New Member of C-Brats!

jsimmons248

New member
As a new member of C-Brats (I just bought the C-Dory 22 Cruiser located in the Lake of the Ozarks listed in the Boats for Sale by Owner Forum) I might as well start off with a question! (With many more to follow, I am sure).

How many sumps/pumps does the hull have and where are they located? Does the hull have a drain plug in the stern like many power boats do? Having been a boat owner for many years I know it is imperative to be sure the sumps/pumps are clear of debris and plan on checking that out before launching. (I won't get my hands on the boat until sometime tomorrow) :)

Also I will need guidance on how to post photos on the site and plan on having an album in the future.
Jim Simmons
Houston
 
Welcome!
Congratulations on the new boat.
Just send a PM and ask the site administrators, Tyboo or DaNag to set up an album for you.

One of the nice things about the 22, (said he, a 22 owner :) ) is that there is virtually nothing hidden, no systems anywhere you cannot see. The number of bilge pumps, etc. is dependent on the year of the boat. On our 2006 22 for example there are two bilge pumps, one in a small sump under a hinged step at the rear of the cabin and one under the splashwell between the fuel tanks at the rear of the cockpit. I'm not sure when they did away with the cabin sump but newer boats have just one bilge pump in the cockpit. Yes there is a drainplug; it is also located between the fuel tanks. Opinions differ as to what to do with it. Some people, particularly those whose boat is kept outside and not covered, remove it and keep the boat bow up so the cockpit will drain. Some others have removed it and glassed over the hole. We just leave it in all the time except for a once a year removal and lubrication of the plug. We also have a spare velcroed just beside the drain hole. Other will surely chime in. Regarding answers to questions, it will help if you put out a little more information about your boat, i.e. year and power.
 
Congrats! That looked like a nice, clean boat. That's a 2004 with the two bench seats behind two pilot seats, right?

Exciting times :D

Couple of notes on bilges/sumps:

First of all, note that the boat has no real "bilge," as in a hidden area beneath the sole. When you are standing in the boat, you are standing on the hull (which is around 1" thick with inner and outer skin, plus core). The exception is the v-berth area which has a liner molding that is slightly above the main hull.

Second, there were changes over the years. Bilge "sumps" (which are just small depressions) were changed, and then in around 2006 the cockpit got a permanent flat sole with air space underneath.

Your 2004 should have the earlier cockpit, where, just like the main cabin, the surface you stand on is the hull. Then..

1) There is likely a shallow depression right on centerline at the transom. This is one of your bilge "sumps." It may or may not have a bilge pump in it (one can be added if you want one and there isn't one). This sump, at least on my boat, did not have the core removed; it was simply made with shallower core (although I have removed the core in that area on my boat to make it a coreless/deeper sump). On my boat it looks like the bilge pump in this sump was added later, possibly by the selling dealer.

2) There is another depression just forward of the cabin/cockpit bulkhead. Not sure when the change was made, but my 2002 has the depression located to starboard, under the galley counter. There is a slit that allows water to go into it from the cockpit. In some year after 2002 (but ending when they made the permanent flat cockpit circa 2006), that sump was moved to the centerline, and will appear as a small step when you enter the cabin. So not sure which of these you will have, but either one typically has a bilge pump in it. This sump on my boat (and I believe others) has the core hollowed out of it, so it is at the level of the outer skin. This sump looks as though it had the bilge pump installed at initial build.

3) The area under the v-berth molding doesn't have any sump and shouldn't have water in it, although some boats have taken on water into this area via either an improperly sealed anchor locker drain (gaps in tabbing at drain is one culprit; tabbing issue at locker bottom is apparently another), or an improperly installed brass stem strip (holes drilled too deeply and penetrated inside of hull). Some of these moldings (including my 2002) have an access hatch (round) under the porta potti.

Welcome aboard and congrats again on your new boat! Not sure if you plan to "remodel" at all, but there are some great photos and ideas in the albums wherein people have made galleys/tables in your style interior (I think C Eagle is one, IIRC).

Sunbeam :hot
 
One of the nice things about owning a C-Dory is this site! Thanks for all of the information!

I had chance to inspect the boat before I purchased it but won't have my hands on it until tomorrow as it is on its way to Houston. :D

The boat seems real clean and the twin 40 HP Suzuki's have about 600 or so hours on them. The original owner lived in Ca. and evidently used it for fishing as it has outriggers, a fishing pole rack over the cabin, and what I think is a live bait well in the port stern area. It also has a bunch of electronics on it including radar and I don't know what all! :?:

I am under orders from my wife to modify the 'commuter' cabin layout so we can have a couple of comfortable bunks for sleeping rather than using the forepeak. :love I did find a fellow C-Brat on the site who has done that so I will be asking for assistance when I undertake that endeavor. :)
Thanks again for all of the information.
 
Welcome aboard! While I would be the last one to suggest not listening to orders from the spousal unit, you might consider giving the v-berth a trial run at some point. It may look like a small "cave" on first glance, but it is actually a comfortable place for a good night's sleep. You just have to find a "technique" that works well for entry and exit. I go in on my hands and knees, rotate, and roll over. It is cozy and comfortable. We both sleep well in the v-berth.

You will probably find that the commuter seat on the starboard side is not going to accommodate an adult lying down, due to the driver's seat. Getting enough length on the port side in a 22 is going to mean including the co-pilot seat area as part of the berth.

One of the better aspects of using the v-berth: you don't have to move bedding and change from a sleeping to a sitting space twice a day. In fact, one of our requirements when we were deciding on a couple's cruising boat was having separate areas for sleeping and sitting... especially important when one of you gets up earlier than the other.

Enjoy the new boat!

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
We agree with Jim B. Lived aboard our 22 for many years and thousands of miles of cruising. The V-berth was great -- darker in the summer months, good ventilation and privacy, and nice to be together.

We also suggest you give it a try -- we slept feet to bow, so there was more room for shoulders, and it was fun to tweedle our toes in the tight space toward the bow. Congrats on your boat.
 
We find the v-berth to be quite comfortable. Granted getting in and out requires a certain agility, but once in we sleep feet to the bow and there is plenty of room. Being able to leave the bed set up all the time is nice, there is only a little shifting of stuff back and forth between night and day use of the boat.

Now, if only there was a place to hang a few things up...
 
Congrats on the new boat. You will love it, and this site. Try the v-birth, it fits pretty good, and includes the fun of getting in and out. I have slept in mine both head to bow and feet to bow and like the feet to bow best. The other way is easier in and out but ....... more space for shoulders and head with that end nearest the companionway.

Enjoy.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

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