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C-Dory Wanabe/Newbie question
- Thread starter Capt Rick
- Start date
It may not even pull the rope out of the water unless propped way down with a "ski" prop. Here is an example of a two stroke being better than a four stroke [go ahead,gloat E Tec guys] . The skier will be able to steer the boat if skiing aggressively. It would be interesting to see. Personal watercraft [with 3 or 4 times the H.P.] can do it easily. Skill would be involved .
Marc
Marc
Hi Rick,
Very few people use a C-Dory to pull water skiers - not really the intended use. But can it be done - sure.
If you had that same motor on a 16 ft runabout would it pull up the 200lb guy? Some people can get up easier than others. I would think that with someone that gets up easy you would have shot.
For the person doing the driving it may not be that much fun. Driving at 15 to 25 mph over other boat wakes may loosen some fillings. C-Dories are flat bottomed and we generally slow down for wakes - not so good for skiers.
Hope that helps,
Steve
Very few people use a C-Dory to pull water skiers - not really the intended use. But can it be done - sure.
If you had that same motor on a 16 ft runabout would it pull up the 200lb guy? Some people can get up easier than others. I would think that with someone that gets up easy you would have shot.
For the person doing the driving it may not be that much fun. Driving at 15 to 25 mph over other boat wakes may loosen some fillings. C-Dories are flat bottomed and we generally slow down for wakes - not so good for skiers.
Hope that helps,
Steve
Thanks guys for the input on skiers. My guess is that it should work, too, but I was curious if anybody had any real life experience.
As to being a flat bottomed boat, does that mean you can't go through small whitecaps without pounding yourself to pieces? I have a little 15 foot runabout now and every time I come to any one foot wave, I have to power down to go through it. I assumed the 16 foot C-dory would be able to handle it better. Any input on that?
Rick
As to being a flat bottomed boat, does that mean you can't go through small whitecaps without pounding yourself to pieces? I have a little 15 foot runabout now and every time I come to any one foot wave, I have to power down to go through it. I assumed the 16 foot C-dory would be able to handle it better. Any input on that?
Rick
Captains Cat
New member
About 30 years ago, I tried to pull a skier with a 70hp 2 stroke and a 16' boat up. He was an Asst. Sec of the Navy, name shall go unmentioned, and it was like trolling for alligators, if we'd have had any on the Potomac up around Quantico! :shock: :roll:
Fortunately he wasn't hurt and I didn't lose my job as his EA. (Executive Assistant). I was a Commander in the Navy at the time.
Charlie
Fortunately he wasn't hurt and I didn't lose my job as his EA. (Executive Assistant). I was a Commander in the Navy at the time.
Charlie
Capt Rick":3ugoie0f said:Thanks guys for the input on skiers. My guess is that it should work, too, but I was curious if anybody had any real life experience.
As to being a flat bottomed boat, does that mean you can't go through small whitecaps without pounding yourself to pieces? I have a little 15 foot runabout now and every time I come to any one foot wave, I have to power down to go through it. I assumed the 16 foot C-dory would be able to handle it better. Any input on that?
Rick
Hi Rick,
The right tool for the job. A ski boat is going to do a better job of pulling a skier, the C-Dory is going to provide better protection from the elements. We've seen people sleeping out in small runabouts, but that doesn't make them a cruising boat. :wink:
As far as the pounding, it depends a lot on the speed and direction you are going. If you can keep the bow down, it will make a difference in the ride, but if you are in constant chop and intend to go fast, you will have some pounding. The best way to know if the ride is what you want is to get out on the water on one.
When we were considering a C-Dory, I read stuff about them pounding. When we first got our boat, we experimented with different bow attitudes in different conditions to find the most efficient, most comfortable ride. Now, I do everything I can to keep the boat from pounding... it is not pleasant and can't be good for the equipment. I won't tell you that Wild Blue doesn't pound, but I will tell you it doesn't continue... slow down, trim down, pick a different direction... there are options.
Good luck with your search for the best boat for your use.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Yellowstone
New member
Rick - A 16' C-Dory with a 50 hp motor might get the skier up, but forget any manuever other than straight ahead, and then on dead calm water. I've used my 22' C-Dory (with 115 Mercury) a few times to pull skiers. Not good except straight ahead. Using rear cleats with a wishbone configuration to the main rope, any deviation from straight ahead takes over the steering. Even straight ahead when the skier swings out, it pulls the boat to the point that you have to oversteer to compensate. About the only thing the Dory has going for it with a skier is that the wake has flattened out nicely in the middle. Do not recommend. John
A number of us learned to water ski with low hp outboards (even many Chris and Century boats only had 60 hp inboards). My first "ski" boat was 13 feet with a 25 hp and next was a 16 foot with a 35 hp. Both of these would pull me up on two skiis, and then I would drop one, to solom. Also have skiied behind 25 hp on inflatbles. So it is possiable.
With the 16 C Dory it is a heavier boat, and will be slow--but can do it if you put on the correct prop, as Marc suggested. You want to put the bow down for going into chop--and also put a dolfin or other tab on the outboard, and probably trim tabs also. I can think of a lot of other boats which would be better ski boats.
With the 16 C Dory it is a heavier boat, and will be slow--but can do it if you put on the correct prop, as Marc suggested. You want to put the bow down for going into chop--and also put a dolfin or other tab on the outboard, and probably trim tabs also. I can think of a lot of other boats which would be better ski boats.
Bob, thanks for your input. You're doubtlessly right that there are plenty of other boats that would make for a much better ski boat. I'm really not into water skiing but just wanted a boat that could serve double duty for those occasional times one of my kids was visiting us and wanted to ski. I guess my bigger worry is how the boat handles chop. I currently have a little 14 foot boat with a 50 hp that is only good for those days when the lake is dead calm. Once the waves get to be a half foot, it's terrible. I have to slow down to a crawl when crossing the wake of even a small boat. I hope the C-Dory does it better although I gather they also have a reputation for pounding unless I can keep the bow down.
All of this is now academic. I bought it. It's a little 16 foot Angler that I'm picking up this Sunday. I just couldn't resist the looks of that boat.
Rick
All of this is now academic. I bought it. It's a little 16 foot Angler that I'm picking up this Sunday. I just couldn't resist the looks of that boat.
Rick