I have been looking online @ a 2009 C-Dory 29 Venture that is a left over in a dealer's inventory. Can you all please educate me about this boat? How long was it built? Was it a popular model or a bit of a turkey? Is it as well made as the rest of the C-Dory family? Is it a Fluid Motion LLC product? Anything you all can share would be greatly appreciated. I know you all are the experts on all things C-Dory and I can rely on your advice and counsel. Thanks
C-Dory 29 Venture
- Thread starter Cfoster
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starcrafttom
Active member
Its a bit of a different boat. I have had my opinions on it as does everyone else but you really need to take a look at it your self. If was a design that I believe fell far short of its goal, that of competing with the ranger tug.
Its a inboard diesel boat and I bet its a good running boat but I never saw any good speed or fuel numbers for the boat. They may be out there on the net for all I know. If memory service it was a 18 knot boat max and maybe not that fast.
As far as built quality goes that is some thing else you will have to look for your self. I was on one and did not see anything that gave me pause (on quality not design) but at that time build quality of c-dorys in general was not at it all time high.
So now we are down to design. the boat I saw had several design quirks. The head is in the wrong place. They tried to do a down head to keep the cabin open and retain a line of site aft. Well the head is to tall and blocks the line of site forward of the passenger. Not a good idea. you cant make it shorter or only midgets will fit in it. The other down side was the steering wheel. Unless you are going to drive with your feet is was way to low and useless. Now I heard that changed later, I saw the first one. Other then that the cabin and deck have a lot of space.
I just think for the same money , when new, you could get a ranger tug that did the same job far better and was laid out better. Plus with the ranger you get a hell of a warranty and some really nice people at the factory working WITH you. Now on a used boat depending on the price you might be able to get a lot of boat for far less the the tugs today.
I would demand (and if it were I think it is you will have to demand) a test ride from the dealer. and I mean two hours running the boat to see what it will do and how it will handle. You will have to discuss who pays for fuel but it maybe worth it to decide if you want the boat or not.
Other then the badly( in my opinion) designed head and steering I don't think its inherently a bad boat. its just not what people wanted at the time. but hey they sold a few.
You will not be getting any type of warranty at all. So if you are not the do it yourself or familiar with diesel engines and their maintenance you may want to look else where.
Its a inboard diesel boat and I bet its a good running boat but I never saw any good speed or fuel numbers for the boat. They may be out there on the net for all I know. If memory service it was a 18 knot boat max and maybe not that fast.
As far as built quality goes that is some thing else you will have to look for your self. I was on one and did not see anything that gave me pause (on quality not design) but at that time build quality of c-dorys in general was not at it all time high.
So now we are down to design. the boat I saw had several design quirks. The head is in the wrong place. They tried to do a down head to keep the cabin open and retain a line of site aft. Well the head is to tall and blocks the line of site forward of the passenger. Not a good idea. you cant make it shorter or only midgets will fit in it. The other down side was the steering wheel. Unless you are going to drive with your feet is was way to low and useless. Now I heard that changed later, I saw the first one. Other then that the cabin and deck have a lot of space.
I just think for the same money , when new, you could get a ranger tug that did the same job far better and was laid out better. Plus with the ranger you get a hell of a warranty and some really nice people at the factory working WITH you. Now on a used boat depending on the price you might be able to get a lot of boat for far less the the tugs today.
I would demand (and if it were I think it is you will have to demand) a test ride from the dealer. and I mean two hours running the boat to see what it will do and how it will handle. You will have to discuss who pays for fuel but it maybe worth it to decide if you want the boat or not.
Other then the badly( in my opinion) designed head and steering I don't think its inherently a bad boat. its just not what people wanted at the time. but hey they sold a few.
You will not be getting any type of warranty at all. So if you are not the do it yourself or familiar with diesel engines and their maintenance you may want to look else where.
As Tom said, many people here (myself included) poo-poo'd the design (and the business decision to produce these boats). However, if you can get one at a good price, it's not a bad boat for the right owner. There's only a couple of them registered on the site and not to people who participate on a regular basis. This guy - http://www.captainjj.com/Home_Page.html has one and his web site has an email contact form. He might be in a better position to answer questions.
Thomas,
Thanks for your great insight. I agree with you that it does share many of the same components as the Ranger Tugs which I do like. I am also impressed with the new line of Cutwater boats as well. Some day I am going to do the loop and I'm just not sure a C-Dory 25 has enough in the way of creature comforts for me considering how long I would be traveling on it. I love the C-Dory simplicity and I've always owned outboards so I'm a little reticent to move up in complexity to inboards. Another boat that i find intriguing is the Aspen C 90 catamaran. The fuel economy on that boat is unbelievable and the catamaran should have a great ride. Anyway I'm trying to figure out which boat would be right for me to do the loop in and stay under $200K retail. Two others I've looked at on the internet are the Rosborough RF 246 and the North Pacific 28. It seems most everything I like is a NW boat and here I am in KY. Doesn't make it easy to go see them. Again thanks for your insight.
Thanks for your great insight. I agree with you that it does share many of the same components as the Ranger Tugs which I do like. I am also impressed with the new line of Cutwater boats as well. Some day I am going to do the loop and I'm just not sure a C-Dory 25 has enough in the way of creature comforts for me considering how long I would be traveling on it. I love the C-Dory simplicity and I've always owned outboards so I'm a little reticent to move up in complexity to inboards. Another boat that i find intriguing is the Aspen C 90 catamaran. The fuel economy on that boat is unbelievable and the catamaran should have a great ride. Anyway I'm trying to figure out which boat would be right for me to do the loop in and stay under $200K retail. Two others I've looked at on the internet are the Rosborough RF 246 and the North Pacific 28. It seems most everything I like is a NW boat and here I am in KY. Doesn't make it easy to go see them. Again thanks for your insight.
starcrafttom
Active member
Given your out line. lots of room, fuel efficient, under $200k , room and your doing the loop I would go for the tug in 27sc. i have been on all the boats you mentioned and that would be my choice. Is the best laid out of the boats mentioned. It has the ability to cruise slow or get up and run around 18 knots, something the 28 pacific cant do. Its a slow boat only and I did not like the stepping up and down from the salon to the bridge and down to the berth again. I like the one level of the tug. the Pacific's and the Rossy's don't have as much of a back deck as the tug 27 either. The cut water is nice and I would love to test drive one but I would have to change the berth around a little, which the factory said they would do. It does have the greatest deck seat in boating. You can face in or out of the cockpit in the flip of a seat.
My 27 would be great on the loop. 9 1/2 foot back deck, head, large berth, large table and a ton of storage. Add the ablitiy to cruise at 18 knots or run at 30 to get out of the way of storm fronts or cross large water. its a great boat.
My 27 would be great on the loop. 9 1/2 foot back deck, head, large berth, large table and a ton of storage. Add the ablitiy to cruise at 18 knots or run at 30 to get out of the way of storm fronts or cross large water. its a great boat.
Captains Cat
New member
Cfoster":31ygekno said:
Hey, Cfoster, Chack Chack is doing the loop right now in a 25, he'll be in NYC for the 4th.
Charlie
I agree with Tom; my choice of the boats you listed would be the Ranger 27. I didn't like a few things on the Cutwater, but the boats I was aboard were the first ones, and I like head room in the head...
There was one of the C Dory Venture 29's which sold for somewhere in the $80K range. I would not pay a premium price for an "ophan boat".
Also the Venture 29 is 9'7" beam--and it is a different kettle of fish trailering a boat over 8'6" wide. I have trailered both--and even the Tom Cat seems large when you are driving in urban traffic with only 10' wide traffic lanes. (Add in a few bicycles for fun)....
The advantage of the Venture is the 220 hp engine. But as I recollect it has a tunnel drive. These are often not as good handling as a non tunnel drive. I would spend a bunch of time aboard one before pruchase.
There was one of the C Dory Venture 29's which sold for somewhere in the $80K range. I would not pay a premium price for an "ophan boat".
Also the Venture 29 is 9'7" beam--and it is a different kettle of fish trailering a boat over 8'6" wide. I have trailered both--and even the Tom Cat seems large when you are driving in urban traffic with only 10' wide traffic lanes. (Add in a few bicycles for fun)....
The advantage of the Venture is the 220 hp engine. But as I recollect it has a tunnel drive. These are often not as good handling as a non tunnel drive. I would spend a bunch of time aboard one before pruchase.
starcrafttom
Active member
If you want to take a good look at a custom build rossy then follow this link to pats web site at heartland trawler. pat built this interior to be a up head and not a down head like most rossys. He has a great price on it and is in tenn. thats almost in your wood. or at least your woods back up to his woods.
http://www.heartland246.com/photos
http://www.heartland246.com/photos
Thanks Tom! Yes, we now have the custom built "Heads Up" listed for sale for $85,000 and ready for power selection. Many are powered with a single 150, others with twin 115s or twin 150s. Owners option. This boat is listed on both my site and Les/Kathy's site at EQ Marine. The boat hull is in Nashville TN now. I also have my custom wheelhouse up for sale for $115,000 and is the one that Les and I built out at EQ Marine.
Moving towards another boat now...
:teeth :thup
Byrdman
334-549-2628
Moving towards another boat now...
:teeth :thup Byrdman
334-549-2628