New C-Dory Enthusiast with lots of questions

D

deneb

New member
This is my first post here, but I have spent several hours over the last few days reading on this forum. I am really impressed with C-Dorys and all of the information this community has to offer. I have been shopping around for a boat for a few months and came very close to buying a 20-21' cuddy cabin. After learning that I could buy a C-Dory 22' cruiser for about the same money and still be able to tow it I am almost completely sold on the idea. I have always dreamed of owning a boat that I could live on for periods of time and cruise hundreds of miles at a time with. I just assumed that every cruiser capable of this would be out of my budget and out of my towing capacity until I discovered this boat. I currently live in Utah, but I moved from FL and plan on visiting often, so the ability to camp in the boat on land and have AC make it perfect for the cross country trips I have planned.

I've always had open boats, so like many people new to C-Dorys I am concerned that the pilot house could potentially feel a little closed in. I think I can live with this though I would just really like to get inside of one and see what it's like. I would like to get a feel for the different models and options to help me decide what to buy. If anyone in Utah has one they would be willing to show me that would be great, but if not I plan on visiting WA soon which seems like the place to shop for these types of boats. I was actually planning on coming there in 2 weeks and noticed there is a big C-Dory get together at that time. Being able to check out some of the boats and possibly go for a ride in one would be very valuable to me since I plan on buying one as quickly as I can, so if anyone would be willing to show me around theirs it would be greatly appreciated.

I have some questions about these and I figured rather than start a bunch of threads I would put them into one.

1) Towing. This is one of my main concerns. I plan on towing the boat with a manul FJ Cruiser which has a towing capacity of 5000lbs. All of the math I've done leads me to believe that a 22' Cruiser, either dual engines or single engine with a kicker, all of my gear and a dual axel trailer will be under the limit, but still very close to it. Am I doing the math correctly as far as the weight goes? Now obviously this isn't an ideal towing rig, but I like it and I don't really want to sell it. Do you think I will be ok towing long distances if I take it easy and stay under 55? I'm thinking I will add airbags to keep the rear from sagging. Would you also recommend a weight distribution hitch? Finally, what type of connection is required for most of these trailers, 4 pin, 5 pin or 7 pin with an electronic controller? Most of the boat trailers this size seem to use surge brakes so I'm assuming I probably don't need an electric controller... but I don't want to get up to WA and be ready to write a check for a boat to find out that I need to add a brake controller.

2) Buying a used 22 Cruiser. Any tips in general about this... things to look out for etc? I know they are balsa core boats, so I'm guessing a professional survey would be a good investment. Also, if anyone can recommend a surveyor in the Seattle area it would be greatly appreciated.

3) What is the average height of these boats on the trailer? I have a 14' garage, I'm assuming that will be fine?

4) I am 6'2" and I'm wondering if that will be a problem in the standard height boat both for walking around and for sleeping in the v birth. I know it's not going to be huge, but it won't be too cramped for a fairly tall guy like myself right?

5) Launching. I will be solo launching this most of the time. I do that with no problem on a bow rider, but I usually climb over the bow to do it. Is it difficult or awkward to launch and recover these boats solo at crowded ramps?

6) This last question really isn't a deal breaker, more of my own curiosity. When I look at the specs this seems like a boat capable of cruising to places like Bimini and Dry Tortugas. I have always dreamed of being able to do that. Are these realistic goals with this boat?

I am very serious about buying one of these boats very soon, so any help is greatly appreciated. I apologize in advance for being long winded and asking so many questions. Thanks very much to anyone who wants to try and answer any of them
:D
 
Welcome. My wife and I host the Friday Harbor gathering and you will be most welcome there. That is really the best way to answer your questions. The gathering begins on Friday May 18 noonish. The best time to see boats and get your questions answered is Friday or Saturday afternoon. We all go to a local restaurant Friday evening and have a potluck on Saturday afternoon. There is regular ferry service from Anacortes, WA to Friday Harbor. You will find C-Brats most welcoming.
 
Hi deneb,

We live in Holladay Utah. Towed our 1991 CD 22 cruiser all over the west with a 1989 Pathfinder w/ manual transmission, tow rating 3500 lb. Ours had the upgraded suspension package, which made quite a difference in trailer control compared to our buddy's more standard model. I'd guess the FJ will be fine. Probably a good thing to practice towing, including stopping quickly on an empty road, and get the feel of it. Decide later whether you need air bags or anything else.

Our CD22 took us for many weeks on Lake Powell, Flaming Gorge, Jackson Lake, Yellowstone Lake, Priest Lake, Kootenay Lake, and a few others, and many more on the BC coast and a whole summer in SE Alaska. Fishing on the Oregon coast too. You couldn't ask for a much better small cruiser.

We loved the pilothouse. At Lake Powell it's great - keeps you out of the strong high-altitude sun, and cooler. And keeps you warm and dry when it's cool and rainy.

I've launched ours many times solo - easy. If you will be retrieving where there's no floating dock to sidle up to and walk along, you will want side guides on the trailer.
 
We trailer our boat a fair amount. We stay in campgrounds while in route to the water features. We have a roof mounted air conditioner that we use either a Honda 2000 generator or our 30 amp shore power hook up which also is wired into an on board battery charger. We have a few 12vdc cigarette lighter type sockets and we use a 400 watt inverter to power up a six way surge strip for powering up a cell modem and wireless router for internet also to power a laptop and charge cell phones or camera batteries and a cpap machine for when I sleep. My wife and I are on our forth year doing the land and sea portable ghetto thing. There is a period of adjustment in the first day or two till we get with the program. We call the boat tiny town. You have to be constantly guarding against bringing way to much crap with you making the things to do need harder to find and harder to get to. Being some what of a minimalist helps. After you settle in the pilot house becomes quite a refuge as wind, rain, cold, bugs, and heat are not a problem for us. We use the rear lazarettes for our dirty clothes and carry lots of extra quarters and laundry stuff to do wash at the marinas. Being able to make a decent pot of coffee is big for me, so we carry a little 4 cup perculator when we are using the shore power or the generator. If we are at anchor and need to be quiet we use our butane stove to heat up water in tea pot and a french press to make the coffee thing happen. Hope this is a start for you for things to think about. It's a great way to travel you meet sooooo many great people. Good Luck

D.D.
 
Also located in Utah, Logan. You'd be welcome to come take a peek at "Still C-razy." The 22 is the perfect Lake boat, and the perfect near shore ocean going boat. There are numerous stories of 22's that have been on fairly long ocean passages island hopping in the keys. It all comes down to your experience and proficiency with wind, waves, and weather.

A lot of folks who tow don't tow the mountains of the intermountain west and will find vehicles like the FJ adequate. But, if you want to tow often and far in the intermountain west, the FJ will not do well. At the very least, you will be going through a xmission in short order. If you add up the weight of a "dry" 22, but with all of the stuff you need on board for an extended trip AND all the stuff other than people you put in the tow vehicle...other than water and fuel, you will be pushing the FJ to its limit. Towing at 55 is a noble goal, but, I've tired that and over long hauls, I've just gotta run 65. Something in a good beefy half ton class pickup or large SUV is going to be more fun on the long hauls and up and down the mountains.

I have a 2006 Dodge turbo diesel for Still C-razy, and love all of the braking margin, cross wind margin, and pulling power. A lot of vehicles will tow the 22, but it is the one emergency that happens in a few seconds while towing that should drive your tow vehicle and boat size decisions. Safety towing and on the water is about margin..margin..margin.
 
deneb":3u0mpi97 said:
<stuff clipped>
I've always had open boats, so like many people new to C-Dorys I am concerned that the pilot house could potentially feel a little closed in. I think I can live with this though I would just really like to get inside of one and see what it's like. <more stuff clipped>
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I think you'll wind up liking the cabin for those really hot days when you'd like to be out of the sun. With the windows open and the boat in motion, the breezes provide good cooling. Plus if you have a kicker with a long handled tiller or a tiller extension, or hydraulic steering/autopilot with a remote control, you can still be in the cockpit and cruise from there.

deneb":3u0mpi97 said:
1) Towing. This is one of my main concerns. I plan on towing the boat with a manul FJ Cruiser which has a towing capacity of 5000lbs. All of the math I've done leads me to believe that a 22' Cruiser, either dual engines or single engine with a kicker, all of my gear and a dual axel trailer will be under the limit, but still very close to it. Am I doing the math correctly as far as the weight goes? Now obviously this isn't an ideal towing rig, but I like it and I don't really want to sell it. Do you think I will be ok towing long distances if I take it easy and stay under 55? I'm thinking I will add airbags to keep the rear from sagging. Would you also recommend a weight distribution hitch? Finally, what type of connection is required for most of these trailers, 4 pin, 5 pin or 7 pin with an electronic controller? Most of the boat trailers this size seem to use surge brakes so I'm assuming I probably don't need an electric controller... but I don't want to get up to WA and be ready to write a check for a boat to find out that I need to add a brake controller.
Click to expand...
I towed my 22 for a long time with an Isuzu trooper rated for 5000#. I did have to put airbags on the life the rear end. It's similar to your FJ in towing capacity and curb weight. I never felt unsafe. Most trailers come with surge brakes but if you can swing it, I'd try to get one with electric over hydraulic and have the controller installed in the FJ. The controller's are cheap ($200 or so) and easy to install. With the smaller two vehicle, having the ability to have the trailer stop the tow vehicle (instead of the other way around) is a nice feeling. That said, I had surge brakes on my trailer for the 22 and never felt unsafe towing with the Isuzu. I did practice a few panic stops and I always drove very conservatively.
deneb":3u0mpi97 said:
2) Buying a used 22 Cruiser. Any tips in general about this... things to look out for etc? I know they are balsa core boats, so I'm guessing a professional survey would be a good investment. Also, if anyone can recommend a surveyor in the Seattle area it would be greatly appreciated.
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Yep get a surveyor. I don't know any personally, but I bet Les at EQ Marine or Matt Gurnsey can point you in the right direction.

deneb":3u0mpi97 said:
3) What is the average height of these boats on the trailer? I have a 14' garage, I'm assuming that will be fine?
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It depends a little on whether you get a boat with the high top cabin and what kind of radar arch (if any) is on the boat. With a radar arch, you might be close to 11' but there's no way the boat under any circumstances won't fit under a 14' opening.

deneb":3u0mpi97 said:
4) I am 6'2" and I'm wondering if that will be a problem in the standard height boat both for walking around and for sleeping in the v birth. I know it's not going to be huge, but it won't be too cramped for a fairly tall guy like myself right?
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The headroom with the std. cabin is right at 6'2" so you'll need to duck a little. The V-berth is 6'3" from V-to-bulkhead so you can make it work if you sleep on a little angle. The berth on the table is right at 6'2" also. I'd had a few tall people sleep there and they were fine.
deneb":3u0mpi97 said:
5) Launching. I will be solo launching this most of the time. I do that with no problem on a bow rider, but I usually climb over the bow to do it. Is it difficult or awkward to launch and recover these boats solo at crowded ramps?
Click to expand...
No - these boats are easy to launch solo. I launched my 22' solo many times. It's a piece of cake if there's a float near the launch. If there isn't a float, I can climb onto the bow from the trailer (ducking under the rail), drive the boat of and beach it and climb back onto the bow from land without getting my feet wet.

deneb":3u0mpi97 said:
6) This last question really isn't a deal breaker, more of my own curiosity. When I look at the specs this seems like a boat capable of cruising to places like Bimini and Dry Tortugas. I have always dreamed of being able to do that. Are these realistic goals with this boat?
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If the distance you want to cover is <80-100 miles and the sea state is good, you can go anywhere. You'll have 40-46 gal of fuel capacity (depending on model year) and you can count on 3MPG (you'll likely get closer to 3.5 and you can get 6-8MPG at 6kts). Leave yourself 25%-33% in reserve and the combination of fuel capacity + speed will determine how far you can go. I regularly took my 22' boat 30 miles off shore and back.
 
You've come across a heck of a versatile boat. I'll add my responses below:

1.) I think you'll find the closed pilot house a significant advantage. You will never again want to own a partial or canvas covered boat. The solid cabin is so much more comfortable in terms of noise reduction, splash, rough seas, and sun protection.

2.) Part of the appeal of the C-22 is the tow vehicle does not have to be a tank.

3.) There are some nice used vessels out there. Balsa core - the end grain balsa used minimizes water damage in the event of improper core penetration. I would always get a survey done on a used boat and take particular time on any core penetrations below the water line such as transducers. Drilling a hole, slathering on some 5200, then inserting the screw is NOT a proper way to penetrate a core (of any material).

4.) In terms of your cruising destinations - it always boils down to weather and safe fuel reserves. You would want to make sure you board with weather data less than 4 hours old and avoid get-home-itus. Most of us have learned that lesson at some point or another and you probably have too. If it does not look good - wait a day or 2 - the inconvenience will be worth it.

Good luck with your research.

--Matt
 
Thanks very much for the replies. I have to say I have been using forums since the 90's and I've never come across one with what seems to be almost 100% knowledgeable, friendly people like this one. Sounds like if I go with the C-Dory it will come with a lifetime of free tech support which is nice since I am almost completely sold on the idea. I just need to take a look at one in person to be absolutely sure.

Colobear - Thanks for the invite I will likely take you up on this offer. Seems like a great opportunity to get some questions answered, see some boats and speak with people who have owned them. For me this will be a major investment, so I want to make sure I get it right.

NewMoon - That is very encouraging that you were able to tow it with a Pathfinder rated at 3500. Really what I should do is find something of a similar weight to tow and see how it feels. If I have to sell the FJ to get the boat I would be open to it, but from most of what I've read it sounds like I will get away with it. Lake Powell and Flaming Gorge are the two places I'd really like to explore here. The C-Dory seems ideal since I can sleep out on the water and have the range to really see everything. I am in Draper btw, so not too far away. I'm guessing there are not a lot of these boats here in UT. Most of the boat dealerships seem to sell lake oriented boats with painted trailers. Makes me wish I had bought something when I was in FL.

Will-C - Thanks for all of the ideas. After reading around on this site for a while (almost becoming an unhealthy obsession of mine since I should be working right now) I was actually planning on a lot of those same things. I can work from the road if I have an internet connection and in FL AC is a must if I am going to sleep in it. Seems like the only boat I can tow that is capable of this kind of stuff. I'm glad I didn't compromise and buy something different before I discovered this boat.

potter water- Thanks very much for the offer. I'm in Draper, so Logan is kind of a drive for me, but I may take you up on it anyway. That was my concern with the FJ. I'm guessing that driving to places like Flaming Gorge will involve a lot of elevation change. The good news is when I go to FL it will involved a 2700 mile drive, 2250 of which will be almost completely flat. If I do end up selling my FJ a Dodge with a Cummins is probably what I would get for two reasons. 1) I personally like manual cars and the way things are going the FJ and Dodge are the only ones I know of that are available in a stick and will tow this. 2) If I sell something to be able to tow more I don't want to do it again and a Dodge/Cummins will ensure I don't have to.

rogerbum - I'm hoping you're right about the cabin. I think you are, but I guess it's just one of those things where no amount of internet reading will answer the question. Thanks for more encouraging words about the towing situation. Did you drive very far with it? Sounds like since you were able to do it in WA, the mountains will probably be ok. From what I've been reading it sounds like most guys who have pulled a 22 cruiser with a 5k rated truck say it worked out ok. Having a problem in the middle of no where would be no fun, so this is really still my main concern. Thanks for answering the height question, so I can cross that off the list. Sounds like I will be ok on height. What about sitting at the dinette with a laptop to work, will I have adequate leg/head room?

matt_unique - Good point about core penetrations. Especially since almost every used boat I've seen has a ton of electronics and sensors on it. I will be sure to have it surveyed and have attention paid to those areas. Also good advice on not pushing things as far as weather goes. I guess I will need to cross that bridge when I come to it, but I plan on having all of the latest electronics and radar. Hopefully that will help keep me out of trouble.


One other idea I've been thinking of. Most of these boats seem to include a galvanized trailer. Some don’t include a trailer at all. Since I am concerned with towing weight what about an aluminum trailer? Do many people have those and if so how much weight would it save? Approximately how much more would it cost? Thanks again for taking the time to help me out with this decision.
 
Still C-razy sits on an aluminum dual axle trailer. I don't know what the weight savings is, but I'd be surprised if it isn't 500 plus pounds...at least. But, because it is aluminum, there is a bit more of it, so maybe my guess would be wrong. More expensive, yes, but with a marginal tow vehicle, every pound could count.
 
That is exactly the type of trailer I was thinking of. I think dual axle would be the only way to go with towing on a 6000 mile trip. I will spend the money for the weight reduction and hope nothing bad happens to it when I leave it parked at storage facilities in FL.

I have one other question I am wondering about. I am seriously considering living on the boat for a month+ and staying mainly at marinas up and down the east coast of FL. I would need to work from a laptop for a couple hours a day each day during the week. How stable is this boat at rest in a slip? Would it be rocking around a lot like a deep v or would it be somewhat comfortable to work in due to the flat bottom? How much room is in the dinette is it comfortable for a taller person to sit there for a couple hours?

Thanks :D
 
A lot of us live aboard long term, no problem with running the laptop, a lot of us write aboard. The boat is much more quiet at rest than many vessels. No annoying slap of water under chines. The best seat in the house is a deck chair in the cockpit with a cool one and looking around. No worries.
 
At one point, I had two TC255s, one with a galvanized EZ Loader and one with an aluminum FloatOn trailer. The trailers were within 200# of each other, both about 2000#. An aluminum trailer takes a lot more metal for strength, the FloatOn had massive IBeam construction while the EZ Loader had square tube construction. Both have pluses and minuses.

Have always had just surge brakes, never felt uncomfortable (except for a couple of memorable blowouts at 65mph)

Charlie
 
I've spoken to a couple of dealers now about the trailer as well. Everyone is giving me wildly different numbers when it comes to the weight difference. I guess I should get in touch with the trailer manufacturers directly and get some numbers. The only reason I'd go aluminum would be so save weight. What about dual vs single axle? I always thought tandem would be better for long distances. More stable, better with a flat etc. I had a dealer tell me singles are more common with these boats and will work fine though. Is there much of a weight difference between single and tandem?
 
Just from a casual observation I see way more 22s on dual axle trailers than singles. I personaly would not use a single, but it would not be a deal breaker on the right boat. There will be a weight differance between the two with double sets of tires and wheels and cross members and if you have brakes on both axles. How much I can't tell you. But worth the weight.
 
Welcome! Your first post reminds me so much of my own.

One thing I'd add is towing weight. I weighed our boat/trailer loaded pretty much as normal and the package came in at 4660 pounds. If you plan on a lot of longer distance towing, I strongly recommend a tandem axle trailer. If you have a blowout on the highway, you still have three good tires to pull over with. With a single axle you only have one!

I'm 6'2" and have no problem with the standard height top. If I had a choice in the matter, though, I'd go for a tall top, all other things being equal. You get used to just tilting your head down slightly if needed. Plus, I always wear a hat and that seems to help.

We've "boaterhomed" across the country twice...Lake Tahoe to Alabama, then from there to Washington 2 years ago when we moved to Port Angeles. We stayed at campgrounds with no problems at all. Just make sure you bug-proof all the openings!

The boat is very stable at rest and when slow trolling because of the flat bottom. You're in for a lot of fun. There really is no other boat in this class. No other pilothouse boat weighs so little, is so economical to operate and looks so cool. 8)

Rick
 
Hi deneb and welcome aboard!

You're asking lots of good questions. I'll try to add some more information for you.

Most CD22s end up around 4500 pounds (give or take of course) all up towing weight when loaded with fuel, water, and typical "stuff". Your FJ will tow the CD22 fine with regard to all the technical stuff like tow rating, etc. The rating is with worse case scenarios in mind like high temps, steep grades, etc. What you won't like is the relatively short wheelbase of the FJ; it means the boat trailer behind you has a bit more leverage on the tow vehicle than the tow vehicle has on it. In real world terms it means the FJ will move around a bit more in wind or semi wakes, and that the boat/trailer has a bit more chance to swap ends in an emergency stop in wet/slippery conditions. This is NOT to scare you, the FJ will get the job done but if you pulled the CD22 with a long wheelbase vehicle you would definitely feel the difference. What it likely means is that you will feel pretty comfortable in "normal" driving conditions (which is most of them) but would find a longer wheelbase vehicle more comfortable in more challenging (high winds, wet roads, etc) conditions. You could certainly start with the FJ then trade for another vehicle later when you know more about what you're doing with the CD22.

CD22's mostly came (from the factory) on an EZ-Loader single axle 3700# (capacity) trailer for many years. That trailer (galvanized steel) is about 1000 pounds. To get that same frame in a tandem axle EZ-Loader trailer currently requires the 4700# model which is #1234 pounds (add a bit for a spare and side load guides and call it 1300 pounds). The aluminum tandem axle version would be a 5200# trailer and it's 1000 pounds. So as close to apples-to-apples as you can get you save 300 pounds with the aluminum trailer (in the EZ-Loader line). As an aside, the EZ-Loader aluminum trailers are bunk only and aren't available with electric over hydraulic brakes.

King has a 4100# capacity tandem axle trailer that's 1170 pounds that works well for a CD22. It is available with rollers or bunks and King has (comparatively) good pricing on the electric over hydraulic brakes. That would be a good thing in the mountains with your FJ. In my estimation, worth the price. A Tekonsha Prodigy2 brake controller for the cab is about $135 and works really nicely.

In general the C-Dory 22 boats are robust and most do not have issues (it's not a "problem" boat). The balsa core forms the bottom of the hull not the sides of the hull and cabin so in order to have "balsa problems" someone has to have done something to the transom or the cockpit/cabin sole. Not impossible but also not typical. A survey is always a good thing; it's a cheap investment.

My best friend is 6' 2" and has owned his CD22 since it was new in 1995. He brushes the underside of the cabin top if standing straight. The v-berth works for him because he doesn't sleep stretched out and his wife is a small person. The berth issue will really vary depending on how you sleep (side, front, back, curled up, etc). You could look for a tall top boat with 4" more headroom (it doesn't change the berth though).

Launching and retrieving is a piece of cake. Or at least it's as easy as it's ever going to get for a 22' boat. I know of none easier to deal with. I launch and retreive solo about 99% of the time.

Some folks manage to get very small boats across the oceans, some couldn't get a 60 footer across a bay without issues. The nut holding the wheel is the most important part of any boat. I've no doubt you could get a CD22 across the ocean if you could figure out the fuel and the skipper had the wherewithal to do it. But that's not its intended use so I really don't advocate it.

That said, it's a viable boat for a run to the Dry Tortugas or to the Bahamas if you watch the weather (as you would in any 22-foot boat). You've got a good 125 to 140 nautical mile range with reserve if you're not up against heavy seas, winds, or current (if you are you did your homework incorrectly).

I would venture to say for almost everyone that the boat will take more than we will. If at the worst moment you just gave up and laid down on the berth the boat would be fine in anything short of a major storm with breaking seas or getting caught in breaking waves on a bar crossing. The Gulf Stream can eat your lunch too but when the timing is right the crossing is quick and pleasant.

Have fun with your research!

Les
 
We use a Float On aluminum trailer not so much for the lighter weight but more for the corrosion resistance. We have all stainlesss steel hardware and for saltwater I would stay away from aluminum wheels as they tend to corrode around the bead sealing area and to leak air so gavinized steel wheels are what the salt water folks normally use. We have the Kodial brakes with vented rotors which are said to be superior to the Tiedown Engineering brakes that most trailers come with. Ours uses Chevy Cavalier front disc brake pads you can by locally in different grades. Float On will build the trailer with electric over hydraulic or will install electric over hydraulic later after you get tired of that sloppy surge brake action at the traffic lights. We use a bunk trailer and have been happy with most everything with the exception of a few broken ubolts when it was new. A result of overtightning was the reason they gave. The only other thing was get the optoional fender braces as after while the fenders can shake at different road speeds. I like to tow the boat near the speed limit so we go over 65mph where the law permits. We use radial Carlisle trailer tires and have them balanced to avoid any more shaking around. In addtion to the strap and chain to secure the front of the boat to the trailer you might think to add a stainless turnbuckle with a short length of chain and a shackle. An extra bit of insurance for that hard stop or dread the thought an accident. You are going to become a small economic recovery stimulas package in your own right after you get all the equipment for your new toy.
D.D.
 
I know I've said this already, but I continue to be impressed with the group of people on this forum. Thanks very much for taking the time to so thoroughly address my questions :D I am as close to making up my mind about this boat as I can get considering I have yet to see one in person. It seems like there aren't a lot of used ones for sale and many of the ones I have inquired about have either sold or have a deposit down. I guess that is a good thing if I ever decide to sell it and buy something bigger down the road. I have requested quotes on a new one as well, but this will require financing which isn't what I originally planned on doing. Anyway, the research and search goes on. I am very anxious to actually see one in the flesh. If anyone in the SLC area is willing to let me take a look at their 22 it would be greatly appreciated :D

Anyway, I have yet another question to ask you guys. I reading that the 22 has "low windows" meaning that looking out of the front window while standing is pretty much impossible for a person of my height (6'2") is this accurate? Does the extra roof height option (which I am going to do my best to get) change this at all or does the window height remain the same? Is this something to be concerned about? I sometimes like to stand while I'm at the helm and I'm guessing in a boat like this where I am so far forward being able to stand in rough conditions might be important. Then again it sounds like I will be doing 6 knots instead of 25 if things get rough, so maybe it's a non issue.

While I'm at it I might as well share my thoughts on engine selection based on what I've read. I know this is a highly debated topic, and there is no single right answer. Given the choice I am leaning towards twin 50s. Some people tell me if one goes out a single 50 will get the boat on plane. Others have said that a single 50 is not much better than an 8hp kicker, who is right? I don't really fish much unless it's to catch dinner, so I wouldn't say I do it for fun or it will be a major focus of the boat. I am buying this boat for cruising long distances reliably and as trouble free as possible. I would have a kicker if I went the single route, but only to get home I'd have no other use for it. From my research it seems like late model fuel injected 50s will be the best choice for my purpose. Am I on the right track as far as that goes?
 
I am 6'2" and have a high top 22'. I can stand upright with no trouble. I do have to bend a little to look out the windows when standing but most of the time I am seated so its no big deal. I think most people put a 90hp on for a single. I have twin 40's and would probably power with twin 50's were I to do it over.
 
Currently on the delta cruise. The side effect of the C Dory is the great people you will come to know. They are family!. This is our 4 th C Dory & second 22. We have been "living" in it for3 weeks today after leaving Florida. ( camp grounds, Walmarts, 10 days on Lake Powell & Sacsamento Delta.(only11boats allowed on the Delta cruise.

We had a Honda Pilot & have towed a22 over2000 miles. This year we will to.w over 8,000 miles and felt the Pilot too small, so we bought a Yukon XL... Good choice!

I am 6'2" and no problem with the std top. You can go those places you mentioned-- but may have to run at displacement speeds part of the time. Doing this, with good management you can have a range of over 200 miles.

Our second22 came with a heavy duty single axel trailer -- in over. 4,000
Miles zero problems. I do check bearing & break temps every 2 hrs.
 
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