CDory 25 low Transom

[journey on]

Those drain scuppers in the cockpit of a C-25 aren't much good. The drain hose is 1" dia and there's only about 2" of head. If the cockpit is full of water, I'd open the hatches and let the bilge pump dump it over, ifn I could.

 

[hardee]

Back to getting pooped. Last fall we made a 30 mile run, Vancouver to
Agmenemon Channel in quartering, following seas in the 6 foot range. About 1/3 were breaking seas, and honestly, it was a bit nerve racking, because some of those were over the 6 foot, maybe to 8, and if I had it to do over again, I would not do it in anything other that the C-Dory. it was like a surf board. Trim tabs up, and power on the back of the waves, surf down and keep the bow from diving. Would I intentionally go out into that, no, they built after we started, and I spent as much time looking over my shoulder as looking ahead, (feeling somewhat owlish). I don't belive we had any water come into the cockpit, but I am sure that there were some that broke right at the stern, (engines would rev some in the soup) but we made it into the channel and out of the fetch line.

That trip did wonders for my faith in the boat, my admiration for my wife who rode it out and didn't kill me, and for remembering skills from long ago.

The 22 Cruiser is lighter than the 25, but I believe proportional and the 25 responses would be simular. I have considered putting in an additional highflow bilge pump in addition to the 2 existing ones, though suspect it is not likely a necessity. Others milage may vary.

Harvey
SleepyC

 

[stevej]

Those drain scuppers in the cockpit of a C-25 aren't much good. The drain hose is 1" dia and there's only about 2" of head. If the cockpit is full of water, I'd open the hatches and let the bilge pump dump it over, ifn I could.

Which is why I had 4" scuppers put in, if I can keep forward momentum going should be able to evacuate a full cockpit is about 90 seconds



stevej

 

[lloyds]

You are correct with your concern Joe. To self bail you need to get up to a certain speed and if you are full of water it is hard to do. Couple that with rough seas and you will probably not be able to. But like others said, these hulls rise up over the waves about as well as any boat out there and the possibility of being swamped is fairly limited. I certainly don't worry about it. As long as the motor is running and you can hold direction it should never be a problem. Without power you are in serious trouble in heavy seas and that transom won't be the cause of the disaster to follow.

 

[TyBoo]

Which is why I had 4" scuppers put in, if I can keep forward momentum going should be able to evacuate a full cockpit is about 90 seconds

That remark, and your photo, pretty well illustrates some thoughts I had on this subject several time over the years.

If the cockpit is full of water to the top of the lower splashwell wall, you may well be able to maintain forward momentum. If, however, the transom or splashwell was full height and the cockpit was filled with nearly twice the water, you aren't going anywhere except down. It's easy to see how the lowered transom could let water in, but you have to keep in mind that it also would let water out. The extra 6 or 8 inches of transom height probably wouldn't do much good if you are in a situation where the water is trying that hard to get in, but if it does get in I think I would be glad that half of it can get back out immediately.

And back to gentleman's original concern - My CD25 is the identical design as stevej's (minus the 4" scuppers), and I have had it on the lower Columbia and over the bar many times. It has seen some pretty nasty water and has never got more than a splash into the cockpit. Russ and Toni's Traveler is a newer CD25 that spends a great deal of time outside the CR, and I don't think they have any concerns for the transom height. Most folks here said it pretty well - no reason for extra concern.