Made it home with the new Tomcat 255

C

chriscarrera

New member
Well, after an epic journey to the bay area, we brought our new tomcat home to Bellingham.
We love it, even did a quick run around the San Juans yesterday afternoon.

Here is how the trip went:

Left Bellingham Friday evening 5:30 after work heading south with the intent of driving all night. Made it to Redding by about 4am. Slept in the truck for and hour and a half. Felt great after brushing my teeth at the rest area.
9am we arrived in Knights Landing, just north of Sacramento, this is where the basically unused trailer was being stored. Hooked up and headed to Alameda.
Did our Sea trial around Treasure Island, nasty conditions by the way.
Put the Boat on the trailer, doubled checked everything for the long journey ahead and rolled out of Alamed at 5:30 or so, it was a blur.

Keep in mind I was nervous about the tires which had been unused for 5 years, the Surge brakes being grabby and of course the bearings.
Had a ton of tools I brought along and even a floor jack, so I figured what the hell lets do it.

Made it to Redding at 9:30, by now my wife was really looking forward to a hotel room and a bed, so was I.

Next morning, Left Redding 9:30am and made it home to Bellingham at 12:30.

An epic journey.

Other than lots of diesel, the dodge performed awesome. Definitely would not want to tow anything larger. Overall fuel economy down and back was 13.8mpg.
Trailer was an ez loader, no sway bars /stabilizer bars, with surge brakes.
Just had to tighten up the straps etc everytime we stopped, but basically it was pretty easy.

Hope this helps someone considering doing the same.
It was a good once a decade trip.

See you on the water.
Tomcat #11, no name yet.
 
Thanks Roger.

Towing rig is a Dodge 2500 2006 Diesel
Its a beast, totally stock.
625 lbs of torque worked nice in the mountains.

Of course a Dually would be better.
 
From starting the search with a post here on July 21 to having the boat at home on August 7th. That's a guy who knows what he wants (and knows to buy before the wife changes her mind). :lol:

Congrats, I'm sure you two will enjoy the heck out of the boat.
 
Good story Chris! I towed mine down to Oriental NC and to the Outer Banks and back last summer, it's like having an elephant following you. Same trailer setup, surge brakes only, EZ loader. No problems towing with a Dodge 2500 with a gas V-10. Mileage stinks in mine though, only 8 or so. Looking forward to trying Dr. Bobs Ford Excursion with the NorthStar Diesel in it the middle of the month when I go down and pick up THATAWAY.

Have fun, they're great boats.

Charlie
 
Well, the search has been on for a while longer than July, but once things fall into place, you have to move quickly or the money gets spent somewhere else, or the wife changes her mind. :)

Boat was in good shape just needs some clean up and TLC but was a decent deal for low hrs and brand new bottom paint as well.

Anybody want to buy a big RIB so that I can upgrade to a tiny inflatable???
Go figure.
 
Chris.............
Good luck with your new to you boat. Towing a CD with the proper truck is pretty easy on long trips.
This past spring I towed a 22' CD with a 3500 Dodge dually, smaller boat & bigger truck, but a lot longer distance to Alaska. It started out poorly, 30 miles into the trip, when a tire blew out on I-5, 3 pm traffic at the Tacoma Dome. Not fun. The spare tire was too big........aaarrrrgggghh and the rest of the tires were junk....aaaarrrrggghh again. The boat owner in Anchorage promised me the tires were almost new........wrong. The marina folks in Olympia lied to him.
Bought 4 new tires in Puyallup and the rest of the trip was perfect. Surge brakes were fine. Had the boat shrink wrapped for protection.
Moral............don't go on marginal tires. You were ok as trailer tires are not affected as badly in the sun as regular tires. The tires on this trailer were 1/2 worn out car tires.
Jack in Alaska
 
Will be primarily keeping it in my driveway during the season.

Have not decided if I will give up my slip in squalicum harbor or sublet and only use in the summer.

I am really enjoying keeping it at home to fiddle around with when I have spare time.
 
It is great to have the boat close by. We live about 3 minutes from Hilton Harbor so I'm able to get to the boat anytime I feel like doing some puttering. It is also easier to work on the boat when it is on a trailer rather than in a slip.

Enjoy your new tomcat
 
Congrats on your new boat purchase. I am looking at Catamarans like the C-Dory Tomcat 255 for a family Southern California coastal cruiser.
Would you mind sharing what other types of Catamarans you considered before you bought the C-Dory? What finalized your decision?
Thanks,
Leo
 
I looked at the World Cat, Glacier Bay, and ProKat. Although I do not currently live in S. Calif--I boated there for 50 years and one of the C Dory Tom Cat trials was done off Marina Del Rey.

The reason I went with the Tom Cat was speed and economy, as well as better ride down and cross wind/wave. The interior layout is far better for cruising. Others may have their reasons for choosing the Tom Cat.

I can give specifics on the sea trials on t he other boats in a PM if you wish. I have "published" these on the forum in 2006.
 
Chris:

I have two of the small rib dinghys that fit well on the TC 25.5 roof, and might be willing to sell one. Am located in Mount Vernon, WA.

Kevin Ware
425 330 8013
 
Thanks Chris,
I think we are on the same page as far as what we want from a boat.
Best of luck to you in your boating adventures.
Leo
 
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