Is the C Dory the right boat for me?

L

Littlebear

New member
Hello C-dorymen(and women) I am currently looking to get a boat that will fulfill multiple needs. First off and foremost it must be big enough for my family and second has to be extremely safe. My family consist of 5 people 2 adults and 3 children (9,5,3). I currently love to do a lot of reservoir, lake and river fishing but now the big blue is calling my name. Boat camping also seems like it could be a lot of fun as well. My family would like to start getting into some of the off-shore bottom fisheries but still continue to fish big lakes, reservoirs and rivers (Columbia). I believe with my family size and what we would like to do the 23' Venture seems like the right boat for us but I would like to ask some of the C-Doryexperts their opinion on this matter. Just a reiteration the boat being safe is massive for me. I've never been out in the ocean before but I would like to know that the boat I choose if I get out into some rough seas that I can get back safe and sound. I don't intend on going out in bad weather but the weathermen are wrong from time to time. Thank you for you time.
 
I have no ocean experience but just the thought of 2 adults and 3 youngsters confined to the space of a 23 foot boat overnight makes me anxious enough. I've had 6 souls onboard a 22 for day cruises and it was very intimate and that was without any of the extra gear required for camping. Maybe gather all the stuff you need for everybody just to barely get by and see how many cubic feet that takes up. I have done trips with myself and two adolescent grand children that went fine. On overnights with just my wife there was a lot of bumping into each other and repositioning of gear to get from sleeping to cruising mode. On camping trips I've always equated it to living in a cluttered closet.
 
We have the 23 cc venture .We live along the gulf of Mexico(short chop with 2-3 second period ) .We can get some nasty weather out in Gulf and it performs very well up to 2-3 ft waves just have to put the bow down and go slow 10mph or so .The nice thing about the dory boats is they will plane off in 9-12 mph so sloshing through even bigger waves is not that big of a problem.
As far as sleeping /camping on boat the V-berth can hold the children your wife can sleep on the single berth and you can sleep outside under the camper canvas ? or variants of this .
We have a 115 merc CT on the back and it gets over 4mpg and can do over 30mph top speed .
we don't camp as much as we used to maybe 5-7 nights a year but use this mostly as a day boat

Reasons to get a c-dory
1-very seaworthy boats
2-love the hardtop and cabin It seems it's actually cooler then most of my friends bow-riders and other cuddy's
3-very economical
4-Good fishing platform
5-can go in 15in of water without hitting bottom
6-can go in 4-5 ft waves by going slow
7-C-BRATS
 
Safety on the ocean or any waters isn't the issue with c-dory boats. They are built to "take it." However, some people boat "stupid" as opposed to smart and well trained. So even stupid can die on a c-dory. Relatively speaking they are better boats in weather than any other small cruiser.

However, our 22 c-dory was fully loaded with just my wife and I for the cruising life style as long as the cruise was a maximum of 7 days.

We day tripped several times with another couple, but that was with two in the cockpit and two in the cabin and one cooler.

I've lived through raising 5 children and I suggest to you that they will not enjoy being on the boat for longer than half day trips.

You read stories about half a dozen people living in small spaces, but usually they are because the kids were raised cruising and living in small spaces.

Bottom line is that it will depend on your skills and your family dynamics whether or not a 22 or 23 or even a 25 will fill the bill. I owned a 32 foot motor sailer with all the amenities and that boat would fit your 5 family pretty well...barely. Again, your family and dynamics are key. You may make it work, but the overall odds are that you will not find the joy that you are seeking in the small cruisers.

You could start with a smaller much less expensive boat, fill it with camping gear and set out for a weeks boat camping and see if that works. If it doesn't, it wont work on a small cruiser either.
 
m2cw is take a open water or other related course and bring the The Admiral, too. Boat smart and pick your days, Spend more on this site reading and bookmarking posts.

When boating be sure the The Admiral and children understand boating rules and running the boat esp the boat operations, VHF radio, etc

You should see if your life jackets need to be replacement, purchasing handheld VHF radio, having a ditch bag, a PLB and or EPIRB devices. again with everyone knowing its function

Venture close to shore in beginning before going out far.

Know and use GPS.Chartplotter. It is nice to have backup on phone and tablets in case needed or others can use.

Have paper check list before leaving

Dont depend on cell phone

Before radio checks on VHF and handheld radios frequently,

Keep radio on and monitor channels.

Be prepared to help another boats

Have fun and included the entire family and safety is first.

Have paper charts chart books

File a float person before leaving and contact them on return
 
On my 22 cruiser (basically a 23 with less fancy finish), things can be a bit cluttered with the two of us and the stuff for a 4 day cruise. There is a lot of moving stuff around to access what is needed at different times of the day (stuff in the v-berth during the day, out of the v-berth at night, stuff for cooking, etc.). Even getting on and off the boat can involve moving stuff around in the cockpit.

You can carry a lot of stuff if you pack and stow it wisely. However, for 5 people it might be tough. Kind of depends on where you plan to go. If you stay in a marina most nights (with access to stores and shops) it can reduce the load by being able to replenish supplies along the way versus boondocking and having to have everything on board from the get go.

Available room depends somewhat on the size of the people involved. Kids have the unfortunate habit of getting bigger (faster than you expect). While a 23 might be big enough right now, what about in a couple of years?

You also have to consider the long term. At first everyone will be keen because it is something new. After the novelty wears off, will they still feel the same about yet another long cruise? No point in having a boat that no one wants to get on. You should try renting a boat of about the same size a few times to take on test cruises of the approximate duration you are considering for your Venture. You may end up saving a lot of money by not making the wrong decision.

As the kids get older, they will have more and more other activities (school, sports, friends, etc.) and the expenses that go with them. This will limit the ability to all go away for extended periods (or even weekends). Will owning a boat fit into this lifestyle?

One way to think about it is how long can your family and all the necessary stuff stand to be together in a large minivan or small RV without the ability to go for a walk any time things get too "cozy" (allowing that you can stand up in a 23, but not the minivan).

A boat is only as safe as the person commanding it. A 100' yacht can get in as much trouble as a 23' cruiser if the captain makes boneheaded decisions.

With the C-Dory boats, you can just close it up and plod along and be fine in most bad weather situations you come across. You may not be comfortable, but you'll be ok. There have been a number of times where I have arrived somewhere and people have said "You came across X on a day like today in that? I wouldn't have gone out in my [much bigger boat]."
 
We sold our house and moved aboard a 20' sailboat then aboard a 22' C-Dory. We lived on the water most of the time for more than a decade. Travelled the coasts, rivers and lakes of North America. Our young grandkids and their parents loved to come aboard and cruise with us during school vacations. We respected the power of nature and carefully monitored weather forecasts, and never had a bad experience with weather. We anchored in cozy coves during bad weather cycles, playing games aboard and reading books. The kids also loved to write stories.
The kids were never bored. They learned to drive the boat, to navigate, to use the radar, GPS, and radio. They loved to study the nature that surrounded them. We cruised at slow speeds so they watched for dolphin, whales, manatees, shore critters and birds. They learned the habits of the life surrounding them, and loved to sit on the deck and watch for wildlife, especially on our several trips to Alaska and in the Everglades and swamps of Florida.
One studied, with his handlens and kid microscope, the plankton in the water samples he collected -- he is now completing his masters in microbiology and intends to do bio-medical research. His younger cousins are biologists -- one now with the Nat'l Park Service as a wilderness ranger in Alaska, the other also with NPS, coordinates education programs with parks and schools in Utah. The other g'kids are still in secondary school, but love to camp on weekends.
The small boat was no problem - we learned to adjust to each other, and could cruise near shore and anchor in the shallows. The C-Dory was reliable and safe and we ducked any bad weather.
We often went ashore with kids at parks -- many border the waterways -- to walk and check out critters ashore.
Go for it-- be prudent and enjoy the kids, the water, and nature. You will never respect wind and clouds better than when you live on the water. El and Bill
 
It will depend totally on you & the rest of the family's attitude as that is the difference between fun/adventure & ordeal. When our three boys were 9, 6 & 3, we did many things together similar to what you are asking with many times in even a more cramped smaller space & it was great fun for all. I only wish & they do too, that when they were this age, we could have afforded a CD22 or Venture 23. Of course a trailer able CD 25 or Venture 26 or near their equivalent in another make would be less crowded, but if your family is the kind, that can enjoy this type of togetherness, just get what you can afford & go for it.

Jay
 
Lots of great comments above. Although there is one family who has cruised with 2 adults and 3 teens in the PNW--that is exceptional. We have "cruised" all of our lives--many times with 4 and occ. 5 aboard (5th was my mother in her 80's and kids out of college) But not in C Dorys.

We did cruise to Catalina, and some rivers in an 18 foot open runabout. I slept on the floor, Marie slept on one of the fold down back to back seats, my son on the other fold down, and my daughter on a bench seat aft. Pretty crowded! While we were building a 37 foot sailboat, we had a 23 foot Bayliner, which had a V bunk, and a bunk under the cockpit--cozy but OK for weekends. When my children were born, we went from a 29 foot sailboat to a 35 footer. Our long cruises (4 years each)--were on a 62 and a 46 foot "motor sailors"... The 62 footer we had 8 aboard for a few weeks a number of times usually 2 to 6--the boat had 3 staterooms, and two saloons, which had settees which made double bunks.

For your use, the smallest I would consider would be the C Dory 25. The Tom Cat would be a bit better. It is not unusual we are out for a month in our current 22, and there is not a lot of extra room. If you can find one of the 6 older 25 "Cruiseships" The dinette is wider than the current 25--and would sleep 2 adults, with the 3 children in the V berth.

Yes, the C dory is a very safe boat. But with its flat bottom, it can pound, if you go too fast in chop. As noted you have to slow down, and put the bow down going into any chop more than several feet.

Your plan to start on smaller lakes and rivers is good. Gradual transition to "blue water" is great. C Dory's are very basic boats--and that is good, because there is less to go wrong. You can never go wrong with more boating education! Power squadron and Coast Guard Aux. Also the idea of involving your wife is essential.
 
Unless your kids thrive in tight spaces, this may be more cramped than you would want for overnights. It will be a full boat on day trips.

Honestly, you may want to get something much bigger. I would be tentative to overnight a family of 5 on a CD25.

If I had to recommend a boat for you I'd choose a SeaSport 27 Pilot (there is also ONE C-Dory 27 laid out like this boat, if you can find it for sale, TELL ME SO I CAN BUY IT!!). The biggest reason for this is that it has a third berth under the passenger raised helm seat/port v bert/port foreward settee bench. So mom and dad in the V Berth, drop the settee, put a kid or two on that bed, and then put a kid or two in the pullman berth. Plus it has two spaces where people can go and pull a curtain and have a little privacy and alone time.

Other benefits are a good raised helm providing a new captain with a great view (but more motion if you're prone to sea sickness at the helm!) and separation from the distractions of what's happening in the cabin when it gets a little nasty. The biggest reason is: enclosed head with a shower (it's likely you don't yet appreciate how great a shower can be at sea as you haven't had to have your kids "ride out" seasickness before they can start having fun on a lake or river.

But larger and more complex boats come with more the learn and take care of, so many tradeoffs!

Another option is to get a simple seaworthy skiff and a really good tent and just car camp from your boat. The lack of a cabin would give you a lot more fishing space, although I just figured out how to fish 5 rods from my CD22.

I don't mean to dissuade you from a CD. They are awesome and I'm sure you'll enjoy it if you go that route. I'm pretty sure that I would find the pullman berth worth its weight in gold if I had three kids. In fact, cruising with one kid and two dogs, I wish for one all the time. Great doghouse!
 
LittleBear: I love C Dorys (I just bought my 3rd one!) but they are small and I would not recommend ownership for a family of 5. IMHO they are ideally suited for solo and couples cruising (which is why I love them). Obviously more people can fit on one but I think 2 parents and 3 growing children would be very tight for a multi day trip.

I would consider extending your search radius. What is your approximate budget? You can easily find a cruiser which will be sized right for 5 people and it'll probably be much less than a C Dorys price tag. Or if you wanna go in the other direction than I'd seriously consider the Cutwater boats or Ranger Tugs. Lots of options out there!

Or you can prove us all wrong and go with the C Dory! As others have stated, it can be done. It just depends on your families tolerance for tighter spaces. Maybe a 25? Like Bob said.....
 
Thank you everyone for the responses. Tons of information to process! So I believe I got a bit of education reading through the posts. First my idea of camping on a boat would be a 1 or 2 night event. After reading the comments it sounds like boat camping is more on the lines of a week to a life time! The camping on the boat will probably be a rare thing, maybe once or twice a year at most again for very few nights. The boats main purpose would be more for day cruises and fishing trips. I appreciate all the input from everyone on the site.

South of Heaven - I'm trying to keep the budget around 60k. I will admit I'm very ignorant to ocean vessels (Brands, Types, Ect).
 
You need to decide what you really want in a boat and how you are going to use it. A quick look at the CL for Portland, OR shows a number of boats that might fit your requirements and leave you change in your pocket. There is a very nice 55' Chris Craft that would have plenty of room for all your family for years to come and you'd still have 15K left over (at least to start with).

https://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/boa/5736285107.html

You could use a C-Dory as a tender for it if you wanted to.
 
Littlebear,

Cadge a ride on a larger cruiser, perhaps that 55 ft one, and ask the skipper every question you can think of. For your needs, it may be that a larger vessel, inboard powered, may work better. The outboards used on C Dorys have many advantages, a prime one being capable of beaching. But, If you plan on day cruises mainly, and only now and then an overnighter, with larger groups, the comfort of a larger cruiser may be the over riding factor.
 
Littlebear,

From what you said about half-day or day cruises, day fishing trips with an occasional overnighter a CD Venture 23 should be more than adequate, especially if your family is close.

My one concern is how comfortable are the children not only on the water, but in the water? It would be advisable to ensure that they are not only comfortable in the water but are excellent swimmers as well; and of course their lifejackets should fit properly.

Have fun, make each trip not only an adventure but a learning experience and y'all have a blast.

Be safe our there, Spuncopper
 
The Tomcat 255 might do it but you'd be hard pressed to find one for under 70k. I would look at a few of the other larger cruisers, like the SeaSport 27, Skagit Orca 27, or a Parker extended cabin 28.

If your willing to move a little slower and leave a trailer behind, you would have all the room you need in a boat like a Willard 30, and it would likely fit your budget.
 
Hey Littlebear,

Here's somethings to consider since it is obvious you'll be towing. These weights are for the hulls only, doesn't include engines, trailer, gas, water, gear, etc.:
CD 22 Cruiser: 1925 pounds
CD 25 Cruiser: 3602 pounds
Venture 23: 3020 pounds
Tomcat 255 Cat.: 6000 pounds

Do you already have a tow vehicle? The bigger the boat the bigger the tow vehicle the higher the cost.

You've got a pretty big decision and I wish ya luck. Be safe. Spuncopper
 
Honestly, you may want to get something much bigger. I would be tentative to overnight a family of 5 on a CD25.
Click to expand...

I'd agree. Some of the older trawlers come to mind. We have overnighted w/ 4 adults and one child and it was crowded, with constantly moving gear from one place to another and one of us slept in the enclosed cockpit.
 
We often had 5 aboard overnight, for many nights, on our 22. No problem. We are a close, happy family, travel light (we were backpackers), and enjoyed the good times together. Ever family has different needs, so you judge the space needed by your family and its needs. Our advice.
 
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