Economical Cruising on C-Dory's

I just spent several minutes re-reading all the posts from 2007.

To Tyboo and DaNag: Thank You for having such an interesting, and useful, site devoted to all of us C-Dory devotee's.

We STILL discuss/debate issues of importance to US, and we STILL remember to "just be nice." Thank you.

A lot of water has passed beneath Life's bridge since this thread began in 2007. Sure, fuel is expensive, and will remain so. ...but we're all finding ways to accommodate our boating addictions. Boating is something we're all hooked-on, and we'll find a way to continue. Period.

Mary and I have changed boats now (from CD22 "Naknek" to CC23 "Katmai" > "Dessert First") but some things don't change. We simply love boating and the people we meet on the water.

....but it's still nice to see that folks sometime resurrect old threads that seem relevent, and cruising style and economy is Relevant.

I still find that having a simple but operational autopilot is one of the best investments we could have made on the boat(s). Think about it. The slower you go, the more helm corrections are necessary to maintain a course. With an A/P those minuscule helm corrections are done for you! You no longer have to tweak the course a bit here-and-there. All you have to do it maintain your overall route, watch the wx, watch for debris, watch for other vessels, and listen to your XM radio.

With "Naknek" I joked that A/P was the last item I had Les (Lampman) install.
When we bought "Katmai > Dessert 1st" it was the FIRST accessory we had installed; I like it that much.

Anyway, thanks for resurrecting an old but useful thread.

Mary and I are currently ashore in Budapest, but plan to be back on the water (somewhere) next summer.

Life is Good.

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Great topic that is of interest and/or has an impact on everyone of us. Thank you.

Now, if I can only discipline myself to cruise at displacement speed rather than planing speed every where I go!

Martin.
 
First of all, if you are interested in fuel economy, you should be in a sailing
multihull with (twin) diesel 18 hp power with this caveat - "Wind is free but
sails are not". This sails faster, given wind, than under 80 % WOT power in
calm seas. Ex: my 42 Atlantic cat would reach upper teens (knots) under sail
with a stiff breeze in protected waters but only 9 knots under power in flat
calm situations.

For powerboters, economy is relative. If you want speed, it's gonna cost no
matter what vessel. Choose a large heavy vessel, you pay more. Large fast
vessel owners don't worry about fuel costs. Inspect the performance data for
the power and vessel you want, then pay the tab. Snivelers should stay ashore.

There are advantages of speed besides the "need for speed" high (fun factor).
Out running weather is one, less time to safety for injuries or illness is another.
There are also disadvantages: beside fuel expense, excess speed in "rough"
seas increases risk and can break bones, or much worse.

Aye.
 
This is an awesome topic. Gas in AK is expensive, and one of the reasons
I chose my 22.

I usually am more pressed for time to get fishing and run out fast. If something is happening after fishing, I usually fish (or hike, ski, hunt, nap, etc) as long as I can and run home fast.

Any other time, I run home at displacement speed. It seems to use about half the fuel.

I also have a 9.8 Tohatsu kicker that pushes the boat right along, and sips fuel, but it's on a garelick bracket waaaay over the starboard lazarette and I don't like leaning over to steer and control throttle, so I don't use it, but
I'll make that easier soon and use it more.
 
Just got back from a weekend out. Thought I would try the Kerri On "REM" strategy. Cruised at 7 knots. Must admit, I found it quite relaxing. It was so much easier on the eyes and concentration, watching out for logs and garbage in the water. I do not have a fuel flow guage, but looking at the gas in my tank, it did not go down much. Me thinks I'll be doing more REM in the future.

Martin.
 
I used to obsess about MPG but quickly realized that, with a c-dory, my gas bill is a minor part of my overall cost of owning a boat, whether I'm going at displacement speed or not. Of course, that would change if I used my boat more!

In many ways, we've all solved the fuel expense issue by choosing and operating c-dorys in the first place.
 
johnr":3siy0vbm said:
I used to obsess about MPG but quickly realized that, with a c-dory, my gas bill is a minor part of my overall cost of owning a boat, whether I'm going at displacement speed or not. Of course, that would change if I used my boat more!

In many ways, we've all solved the fuel expense issue by choosing and operating c-dorys in the first place.
Click to expand...

when I go out every weekend during the summer I seem to run 20g or more each time, so that bill can add up. luckily those I host are very understanding and usually do their part to supply tackle, bait, or food. :thup

you're right though... $300/month for a few months of boating is nothing. If I had bought the Sundancer i was looking at it would be moored for closer to $400-500/month year round. + gas.
 
Good fuel mileage in the boat is desirable, but we've found that we usually spend more getting Dessert 1st to our boating venue-of-choice than we spend in on the water! ...but that's one of the major benefits of having a trailerable vessel; we TRAILER it to places larger boat owners probably won't go.

...don't plan to ever own another boat that isn't trailerable!

Best,
C&M
 
Someone said, "If you're gonna worry about how much it costs,
you shouldn't buy it."

As I see it, a boat is relief from stress. It shouldn't be the cause
of more.

Aye.
 
I have never worried about the price of gas. If I did, I would have kept my last boat where 10 gals of diesel would last me all season.
But I am starting to wonder, if you are not on a time schedule, why rush to get somewhere on $40 of gas when you can also get there on $20 gas?
Twice now in the last 3 years I have lost my transducer by hitting submerged branches at speed. Maybe would not have happened if I slowed down a bit. Logs you can see, thin long submerged branches are nearly impossible until you are right on top of it.
Another thing I noticed having twin engines. If I hit a branch square on at 90 degrees, the branch gets jammed between my engines and trim tabs, then takes out the transducer. I love my twin engines but maybe this would not happen with a single. The branch would slide away easier after coming into contact with a single.

Martin.
 
What we think is the biggest saving with a trailerable boat is in time. From Pennsylvania to Florida would take us about a month by boat who knows how much fuel would cost to make the trip getting the good deal at the marinas. We can be there in two or three days towing the boat on a trailer. This allows us more time at where we want to be at least in the winter. Keep in mind we would have to allow another month to get home. For a one month stay in Florida would require three months away from home if we traveled just by boat. Most of us have at least some commitments doctors, kids, weddings, homes to maintain etc. that do not allow for continuous cruising. We like to trailer to destinations and stay for about a week and put the boat back on the trailer fuel the boat up on land and head to the next destination. Week long marina stays have a daily rate usually half of a daily transient rate. Plus your tow vehicle is close by to use for provisioning etc. and land based attractions.
D.D.
 
Will-C":paxiqfha said:
What we think is the biggest saving with a trailerable boat is in time. From Pennsylvania to Florida would take us about a month by boat who knows how much fuel would cost to make the trip getting the good deal at the marinas. We can be there in two or three days towing the boat on a trailer. This allows us more time at where we want to be at least in the winter. Keep in mind we would have to allow another month to get home. For a one month stay in Florida would require three months away from home if we traveled just by boat. Most of us have at least some commitments doctors, kids, weddings, homes to maintain etc. that do not allow for continuous cruising. We like to trailer to destinations and stay for about a week and put the boat back on the trailer fuel the boat up on land and head to the next destination. Week long marina stays have a daily rate usually half of a daily transient rate. Plus your tow vehicle is close by to use for provisioning etc. and land based attractions.
D.D.
Click to expand...

I kind of live under the assumption that if I got a much larger boat it would be more like a floating apartment/condo. a place to visit but not really a 'cruiser' except perhaps once per year. It would be nice to have the waterfront escape but I'd have to pick my marina wisely as the marina would be the year round destination. The ability to tow is the #1 reason I got the c-dory.
 
Will-C":g7ei7jst said:
What we think is the biggest saving with a trailerable boat is in time. From Pennsylvania to Florida would take us about a month by boat who knows how much fuel would cost to make the trip getting the good deal at the marinas. We can be there in two or three days towing the boat on a trailer. This allows us more time at where we want to be at least in the winter. Keep in mind we would have to allow another month to get home. For a one month stay in Florida would require three months away from home if we traveled just by boat. Most of us have at least some commitments doctors, kids, weddings, homes to maintain etc. that do not allow for continuous cruising. We like to trailer to destinations and stay for about a week and put the boat back on the trailer fuel the boat up on land and head to the next destination. Week long marina stays have a daily rate usually half of a daily transient rate. Plus your tow vehicle is close by to use for provisioning etc. and land based attractions.
D.D.
Click to expand...

And, THAT is why the best accessory for a C-Dory is a good trailer. You can make more money, you can't make more time. I'm all for slowing down and enjoying the journey, but there is something to be said for getting the boat to the best areas, and then enjoying the area.

Nothing particularly economical about boat ownership, but there are ways to spend your money that allow you the most enjoyment for the bucks. Whether you want to cruise, fish, or day-trip, the more enjoyment you get for the investment, the easier it is to justify. We often do that "how far vs how fast" calculation on the water and on land. Nice with the C-Dory that you have the option of fast or economical.

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Trailering your boat adds flexibility. And, this is good since
"flexibility is the cornerstone of mental health".
(Get the irony?)

But I'm sure I don't want to become a "sea gypsy" roaming
from place to place, flitting here and there, trying to "see it all".

Do I really need to see all the cats in Zanzibar?

Sadly, I know a few avid world travelers who can't identify the
songbirds in their own backyard.

Aye.
 
To each there own, in February boating is hard in Pa. Not many songbirds flying around in February either so no need to identify them. I'm glad not everybody does what we do. Less crowded.
D.D.
 
Will-C":1vdte54i said:
What we think is the biggest saving with a trailerable boat is in time. From Pennsylvania to Florida would take us about a month by boat who knows how much fuel would cost to make the trip getting the good deal at the marinas. We can be there in two or three days towing the boat on a trailer.
Click to expand...

Another angle on this, especially on the US east coast, is that if you are boating from the NE to Florida, you almost have to miss a couple of nice seasons. That is, you have to leave the NE before fall colors (or else make a really cold trip south), and you miss some of the spring in both Florida (which is nice, northers are fewer, etc.) and in the NE (you are not there yet). It'd be missing the fall up north that I would regret the most. I have friends who make the trip up and back on their sailboat each year, and even though they do a considerable amount of offshore sailing (which is faster than motoring on the ICW), they always have to miss fall up north.
 
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