I live near Green Bay WI and will probably be getting some sort of boat in the next 4-5 years so I have some questions for you c-dory owners out there. I will likely be looking at a boat in the range of 22-30 feet that will be used mainly on the Great lakes but also may eventually do the "the Great Loop". My question is how sea-worthy the C-dorys are and what size and model would you recommend for someone who may take it in bigger water (Great Lakes and Ocean). We would like the boat to have some nice cruising features (heat, cuddy cabin, stove, fridge, etc...) and I don't know alot about the prices on these C-dorys. What would something in the range of a 25 cruiser set me back?
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I've seen 25s on here (current models, not the 6 made in the 90s) from a low of $55k (priced for a quick sale) to over $100k for new. The 25 works for us, but I would recommend that you go see one in person... attend a C-Brat get-together and you will see lots of different boats and the unique ways they are set up by their owners. Take a road trip to visit a dealer.
Starting early in the boat search is good... buying one sooner is even better 'cause you get to use it sooner! 8)
Starting early in the boat search is good... buying one sooner is even better 'cause you get to use it sooner! 8)
I wish I could buy one sooner. I am on the fast track to paying off our house in about 5 years....so cash flow will be alot better then. I used to have a 18' boat that I used for salmon fishing but my teenage daughter needed a car and I didn't have any room in the garage for the boat and the car....I know, sad face. I took that out on Lake Michigan Salmon fishing and did well as long as I paid attention to the weather.
I definitely want something bigger but am a little concerned with how stable the c-dory would be in choppier seas. I don't worry about my sea legs but is the 25 cruiser o.k. for those with green legs? I like to take friends out fishing as well. How stable is the 25 cruiser in so-so seas?
I definitely want something bigger but am a little concerned with how stable the c-dory would be in choppier seas. I don't worry about my sea legs but is the 25 cruiser o.k. for those with green legs? I like to take friends out fishing as well. How stable is the 25 cruiser in so-so seas?
El and Bill
New member
A suggestion from our experience - the smaller the boat the better. We lived many years on a CD-22 and cruised most of America's waterways - including up to Alaska, the Loop etc. Easy to launch, retrieve and trailer. Anchors in shallows where big heavy tubs refuse to go. Look over the 22 as a neat, economical, easy to use, safe boat.
Click the website below and check out what you can do on a fine boat.
Click the website below and check out what you can do on a fine boat.
We have a C-Dory 22 that we keep in Sturgeon Bay (sometimes as we own a slip up there). We have been all over the Bay and also have taken the boat over to Beaver Island, mackinac island, etc. We have a Cottage on the bay and as you probably already know - you can cross Lake Michigan in a 15ft boat on the right day. We have crossed Lake Michigan 6 times over the last 10 years and each time it was basically glass.
We have also been out a few times in some waves and the CD22 handles it fine. Prior to having the CD22 we owned a 32' Sundowner Tug. The difference between the two and the Great Lakes short waves is with the Tug you just had to deal with the pounding. With the CD22 you can "speed" around/thru the waves and make yourself through it. The biggest waves we ever hit on the Tug was on the way to Rock Island where we had 5-7 footers. As we held on and got pounded, we noticed a small fishing boat making their way to their fishing spot. So, bigger is not always better.
My thoughts with the Great Lakes - it will make no difference if you have a CD22 or a CD25 - it is more a matter of watching your weather and enjoying the harbor on those windy days.
Good luck in your search.
We have also been out a few times in some waves and the CD22 handles it fine. Prior to having the CD22 we owned a 32' Sundowner Tug. The difference between the two and the Great Lakes short waves is with the Tug you just had to deal with the pounding. With the CD22 you can "speed" around/thru the waves and make yourself through it. The biggest waves we ever hit on the Tug was on the way to Rock Island where we had 5-7 footers. As we held on and got pounded, we noticed a small fishing boat making their way to their fishing spot. So, bigger is not always better.
My thoughts with the Great Lakes - it will make no difference if you have a CD22 or a CD25 - it is more a matter of watching your weather and enjoying the harbor on those windy days.
Good luck in your search.
Brazo and El and Bill,
Thanks for the info. I definitely will make all considerations in my search. As you stated, checking the weather is the main thing. I lived up in Alaska for 10 years and I had a little 16' boat that I would take out Salmon fishing and I always did just fine. You just have to be smart about it. I just am looking for something that isn't going to break the bank and am not too concerned about speed or engine size. The c-dorys appear to be fairly economical compared to other options so I am certainly intrigued.
Brazo....when I get closer to making my decision would you be willing to let someone take a closer look at your CD22? I would likely also be using Sturgeon Bay as my boat's home.
Thanks for the info. I definitely will make all considerations in my search. As you stated, checking the weather is the main thing. I lived up in Alaska for 10 years and I had a little 16' boat that I would take out Salmon fishing and I always did just fine. You just have to be smart about it. I just am looking for something that isn't going to break the bank and am not too concerned about speed or engine size. The c-dorys appear to be fairly economical compared to other options so I am certainly intrigued.
Brazo....when I get closer to making my decision would you be willing to let someone take a closer look at your CD22? I would likely also be using Sturgeon Bay as my boat's home.
WiskyFish":nhxg4sa4 said:
Absolutely. We don't always have the boat in Sturgeon Bay (we own a slip in Purves Lagoon) as we live and store the boat in Madison - but we do from time to time. This year the boat is staying in indoor storage as we just purchased a RV - no time for both this year.
My advice, for what it's worth...
Find a used 22 Cruiser.
It MAY be enough boat and it's cheaper than the 25 in a number of ways...towage, stowage, powering, insuring, maintaining.
It gives you 90% of the 25 experience at a big discount.
And if you decide that you REALLY need the 25, you'll be able to get all of your money out of the 22(since it's already used).
Find a used 22 Cruiser.
It MAY be enough boat and it's cheaper than the 25 in a number of ways...towage, stowage, powering, insuring, maintaining.
It gives you 90% of the 25 experience at a big discount.
And if you decide that you REALLY need the 25, you'll be able to get all of your money out of the 22(since it's already used).
Here is a little video of Sea-Cruz a 22, in what I would say is 4-5 foot seas on Monterey Bay in California. The weather forcast was for 5.6 feet at 7 seconds but I an sure this is less. The video starts out with flat seas and ends with flat seas.
This kind of ride is fun. Shorter, steeper, higher seas are not.
Ron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W2W-CNmtEM
This kind of ride is fun. Shorter, steeper, higher seas are not.
Ron
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W2W-CNmtEM
Wandering Sagebrush
Free Range Human
For what it's worth (2 cents or nothing
, I feel safer in the 22 than I do in a 25. The cockpit is deeper, and when we are offshore chasing salmon, it's nice to have that extra security. That may be just perception on my part, but when it is tough to stand up because of the seas, it sure seems real.
You asked about prices for the 25. The best deal I have seen so far was in the neighborhood of $53k for a very nice boat. I think it was a 2003, and it sold a couple of years ago. It was certainly well appointed, but maybe a bit underpowered.
, I feel safer in the 22 than I do in a 25. The cockpit is deeper, and when we are offshore chasing salmon, it's nice to have that extra security. That may be just perception on my part, but when it is tough to stand up because of the seas, it sure seems real.You asked about prices for the 25. The best deal I have seen so far was in the neighborhood of $53k for a very nice boat. I think it was a 2003, and it sold a couple of years ago. It was certainly well appointed, but maybe a bit underpowered.
Can anyone tell me what the trailered height of a c-22 and c-25 would be (with a mounted radar)? I want to get an idea of whether I would have the storage capability in my current garage. My guess would be...no. With trailer, boat and any radar above, I would guess 9'-10'?
Our 22' with a radar arch and radar is 10'2" tall. There are folks that have radar arches that are a bit taller than ours. You also need to consider whether the vessel is on a bunk trailer or a roller trailer as the roller trailer will set the vessel higher. (Ours is on a roller trailer).
The height of the 22' on the roller trailer (without a radar arch) is 8'2" tall.
You only asked about height dimensions, but to expand a bit, the length of the unit from the tip of the tongue to the engines (in the down position) is 30'6" long. The width to the outside of the fenders of the trailer is 8'8" wide.
The height of the 22' on the roller trailer (without a radar arch) is 8'2" tall.
You only asked about height dimensions, but to expand a bit, the length of the unit from the tip of the tongue to the engines (in the down position) is 30'6" long. The width to the outside of the fenders of the trailer is 8'8" wide.
All that advice is spot on....We also started wanting the larger C-Dory, Susan, my wife, suggested we try the 22' for a few years then if we felt we really wanted the larger do it then, she was correct.(as usual)...the two years came and went....we still love and use our 22' SEA3PO
We thought we had to have the toilet and shower...nope..got used to the porta-pot easily and found that we used the boat more, traveled more and had just as much fun if not more, aboard the 22'.. easy to tow, easy to launch and retrieve and just a wonderful boat.
Larger is not always better
Joel
SEA3PO
We thought we had to have the toilet and shower...nope..got used to the porta-pot easily and found that we used the boat more, traveled more and had just as much fun if not more, aboard the 22'.. easy to tow, easy to launch and retrieve and just a wonderful boat.
Larger is not always better
Joel
SEA3PO
WiskyFish":34bdejlj said:
WiskyFish, within the past month there was (and still is) a thread on this site entitled "Garage Size For 25' Cruiser". If you look for that topic in the forums, you will find more information about garage sizes that will be helpful information for you.
A note from a 25'r. I've been in big seas, big chop and wild weather. I have no doubt the "dory" hull is one of the safest, if not THE safest hull shapes to have in big weather. One of the beauties of this hull is that it doesn't tend to over-roll on a beam wave like a deep-v will do. So you feel safe and confident when the weather doesn't cooperate. Of course, don't push it, always realize mother nature will have the last word, seek shelter when you first feel you should (similar to reefing a sailboat when the thought first enters your head).
The 25 has a self-bailing cockpit, however, most all reports on the 22 say the cockpit stays relatively dry in practically any seas/conditions. I have owned 7 sailboats and 6 powerboats, this one for 9 years, and I still have no desire to part with my CD25, it's a keeper.
I'd say other than what has already been said re price, weight, tow vehicle and other costs, that high on the list of reasons should be how many people will you regularly be taking on it. I, for example, rarely have less than 4 people on board, and usually 6+, and that's for 3 day trips.
The 25 has a self-bailing cockpit, however, most all reports on the 22 say the cockpit stays relatively dry in practically any seas/conditions. I have owned 7 sailboats and 6 powerboats, this one for 9 years, and I still have no desire to part with my CD25, it's a keeper.
I'd say other than what has already been said re price, weight, tow vehicle and other costs, that high on the list of reasons should be how many people will you regularly be taking on it. I, for example, rarely have less than 4 people on board, and usually 6+, and that's for 3 day trips.
SEA3PO":3i8vt947 said:
I just wonder about the part you mention about the toilet, shower, etc... I know my wife very well and if she had a preference I can certainly tell you that she will not use a porta-potty. I am all for the cheapest option that will work but I just got a feeling that she would want those options.
The only way my wife would agree with purchasing a boat is if it had an enclosed head - so we purchased the CD-25, which is what I wanted anyway.
I love my boat. The boat has a sweet spot of 15-18 knots in normal conditions, although you do need to slow down when the Chesapeake get really choppy. Even in nasty conditions out on the Bay, I have never been concerned about the boat's seaworthiness - challenged yes, but never concerned.
Thanks, Dick
I love my boat. The boat has a sweet spot of 15-18 knots in normal conditions, although you do need to slow down when the Chesapeake get really choppy. Even in nasty conditions out on the Bay, I have never been concerned about the boat's seaworthiness - challenged yes, but never concerned.
Thanks, Dick