New Owners (long post)

S

sunfishman

New member
Hello all. After following this site for literally years, my wife Chris & I have finally bought a boat. It is a 2004 C Dory 16 Angler formally owned by Peter & Donna Kurz of upstate NY. We are actually sailors but sold our last small sailboat about 2 years back and thought we might take a new direction, something at one time I swore I would never do. I have looked at many boats over the years, some in good shape and some not, usually telling the owners I would get back to them. But when I 1st saw Pete & Donna's boat 2 weeks ago, I knew I could not walk away. We loved the look of the 16 Angler, a poor man's mini lobster boat, in such impeccable condition that I knew then and there I had to buy the boat, that this would not be just another boat looking excursion. Pete used the boat on Champlain, stored it in one of those canvas garages, and obviously thought nothing was too good for this baby. Pete and his lovely wife showed us and explained everything about the boat with no rush whatsoever.
So today was our maiden voyage on her on Greenwood Lake NY. A very windy day here 15-25 mph. Launch went well but I underestimated the effect of the side wind on the cabin and the boat got a small scuff on its port side, but it can be buffed out. Sorry Pete. We went slow, about 6 mph straight upwind for a couple of miles,then headed cross lake with wind abeam on our starboard side, then downwind while we ate our sandwiches. Waves I estimate at about 1-2 feet, at no time did I feel unsafe, but it was a completely different experience from a sailboat with a keel which I am accustomed to. I have never driven a powerboat, just used small outboards on the sailboats or rowboats. I left the front hatch closed, but with the side window sliders open it was very comfortable. Top speed today was 12 mph, which for me seems pretty fast. No, I'm only 55 y.o.
Retrieval was a cinch, although I was nervous about the crosswind as we pulled into the lane with the launch ramp with boats sticking out on both sides.
As others have noted, there is a lot of lost time with the gawkers. It started with the Greenwood Lake Marine Patrol officer, a nice guy named Al. He looked the boat over thoroughly, thought it was a brand new boat, only after 15 minutes or so did he ask about the NH tags. That's a story for another day. Upon retrieval, a Boston Whaler Dauntless owner who was about to launch, abandoned his kids in the parking lot to examine the C Dory and ask questions. Initial observations: easy to launch, easy to retrieve, easy to trailer with the Landcruiser, easy on gas, like the deep cockpit. Thanks to Pete and Donna and to the entire C Brat site. Hope to post pics in the future. Kevin & Chris
 
El & Bill,

I don't believe they are considering another boat at this time. I think they will be looking to tour by land, hence a travel trailer may be in the plans. They mentioned you guys and your visit up this way, even showed us the spot where your boat was "parked". By the way Bill, being an amateur geologist at one time, I loved the article on the Maine coast on the website. It's an extensive website, it's going to take some time to get through the whole thing.

Regards, Kevin & Chris
 
Hey Kevin and Chris, welcome! When I saw the ad for your boat I sensed that someone was going to get a gem. Nice to hear that you're having fun. We have gone to a 16 Angler ourselves, and she's now in the shop being re-powered with a Honda 50. I've gotten more compliments on this boat than any other I've ever owned. Looking forward to seeing your photos. Mike.
 
Westward,

Good luck on the repower. Mine has a Honda 50. Seems very quiet to me and powerful too. But I only had a 4 hp to compare it to. Boat has an extensive canvas package including a total winter cover, mooring cover, trailer cover, seat covers, even a windshield canvas cover, and a cover for the aft storage area. I think that's it for the canvas and a motor cover. Kevin
 
Kevin and Chris,

It may seem silly but Donna and I were very pleased that you guys were the buyers of our Champ. We have had a C-Dory since 1995 and now your 16 Angler since 2004, and can say that we both got a good deal!
You will have to get used to the handling of the dory hull as I did mention there is no free lunch in hull design. Many of the operational attributes come at the price of some side slip and slowing down in a chop to avoid pounding. But these are small things compared to all the great stuff about a C-Dory. And did I warn you about the gawkers!! Sometimes we were trapped at a launch site wishing I had a yard full of C-Dory's as I could have sold them all. C-Dory's are still a rarity in the Northeast. Now protect Champ from Hurricane Irene and then enjoy the hell out it. Please keep us posted on your trips. Again, Donna thanks you for the beautiful plant.
Peter and Donna

PS: Bill and El
What a surprise to hear from you again. Nice write-up in the latest Boat US magazine. I showed it to folks at work and said "look these are the people who left much their worldly possessions in our yard and went off to Colorado". And yes, we hope to travel by some means and sooner or later will be in your neck of the woods.
 
Kevin and Chris,

Welcome to the C-Brats from a couple other Upstaters. Kathie and I launched AnnaLee at Seneca Lake State Park last Monday and arrived In Fairport yesterday. We are in the Fairport Library now catching up, of course I had to check the site and saw your post. Lots of great water in NY to trailer to and lots of nice places to visit. Fairport is such a great stop we are going to spend another night before heading back east and back to Seneca Lake either Sat or Sun. I know you guys will enjoy your new boat and all the adventures ahead. Maybe our paths will cross one of these days!

Rich and Kathie
 
Welcome aboard!!
I'm kind of a jr. mermber myself- fairly newly arrived. I too am an x-sailor doing something I couldn't have envisioned 10 years ago--messing around with a power boat!! There are several C-Brats who I'm sure have the same circumstance. Sure is nice to have a warm dry cabin to steer from and at 67 (held together at this point with lots of titanium parts!) I sure can't scamper around the deck of a sailboat tending to sails like I used too. That's OK for a calm Sunday sail but had reached a point where in an emergency I'm not sure how much use I would be! The brain still works but the body.......???
This is a whole new scene and I'm sure having fun--being around boats and the water is the BEST!! The C-Dory fits me really well now.

Michael
 
Thanks everyone for the kind replies. I have finally located "interior storage" for the boat, in a large metal warehouse a few miles away in the Pine Island onion farming area. There are no onions being stored there now and the farmer who owns the building rents out space for such things as my boat, a 100' aerial ladder antique fire truck, an antique fire engine, RV's, old cars, and other assorted gems.I will have my own lane to pull in and out until we lay her up for the winter.
We intend to boat only occasionally on Greenwood Lake and it would only be weekdays, as the lake can be a zoo on the weekends. Lake Winnipesaukee NH & Lake Skaneateles NY will be our main venues as we are more familiar with them and the family has a cabin near Winni.
Still feel bad about the scuff or two I put on the boat. It is very minor, but what is the best thing to try to get it off without making it worse. I tried to rub it off with just a soft t-shirt to no avail. Is acetone or paint thinner too harsh?
 
Rich & Kathy,

Great looking boat and I love the boat garage. You could fit a lot of 16's in there. I see Fairport is near Rochchester, they describe it as the crown jewel of the Erie Canal. Would like to do the canal someday. How do you like Lake Senaca and Lake Cayuga. I am a little familiar with Lake Cayuga and the city of Ithaca. Great launch ramp state owned midlake on east side. I think they call it Long Point State Park. Kevin
 
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