Just got our boat !

T

tom&shan

New member
Well C-Brats - Shan and I just pulled into the driveway this morning with our C-Dory. Its a 16' Angler, 1990, 50 Yamaha. Previous owner seemed to take excellent care of it, saw it on Craigslist and drove up the day it listed and put down a deposit that night. A week later, its ours.
We first posted on this site about a month ago asking for advice on what kind of C-Dory to get - appreciate all the feedback. We were limited on size since we wanted to stay with our car for towing - so the advice of a C-Brat who pulled a 16 with his Volvo helped that choice. (also - cost of the larger boats keep us at an entry level). It helped to hear from other 16 owners about how seaworthy the 16's are as far as going out into Puget Sound.
Anxious now to get it out on the water, already looking at upgrading the boat. The passenger side window cracked on the drive home, and replacing the Loran-C, want to put a bow rail on ... maybe a kicker ... Shan is telling me to wait - first we need to get out on the water a few times. Lets hope the weather breaks. We'll see everyone on the water soon. ... Now for a name (the boat came nameless).

Tom
 
Towed just great - although I need some practice backing it into the driveway. I guess the real test will be hauling it out of a boat ramp the first time. I'll be spending some time cleaning and fixing odds and ends, the electronics are a bit outdated (Loran-C). Thanks for the tip on where to get the window replaced. I've enjoyed the comments on gas tanks in a 16 - know that I'll have to get at least one more now - only have one.
Also a friend of mine recommends a long single paddle - in case of engine breakdown - anyone have any thoughts on that?
 
Congratulations on the new boat! Very exciting! Listen to Shan: go play with the boat to get a feel for her before you start replacing things. Kinda like eating dessert first. :wink Enjoy the new addition to the family and keep us posted with your adventures (and the name you pick).

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Here's a name suggestion: The Fit. Of couse you will have to be careful when launching... to not let The Fit hit the Shan. :twisted: OK, I'll go back to my corner now.
 
tom&shan":6zr8h4ug said:
Also a friend of mine recommends a long single paddle - in case of engine breakdown - anyone have any thoughts on that?
Click to expand...

Hard to say. Paddling a 22 wouldn't be easy. I guess you could
paddle a 16. Be hard to get anywhere. I would recommend a good VHF
radio/antenna instead. And make sure the anchor/rode is servicable.
(Ours came with 50% of the chain rusted into a ball. It would not
have been easy to deplay quickly)

You could also consider a handheld VHF. They came out with radios that will
run off of either AA or NiCD, which is great. I've had to replace 2 radios because new
batteries were either unavailable or cost more than the next
radio. The NiCD in mine look just like AAs - I can buy them anywhere. It's a 4
year old Icom.

Mike
 
mikeporterinmd":15hrcqzx said:
I guess you could
paddle a 16.
Mike
Click to expand...

I saw it done a few years ago and he succeeded in getting to where he was going...... :wink

(and no I ain't sayin' who...)

When I had a 16', I carried a paddle on it, and now have it on my 22'....I don't know why I still carry it. I guess because I had no other logical place to store it. I suppose I should try it some time on our 22' just for "grins". Realistically, since I've got a pair of Johnson's, who needs a paddle..... :roll: .
 
Also a friend of mine recommends a long single paddle - in case of engine breakdown - anyone have any thoughts on that?
Click to expand...

A long paddle should be used as a sculling oar rigged over the stern. You could tie a clove hitch in one of your dock lines to secure the oar and tie off the ends of the line to the stern cleats. That will keep the oar centered on the transom. Much easier than trying to use it like a canoe paddle.

I'd describe the motion used for sculling but it's after midnight and my brain is fried from watching the Bears beat the Giants. Here's a link that explains it better than I can.
http://www.woodenboat.net.nz/Stories/Sculling/scullone.html

Jim
 
Tom & Shan - if you are not doing anything on the 16th of December, come to the Seattle Ship Canal CBGT cruise and show off that boat of yours.
 
tom&shan":2jsw5lih said:
Towed just great - although I need some practice backing it into the driveway.
Click to expand...

My trucker buddy told me this years ago. When backing , put one hand at the bottom of the sterring wheel .Turn that hand in the direction you want to your trailer to go.. Works like a charm!
I'm so happy to hear the good news. Please come to the Lake Washington get together on the 16th of December
 
tom&shan":3fze8pwn said:
friend of mine recommends a long single paddle - in case of engine breakdown - anyone have any thoughts on that?
Click to expand...
whether or not you have a kicker (and I recommend that you do), you should carry a long line (maybe two 50 foot lines tied together) that you can use as a tow line. Few things are more frustrating than having somebody offer you a tow but neither have a tow line)
 
JamesTXSD":2g4587v1 said:
name suggestion: The Fit. Of couse you will have to be careful when launching... to not let The Fit hit the Shan. :twisted: OK, I'll go back to my corner now.
Click to expand...
I want to take comedy lessons from you.! I'm glad I'm not going to a funeral today because eveerytime I think of that post I can't help but laugh.
 
Tom and Shan - Congrats on the new craft. You just bought what is probably one of the most efficient, easy to handle boats around.

The advice about holding the bottom of the steering wheel is good, but another way to refine your backing accuracy is to practice keeping the steering wheel on the "sweet spot". There is one position in which the slightest turn right or left makes the trailer swing right or left. You have to keep the trailer close to straight behind the car for that to work. you do that by pulling forward to straighten the whole rig out, if the trailer seems to be wanting to turn too fast.

John
 
I have a trailer question for the group - when I was driving my boat home on Sunday - heard a couple of loud thumps, could the boat be on the trailer incorrectly - or not tied down well enough. I'm thinking maybe it bounced and that caused my side window to crack.
Also - I've read that you should put the trailer up on blocks when storing for a while so the load of the boat sitting on it does not strain it. Does everyone do that? Anything I should look for on the trailer as signs of problems? Its a easyroller trailer.
 
It certainly could. You have to winch it tight to the bow cradle, put on the safety chain (it hangs loose). Take a look at the photos in the C-Voyager album. He added a tie down to the bow, which is an excellent idea.Of course you must also strap down the stern.
 
tom&shan":ps876kxs said:
I've read that you should put the trailer up on blocks when storing for a while so the load of the boat sitting on it does not strain it. Does everyone do that? Anything I should look for on the trailer as signs of problems? Its a easyroller trailer.
Click to expand...

There are many people here that know a lot more about trailers than I do. Here are some less technical items that I learned, sometimes the hard way. (I have never dropped a boat off a trailer-except that one time)
1. I carry a small floor jack when I trailer, also a sparetire for the trailer
2. When puttin the boat in, NEVER release the safety chain or the winch before the trailer is in the water.
3. Carry wading boots in the trunk of your car, not on the boat
4. Unplug the trailers wiring before backing into the water
5.Store the boat's plug near the trailer hitch. That way you will see it and put it in whenever you hook up the trailer.
6. make sure the wheel bearings are greased and have caps on them

Hope these help
 
regarding the oar, i have a telescoping version that is nearly 6 ft opened and in the stow position hangs nicely on the port grab bar. i have also thought that by devising oar locks you could make way and get into the shallows better than a trolling motor while getting some exercise
 
Especially if your trailer/boat will be outside, get the toungue of the trailer up high on blocks, so you wont accumulate water in the cockpit.
 
"heard a couple of loud thumps "..... if your in a fairly comforable heavy car cruising your trailer may be air-borne on the bumps you would not notice in the car .... years back my wife got tired of my slow pace (the speed limit) took over and broke every dish in the trailer 1200 lbs .... your 16 footer would forsure be heavier but could still happen ... wc
 
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