I need a C Dory for the Great Loop

D

Derrickb

New member
Hi Everyone,
I live in Brisbane, Australia and have just completed a 9000 nm circumnavigation of Australia in my 10m sailing catamaran.
My next challenge is the Great Loop and believe a C-Dory would be ideal. I'm a Ships Master 5 and Boat Licence Instructor.
I could either buy a C-Dory and sell it again after I complete the Loop, hire one for about 6 months or do a boat swap where you can cruise our beautiful Great Barrier Reef and Whitsundays on my catamaran.
Please contact me if you can assist me with addressing this bucket list dream I have had for 30 years.
Derrick Baan,
61 418 487487
jennybaan@gmail.com
www.balakera.com
 
Hi Derrick,

Took a brief look at your book, and that sounds like an incredible trip. The name is enough to deter me from making that trip, but looks interesting enough to try the book.

As to swapping, renting or selling my C-Dory, I'm not up for that.

Right now, there are several really good C-Dory's available on the "For Sale" list on the home page, bottom right corner. I understand that purchasing from some distance is not easy, but it actually happens with C-Dorys here on a not infrequent occasion. Although I found mine miles from home, at the same time there was a purchase going on that paired a purchaser in Alaska with a boat in Florida which is about, 5,000 miles.

There are ways to work it out, Surveyors, Brokers, and even C-Brat Volunteers.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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You probably want to purchase a boat somewhere on the East Coast, most likely Florida, although, anywhere is possible.

One caution--there is "doing the loop as fast as you can" or really doing the loop, to experience the towns and people along the way.

There is minimal challenge from a boating standpoint in doing the loop. The real beauty is in the towns and people. To be ideal, a loop adventure is probably best at least a year--and perhaps two seasons.

Vs your trip around Australia, which has many boating challenges. (I have done some of the Australian coast, on a friend's boat.)

Within the last several years a 22 did the loop with minimal instruments--and I pad and a depth sounder/vhf radio. I personally would also want radar, and a chart plotter, but the last two are not necessary.

With the C Dory holding its value, you are probably better off financially to buy a boat and re-sell it.

If I chartered my boat to you, I would want over $1000 a month--probably closer to $2000 month, due to wear and tear on the engine.
 
Hi Derrick

I have to agree that 6 months is too short for the loop. I took 13 months motoring it with a sailing cat that is a little smaller than your Seawind and didn't scratch the surface of what there is to experience on this little adventure. As you have probably already read there are so many river and swamp side trips that people do it year after year like migrating geese and still find new adventures every year.

The c-dory is a great nimble little boat and would be fun and very economical on the trip but it may be a little small after your Seawind if you plan to spend a year or more on her. This is a judgement call you will have to make.

I agree with others that buying a boat in the US east coast and reselling it is probably the easiest alternative. You will loose some but not a lot.

If you really like your Seawind and enjoy sailing, you may want to reconsider shipping it up hear. It may not be that much more than the taxes and loss of buying, selling and outfitting a boat. It will fit through the loop if you drop the mast and operate it like a big wide comfortable trawler. You could ship it to the Panama Canal rather than Florida. Spend a year island hopping the Caribbean and Bahamas, followed by the Loop, and then maybe a run up the East coast to Nova Scotia. You can then take advantage of the exchange rate and sell the boat in Florida for US dollars before heading back home with not 1 but 3 bucket list check marks under your belt and maybe a little profit from the sale!
Good luck on your hunt.
 
One comment on the great idea above--ref sailing a cat from Panama to the Caribbean--If one were to consider that--make it the Western Caribbean. It is too much of a thrash to weather from Panama to the Windward/Leeward Islands of the Eastern Caribbean--against the trades.

A better plan, is to do the San Blas, Islands, then to San Andres, Providencia, and to Bay Islands Honduras, The Rio Dulce, and then to Belize/Yucatán. Then along Cuba to Florida.

Advice from a sailor who has been thru the Panama Canal 3x, and sailed the entire Caribbean over a few years.
 
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