Is CDory too light??

P

Paddy111

New member
Hi...I'm new to the forum. I presently have a Boston Whaler and am very interested in finding a Pilothouse boat like CDoryvas I live in Newfoundland (east coast of Canada). A warm boating experience would be really nice.

I have a question about the weight of this boat, namely the 24'. My Whaler is nearly 80% heavier than the CDory leaving me with a concern that this boat is too light for choppy water. I recently watched a video on Youtube and saw the boat listed a little when the owner leaned over the side. Your thoughts please?
Paddy
 
Paddy,

I have both a Whaler and a C-Dory. The Whaler is a 1996 20 Dauntless which is a dual console/bowrider with a 200hp Yamaha SWSII. The C-Dory is a 2008 22 Cruiser with Honda 90 EFI. We bought both new.

The first thing is that they are very different boats. The Whaler tops out in the mid 50 mph range, cruises in the 30's, and burns 12+ gallons per hour. It is also rather noisy, windy, and there is no weather protection besides annoying canvas. The boat is built very well like all Whalers.

Overall I find the C-Dory much more comfortable. As a point of reference, we put 130 hours on the C-Dory this past summer and about 12 on the Whaler. A lot of the use of the C-Dory is going to and from a cabin and even though it generally takes 30-45 minutes longer in the C-Dory, the trip is much more pleasant. The C-Dory is fairly quiet with the aft door closed, there is no wind, if it's cold the heater is on, and if it's hot and sunny everyone is protected from it inside. I find the ride to generally be better on the C-Dory, with the exception of short and steep head seas. However, the impact is much less jarring in the C-Dory because of the speed involved. Unlike the Whaler which wants to be run at 6 mph or 25 mph, the C-Dory can be comfortable run at any speed so it is easier to find a comfortable speed.

When you say you are interested in the 24' model, I assume you mean the 25 (or perhaps Tomcat 24?) My understanding is they are a slightly more comfortable boat in a sea as you'd expect due to the larger size and greater weight as compared to the 22. You may also want to look into the Tomcat 25. I sea trialed one and it was fantastic...great ride, stability, and space, but our dock can only handle boats up to 24 feet and the Tomcat was much more expensive and uses more fuel.

I hope this helped...let me know if you have any more questions.
 
I spent last night on my CD22 up a creek off the intercoastal waterway. A cold front passed though at 8pm or so and just loved hearing the wind whistling at 35 knots with temps in the 40's. Cooked a great meal and was toasty with the wallace.

In the morning I crossed Ossabaw sound with the wind still at 25 to 30 knots on the nose. Seas short and steep against the tide. As long as you go slow, in my case about 10 knots with autopilot steering, it was an enjoyable trip. Read a novel along the way.

Cant think of too many boats you can do that with. Its just a different boat than a deep V design. Slower than a V but lots faster than sailing. No way in hell I could have beat against the wind and tide this morning.

Not to mention the fuel effiecency on these light boats....
 
Well, as you've been told, they are different animals. I've not heard anyone with a C-Dory feel the boat is built too light. It is easy to add weight to a boat during the building process, but tougher to keep 'em light.

Also as mentioned, the only 24' C-Dory was the previous version of the TomCat. The current version, the TC255, is a great boat. We are currently cruising with friends who have one (we have the CD-25 Cruiser), and their fuel burn is only marginally more than ours... and a rather linear burn rate as their speed increases. We have been very pleased with our CD-25 Cruiser - plenty of room for 2 to be quite comfortable on. We have spent up to 5 months at a time on ours. We are spoiled by the enclosed helm - you can be out of the elements and comfortable in all kinds of weather.

Of course, the best plan of action would be to visit your nearest dealer and see about getting a ride on one of these boats. We will all sing the virtues, but the proof is in getting out on the water. This forum is a great resource; when we were in the search mode, lots of friendly folks here answered our questions and offered guidance.

Good luck with your search.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
JamesTXSD":2j8mtarv said:
We are currently cruising with friends who have one (we have the CD-25 Cruiser), and their fuel burn is only marginally more than ours... and a rather linear burn rate as their speed increases.
Click to expand...

Interestingly, the burn rate on my Tom Cat is pretty much the same, 1.8 to 2 gph, at all speeds once I am up on a plane. It is higher between hull speed and planing (6 to ~14 mph) and above 3500 rpm. Perhaps it is different on other Tom Cats.

Warren
 
Jim, Bill & 20Dauntless,
Guys, I was referring to the 25', sorry.

You guys nailed the answers I was looking for. With my 2005 BW (21ft Ventura w 225 Verado) I am relegated to a very short boating season here off Newfoundland. Our May/Junes and September/Octobers can be mighty chilly. It struck me that the only way to extend my boating season was to find a boat where I could get out of the weather. What appeals to me about CDory is the utility of the boat - I like the fact it burns less gas (it's not the money but rather the guilt of burning so many liters of gas), I like the ability to carry my zodiac on the roof, I love the fact it is something of a cult boat and I can't stop thinking about the possibility of being warm when boating!!

I have another couple of questions.....I really enjoy having some muscle in my engine, are the max HP ratings truly the max? I see that the boat is rated for 1 x 150, would 2 x 90 be out of the question? Your thoughts?

Are all you folks running outboards? If so are you using doubles or singles?

Incidentally 20Dauntless...I saw your post at Continuous Wave. It was you who put me on to CDory because you mentioned your Cdory pilothouse boat, from there I called the company and had a brochure sent....
Paddy
 
Although I don't know what whaler you own, let me point out a couple of differences. I have an 18 foot CC (not BW) and its weight is the same as the 22' C Dory. The difference is that the C Dory has a balsa cored bottom, which allows a a lighter and stiffer construction. If properly built and cared for, the cored hull is just as strong and durable as a solid hull. The second issue, is that the center console boat has a full inner liner. Since this takes the load of passangers on the deck, and has some plywood core, it is heavier than the C Dory, which has no liner, but has the cabin--partly balsa cored (lighter than a plywood deck core).

The C Dory, if not properly run can pound in some conditions. You either slow down, change angle of attack or put the bow down and run into it. In most of these cases, the C Dory may be slower than the Boston Whaler, but it is a cruiser pilot house boat--not a speed boat. We cruise our 25 at 17 knots--or Tom Cat at 22 to 35 knots (and the 25 gets slightly better gas mileage at the cruiser speed than the Tom Cat--but very little better).

As suggested--ride in the boats to see if they suit you.
 
Paddy111":3ikjixbt said:
Guys, I was referring to the 25'

I have another couple of questions.....I really enjoy having some muscle in my engine, are the max HP ratings truly the max? I see that the boat is rated for 1 x 150, would 2 x 90 be out of the question? Your thoughts?

Are all you folks running outboards?

I called the company and had a brochure sent....
Paddy
Click to expand...

According to the factory (here)
http://www.c-dory.com/boats/cdory_25/description.html
the 25 footer is approved for up to 200hp.
Only outboards are used.
 
Paddy,

Regarding the max engine HP; I think the question was answered earlier when the relative speeds were laid out. A C-dory is not a go fast boat. That's one reason the economy is so good. Occasionally a person on the site asks the question you just did and usually, underlying their interest, is a desire to go faster than most C-Dorys. This is not a swipe at you or anyone else, it is just an observation. It seems that a part of getting fully into the C-Dory approach is a willingness to get somewhere slightly slower. I was out today in the San Juan islands, comfy, warm, good traveling at an average 15 kts powered by my twin Honda 40s. On the way home I was passed by a Harbercraft, a Bayliner, and a Seaswirl. All were going at least 8-10 kts faster than I was. I passed a larger Bayliner and a Nordic Tug, they were going about 10 kts. I felt no need to go as fast as the Harbercraft and was glad I was a little faster than the Nordic Tug. Diffrn't strokes...So I would say stick with the HP limits on the capacity plate(for insurance and accident investigation purposes if nothing else.) :) )
 
Twin 90's are a common configuration for the 25' and 26'. Just check out the list of "Our C-Dories", sorted by model. Mine is a 26' with twin 90's and it handles fine at WOT (34 knots), without pushing the limit of the boats' stability, when the water is reasonably smooth. I was told by Tyler, at King Salmon Marine, that one of the dealers in the Seattle area tried rigging one with a 225 and it was too much, and it had to be re-rigged with something smaller. This would suggest that the factory max. of 200 is accurate.
 
Paddy,

Our Whalers are almost the same, great boats but somewhat limited in northern climates. One thing I have noticed with the C-Dory is that the journey is so much more comfortable that the speed becomes much less important. Even when it's cold and rainy, I am dry and warm inside. What do you want to use the boat for? If you want to pull a tube or skier, the C-Dory isn't ideal, but if you are using it for transportation or cruising it is probably going to be more comfortable than the Whaler. Also, have you ruled out the Tom Cat?

I can say with almost certainty that there is no need for more than 200hp on the 25. I ran a 26 Cape Cruiser with a 150 E-Tech and it was plenty fast.
 
Thanks folks, I appreciate your perspectives. I know I will have a few more questions in the coming days.

As look out the window today here in St. John's, it is 42 degrees and no wind, too cold for my Whaler but likely a great CDory day.
Paddy
 
Paddy: Welcome to the C-Brat site. Good luck on your search for the right boat for you, your waters and use.

The topic name of this caught my eye. You have some serious waters in your area and if your concern is if a boat is too light... do be sure to look around a bit to be sure you are getting what you really want and may need. I have owned 3 of the C-Dory boats and have loved them all (still have one) and more than that loved the folks around them and around our Country who get together at the gatherings. But when it was time for the 25 foot boat, I looked around a bit.

You look as if you like a lot of power as you stated. Your wondering about the build/weight of the CD25 from the start. Be sure in your search you look at the NMMA capacities of boats as you look. Do not forget to figure out the weight of your fuel, water, hot water tank, waste holding tank, batteries, coolers... people... and then the gear that goes into completing your comfort needs when really using the boat. Then see where you are from a "loaded ready to use boat" from the NMMA certificate weights.

Happy boat hunting and glad to have you in the C-Brats.

Byrdman
 
Paddy,

I keep my C-Dory TomCat 255 at a huge, long lake in Oklahoma which is populated by thousands (yes that many) of go-fast, double V8 boats as well as many cruisers in the 35-100 foot range.

BUT, I just spent two nights on the hook down there with a low of 26 degrees overnight and 50 ish high in the afternoons during which I was the ONLY recreational boat on the water! Only a dock-builder's barge passed me for two days. Everyone else is all winterized and locked in until next April. I am the only C-Dory on the lake to my knowledge.

The Wallas kept the cabin so warm that I was wearing a swim suit and a tee shirt most of the time. It is not a challenge to use the C-Dory in cold conditons if you are properly equipped and prepared for the unexpected.

John
 
Hi Paddy,
I hope this isn't too "commercial" or out of line, but our 2008 C-Dory 25 is for sale. I have some pix at my own webpage,
http://www.boatanchors.org/C-Dory25.htm
It was on the C-Brats for sale listing, but has disappeared.<br>
We've listed it with a broker, and you can see his listing, with more pix and description if you go to http://www.matthewspoint.com
and then to the "Yacht Listings" pages to find it, on the 2nd page, or if this URL fits, try it directly, http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...er&&hosturl=matthewspoint&&ywo=matthewspoint&
 
Hi Paddy,

You have been getting a ton of really good info already so I will just say, yes, you can add weight if you just want to be heavier. Don't think you will find anything built more sturdy. and Yes, the CD will be comfortable in your area early and late in the seasons. I grew up on Vancouver Island, and have always wanted to circumnavigate it and then trailer across to Newfoundland and do the same there. I have no question that the CD-22 or 25 is capable, taking reasonable precautions.

Welcome to the site. For a really great look at all the line, come way out west, to teh Seattle Boat Show, and teh associated C-Brat Get Together in January. The C-Dory factory will be the site of a really fun get together on that Saturday night. Not only see the boats, but the people that make them and the process. And get to meet a whole bunch of brats having a very fun time.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
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