cockpit--especially if it is enclosed with a camper back. Several boats cruise with two adults and two to three large children in the 22 size boats.
I have a 12 foot DuroBoat--my Bayou boat--great aluminum skiffs!
There is also the option of seating in the cockpit--especially if it is enclosed with a camper back. Several boats cruise with two adults and two to three large children in the 22 size boats.
I have a 12 foot DuroBoat--my Bayou boat--great aluminum skiffs!
Steve,
I have a 22 Cruiser, wife, two children, 10 and 12, and a lab. We go out from Valdez, Alaska, for 3-5 days and nights at a time, 50 miles out. Sometimes sunny, more often rainy. We carry a raft to get us to shore, for bathroom trips for us and the dog, and hiking, relaxing. We stock up with food, and have a Wallas stove that is on most of the time when it is cold and wet.
My wife and the two children sleep in the bow, snug but fine.. my wife extends the center out a bit with stuff underneath, and she sleeps in the middle. I get the "upstairs bed." Others with same situation have one sleep on the floor.. this could work too... although dog often claims this spot.
Eating is usually with two kids at table, and adults standing or in drivers seat. Or two kids tight on one end, and adult at other end. There is not room for all four to sit.
We have several plastic totes that we put supplies in, cloths, rain gear, etc, that stay in the bow during the day, and then come out to the aft cockpit at night (we have a canvas cover with sides in the back.. and this is necessary if you are in the rain lots.
So, it works. Sure, be nice to have more room, bigger boat... but we do fine and have a good time. I expect in a few years it may not work.... certainly not as well!
Steve
I have a 22 Cruiser, wife, two children, 10 and 12, and a lab. We go out from Valdez, Alaska, for 3-5 days and nights at a time, 50 miles out. Sometimes sunny, more often rainy. We carry a raft to get us to shore, for bathroom trips for us and the dog, and hiking, relaxing. We stock up with food, and have a Wallas stove that is on most of the time when it is cold and wet.
My wife and the two children sleep in the bow, snug but fine.. my wife extends the center out a bit with stuff underneath, and she sleeps in the middle. I get the "upstairs bed." Others with same situation have one sleep on the floor.. this could work too... although dog often claims this spot.
Eating is usually with two kids at table, and adults standing or in drivers seat. Or two kids tight on one end, and adult at other end. There is not room for all four to sit.
We have several plastic totes that we put supplies in, cloths, rain gear, etc, that stay in the bow during the day, and then come out to the aft cockpit at night (we have a canvas cover with sides in the back.. and this is necessary if you are in the rain lots.
So, it works. Sure, be nice to have more room, bigger boat... but we do fine and have a good time. I expect in a few years it may not work.... certainly not as well!
Steve
T.R. Bauer
New member
C-Steve":1n0qqqbl said:
Steve,
The dinette is a two person space when it is up. One other person can sit at the helm obviously. If you fold the dinette down you can easily seat 3 adults there which gives relative comfort for 4 while cruising around. If you have a canvas on the back with sides curtains, you could put some folks back there too. I have had 6 adults on board before and it is far too crowded in my opinion. And honestly, when there starts to be more 3 on the boat, it is getting crowded especially when fishing seriously. Just remember, the whole cabin of a CD 22 is probably considerably smaller than your bathroom, if that adds light to it at all. In fact, thinking of that way is somewhat depressing......
With that said, my wife and I and 2 kids have enjoyed the boat for years and it is doable for us, but barely. Would be bigger be better? Well, it almost always is except when it comes to the added expense of the purchase, maintaining it, the extra fuel, the boat slip, and so forth. We just can't afford bigger. But, we also have no regrets as the boat has been great and has done everything I have ever asked of it. If you are in my situation with limited cash to buy the boat, and even more limits on how much you have to run it, the CD 22 is a very good choice and one you won't regret either.
Tim
Wow! Thanks for all the great insights. It sounds like the boat size would work for us. We took a peek at a 22 at the boat launch today and its a really neat boat. Tim, the cabin is not smaller than MY bathroom!!
Is the weight of the C-dory 22 cruiser with motor and gas really 3500 lbs? It looks like more. My current vehicle has a towing limit of 3500.
Steve
Is the weight of the C-dory 22 cruiser with motor and gas really 3500 lbs? It looks like more. My current vehicle has a towing limit of 3500.
Steve
T.R. Bauer
New member
Steve,
I can verify Joe's numbers as the one time I put mine on the scale it was 4200 pounds with everything full and a relatively light load of everyday goods. You will be overloaded if your tow rating is 3500 pounds. What are you going to try to tow a CD 22 with? I bet others will chime in and let you know if it is doable. Perhaps your weight distributing rating is higher? It might be and still may work.
Are you absolutely certain your bathroom is smaller then the cabin of a CD 22? The cabin size of the CD 22 is basically 6 feet long by 8 feet wide (give or take an inch or two) which gives you very close to 50 squ feet of cabin space. The smallest bathroom (it aint big either) in my house (tub, toilet, and single sink) measures 5 by 12 (feet) which gives you 60 sq feet. Now that I have actually measured it, it is even more depressing how squeezed we are........Nothing like some close family time, right? Like I said before, it is doable, but there just aint much space in there. I promise to now end the bathroom comparison.......
Tim
I can verify Joe's numbers as the one time I put mine on the scale it was 4200 pounds with everything full and a relatively light load of everyday goods. You will be overloaded if your tow rating is 3500 pounds. What are you going to try to tow a CD 22 with? I bet others will chime in and let you know if it is doable. Perhaps your weight distributing rating is higher? It might be and still may work.
Are you absolutely certain your bathroom is smaller then the cabin of a CD 22? The cabin size of the CD 22 is basically 6 feet long by 8 feet wide (give or take an inch or two) which gives you very close to 50 squ feet of cabin space. The smallest bathroom (it aint big either) in my house (tub, toilet, and single sink) measures 5 by 12 (feet) which gives you 60 sq feet. Now that I have actually measured it, it is even more depressing how squeezed we are........Nothing like some close family time, right? Like I said before, it is doable, but there just aint much space in there. I promise to now end the bathroom comparison.......
Tim
20dauntless
New member
We've had up to six people, two fully grown golden retrievers, and a lab puppy in the cabin of the 22. Definitely a standing room only deal, but better than the alternative of sitting out in the cold and rain. Also bear in mind that this was for a relatively short trip from Anacortes to our cabin on Decatur Island. But I think the 22 is more than adequate for day use for a family of four.
Wayne McCown
New member
We converted our dinette into a settee. It seats three adults comfortably. We also have four canvas chairs for the cockpit.
So we can seat four (including the captain) either in the cabin or in the cockpit.
Our conversion also allows us to sleep four in the cabin. See photos in album.
So we can seat four (including the captain) either in the cabin or in the cockpit.
Our conversion also allows us to sleep four in the cabin. See photos in album.
We cruise with 4 of us - my wife, our 16 yr old (basically my size), our 11 yr old, and myself. We sleep 2 in the v-berth, 1 on the table, and 1 on the floor - this works great.
We spent 2 full weeks cruising on the boat and never once did it feel too crowded. The main thing is to never "think that it is crowded" - if that makes any sense. We have a 500 sq ft cottage that we love and plan on retiring to someday, so we don't need big spaces.
At some point in the near future, it'll just be 3 of us - then we'll need to downsize
We spent 2 full weeks cruising on the boat and never once did it feel too crowded. The main thing is to never "think that it is crowded" - if that makes any sense. We have a 500 sq ft cottage that we love and plan on retiring to someday, so we don't need big spaces.
At some point in the near future, it'll just be 3 of us - then we'll need to downsize
Steve,
We routinely have two adults in our 22 but have slept three on occasion with no trouble. I have slept on the dinette and the cabin floor with a self inflating backpacking "mattress" from time to time and either works just fine for an adult so kids should have no problem. I have also had kids sleep in the cockpit in good weather so you can easily find room for two adults and two kids.
I designed (really stole the idea from another brat) a "couch" made from the dinette that can seat three adults easily and four if they're friendly. The dinette is fine for two adults, you could fit two adults/two kids but it would be close. With canvas the cockpit becomes another room where you can sleep/eat etc.
If you are planning to beach the boat often you might consider getting "keelgard" put on. It goes right where the brass keelstrip is and will protect the hull. If you are careful and remember the tides these boats can be beached many places.
We routinely have two adults in our 22 but have slept three on occasion with no trouble. I have slept on the dinette and the cabin floor with a self inflating backpacking "mattress" from time to time and either works just fine for an adult so kids should have no problem. I have also had kids sleep in the cockpit in good weather so you can easily find room for two adults and two kids.
I designed (really stole the idea from another brat) a "couch" made from the dinette that can seat three adults easily and four if they're friendly. The dinette is fine for two adults, you could fit two adults/two kids but it would be close. With canvas the cockpit becomes another room where you can sleep/eat etc.
If you are planning to beach the boat often you might consider getting "keelgard" put on. It goes right where the brass keelstrip is and will protect the hull. If you are careful and remember the tides these boats can be beached many places.
C-Steve":47cxf5nr said:
This is a telescoping ladder I have mounted for beach landings. More photos starting HERE..
There's a whole 5 page topic entitled Boarding Planks, Ladders, and Other Ideas.
Hope this helps!
Joe. :teeth :thup
T.R. Bauer
New member
Joe,
That sure takes the fun our of it :thup .
Tim
That sure takes the fun our of it :thup .
Tim