is the 22' right for me?

T

terraplane

New member
I'm on the Chesapeake Bay, so seeking other owners in the area.
I'm selling a 40 ft. wooden trawler, and have sea trialed a 22 c. dory...and a 25..tend to like the 22, for dollar reasons and simplicity. Am i right?
Also, what is the ideal package of add ons . Can someone help with that..?

Worries: noise, right heater, need for floor boards, right engine..(i am not a speed freak...my boat does 8 knots. c dory will feel like a Cigarette boat to me!
Any advice or comments welcomed. This is a really useful site for a prospective owner.

PS. I figure this is going to cost me about 50 g/s Am i right?

terraplane
 
terraplane:

We may be close to you and if we are and you want to look at a CD 22 (on a trailer now), you're welcome. We're on the lower Potomac, Northern Neck, Cod Creek to be exact about 8 miles from the bay. Where are you?
 
As a fairly new owner ('05 C-22) I can tell you that 50g is about right with trailer and options.

I got the high top version and the reversible passenger seat. Passed on the refrigerator in favor of a door/shelf. Passed on the chain/rode opening but got the chain locker drain and a pivoting anchor roller so I could add a power windlass later.

I requested the old style 4 bold mounted shelf above the helm. More room! The 75 hp EFI Yamaha pushed it to 32 mph with 4 hours on the engine. It's extremely quiet at idle and very unobtrusive at speed. Some folks feel the '90 is right for them, for me it's a tossup. Some folks want a kicker, I use SeaTow. No maintenance or added weight and I can get Seatow for 12 years for what a kicker would cost.

Wallas is essential if you're at all interested in cold weather boating. Also seems to make the boat more desireable if ya ever sell it.

Storage cover is nice but not necessary where I'm located. Mooring cover suffices here. Wanna buy an unused tall top storage cover cheap?

Being 6'3, I considered the tall top a necessity and the "Barber" chair as well. Others have lots more C-22 experience and you're doing what I did - milking them for info before putting checkbook in gear....
 
If you're going boat all year round the solid aft bulkhead is very nice, but if you (like us) are April 1 to November 1 the fabric "cruise curtain" is weather proof enough on our lil 16 Cruiser. Since you're moving to something half the length of your current boat the open cabin rear will add a lot of room to the boat. You can get the same interior in the Sport Angler (Sport Cruiser?) as the Cruiser, it's just open at the rear.

Chesapeake Bay chops up nearly as fast as Lake Erie and you will not go fast in a C-Dory.

-- Chuck
 
We're up on the South River, just below Annapolis. We have a '99 CD 22 with a Honda 75 on it. Seems like plenty of engine, as we've run wide open for a total of say 30 minutes out of 150-160 engine hours on it since we bought it new. We cruise at 16-18 knots, and probably one-third of the time, cut back to around 12 knots to make the chop bearable around here. It still seems like racing around, as I have spent most of my time afloat under sail up until we got "Snowdon". It's nice to be able to cover 40 miles in an easy afternoon, though.
I agree about ditching the reefer for storage space. Instead of spending for a reversible passenger seat, the way we do it is to lower the table so the area becomes a quarter berth, and put a couple of those ratcheting seat pads at either end. Very comfortable, and you have your legs up to boot. I installed the apparently largest factory fuel tanks available (20 gal) last spring, and a big racor water separator on the fuel line--much more peace of mind now. We keep the boat on a lift, ready to go all year, and get out engine work done at Viking Marine Supplies in Annapolis. I wouldn't mind a good stereo cassette/CD system aboard, but that will come. For the time being, a portable does just fine.
Hope to meet y'all at some point. If you're in the Annapolis area, give us a shout. Bruce Holly
 
Oh, yeah. As far as floorboards go, they would be nice maybe, but the factory versions are apparently awful heavy and cost several hundred dollars. Get someone to make wood slat floorboards for the cockpit area, or like me, put down about $120 for the Boater's World version of Dri-Dek plastic matting, and be done with it. Our boat came with a bilge pump in the stern, as well as one underneath the stove, with an opening to the starboard forward edge of the cockpit. That helps keep the cockpit dry.

We also put some plastic matting down on the cabin sole, and covered it with a nice rug, then installed a Nicro solar-powered vent in the hatch forward to keep things fresh and sweet--works well so far. Fawcett's has a nice sale in February for such things as the vent, and for the Force 10 heaters which some have installed instead of Wallases--I think they look nice, they're small, and after two years of not really being too chilly in the boat, we might go ahead and bite the bullet on one. However, as I think about it, I've seen at least one Force 10, and several Dickensons, with all the extraneous pipes and pressure tanks needed, for sale used over at Bacon's, also in Annapolis. Hope all this helps--if you're in the Chesapeake area, there really are some good places to save some money on hardware like this. Bruce Holly
 
terraplane":2xksmgi7 said:
I'm on the Chesapeake Bay, so seeking other owners in the area.
I'm selling a 40 ft. wooden trawler, and have sea trialed a 22 c. dory...and a 25..tend to like the 22, for dollar reasons and simplicity. Am i right?
Also, what is the ideal package of add ons . Can someone help with that..?
terraplane
Click to expand...
I'm certain I'll be in the minority on this site (don't get me wrong I LOVE my CD) but the best way to start this discussion is to describe what you want/intend to do with this boat. It could turn out that the CD is not the ideal choice for the intended uses. The advantages of the CD's is that they are very well made sturdy boats with and avid (even rabid) community of owners (yes there are many other advantages - I won't name them all). The primary disadvantage of a CD is the design of the bottom in waters that are somewhere between glassy and very rough. For glassy waters, the boat's a dream and in rough waters (when everyone is going slow) the boat is good also. The main issue with the CD hull design is that it is not good in moderate (1-2' chop). With the flat bottom you have to go slow or get pounded, when others with deeper V's are moving along more comfortably at higher speed.

I fish in the Puget sound often when the waters are moderately choppy and during those times I wish I had a different hull design. There, I said it, other CD owners please forgive me.:crook I'd probably also have the same opinion if I had desires to do 60+ mile cruises in short times. If, on the other hand, I was primary interested in cruising at <=14kt's and was rarely or never in a hurry to get someplace fast in moderate chop, I'd have no complaints at all about the CD. All designs are trade-offs and some are better for certain use cases.

Hence a good descdription of what you want to do with the boat with help us provide better advice on the boats suitability for the tast and on how to out fit it.
terraplane":2xksmgi7 said:
Worries: noise, right heater, need for floor boards, right engine..(i am not a speed freak...my boat does 8 knots. c dory will feel like a Cigarette boat to me!
Any advice or comments welcomed. This is a really useful site for a prospective owner.
terraplane
Click to expand...

Noise is really not much of an issue with modern day 4-strokes. I have twin Honda 40's and they are very quite. I like the more expensive twin 40 option (as opposed to a single 75-90) since I like the extra safety factor of being able to return at reasonable speed if an engine fails.

I think most on this site would agree that it is hard to beat the Wallas heater/stove combo. It's very expensive but the install is clean and the performace/operating costs are great.

I don't have floor boards and couldn't see spending the $'s on them. Others on the site seem to love them. Maybe I don't know what I'm missing, but Dri-deck works fine for me.

I use my boat mostly for fishing or very short 1-2N O/N stays. I LOVE having the fridge and don't really need the extra storage. The fridge's freezer compartment lets me keep frozen bait on board at all times (2-3 packs) and I always have it stocked with soda, water and the occasionally alcoholic beverage (for medicinal purposes of course). I had the area under the helm (often used for an ice-box) made into a cabinet with 4- drawers and the fridge is on the port side. In that configuration, the moveable port side seat is not an option.

I'd also recommend shore power and battery chargers + cabin and v-berth lights - we have 2 lights in the V-berth, one over the table and one over the galley.
terraplane":2xksmgi7 said:
PS. I figure this is going to cost me about 50 g/s Am i right?

terraplane
Click to expand...

I'd say $50-55k depending on power and other options. But bottom line is that there are as many ways to outfit a CD as there are owners and knowing what you want to do with it will help the group provide advice.

Roger
 
I believe you can come in considerably less than 50K if you:

Buy a 2004 model in spring of 2005 and only have the engine(s) put on it and the Wallas if you want it. Since you've had other boats and are probably skilled in some areas, install what you can yourself -- then buy an electronics package and have it installed.

The 2004 I'd be looking for a deal on would have:

Wallas
refrigerator on the left (as above post described)
opening center window
high top

At first, I would have omitted the refrigerator, but after having one, would not go back (Norcold).

Good luck -- if you're used to trawler speed -- 14K in a chop will seem like a Ferrari . . . I typically cruise mine around 19 in our short gulf chop but I am loaded very heavy all the time. If you have a loaded boat, you can trim down and use the entry v to spread the small wave and give the flat portion of the bottom a smoother path through. It's a constant, tedious effort to find the right combination of speed and trim, but that's boating . . .

Matt
 
I agree with what Matt has said about trimming the boat. Having used our 22' without tabs for a year and then adding them for the next year, they make all the difference in the world. I suggest that you add them to your wish list. If you are of a mechanical nature, they are not difficult to install in a day and you will save a few hundred dollars; but as I remember they are a $795 option which is pretty reasonable.

If you do decide on a fridge, my experience has been that it is worth the extra cash to get a decent quality one such as the norcold. We had the non-powered ice-box version installed and the mounting flange shattered in the first rough water we encountered. We now use a portable, 12-volt powered ice-box that sits back by the transom. It doubles as a seat and works much better for our family of four.

You will get some noise from the hull if you are attempting to go fast in choppy water, but that is one of the trade-offs you get if you want a large yet light and trailerable boat that is capable of 30 mph. You will definetly notice the difference from your trawler, but in my humble opinion, the ability to trailer your boat from one area to another is worth that trade off.

If you are not in a hurry, you may also want to wait a bit and watch for some used 22' Cruisers coming on to the market. You can save about $10,000 if you don't mind a one to five year old boat; these boats are so well built and so much loved that age doesn't seem to affect them like the typical mass produced product. Catman's 16 footer is one of the most "experienced" C-Dorys out there ('87 or so if I remember) and as anyone who has seen it will attest, it looks and drives like brand new. As the factory continues to perfect these boats, I have noticed a lot of C-Dory owners upgrading to new boats and selling their exceptionally well cared for C-Dorys. With the Tom-Cat redesign now pretty much finalized, even I'm beggining to dream a bit and we absolutley love our 22'. So waiting a bit might save you a bit more. For those on the West Coast, the factory has a very tempting trade in policy that Jeff can better explain, I imagine many of the dealers have similar offers driven by the demand for C-Dory's.

"Chivita" Dave
 
In August of this year I purchased a used 01 from Cutter Marine in Essex, MD- I brought the 22 up from the Middle River to Sea Isle City, NJ - two day trip- started out after a Hurricane had crossed the area so saw some snotty water. The boat handles fine and two people can comfortably spend overnights on the boat - The boat came with Trim tabs - I would strongly recommend getting them as they put the nose right in the water and the boat seems most happy with the nose in the water. Other options it has are floor boards, keeps everyone dry, Wallas heater, which does the job well, center window that opens-helps on hot days, shore power, canvas to cover the rear deck when the boat is not in use-ends the worry about water on the rear deck since she is a bow heavy boat, and a 90 HP Honda which moves her smartly. I have owned a number of boats and this boat is a keeper- If I have a complaint it would be that since she has no bilge there is water noise - got use to that fast - other thing would be to make sure you get the passenger seat facing foward.


She lives up to the company promotions as a well built comfortable, easy to maintain, sea worthy, trailerable boat.

FYI - Cutter Marine is advertising two used late model 22's that might suit your needs - they also have a 25 foot demo (they did in early September).

Ken M.
 
Hi, I've had my 22 Cruiser since August of this year. I love it so don't get me wrong - I would take any opportunity to get on one in typical weather for your area. Like Roger, I spend most of my time on Puget Sound and the winter chop here will pound your brains out unless you really manage your speed accordingly. In 1-2 foot waves - you will be strolling as the V-Hulls slide on by. This may be fine and it generally is with me but after making a run to fish I need to allow much, much more time to get home than I would like.

I don't think I could live without my Wallas or my floorboards.

If I could afford it - I'd be in a 25 in a hurry.

Cheers,

Dan
 
I have a 2001 22 with a 90 hp Honda. We are in Alexandria, VA. Let me know if you want to go out for a cruise on the Potomac and check it out. Good luck with your decision - we've loved the C-Dory and are closing in on 400 hours on the engine.
 
I still haven't figured out this site...When i respond does it go to all who wrote in response to my questions? Anyway, hope so....

I will be using the 22 for family daytrips, but also we often take one to two week runs on the Bay. With a trailer, (a new idea for me) we would consider trips up to Hudson River, New Jersey, and maybe south.
Most of the time, two or three people on board.
I 'm not a fisherman...
Coming from the large trawler, we'd try to maximize comfort as much as possible of the cd. ...lights, heat, etc. But we are not "condo on the water" types...all of our earlier boats were Ches. Bay deadrises...wood, dry exhaurst, tiny cabin, no toilet, sunshower,etc...so a 22 cdory seems fine in layout and accommodation.
So, I'd say so far...drydeck or some kind of floorboards for cockpit, wallas, extra lights, possibly solar vent, possibley Norcold regrig. , of course, electronic package, forward facing seat,
No longer concerned about the pounding issue: to go 12 to 14 in a chop would be breakneck speed for us....and we plan our trips carefully, and love to be holed up for a day or so at anchor or in a slip if need be.
Good idea to look for a one year old model...we'll try that.
Can't have blue trim...bad luck color on C.Bay.
Any comment on the camper back?

Again, thanks for the help.

tom(terraplane) in rock hall maryland
 
The camper back is another thing I probably wouldn't have ordered, it came with the boat, and now I'm glad it did. It helps keep the cabin warmer when up, rain out when raining, and helps mitigate cabin fever in those conditions.

If you drop back to an unsold 1 year old boat, you might just get all those options and more, for a substantial discount (in my case it paid for the engine).

Good luck!
 
Added note:

When I said "lose the refrigerator" earlier I meant the insulated box with a door that comes standard, not the Norcold. With that said, however, I seem to remember the new reversible passenger seat option is not compatible with the Norcold. I think you have to choose one or the other.

Blue isn't a lucky color in the Chesapeake Bay? Is it because it's Republican waters or is there an older legend? :lol:
 
Fridge takes a lot of "juice" from the batteries. We have been using an "icebox" in the cockpit, and it works great. The extra space for storage under the pilot's seat is handy, and nice to keep the lights on at night.
Instead of drydeck (uncomfortable with bare feet) we have indoor/outdoor carpeting in the cabin and cockpit (camper back keeps the cockpit and carpeting dry) -- easy to clean, looks spiffy, and softer on the feet.
Looking forward to a meeting you folks if we get up the Bay next spring.
 
This is probably the most astute observation I have read here for some time. Absolutely correct in my opinion. No way I can ever run 30 mph in any condition the way we are loaded, but with adjustment of RPMs and trim tabs, "pounding our brains out" is not a problem either...you just have to work a bit at finding the spot, as Matt says.


flagold":224suw4g said:
If you have a loaded boat, you can trim down and use the entry v to spread the small wave and give the flat portion of the bottom a smoother path through. It's a constant, tedious effort to find the right combination of speed and trim, but that's boating . . .

Matt
Click to expand...
 
Ok, thanks to all for the free "consultation"...here is our present thinking on the purchase of a new 22 cd. cruiser...

Wait to sell present boat.
Plan for purchase in spring.

Description:
Honda 90
trailer
trim tabs
compass
depth finder
racor
electronics package(Garmin,etc)
floor boards
NO refrigerator
anchor pipe
high cabin top
wallas
one elec. wiper
swim step
windlass
forward passenger seat
camper back canvas
shore power and maybe charger
few extra lights inside

what is a "barber chair"...?

So, tell me what you think. It is a staggering $$ but we are used to that.
and it seems a decent value. Cutter Marine would probably be the source, and some of the above come with the "package"....Comments from anyone on our current description would be appreciated. As we see it, we are in the range of $55,000 , maybe a bit more.

tom, "terraplane'
 
terraplane":1i88g1xr said:
Description:
Honda 90
trailer
trim tabs
compass
depth finder
racor
electronics package(Garmin,etc)
floor boards
NO refrigerator
anchor pipe
high cabin top
wallas
one elec. wiper
swim step
windlass
forward passenger seat
camper back canvas
shore power and maybe charger
few extra lights inside

what is a "barber chair"...?
tom, "terraplane'
Click to expand...

I would revisit the anchor pipe. If you're getting a windlass the anchor pipe is not used and not getting it means one less hole. I would put the second wiper in instead.

Compass is an easy DIY project and you can add it after all your electronics are in and functioning. For the number of times you will actually use it, you might consider temporarily mounting it, making sure it's compensated, then put it back in the box and store it with your flares and other safety devices. It's a GPS world now. :mrgreen:

Barber chair = forward passenger seat.
 
Never had a 22 but loved my purchased used 16' cruiser so much I jumped straight to the TomCat and glad I did.. Looking at what to do different and an option particuarly if you are thinking of purchasing a new 22 would be the high-top, or higher than usual roof line. When ever I look around to see where I can mount/put/store/add anything.... I always wonder... well if this roof line was 6" higher... I could..... Just a thought. They do not make a bad C-Dory, so, just to get your feet wet (no pun intended for those of you without floor boards :mrgreen: ) and try one out I feel sure the way they hold their value you could buy an older one, poke around on it, then order a new one and build it the way you want from YOUR experiences/likes/dislikes of the 1st one. The INVESTMENT I made on my 16' C-Dory held its value MUCH BETTER than some of my friends who told me I was throwing my money into a "boat hole" while they bought stocks..... :smiled :smiled Sometimes being hard headed and doing things MY way does work in my favor as that INVESTMENT did. Good Luck! Byrdman
 
Back
Top