Cape Cruiser 23 Desirability

I have a 2009 CC 23. I don't know about the hull, but I can confirm the roof and deck are definitely balsa cored. I've been all over our boat in the eight months we've owned her and can verify the build quality is very good.

We recently made a run up the Columbia River on a rainy, choppy day with big wind driven rollers at about 22 mph. With the trim tabs to push the bow down it was surprisingly decent ride for a boat with such a shallow deadrise.

For what it is, I can't think of much I'd change about it EXCEPT for wishing the factory had done a better job sealing the balsa core. I had a leaky forward hatch that needed some balsa TLC. A first for me and not hard but something I'd rather not have to deal with.

For us it's the perfect boat: comfortable in the rain, big windows to see the view, seaworthy for adventure, trailer-able without requiring a gigantic tow vehicle and reasonably economical. What more could one ask for in a boat.
 
Regarding the galley space, that was a big complaint of my wife. With the two burner Wallas and the sink there was no counter space.

My solution was inspired by somebody else on this site. The idea is to fold the helm seat forward then attach a counter top to the resulting flat surface.

The factory helm seat doesn't fold flat but you can buy seat hinges that pivot higher and thus allow the seat to fold almost flat.

Next I cut a piece of 1/2" starboard about 2' square and put some strap hangers on the bottom so I could run a strap under the bottom of the helm seat to securely hold the starboard to the top of the seat. Hopefully that makes sense.

This works great and cost less that $100 to implement. Makes a huge improvement in galley usability and is easily deployed/stowed.
 
afglobemaster":2o7bgy9q said:
There are two burners? By the looks of the pictures there is only one. Square, as opposed to rectangle like on a CD...
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Different owners order different stoves. The one you're looking at sounds like a one burner, the 2 burner stoves are more common.
 
One additional advantage of the Cape Cruisers is the full height motor well. This prevents wind waves from coming into the boat when backing into the wind while bottom fishing (so your line hangs straight down).
 
forrest":3tkg2zrq said:
One additional advantage of the Cape Cruisers is the full height motor well. This prevents wind waves from coming into the boat when backing into the wind while bottom fishing (so your line hangs straight down).
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another huge plus. on the 3rd for shrimping when it got nasty at max ebb with the wind, close to buried the power heads a couple times backing into the current but no water in the cockpit!

as far as coring, on my 2006 (hull #19), foam transom, balsa hull and deck.
 
We have a CC23 and I've only been on C22's that we've met at cruise-out gatherings. I've not been on one underway, and to me they looked so much alike, I was surprised when I saw them next to each other. You can definitely see that we are taller, wider and more roomy when you are docked or rafted next to each other..., from pictures they look the same. The C-22 is "cuter" and more sporty looking... like comparing a 2 door to a sedan.

We don't know whether balsa or foam but i can tell you that we opened up the V-Berth to make storage and there was no foam there.

Our galley has the one burner Wallas and its powered with an alternative kerosene, not Diesel. Its also 'taller/thicker", more clumsy looking than the two burner diesel Wallas's we have seen on C-22's, which is slimmer and streamlined. It doesn't seem to heat water as fast as theirs does either. I don't like the Wallas much as a stove but it works great as a heater... its not worth replacing as they are so pricey and this works. The galley looks more cramped mostly because they centered the one burner Wallas, and should have mounted it more one direction or the other to create counter space. Someone clever could add a countertop and reinstall the sink and stove to make the space more usable. The sink in the CC23 is significantly bigger and deeper... something we definitely appreciate. We put a cutting board over it for food prep. Neither boat has a great galley. We usually use either a camp stove or the bbq, out on the cockpit especially when its hot outside and we don't want to heat up the cabin anyway.

I love the flat floor in the Venture versus the curved flooring in the C-Dory. We put "teak and holly" vinyl on ours and it really looks dressed up. I also feel like there is more room in the VBerth area to use the potty and dress...definitely more headroom in there...enough for us to sit up in bed if we want to.(even though we put a 4inch memory foam topper on.. and a few more inches in the "wedge" area. I imagine the bed is longer and wider too, so if there are two of you, you'll be more comfortable sleeping.

The cockpit is bigger and I like the storage built in behind the motor well.. Its big "void" on a CC22... yes, you can modify it for a cooler or whatever... but we were able to install a 3rd battery there which, combined with our solar panel operates our frig 100% everyday, even while parked on the trailer for many days.

I don't like the fact that they removed the shelves in the cockpit on the port and starboard sides. They probably did that to avoid the lawsuit and make them different than a C-Dory (didn't work, did it?) and it is space that is begging to be useful.

I also like the shelf next to/under the table which the C-22 doesn't have. It is so handy and stores more than you'd think!

We wanted a C-22 but at the time none were available at the right price; and just "happened into" the Venture, and we're glad now that we did. In my view the C22 is a fishing boat you can cruise in, and the C23 is a cruiser you COULD fish in (we don't).

Also we have been able to order some replacement parts from C-Dory for the Cape Cruiser. I don't think they've changed them that much in the current models...just added some "headliner" material to cover wires and, hopefully, better stoves.

Mary
 
maryvmcclain":3ot4pplp said:
I also feel like there is more room in the VBerth area ...definitely more headroom in there...enough for us to sit up in bed if we want to.(even though we put a 4inch memory foam topper on.. and a few more inches in the "wedge" area.
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Wow, that is a lot bigger. I can't imagine even dreaming of sitting up in the V-berth on the 22. Shoot, now I want a CC 23! :lol:

(Although I think it would be over the top for me for towing; the 22 just works with my tow rig, but I wouldn't want another thousand pounds.)
 
Sunbeam":3st7zdve said:
maryvmcclain":3st7zdve said:
I also feel like there is more room in the VBerth area ...definitely more headroom in there...enough for us to sit up in bed if we want to.(even though we put a 4inch memory foam topper on.. and a few more inches in the "wedge" area.
Click to expand...

Wow, that is a lot bigger. I can't imagine even dreaming of sitting up in the V-berth on the 22. Shoot, now I want a CC 23! :lol:

(Although I think it would be over the top for me for towing; the 22 just works with my tow rig, but I wouldn't want another thousand pounds.)
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Plus think of all the mods you've done to your 22 that you then have to do to a CC23!
 
IIRC, there's a set of photos of a CD-22 and Cape Cruiser 23 parked side-by-side which is pretty revealing of some of the size and feature differences, but aftr about a half-hour of searching, I still have no cigar to share with you! :cigar :sad

Does anyone remember where it is on this site? :?:

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Found it (Sorta). The comparison was on Red Fox's site and the photos were originally from Three Rivers Marine, but the link no longer works. :sad

Here the post that linked it: (Posted: Mon May 05, 2008 8:38 am)


Those early threads about the Cape Cruiser when it first came out have some very interesting and through comparisons between the two boats, plus some unhappy thoughts from some C-Brats who resented the new CC being built in competition to the C-Dory, so read them with that in mind and just look for the comparative information.

The Tolands built very high quality boats when they owned C-Dory, and I'm sure the Cape Cruisers are very well built as well. We've heard of very few problems with the CC's, at least as I remember. Cape Cruiser's quality control was obviously quite high.

Don't confuse the Cape Cruiser with the newer Venture 23 by C-Dory. They are the same boat from the same mold, but the Venture 23 was done over inside to be an upscale and plush bigger sister to the CD-22.

The original CC was pretty obviously a re-designed and slightly over-sized CD-22 which attempted to correct some of the minor faults of the 22: a larger cockpit, a closed in engine well, wider gunnels, deeper v-sections forward in the hull, a taller cabin, a redesigned galley and dash, and several other features make the boat a bit more up-dated. Two other features that might interest you are a reversible, forward facing front passenger seat, and cockpit floorboards. These were added to the C-Dories as options in later years, and I think, but I'm not sure, that they were standard on the CC.

There's a great photo comparison of the CC-23 and the CD-22 on RedFox's website HERE that was done by Three Rivers Marine, who was first a CD and then a CC dealer.

Don't forget, too, that the basic CD-22 has undergone it's own evolution over the years with the addition of the forward facing seat, floorboards, clear cabin door, and fiberglass interior features among others.

We always advise prospective owners to go to a C-Brat Get Together to be able to see all the CD models and get to know folks around here. If you look carefully, get lucky, and choose with that in mind, you might find one that has a Cape Cruiser in attendance.

Good Luck with your search!

Joe.
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IMG_1303.sized.jpg

Will-C Venture 23 same hull as Cape Cruiser on right and Hunky Dory (Jay and Jolee) 22' Cruiser on left at campsite on Yellowstone Lake.
 
P1010423.jpg

A 23' in the middle with the red ball and 22's on either side. Note larger windows etc. Rafted up and walking with one foot on a 22' and the other foot on a 23' there is noticeable difference in the way they react. You can tell the 23 is a heavier boat. That maybe good or bad depending how you look at it. The bows on the 22' are turned up a little more. I my mind the 22's are a cuter boat for what ever that means to anyone.
D.D.
 
Hey Guys, my Dad went and checked out the boat for me yesterday and had nothing but bad news to pass. Interior was basically waterlogged. Water damage, mildew/must everywhere from v-berth to under the sink to under the dinette. All the wood was basically shot and upholstery was spotted/soiled. Apparently the owner "stored" the boat with one of the windows open and it sat out in the rain for years. I suspect the hatch/window above the v-berth was leaking as well.

Anyhow, I'm really disappointed. The dealer had told me how clean and beautiful everything was. A good mechanic friend of mine told me to walk away after I sent him the pictures. I still really want the boat, but nervous about being able to resolve the problems associated from the water damage, but at the same time, once the wood is replaced, won't it be good again, or is once water is inside the cabin, can you never get rid of it?

I'll try and post some pics when I figure it out...
Joe
 
Invest in a survey

mold and mildew can be killed and removed after several cleanings.

Upholstery can be re done


How handy are you?
 
I'd think that one would have to gut the boat of just about everything but the fiberglass, then spray the entire hull with something to encapsulate the mold after removing every trace of it possible.

From that point, one, if skilled enough, could rebuild the interior. Rebuilding the cabinetry would require a very good cabinetmaker, the right tools, and somewhere to get the patterns from.

Check for water penetration into the cores of balsa or foam. If a lot, don't touch it.

If you're allergic to mold, or allergic in general to many things, or think you could develop a mold allergy, run, don't walk, ASAP!

This is not a backyard project for an unskilled, first-time boat owner, but someone like Bob (Thataway) or Sunbeam could make it work.

Then there's the cost factor: would it simply be cheaper (as well as a lot easier) to find another boat???

(Boat projects have a way of exceeding their allotted budget by two, three, or more times, easily, increasing with the difficulty of the project!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
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