Caledon - Pocket Trawler

The closer I sit to Dotty the more comfort I have. I've gone from the 22 footer to the 16. Maybe, just maybe, I'll consider the 14. Like the bumper sticker says"I'd rather be here, now."
MartyP
 
Fred I am not suprized,

Happy is the man that is satisfied with what he has. We have been abord the Caledon boats and the wood interiour makes them dark when compared to a C-Dory.

I beleive they are well built and the people at the show were very nice. You can see them at Annapolis, Md. at the October Power Boat Show.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Gray(the swimming cat)
 
fred and pat, not sure which one is posting. How much room does the 25 have compared to a 25 c-dory? how big in the forward head? and does it take away from the berth? What are under those hatches on the back deck? could it be a fish box? or made into one? I have lots of questions. Can you see out the windows while standing and how tall are you? do you have any pics form the boat show?
 
To try to answer Starcrafts question.

It has been over a year since we visited the Caldron Cruiser at the boat show. I think there was more headroom in the forward part of the boat than our RF-246. That beeing said the new 246s are all the high- sided type and that really makes a big difference in the entire boat. In addition to more room forward you also get a lot more storage inder the cockpit sole and increased fuel capacity.

A I have said before I think the 246 and a big 200 HP plus on a bracket makes a really nice boat. The covered cockpit has a lot of space-you can even sit outside when it is raining. We carried our dink on the cockpit roof. The dink motor 5HP on a bracket and it would push the boat about 4-5 MPH.

This is written by Fred, Pat is not quite the boat lover that I seem to be. She does however love our simple, small, light and efficient CD-22.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Grey(the swimming cat)
 
PART 1:
IS IT ME, OR, ARE YOU GETTING TIRED OF FIBERGLASS SHORT COMINGS?
I'VE BEEN READING MUCH ABOUT ALUMINUM CONSTRUCTION AND SURE DO LIKE WHAT I'M LEARNING. I KNOW THE REPORTED CONCERNS WITH ALUMINUM, KNOW ABOUT BOTH 5086 AND 5052 PLATES AND SHEETS BUT STILL WOULD ENJOY BUILDING OR AT LEAST PARTICIPATING IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 25 TO 28' ALUMINUM HULL, PERHAPS SUPERSTRUCTURE AS WELL OR FIBERGLASS SUPERSTRUCTURE, BOAT.
KEEP WITH THE SIMPLE DESIGN OF C-DORY. NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF POSSIBILITY!
PART 2:
IS IT ME, OR, ARE YOU GETTING TIRED OF THE, WHAT SEEMS TO BE, RAPID DEPRECIATION MOST BOATS EXPERIENCE. THE CALDRON, LIKE MANY OTHERS, LOOK'S TO BE SWEET, BUT $125,000.!
PART 3:
IS IT ME, OR HAVE YOU ALSO EXPERIENCED THAT AS WE MATURE (GET OLDER) AND CHANGE FROM A FINANCED BUYER TO A CASH BUYER IT BECOMES HARDER TO SPEND MONEY?
I'VE PURCHASED BOATS AND SIGNED MY NAME, NO PROBLEM, EASY COME EASY GO. BUT, NOW, WHEN I REACH INTO MY POCKET, I'VE GOT TO THINK ABOUT THIS DEAL FOR A WHILE. NEVER BEEN BETTER OFF AND MORE TIGHT, THAN NOW.
CONCLUSION, BORROWED MONEY IS TO EASY TO SPEND!

WELL, JUST MY MOST HUMBLE OPINION.
PAT
 
Just to add fuel to the fire, I saw this boat (25') at the Newport Boat Show last fall and was VERY impressed. The fit and finish was outstanding. I thought it rather expensive for a 25 foter, but then I guess you get what you pay for.

Good hunting!

Dun
 
Dark wood, light wood, or plastic with teak trim?

I'm sure the wood interior of the Calderon is beautiful and has a fine fit and finish, at least as much as I can see from the web photos.

The dark mahogany used is pretty much "old school" whereas the "middle school" trend has been towards much lighter woods, and most recently to the "new school" trend of molded fiberglass trimed with pieces of teak.

As a result of these trends, when I see a dark wood interior, I automatically begin to think the boat is a classic in style, if not in age as well.

Then too, when viewing a boat with a lighter wood interior, it simply looks more modern to me, as I've become conditioned by the trends.

Similarly, a boat with a white molded fiberglass interior with teak trim registers as fairly new if not very new, following the style/period/age trends.

Which "look" you like is a matter of personal preference, of course, but I'm pretty sure that the type of interior style used greatly influences the viewer's perception of the age of the boat.

I viewed several Alaskan Trader Tugs a year or so ago, and I definitely got a much different sense of the boat's age based on the interior style as differentiated above.

I don't suppose that matters too much when you're buying a boat, except to get one with the style you prefer, but down the road when you try to re-sell the boat, the ones percieved as older probably are sensed as less valuable and harder to move, at least to novice buyers.

On the contrary, of course, experiend boaters may well appreciate a classic boat with a more traditional interior, valuing it highly.

Now I'm sure not evrybody will agree with what I've said here, and there are a lot of other exceptions and aspects to the issue.

But I do think there is a kernel of truth to this view.

Personally, I still like a liberal use of wood in the interior of a boat, and I'm much more concerned with the overall affect and appropriatness of the entire interior package than which color of wood or type of trim is used.

Joe.
 
I just received the Caledon photo brochure, and this is one beautiful boat. Oh my goodness! I need to do some serious thinking about the burden that my green locker ($$) can withstand.

Capt Pat, there are some great aluminum boats made here on the west coast, but don't think they are inexpensive. For a quality aluminum cabin boat, you are going to pay a very significant price. $200k is not unheard of.

Kind Regards,

Steve
 
i agree with steve and mike,
first, the cost of aluminum boats are expensive and once you have one the value should remain stable.
second, using the nomad 25' as my inspiration, i would like to build a simular vessel using the same simple lines and well thought out format. i especially like the access to the anchor for anchoring, head/shower, good deck space fore and aft, easy single handedly launching ability, steps from the trailer to the fore deck on and off, the versatility from boat to camper, would rig with twin outboards, good sleeping arrangements, just to name a few.
the superstructure would be normal carpentry, electrical and plumbing process.
if you have an interest, check out , www.metalboatsociety.org great support group, much like c-brats.
pat
 
capt. patrick campbell":18nl9nir said:
second, using the nomad 25' as my inspiration, i would like to build a simular vessel using the same simple lines and well thought out format.

I googled nomad 25 and found THIS. Is that the boat you like?

Warren
 
hi warren,
yes, that would be it, however i would make several modifications in both hull and overall symmetry. it's not a style that everyone would like, but seems to fit my wife and i. the c-dory has been a relatively good experience for us, has helped us think about simplistic rather than yacht like. this thinking goes well with the nomad. we would like to travel more, on water and terra firma. this boat or one simular to it could fit the bill.
we are not blessed with wealth! to me that suggest something given , rather than earned. we have, on the other hand, worked dam hard for a long time and now have options.
the time is fast approaching for me to say i've got enough and now it's time to play! so, thinking ahead, this boat has the comforts, would give me the opportunity to be creative in the building process and could enhance our boating/camping pleasure. you know that pride of ownership thing!
my hobbies are landscaping, wood working and body building. each could help facilitate the building process. landscaping for the symmetry, woodworking, carpentry, for understanding the use of tools and, oddly enough, body building for the stamina and therapy, needed in the building process.
i have emailed hull ideas to several houseboat manufactures asking them if they would have an interest in building the hull for me. now waiting for their response.
hey, no venture taken, no venture gained.
best regards
pat,
the builder?
 
Sounds like an exciting project, Pat! I'm assuming (will let those with more knowledge comment further) that the design tradeoffs would limit the weather conditions you could use this boat -- for example, Alaska?

When I lived in Utah I often thought a boat of this configuration would be perfect.

Warren
 
Another boat along these lines is the "adventure craft"
http://www.adventurecraft.com/

I would agree with Warren, and say that these type of boats are limited to relitatively calm water and low winds. But watching your weather, you could do the inland passage, and certainly the great Loop in the Eastern 1/2 of the US. Just don't get caught out in a blow with heavy seas...

We have only owned aluminum skiffs. There are certainly some very nice aluminum boats built. If you have the aluminum welding skills and a good TIG (maybe MIG?) welder, I do believe that you can build a boat for less than in glass. Wood glass covered is still a good material, and very easy to build with.

However, don't forget that building the hull is only a small amount of the cost and time of bulding a boat. About 30% hull, 30% power, 30% interior and 10% systems. (then add in electronics etc)...
 
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