C-Dory Convertible

Charlie, Ruth is the expert on floorboards from what I hear. I am going to be dealing with Joe on the 25'. By the way, what model kubota do you have. I got a 2410, 4 wheel drive, with a bunch of neat attachments. About 4 years ago I told my wife I was going to buy a lawn mower. I have over an acre to cut and I usually do my elderly neighbors too while i am at it... Sooooo, after about 3 hours I arrived back at the house. My wife asked to see the lawn mower. I told her it was being delivered.... I got a nasty look :disgust ! She said why didn't I pick it up in the 8'x10' trailer I took behind the 1/2 ton P/U. I shrugged my shoulders and took a sip of coffee to buy time. I did not have the heart to tell her the mower would not have fit the trailer. About that time here came a roll back wreaker backing down my long drive. The jig was up...no hiding that big orange thing. :amgry The tires was almost as tall as she was... to hear her tell it! I told her i was thinking of her when I picked it out :love ... it was hydrostatic drive. It went over like a lead balloon.

You are right Charlie, I have her talked into a 25', I best leave it go at that based on my not so stellar track record.
Actually, She does not like to nap in any area of the boat I fish from. Just because i caught this beautiful 31" channel catfish and I wanted so much for her to see it...Soooo.
I held it up using two hands horizontally, one thumb in its mouth and the other hand about 2/3's down its body. I woke her up out of a sound nap... she shrieked, the fish squirmed and got loose falling towards her on the long sun seat. She tried to get up and the fish some how got between her (still horizontal, but trying to make tracks) and the seat.
Well.... I was proud of the fish and wanted to share my trophy. To this day she thinks I did it on purpose.

Charlie, you are right.... I should take the 25, keep my mouth shut and try to stay out of "troubles" way until I get in in my slip and named. Good advice Charlie! Butch
 
Bill- Im making a few calls to the previous owners and have only spoke to a answering machine. Im certain in time Ill speak with them. Id like to know as well as most of you as to what took place to roll such a craft.
As for progress on the wreck, I only stripped it down to the bare hull.
and am planning on flipping the boat over in the yard after the weather warms up a little to fix the hull bottom.
When I find out what took place in the storm Ill let you all know the gory details of the C-Dory story that went bad....

Chris
I thank you all for advice!!!!
 
Chris (B), I'm sure you've seen this but just in case:

www.egyptian.net/~raymacke/index.html

this guy has some great ideas about cabin building which is just what you need. He used plywood and a Glen - L design to build something that looks very much like a CD.

There are a lot of detailed photos on his website, you can spend hours looking at it. Many of them will be directly applicable to what you need to do. Hope it helps, also hope you don't have the allergic reaction that he did to Epoxy!

Happy Easter! :)
 
Thank you Charlie and Sally!!!!!!
I saw that site about a year ago and couldn't find it again. Many thanks!!!!
That guy in Illinois is some kind of overachiever. He made one cool boat!!! The ply-wood looks great under the paint. Thats what I had in mind for my top . At least the sides with the factory top.

Does any one wish they had a taller rear door? Im 6' and don't like smackin my head to much.
LOOkING FOR OPINIONS


Chris ......Waiting ICE OUT
 
Chris, as you know (I think), they make a higher top for the CD 22, but the cabin sides and the door (I also think) are the same hight as the regular one. You've got a chance here to raise the whole shebang though by just making the cabin sides higher when you build them.

I don't think the proportions would look funny, as long as you kept the windows in the right place. The flat top you already have would keep it looking good. Go for it, you've already got one of a kind!

Charlie
 
Chris, I agree with Charlie.
It's kind of like you have the opportunity to work with a blank canvas using your own imagination, plucking some real good ideas from C-Brat folks that have been there, and expecially building something that fits your needs and comforts. Remember in the real world, "Form follows function". The only limitation you have is patience. If you happen to be independently wealthy you could hit the project with tons of money and get it quick, however, the down side is getting it finished quickly and realizing you'd like to change something. Taking it slowly, where in most of our cases speed is based on available cash, has its rewards by letting us think the project through and applying creativity generated in dreams initiated by the "carrot".
I was reminded of the "carrot" method of motivation when I recall conversations with my grandfather. If you have ever had the opportunity to work a team if stubborn mules you'd know what I mean. When the mules would "balk" he'd wave a carrot or two in front of them and that would get them up on their collective hoves and moving in the right direction. Eventually the work would be completed.
Work on your project boat will be stimulated by thoughts of what you'll be doing on the water in it. From those dreams you will get ideas that will allow you to incorporate in that boat things that will facilitate the real experience some day. Besides, there is still a tremendous amount of personal pride that can be had for someone that can see a long term project through to completion.

Go get'em Bubba! Butch.
 
To all- I called up the previous owners. Here is the story of the wreck.
In 1998 they were out in the Ocean somewhere off Oregon. A sudden storm whipped up with great furry and vengeance. Feeling the need for shelter they headed in. They ran out of fuel just short of thier objective with driving wind and pounding waves the boat was forced into shallow water and rolled with them in it!!!! They both survived but lost two little dogs to the sea. Both her and her husband were air lifted to a Hospital for care. The next day the boat was recovered. They took the insurance money and purchased a second C-Dory!!! She just loves these boats. I bet they will never run out of fuel again.
I recall reading a forum about fuel and if one should take extra. I think this would be a good illistration of how a little extra fuel can save your hide.

And thank you Butch for your incite and vision. I cant wait to get building.

Chris
 
Chris, you are most welcome. I learned a long time ago that major and time consuming projects are nothing more that a bunch of sequential small tasks that build on each other. Take a step back and break up the tasks at hand in smaller, manageable chunks that can be accomplished in a reasonable amount of time. And.... at the end you'll have a project that you will be proud of and can inspire others to follow suit. It's doable! I know for a fact. I have undertaken projects that people around me said I was nuts. Maybe so, but I had a vision of what the end point would be.... and eventually was.
Go for it, take your time, think it through (my grandfather always told me to measure twice and cut once), and all will work out. It's worked for me over 54 years. Go get'em Bubba! Butch
 
You all need to check out the progress on the Project Boat. This Mr. Bulovsky is a craftsman.

Thanks for the pictures, Chris.
 
Thanks for the complements. I'm done placing deadlines on this project. It kind of wrecks the fun of building something scrambling to get each task done on time .Hope to be in the water soon despite the poor weather as of late.
Motors have been ordered still have not showed up!!! :? My work garage is a grave yard of C-Dory parts. Now with paint applied it should clear out a little. Muskie fishing is open this time of year. (thats what us Northern Cheddar heads do for fun) That may slow progress a little.
Despite all the set backs the boat is looking more like a C-Dory.
Ill try to do a better job of posting pics.

Chris Bulovsky
 
Chris,

That is quite the project you took on! I'm glad to see you are still working at it. You have done a wonderful job so far from what I see of the pictures you have posted.

I had toyed with the idea of building my own boat following the plans on www.Bateau.com but I know I would never get the boat finished as I just don't have the discipline to keep at it.

From the latest pictures it looks like you are on the home stretch! Now you just have to redo the interior and mount all the goodies :) Way to go!
 
Hey Chris, do you have any more pics :lol: Or should I ask if you have posted more pics recently. I don't want to miss any of the work you have been doing. Butch
 
Congratulations Chris on the completion of your C-Dory! I just viewed the pictures that you posted of "Scout". Nice Job! It looks like you are already having a great time on it! :thup
 
Fantastic! I'm in love . I have been lusting after one of these boats since 1993 when I first saw one. I was 24 years old then.Took almost 12 years To finally enjoy one of my own. They ride better than I expected. They do really perform well in waves. I was a little worried about cabin temps on hot days but with the doors and widows open it is very nice. On Lake Superior the hard top is wonderful. So far I used it to Day trip with my family ,Picnic, deer hunt, duck hunt and fish. It can do it all. The shallow draft is one of its most pleasant features. The ability to beach it is super nice. I think its going to be one long winter. Its 8 degrees outside right now and the Lake is making ice. :cry

Chris Bulovsky
 
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