Grandkids

J

jklfairwin

New member
I am just in the process of selling my 42 foot sailboat and ready to move on. In considering a C Dory, my first question is what to do with the grandkids. I have 2, age 10 and 12 , girl and boy. I read Halcyon's post about cruising with their son and grandson. Where would I put these 2 grandkids for a one to two week cruise? There is clearly room for one of them , but where does the other sleep? Anyone out there deal with this?
 
I ran into a couple on a Tom Cat out of Texas while I was in Florida who created a removable double-deck bunk in the dinette for their two young kids. It was made out of PVC piping. Unfortunately I did not have my camera with me. The boat was the Fish Cat and the owner was a genuine NASA rocket scientist. The boat was loaded with ingenious solutions to various problems. I hope he sees this post (he lurks, he said) and contributes some photos.

Warren
 
There was also someone on here, one of our regular C-Brats,who built a convertible bunk bed arrangement on his C-Dory., as well as a convertible sofa arrangement. I can remember his "handle" right now, but I believe he's a college administrator back east. Likewise, the whole boat was filled with ingenious solutions.

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Did some looking....

It's our own Wayne McCowan

And here is a LINK to the photo essay on the project, and a few photos to get you started:

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Sofa Conversion of Dinette

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Basic Bunk Conversion

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With Some Cushions

Go to the link above for the full photo essay.
 
If you've got full camper canvas, whats wrong with an air mattress or fold out foam bed outside. No worse than tent camping (unless you sleep walk I guess). My kids would have preferred more privacy.

Chris
 
We plan on staying on the boat for 2 weeks this summer on the Trent Severn with 4 of us (11 yr old and 16 yr old). Our plan is to have the 16 yr old sleep in the camperback -- hopefully in a hamock going across the cockpit - corner to corner.
 
Wow, what a great site and great ,helpful people. Theses ideas really got me thinking and I can see that the C Dory will be perfect for my plans with a little imagination and work. I am looking forward to joining the ranks.
 
If its really hot and muggy out with no rain prospects, I have a big mosquito net I drape over the bimini top out back and I actually prefer to sleep out back with the air and headroom.

Put the kids in that darned, cramped up, claustrophobic (I mean super- fun) V-birth!



Chris
 
My father's sailboat only had two bunks below in the cabin, so for many years I slept on the cockpit floor on a primative air matress. The c Dory Cockpit with a bimini is far better than that cockpit floor. The Tom Cat foreward bunk could sleep a number of kids. We have ours rigged so I can sleep fore and aft (extra cushion in front of the "navigator's" seat--and there is room for 3 on the rest of the large foreward bunk--plus the dinette.
 
a few years ago i took James ( 6 ft) and two friends (both 6 ft) for a weekend in the san juans. They just camped on shore and susan and I had the boat. Just toss a tent on the beach. I dont know your area but it worked for us.
 
Well, Bob and I come from the same place, as far as sleeping in a 25' C-Dory. However I'd like to make a few points also. Remember we (and others,) downsized from larger sailboats.

First I'm talking about a C-25. The C-22 may be similar, but I'd hate to spend a couple of weeks with a porti-potti. Especially after downsizing from a 42 sailboat. The privacy in that head is wonderful.

Next, when you talk about grandkids, do they come with parents attached? Ours do, at least at this time. So, here's what we do. Two grandkids in the v-berth, with one parent. One grandparent on the made-up dining table. A grandparent and parent in the cockpit. There is no finer place to spend a night than the cockpit of a C-25, if the canvass is up and you have a THICK sleeping pad. Listen, I've slept in the back of a pick-up with a tarp over me watching the stars go round, but I'm getting old. And while I'm not sexist, the two out in the back will be male. That said, I think only Bill and El can do it for 2 weeks, and they do it in a 22.

So, if you've got only the grandkids, they sleep on the table, and you and your significant other get the v-berth. That can go on forever. We're going to try this summer with one 12 y.o. grandkid for 5 days and see how that works.

We also recommend the card games "war" and "crazy eights" and "Mexican train" for 6 and over.


Boris
 
Up front, let me say: with some determination, you can make almost anything work. We have no grandkids, but if we did, I can guaran-damn-tee you that we'd find a way to make it work.

That said, we feel the C-Dorys are great couples boats. The v-berth sleeps 2, the dinette comfortably seats 2, underway there are 2 seats facing forward. Granted, it has been just the two of us (and a cat) since our daughter went off to college almost 20 years ago. You can make it work with 4 dining at the table (if two of them are small), but then you will be converting the dinette into a bed each night... then back again in the morning... and everyone better be on the same schedule.

For short travel periods, you can certainly make it work. Extend that out and there may have to be LOTS of shore excursions... maybe some motels or B&Bs, and restaurants. Not that any of that is bad, just being realistic for the way most people live (yes, I am aware of the exceptions).

We know folks who have bought boats with two or three cabins with the idea that family/friends would always want to come along. Well, now they have plenty of extra storage. :wink:

Lots of sailors here who have moved to C-Dorys. I like to think of it as the powercruiser with the sailing sensibility. We are absolutely spoiled by that inside helm and the great view from anywhere in the cabin.

Good luck with your decisions.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

PS - You could get one of those BIG floats to tow behind and put a dome tent on it. :mrgreen:
 
Actually, while a lot of have indeed come from the sailboat ranks to those of the all-purpose, wonderful C-Dory, there are a number of alternatives to also consider when considering alternatives to sailboats.

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And for a real HOOT try THIS!

Thought it was time for a little entertainment! ( No degradation implied, or meant!)

Joe. :lol: :thup
 
Hi (neighbor) jklfairwin -

We've been out 'cruising' the mountains of CO for the past several weeks, so missed your initial post.

Lots of good replies - our only addition would be to share our easy addition of a bunk for an extra grandkid - a small foldable cot (bought on a cruise through Ketchikan, AK with a grandkid who spotted it in a sporting goods store) that fits across the cockpit (from side step to side step). With the conversion cover over and around the cockpit, and the cot, the kid had a perfect little 'room' all to himself and loved it! The other, younger g'kid, can sleep on the table/berth in the cabin.

We have done it with three (with the third on an air mattress on the cabin sole) - Great fun all together!
 
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