My new boat (part 4!)

I still think one of the best accessories for a C-Dory is a good trailer and the proper tow vehicle. All boats are some kind of a compromise, and to get that trailerability, you have to give us some size (or at least beam). We comfortably lived aboard the 25 for up to 6 months at a time.

Situations change in our lives, and when we were done with the towing aspect, we sold the 25. Absolutely, there are times that we miss it. Currently, though, we are thoroughly enjoying the land traveling. (Yes, we tow a car behind the motorhome.)

Towing should not be white-knuckle. If you are "under-trucked" or have a trailer that isn't up to the task... there is a solution to each of those issues.

The advantage of towing: being able to have the boat in the best places at the best times.
 
There are advantages to boats in marinas, and to trailering. When we went to c Dorys from a lifetime of boats way too large to trailer, it was the simplicity of the c Dory and ease of trailering which lead us to the C Dory.

We probably have trailered C Dorys about 50,000 miles, and never had a "white knuckle experience. It may be what your past diving history has included which makes trailering these boats relatively easy. Some of my first jobs were driving large trucks on mountain roads---every thing has been easy since then!
 
I totally agree with the above three posts by very experienced boat owners and trailer drivers. When we had our Nissan Frontier, it towed our boat adequately but I definitely didn't enjoy towing much. Once I bought the Toyota Tundra, towing has been a breeze. Like Jim said, matching a good trailer with the proper tow vehicle makes all the difference in the world. I feel certain that I am not under-trucked and have a lot of confidence in the Tundra towing C-Dancer.

Peter
 
If towing you boat is a "white knuckle" experience, you shouldn't be towing and I'm not sure I want to be sharing the road with you. If your equipment is up to it, and you aren't, then you need training, experience and eventually confidence. If your equipment is not up to it, you should be white knuckled, but more to the point, you should be changing your equipment to what is adequate for the job.

A trailer-able boat expands your boating horizon indefinitely. A moored boat limits your cruising circumference to what you can cover in a days cruising. That depends on how many hours you are willing to cruise, and your cruise circumference is expanded only in how many days you can go out, before you have to turn 180 degrees and return to the moorage, again basing travel days on hours per day.

Each boater is different, has different priorities and goals. What works for me, might not work for you, and what you enjoy, might be boring and or painful for me. To each his own.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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For sure, to each his own!

We would not be doing the Great Loop if we did not own a trailerable boat, unless we were willing to buy, and then sell, a trawler somewhere along the Loop! That does not really make economic sense for us. I do like the Monk 36 though!

After the Loop, probably no different for us. A Camano Troll might be appealing (IS appealing), but owning a paid-off CD25 with no boat payments and no moorage costs is pretty sweet too!

And we are not done with Lake Powell, the Idaho Lakes, maybe the Sacramento Delta, who knows? A trailerable boat makes that all possible for us.

Our Silverado 3500 Duramax Allison diesel makes towing a non-issue, except in places where I don't like to drive anyway. Traffic can be a "white-knuckle" experience but not trailering per se.

But everyone is different, and I say good for you, if you are happy with your choice!

 
Pat, You got that right!

"Traffic can be a "white-knuckle" experience but not trailering per se. "
Click to expand...

I love to drive and have over 2 million miles, accident free, but I HATE to drive in Seattle. ( I have to admit, a good GPS helps a lot, but then there is construction, -- like any other city. only more so it seems.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Like many have said; " To each there own, and what they are happy with.
I have had marina based boats; Haul-outs of $ 400 plus RT, storage lot fees ( your stuck ), and more limited options. Personally I prefer a trailerable boat, I can park it alongside my home and forget about it. I have also had diesels, including Volvo ad41's ( twins ). I have sworn them off for the rest of my lifetime. Big $$$$$'s . A oil cooler, non rebuildable, only available from Volvo, known for corrosion problems. $ 4,700 dollars for the part only, crazy cost.
I will stick with the trailerable outboard boat.
 
Jazzmanic":26ctqipp said:
I totally agree with the above three posts by very experienced boat owners and trailer drivers. When we had our Nissan Frontier, it towed our boat adequately but I definitely didn't enjoy towing much. Once I bought the Toyota Tundra, towing has been a breeze. Like Jim said, matching a good trailer with the proper tow vehicle makes all the difference in the world. I feel certain that I am not under-trucked and have a lot of confidence in the Tundra towing C-Dancer.

Peter
Click to expand...

X2.

Just yesterday I took my boat to be worked on across Tampa Bay - she's pretty heavy (boat/trailer package is over 8K pounds). I had some reservations as I had to go up the Skyway bridge - which is the biggest "hill" around our neck of the woods. I didn't know what to expect in the Tundra so I stayed in the "slow lane" and as luck would have it I ended up getting behind a "senior" tourist taking in the scenery doing 45 in a 65 zone. I went to the left gave her some gas and found myself accelerating going up hill. Sure she was working at 3-4K rpms, but dang I was speeding up.

Bottom line - the 5.7 will pull and the entire state in within reach now. Big plus to do 65/70 in a truck and puts all sort of destinations within reach very quickly.

Sure I was getting 8/9mpg towing, but on the way back I got 19mpg.

Love the Tundra - but it has to be the 5.7.

Back to the original thread...VERY nice boat. One day...maybe.
 
Seems like I struck a nerve with my comment about trailering being a "white knuckle" experience. Sorry about that. No offense intended. I didn't mean to derail this thread either.

Let me explain.... most boat trailers are wider than the tow vehicle. When towing over narrow roads, or bridges(ie. deception pass bridge on Whidbey island for example), Ill admit it can be a white knuckle experience for me personally. Or hair pin turns coming down the mountain on HWY 2 with tractor trailers crossing into my lane. I don't think its necessarily all that unsafe, just not very enjoyable for me. Its usually the other drivers that are stressing me out, not my vehicle or my own capabilities. If you guys actually enjoy that than good for you! I have enough stress at work to want to seek that out for fun. Even though I tow with a 1 ton diesel pickup that is plenty to tow a 22, or a 255 Tomcat. Just not my favorite activity.

I'd rather be using the boat to relax, which is whole reason I own the thing. Once I retire and have more free time I'd love to trailer all over the country and see all the great place which I'm envious ya'll go to. I plan to if I make it that far and get to retire one day.
 
Congrats Jason on your boat. She is a beaut!!. I think trailerable vs not is all about lifestyle choices. In my case I am locked-in in a sense on the Columbia river. I love the river but you go east/west on the Columbia and north/south on the Willamette. My cruising space unless I want to explore the coastal waters past the bar which is ~6 hours away by boat are limited. Hence for me a trailerable boat is a necessity. I want to be able to take her to places I have never been, the explorer and what I love about boating demands this of me. However, I am not retired and as such having to trailer, launch, retrieve the boat each time I want to use her is not appealing to me. My best compromise is the 23 Venture also why I bought her. Small enough my Jeep can trailer her yet I will keep her moored at a slip in the Columbia year round unless I plan a trip else where (Probably 6-10 times a year). For me this is the perfect compromise. In time 10-20 years my guess is my wife and I will upgrade to a 30ft boat and live somewhere where we have enough access to larger waters thus negating my need for trailering.

Its all personal preference, where you live and how you use your boat. I am not a fisherman, I am a cruiser. Heck I just enjoy sitting on a boat and chatting with passers by.

Again, congrats on the new boat I hope you enjoy her for the next six months till you get fivefootitis again :-). :wink
 
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