How much boat is too much for someone new to boating?

V

var1abl3

New member
My family and I recently moved to the PNW and would like to get a good cruising boat to take advantage of this fantastic area. I have been taking a look at the C-Dory 25 Cruiser, RT 25, and other similar boats.

Being new to boating, would those boats be too much boat for a first time boat owner?

My thoughts are that we can either get something that would be more comfortable for a family of four from the get go or buy something smaller and later upgrade. Seems like the first option would end up being less expensive in the long run.
 
Many people are overwhelmed by any size boat when they first come into it. You will probably get a lot of differing opinions on this question, but the CD-25 and the R-25 are both comfortable boats that will have a learning curve... but, neither should be overwhelming if you put in some time studying, learning, and practicing. You can hire a captain for a day or two to give you some instruction - that will go a long ways towards getting you up to speed.

Driving a boat is not like driving a car. The "Rules of the Road" on the water are not like like the rules on land. Learning proper close-in maneuvering takes practice. Navigating is another whole different spectrum from reading a map on land. But, having a good boat under you will make you want to learn to do it right.

Good luck with your decisions. Oh, and take a Coast Guard Aux or US Power Squad safe boating class... even before you decide on a boat.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Jim gave good advice. I would add that it would be wise for both of you to take either a power squadron or Coast Guard Auxiliary boating course. Both have lots of good information and can help your jitters. Roger Clark formerly of Dreamer gave us all a very good safety lesson when he said "the most dangerous thing on a cruising boat is a schedule". This is a wonderful area to cruise and learn in and this site is a welcoming and wise place to spend time.
 
I concur with previous posters and would add that as a schedule is your enemy, so is SEA ROOM is your friend. Go practice in open water. Don't try to learn your boat handling near docks and other boats. I suggest that you anchor a couple of fenders about 10-12 ft apart and practice going between them both forward and in reverse as well as pulling up along side them on both sides until you get good at it.
You will pick it up quickly and come to love these boats as we do.
 
First, take a USCG Aux or similar basic boating course.
Then, go out with whoever you can to get
familiar with "boating" spending as much time as
possible on the water..
Also, put some time in chartering, if you can qualify.
There is nothing like training and experience before
you dive in, purchase "a boat" then have a terrible experience.
I've known several who have made the mistake.
Boating is not for everyone (leaving more space out there
for those who enjoy it).
Most egregious to me is the person who can write the check
and buys a boat they know nothing about (not to mention being
oblivious to the rules of the road and weather) and then become
a threat to everyone else out there not to mention his guests and
family who happen to be on board. Or, put others in harms way
to go out and rescue them. IMHO, of course.

Aye.
 
A common mistake made by boaters and RVers is to buy too small a rig and within a year, move up to the next level and so on. A huge money pit. The boats you mentioned can be mastered almost as easily as a CD-16. There are just more systems to learn.

The help you can get here from fellow Brats is invaluable. Some of them have been known to spend an afternoon with new owners on the water. The waters near Seattle and further North offer some amazing cruising, anchoring and destinations. Don't miss out on the adventure!
 
Thanks for the feedback. I have been out on different kinds of boats for years and love it but this is the first time that I will be the one responsible for the boat and those on it. I take that responsibility very seriously.

Prior to making any purchase, I will be attending multiple classes as well as paying for on water training. I also plan on putting in quite a bit of water time prior to taking anyone out on the boat.

As we all know, researching and purchasing a new boat can take a significant amount of time. So I wanted to make sure that I was not wasting time researching boats that were too big for a first time boat owner.

I appreciate everyone's time and feedback.
 
Yup. Good luck with all that.

And remember, there are only two people
who stand in a companionway.

Admirals and

A_ _ holes.


Are you and Admiral?

Aye.
(Grandpa told me that one.)
 
You've received good advice so far. I think it might also be useful to more carefully specify the "mission". You say cruising for a family of four. What does that mean to you? Occasional weekend trips? A trip to Alaska? Mostly fishing but some cruising to justify the boat to the wife? :wink:

How old are the kids? Do you, the wife and the kids enjoy camping or are you happier in a hotel? Is a porta-potti OK or is a full head with a shower required? etc. The answers to these questions will help to define what boats best meet the needs.
 
Cruising up to Alaska and exploring everything in between is the end goal. Obviously we would start out with day trips and move on to longer trips as skills and knowledge progress. Cruising is the primary activity with some fishing and crabbing thrown in.

The kids are currently 7 and 9. That is why I was looking at a large boat. I did not want to start off with a smaller 19' and then have everyone get frustrated by being crammed next to each other.
 
My thought is buying something you afford to buy and operate. There are lots of choices. A 25' foot C-Dory or a 25' Ranger Tug would seem to be good choices as they both given proper care hold their value pretty well. Make sure the boat you buy will fit your intended use. Find an owner that is willing to give a test ride and the low down on the cost of ownership. Lots of costs to be figured in such as coast Guard required equipment, lines, bumpers, insurance, storage, trailer maybe, tow vehicle, marina slip or mooring fees, bottom paint, winterization. It's almost like adopting a child at least in the short term. If you do things yourself boats can take a surprising amount of time to maintain. People who think they are ready to make the kind of commitment that's required are sometimes over come by the neediness of a boat.
But for me there is nothing like a sunset or a sunrise hunkered down rocking around on a boat. You just got to pay your dues.
D.D.
 
All things being equal (in particular, you have the money to spend), I don't think that the learning curve for a 22 c-dory is going to be that much different than the learning curve for a 25 foot c-dory. With a family of 4, bigger is better! We have a family of 4 with a 22, but we typically use it to get to an island and then camp ON the island. The 22 footer is very small for 4 if you plan on sleeping, cooking and just generally living on the boat. Not impossible, we do it at times, but it's tight and messy.
 
All things being equal (in particular, you have the money to spend), I don't think that the learning curve for a 22 c-dory is going to be that much different than the learning curve for a 25 foot c-dory. With a family of 4, bigger is better! We have a family of 4 with a 22, but we typically use it to get to an island and then camp ON the island. The 22 footer is very small for 4 if you plan on sleeping, cooking and just generally living on the boat. Not impossible, we do it at times, but it's tight and messy.
 
A question that comes to mind when reading your mission post is.... do you need or want a trailerable boat? If I lived in the PNW, had a family of four, and my goal was to cruise locally (I include the Inside Passage to Alaska in "locally"), then perhaps a larger, displacement cruiser would be more comfortable and enjoyable.

I like having my trailerable, but on the other hand, if you don't really use that feature, then a trailer is just one more thing to maintain, and a tow vehicle (if you don't already have one) another thing to buy and maintain. Of course if you do trailer actively, there is no substitute.

There is the middle ground of a "transportable boat" that you trailer home (or hire it done) once per year for at-home storage and puttering (Nordic Tug 26, for example).

So as mentioned above, I don't see it so much as a thing about being a first time boater, as I do about use-case scenario. You can get into plenty of trouble in a canoe, so small size doesn't necessarily mean safety. Where the bigger boat can "get you" is in systems/maintenance/complication/stress (these things stress some folks but not others).

I had some customers who were first time boaters and went with a 44' trawler. Their feeling was, "we are getting into this later in life and don't have time to work our way up through the years with small-medium-large boats." That might make an old salt cringe, but they were actually really thorough people (he had been a pilot, which also helps) and they took courses and plus hired a captain for on-the-water training in their specific boat. They were methodical and conscientious. They started with the boat in a slip, and practiced and made forays to work their way into it. They also had the budget to simply pay for maintenance and repairs, and had no plans to go "foreign" or to far flung places (where it's even more important to be able to do it yourself).

Did all of that completely make up for being an old salt? No, but then everyone with a car is not Mario Andretti either. They were not the types that made me feel, "Let me know when you plan to be out on the water so I can stay far away." I'd rather share the water with them than a group of beer-soaked lifetime boaters with eyes glue to the chartplotter (or worse). So I mean, I think there's room for you on the water for sure. Come on in! :D Sounds like you are conscientious and methodical, and I think that's an important trait. You likely won't be cocky.

Welcome, and I hope you find your "just right" boat :thup
 
Nice to see Roger and Barry both replying here today. Both very knowledgeable, helpful and capable C-BRATS.

var1abl3, You have been getting good info so far. Your choices of a CD25 or a RT 25. Though these two boats are similar in size, they are very different boats. The CD-25 is still a basic, relatively simple boat, relatively easy access most of the systems, and capable of PNW cruising year around -- given making good weather choices. The RT 25 has more systems,to learn and less easy access to them. Both are trailerable, with the same vehicle. Both capable of PNW year around cruising. Both will bed your family. Both are single hand-able if needed. They are very different boats.

There are several CBRATS who have had both boats gone up from a 22 to the RT or 25 and some hjave gone back down in size too. Hopefully some of them will be chiming in her as well.

Take your time, study it out, get on board and really spend some time on each.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

1_10_2012_from_Canon_961.highlight.jpg
 
Take your State's 8 hour boating certification course, then contact the National Safe Boating Council and take their Close Quarters and Open Water Boat Control course.

This is an exceptional curriculum. Not only will you have a pro teach you how to dock and be good in a harbor you will go out on the water and learn all the basic skills you need, simultaneously learning to efficiently determine the safe operating parameters for ANY boat (and you can take the class on YOUR boat too).

I am a Master Instructor Trainer with NSBC, and am absolutely sold on this course. It takes about 3 full 8 hour days, and should cost around $500. Heck, if you come up to Alaska you can take it from me!

Good luck!
 
Years ago I was shopping for a boat for my family just like you are doing now. I asked a friend, and experienced boater, to give me his advice about a boat I had found. He looked it over, said it was in good shape but said it was too small.
His advice and it was correct............search diligently for a boat and when you find the perfect one, buy the next larger one or even two sizes larger as the one you chose will be too small in a short time.
He was correct. I bought a 20' cabin boat (way too small), sold it and bought a new 22' CD which we had for 26 yrs. Youngest son owns it now. Then I bought a 26' CD which will carry me to the end.
Good luck in your choice.

Jack, a 32 yr. CD owner.
 
Kushtaka":3pdxigm4 said:
I am a Master Instructor Trainer with NSBC, and am absolutely sold on this course. It takes about 3 full 8 hour days, and should cost around $500. Heck, if you come up to Alaska you can take it from me!
Click to expand...

What an offer! I want to head up and take it :D
 
While I am in favor of more knowledge and experience with boating
is better than less, beware of sales recommendations which promise
unrealistic expectations from a particular course.

I took the Wellcraft High Performance Boot Camp 5 day course put on
by Wellcraft Marine at Captiva Island, FL in 1997 in preparation for
delivery of my 28' Saber 815HP deep V. My instructor, a Reggie Fountain
type and 4 time World Champion with some speed record was great to
learn from but in no way was a panacea or substitute for the next 5
years of running that boat.

In short, proficiency at most things take time. Heck, even UnderArmour
knows this with their new "You are the sum of all your training".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikmd-vtRCqo

Aye.
 
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