Economy, twin emgines vs. single engine

Another positive virtue of a faster boat, if it hasn't already been mentioned, is the ability to safely get back to protected waters /harbors when bad WX appears.

Who'd want to be 30-50 miles from safe harbor when limited to 7 mph? :xseek

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Sea Wolf":v9zgu942 said:
Who'd want to be 30-50 miles from safe harbor when limited to 7 mph? :xseek

Joe. :teeth :thup

Well true, but on the other hand, often slower boats are more "seaworthy." Different hull shapes, self-draining cockpits, ballast, etc. Doesn't necessarily go hand-in-hand with being slower, but often does just due to a "hull speed" hull shape.

Not saying being able to go fast is a bad thing though.

On the "if you have to ask you can't afford it" theme.... I don't believe in that. To my mind there is nothing wrong with asking about the cost of operating and maintaining a boat (or anything else you are considering buying). In some cases fuel cost is a small percentage of operating cost, but not always. Why not gather information and make an informed choice.
 
Joe, once the bad weather comes along, you may not be able to make more that 6 to 7 miles an hour. I have a lot of miles at 6 to 7 knots, and some in some really nasty weather. Far worse than anyone wants to be out in!

Down in the Guilf of Mexico, it is hard to "out run weather" .
 
You might also give a call to Sportcraft Marina (just south of Portland) to see what they have in stock. They often have some new/used models in the yard that you can crawl around.

Can you expand a bit on what you mean by living aboard? I believe most people who take extended trips still hit marinas every few days (with exceptions for more remote locations) for provisions, fuel, etc. Even with careful planning and luck fishing it's hard to imagine being self sufficient for more that a couple weeks as fuel and water would slowly drain away.
 
If your main goal is to 'put-put along' but are worried
about getting trapped in 'bad weather' and having to
'ride it out', you should have a sailboat which is designed
to move at displacement speeds (unlike a C-Dory with its
planing hull) for long passages and is, IMHO, much preferable
to be aboard when the the seas are really snarly, not a C-Dory.

Aye.

Grandpa (an old Navy man) used to say, "There's no such thing
as 'the perfect boat'."
 
Gene Stebbs.":1kmm6s4o said:
I hope to pick up a used 24-25 ft. C Dory, hopefully within 3 years or so as family health conditions allow me the freedom to do so. My knowledge about the larger outboards is nill, and my main concern is economy as I may end up running the boat back and forth from Washington to SE AK.

Since economy is your main concern and it sounds like you already know that boats are a constant money/time hole there may be one thing that sways your decision on larger boats. If it has a head, galley, and berth a portion of the interest on a loan is deductible.

More details here...the article is a bit dated, but it was the only one I found on a quick google.

There may be some professionals here that can elaborate on it, but if you pay enough in interest it may be enough to get your attention.
 
I guess I should have said that my concern was economy compared to the 7-9 knt work boats I have ran before and any pro/con with splitting your horsepower between two engines, as for living aboard, my only stops at towns, or tenders would be for fuel, water, general resupply, so I like the 9' cabin of the cd 25...unless I find a nice hole on the west side of P. of Wales Island to stay over for a while in the fall-early winter? a little bay along the back water passage from Whale cove to Craig comes to mind if I recall correctly, all just personal choice... the ability to scoot behind an island to find a bite to drop the hook is also a plus to me with these boats. I have looked on line for a couple of months for a "type" of boat that I thought would suit my needs and this type seems pretty good for what I have planned, the extra hull area of typical cruisers or the sea sport V types just seems to be more boat to push around than I really need. Should I choose to challenge the N. Pacific in bad weather it would not be in any type of 25' boat, I have replaced a windshield and a trolling poll due to bad judgement and being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Don't get me wrong I greatly appreciate any and all input from the folks here. I will pay cash for whatever I get as no interest is the best type to me. Thanks again to all for shedding more light on various topics as we go.
 
One factor which I've not seen discussed on these type boats is
freeboard. For NMI made boats, C-Dory and SeaSport seem to come
up short on freeboard compared to the Osprey. No such data
posted with the Mfg.

Granted, more freeboard makes for more boat to push around
(less economy) but I'll bet my whiskers the Osprey has a dryer
ride in most head on seas.

Thoughts?

Aye.
 
I would have to agree based on all the photos I have seen, to me it seemed to be more so on the CD25 than the other CD's. It may be part of the Dory style?,I have a 18' plank hull Pacific City Dory in the back yard I was going to restore in 1973 or thereabouts but never got around to it. It is beyond salvation now, I think it is still out there in the brush. The builder used the"clinched" nail method attatching the planks and used to save gas coupons during WW2 so he could use a 2hp kicker to troll for salmon. The gunnels on that boat were not far off the water. He used to set a sprinkler in the boat for a day or two so it would swell up tight enough to float! It had a plywood motor well a bit to the stearn of amidship.
 
Gene Stebbs.":3a1bkvnn said:
t has been over 35 years since I have had REAL boat under me, I ran a 34' refitted steel hull lifeboat with a 300CI ford engine, from Seattle to SE Alaska and back for 5 seasons, 7 knots wide open with the tide and wind on your back side, with no lift at all on the bow with this style, it would however take Noahs flood on the backside and ride in comfort. I hope to pick up a used 24-25 ft. C Dory, hopefully within 3 years or so as family health conditions allow me the freedom to do so. My knowledge about the larger outboards is nill, and my main concern is economy as I may end up running the boat back and forth from Washington to SE AK. I would like to know what the most economic size engine for a 25' C Dory would be, keeping in mind that cruising a 12mph is fine with me and on flat water I do not need to run at 30-40 mph. Also what loss in economy is there when going from a 150 HP single engine to a pair of 75's. Thanks in advance folks, it sure seems to be nice group here and quite knowledgeable as well. I will be around picking your brains from time to time, hope I do not wear your collective patience out to soon. A good day and happy boating to all,Gene.

Ok, read through all replies. My 07 25 has a 150 murcery Verado, my best fuel economy on step is about 2.5 to 2.75 mpg at 4200 rpm with 14 pitch prop. On flat water I get about the same fuel economy at about 5000 rpm at 27 mph.
The only people who really want to sell you on twins these days is dealers, unless you have such a big boat you need the extra hp and require twin 250s or 300s. If you can achieve the required hp with one motor and a kicker for safety your saving money all around and not giving the dealer extra profit.
For me it's range not economy, that's just were I'm at in my present boating needs. I generally cover between 150 and 250 miles on a 2 to 4 day outing, so money for fuel is not really the issue, it's getting as much out of the time I have left on this rock in space along with the short Alaska summers.
 
Gene Stebbs.":3ovb06kr said:
t has been over 35 years since I have had REAL boat under me, I ran a 34' refitted steel hull lifeboat with a 300CI ford engine, from Seattle to SE Alaska and back for 5 seasons, 7 knots wide open with the tide and wind on your back side, with no lift at all on the bow with this style, it would however take Noahs flood on the backside and ride in comfort. I hope to pick up a used 24-25 ft. C Dory, hopefully within 3 years or so as family health conditions allow me the freedom to do so. My knowledge about the larger outboards is nill, and my main concern is economy as I may end up running the boat back and forth from Washington to SE AK. I would like to know what the most economic size engine for a 25' C Dory would be, keeping in mind that cruising a 12mph is fine with me and on flat water I do not need to run at 30-40 mph. Also what loss in economy is there when going from a 150 HP single engine to a pair of 75's. Thanks in advance folks, it sure seems to be nice group here and quite knowledgeable as well. I will be around picking your brains from time to time, hope I do not wear your collective patience out to soon. A good day and happy boating to all,Gene.

Ok, read through all replies. My 07 25 has a 150 murcery Verado, my best fuel economy on step is about 2.5 to 2.75 mpg at 4200 rpm with 14 pitch prop. On flat water I get about the same fuel economy at about 5000 rpm at 27 mph.
The only people who really want to sell you on twins these days is dealers, unless you have such a big boat you need the extra hp and require twin 250s or 300s. If you can achieve the required hp with one motor and a kicker for safety your saving money all around and not giving the dealer extra profit.
For me it's range not economy, that's just were I'm at in my present boating needs. I generally cover between 150 and 250 miles on a 2 to 4 day outing, so money for fuel is not really the issue, it's getting as much out of the time I have left on this rock in space along with the short Alaska summers.
 
Thanks Jay,I think I have a pretty good handle on the outboard..twin/single thing and general fuel consumption from folks here and the performance charts,considering loads and managing trims and a handfull of other variables. I would definitely put any extra weight into extra fuel capacity. I would like another 80 gal. up front a bit in the cockpit if doable to keep the weight off the stearn, maybe under removable bench seats? I might very well lay up in a nice anchorage for two-three weeks while hunting, fishing, taking photos or just hanging out and sleeping under the stars weather permitting . I still recall several which would allow beaching the boat as well, Then I might run to my dqughters place for a week or so, maybe up the Sitkine for a Moose hunt, I may put-put at 7mph or put her on a plane at whatever conditions allow for comfort and practical fuel usage depending on what I need-want at the time, looks like often 20 mph is as economical as 14-16. The info given here and yet to given will help greatly in understanding all the options. So far I am definitely giving up on the Sea Sport, Osprey or classic Carver/Bayliner cruiser V hulls, which I had considered orginally a few months ago when I started looking at what was around now days. I have learned a lot in a short time and look forward to much more to come down the line. Quite a well of boating knowledge to drink from here.
 
Other than the go fast Tomcat, my favorite "trailerable" boat in the 24-27 foot size is the Seasport Pilot 27 with a diesel. If you really want room, range, and a big feeling boat, that is a great layout in an economical boat for what it is. It is not a deep-v, but has like 18 or something degrees of deadrise. I'd have one if they weren't so darn much money.
 
I looked a some online and they were the front runner in my mind till I decided the Dorys suited my needs overall for a lot less money and the "beachable" factor really interests me, but who knows? when the time comes I may end up with a 12' canoe with a one lung steam engine with a sidewheel. I feel pretty comfortable with the direction I am headed at this point if I can find what I want when ready to take the plunge, Might be best to try and find one up north, I could leave it in Wrangel over the winter if I chose to, that is sounding better the more I think about it. I would guess the boats run more money up there ft for ft, like most every thing else, at least it used to and from what my daughter says not much has changed, everything is a sellers market. But I think that is part of what makes it so special with so much elbow room. I think the Sea Sport has 22 deg. deadrise....might be wrong on that...wouldn't be the first time....happened once before back in the fall of 1992,enough of me for now, take care all.
 
Gene Stebbs.":3fdf15ex said:
... but who knows? when the time comes I may end up with a 12' canoe with a one lung steam engine with a sidewheel.

:mrgreen:

Will be fun to see what you decide when the time comes. And of course please feel free to stick around between now and then :thup
 
I will be around, there will no doubt be many more questions come to mind as the time nears and I doubt there is a better place to ask them than here. I may not even get thru the written material before the time to buy and outfit arrives, lots of great reading there, for shur!
 
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