Family boat?

J

jdoskoch

New member
We are a family of 4; two children ages 7 & 11. There are many types of boats out there. How does the C-DORY stack up for family type fun? We are considering the 22. I love the boat for its trailerability, low maintenance, economy. Hoping the kids will enjoy it too. Can a 90HP motor pull up a skier? Can my kids lie on the hardtop? Is it too limited in space for 4 to enjoy?

Thanks for any comments.
 
jdoskoch":35c0dr7d said:
We are a family of 4; two children ages 7 & 11. There are many types of boats out there. How does the C-DORY stack up for family type fun? We are considering the 22. I love the boat for its trailerability, low maintenance, economy. Hoping the kids will enjoy it too. Can a 90HP motor pull up a skier? Can my kids lie on the hardtop? Is it too limited in space for 4 to enjoy?

Thanks for any comments.
Click to expand...

As a family fun boat the CD22 is just great; it's simple, it's economical, it's easy to handle, it's easy to launch and retrieve, and it's fun to look at. But it isn't "big". Typically I'd say that with two children ages 7 and 11 aboard it's going to be tight if the requirement is to have everyone inside underway or inside sleeping. There are probably many families that could tolerate that level of "togetherness" but many that can't. If boating weather is typically nice and some of the crew wants to hang out in the cockpit that will ease the space restrictions. Ditto for sleeping; if you can blow up an air matress (or unroll a sleeping pad) and throw down a sleeping bag or two in the cockpit then sleeping arrangements aren't too bad (plan ahead reagrading where folks head to at night for toilet visits).

A 90hp engine on the CD22 can pull skiers; primarily if they're light and coming up on two skies (a heavy slalom skier would be a challenge!).

The kids can lay on the hardtop.

It really is a family friendly boat but the interior cabin space is tight; if you order a new boat you can specify a different seating arrangement if the dinette and/or the galley isn't a necessity (or if you're handy you can alter an older boat).
 
Les is exactly right ( as usual ). We had a 22 angler and took it to the San Juans for a week with 2 kids about the ages of yours and a dog. Every night we had to empty the v-berth of all out bags and then put it back in the am. We had full canvas on the back so the kids slept out there on air mattresses. It can be done as long as everyone is very cooperative. I think a 22 cruiser would be a little better. We did not try a skier but had lots of fun with tubes out back. And the kids loved to sit on the top. Hope this helps. Deb
 
What I wouldn't have given to be a kid, living in that area and have a boat like that! You might consider a "camper canvas package" and some kind of "removable seating" for the cockpit for longer runs out to Beaver Island, etc... Just to have a little extra room to stretch out.
 
Haven't pulled anyone on water skis but have pulled adult men around on a tube. Without a keel the hulls slides around in tight turns and hitting a wake at WOT gives one a chance to experience somel hull pounding fun!
 
For a family of four it should be no problem. I had 6 kids and four adults on a day trip. The boat didn't seem to mind the weight it Just sat 1" lower in the water.

I like how safe the boat feels and how it behaves in a heavy sea. It inspires a confidence that you can get back in safely despite a heavy wind. Just slow down some.
Its very safe boat for kids to be on. Plus it has a place for naps. Sleeping four is possible but you may need to do the canvas camper thing.

Chris
 
I have already posted my answer to a question something along the lines of yours. With two kids, you want a CD25, trust me. We have owned both a CD22 (2003 - 2005) and a CD25 (May 2005 to present). The CD22 will seat three and sleep three in the cabin, and it doesn't matter if the third person is a child or adult, there is no way you are going to sleep two kids on the dinette berth in a CD22. The CD25 will seat four and sleep four, if those four are two adults and two kids. This is due to the fact that the dinette is significantly wider on the CD25, both as a dinette and as a berth. With two kids, you will also appreciate the extra "elbow room" of the CD25 generally. Now, if the kids are willing to sleep on cots or mats on the cockpit under a camperback, you MIGHT get away with a CD22, but if you want everybody to enjoy the warmth of the cabin, it is a CD25...
 
I agree with Pat on the CD25, I have two kids also. Ponder this, how much larger will your kids be and how much do you think they'll still get along 3-5 years from now? Need a 5 year plan...good luck, and have fun pondering!

Steve
CD25, Dora~Jean
 
jdoskoch,

In addition to the C-Dory which we all know and love, here are some other choices to consider:

http://www.rosboroughboats.com/rf246/sedan/246Sedan.htm

http://www.capecruiserboats.com/

http://www.seasportboats.com/

http://www.palmermarine.com/

http://www.arimaboats.com/

So much to choose from depending on exactly what you want. The Cape Cruiser boats are probably the most similiar to the C-Dorys but all of these boats have raving fans. So shop on!

A CD22 is going to be tight with 4 people but the close proximity might be really good for the family.
 
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