New TomCat 25

Thanks for the info, Bob. I did read the thread, but was looking for any additional data now that a few people have their boats.

Thank you also for the offer to check out your boat. It would be fun to see it in action. Plus, I'm PADI certified, though I haven't had a chance to godive in awhile. The water has to be pretty warm for me to enjoy it! I'll keep your offer in mind as your delivery date gets nearer. I realize from reading this thread that yours has taken a bit longer because of you modifications. Do you have a sense of the usual delivery time from when an order is placed?

I believe the boat here belongs to Cutter and if it doesn't sell at the show (or maybe even if it does!) I should be able to take a test ride soon if weather permits.
 
Norma, et al

Boy, that's a question better answered by Jeff Messmer or Scott Mathews at the factory. When my hull was coming through, they were still doing modifications and going through their own learning curves. Now, the factory processes are probably much more streamlined. More space has been allocated as well as more people trained.

My hull was sent to EQ Marine without brackets, engines or any instrumentation. It has taken extra time there with 2 vacation breaks (20 days) and the boat show (10 days, with travel). EQ works 5 days a week, while C-Dory works 6 with a larger crew available.

You might touch base with Brent and Dixie (Discovery) to see how long there's took for rigging at C-Dory. I know Brent was allowed to jump in and help some.

Bob Cat
 
Norma,

Having heard the rumors at Seattle Boat Show, you may be lucky to have a TC255 by this summer. But Jeff or Scott can tell you for sure.

Meanwhile,you might want to check the C-Dorys For Sale posting on the right column of the home page. There are at least one, possibly two of the 24's for sale at a substantial saving, I can attest!

Bob Cat
 
Reflection from GoLight

I've seen some good information on another thread about spotlight reflection back into the cabin from the rails on the bow. And it was brought up at the SBS. Sounds like light may reflect off of all the white deck, too. I've got a plug-in portable for aft in the cockpit also because I need 360 degree sweep for night diving. Just one crew to assist, normally.

It sounds like a solution may be to either change the mount position to the rail at the bow pulpit, or cover the rails with a snap on sunbrella thing. Any input will be appreciated. We'll take a look at the reflection factor on the 14th when we arrive at EQ for sea trials.

Bob Cat
 
To eliminate the reflection on the bow pulpit w/o having a custom Sunbrrella cover made, but for occasional use only, one could take a couple of elastic
ACE Bandages and dye them waterproof black to wrap the pulpit with. Just an idea. Joe.
 
Bob,
Since Les is the expert on installing the Go-Light on the bow pulpit of "Sea Shift" and "Da Nag", you are on the right track. (Should you decide to leave your Go-Light where you have it, another suggestion for covering your bow pulpit to eliminate glare would be possibly some of that pipe insulation foam. You could easily slip that on with a velcro wrap strap, then it would be "easy on/easy off, and then only have it in place when you feel that you need it).
 
Hi To all,

Pat and I got our first look at the new cat at the Baltimore show. I was very impressed, the large berth is really super. I think that the boat would be wonderful for extended cruising. Since we had a Rosborough at one time it was nice to compare the dorys and the 245 side by side. I think the new cat has more storage room that the 245 Ros. Cutter sure has the market covered with solid pocket cruisers. Oh, in case you were wondering we still love our 22 footer. It tows very well and that is way we have her.

Fred and Pat
 
Hi, C-Brats and Cat Brats

Update: Les is finishing up Dive Cat this week and may have already put her in the water to check things out. The final equipment to be installed is the aft steering/engine controls. We had to give up on the Morse ones and go with Kobelt, due to the very limited space available under the transom mount. Les says they look great, so now we'll see if they work just as great.

All the arrangements have been made. Katy, Mika the Dog, and I leave Monday morning. Should be at EQ on Wednesday. Couple of days on the water and leave Saturday, going straight to the hp compressor shop down here for the final install. In the water here probably 2 weeks from today.

How does March 4 sound for a Coming Out Party?

I think I'll catch the last 2 weeks of lobster season. The freezer is empty.

Bob Cat
 
Hey Bob That IS AWESOME report Brother. I know you will be just beside yourself with excitement. Not familiar with the controls for the aft cockpit, but I feel 100% sure if Les says it is the best thing...than for sure it is for your set up and your particular rig. :thup

You know, one of the best laughs I had at the show and factory was when Jeff and Scott were up front giving away door prizes and they indicated Les had provided a door prize. Les was towards the back of the room next to me and I jokingly said...."Les, that was mighty nice of you to give that door price of BobCat FREE installation and installment...." I thought Les was going to swallow his tongue..... :smileo :wink :D

After you pay him..... and just for kicks and grins.... with your boat being one of the 1st TCs he has set up, and I can not think of much more that could have been put on it.... it would be neat to get an estimate of the hours he and his shop put on your boat, and, how many it would take if they had to do another like it. He has done some great work. The results being is your vessel is for sure a mixture of art and science for sure. You have a winner I think for sure.

Talked with Marc in FL down at Weflings. Going to take my boat down to him for the annual going over/maintenance, and get him to re-paint the bottom and some other little details as to get FreeByrd back up to "better than new" condition. They had just received their 1st RC-21EC, and I may even go down and help them at the Tallahassee show 24-26Feb06. Not looking like things are going to work for me to fly down to Miami. Too many things going on and getting ready to hit the road soon for Bonnie Plant Farm.

Thanks for the update...have safe travels....send pics/reports when you can. Would also like to get a good weight on the trailer once you have water tested her good and en-route back to CA for a good weight of the rig.

Watching for the adoption papers on me.

Byrdman
 
Hi, Brother Byrdman

Ya know, that air conditioning system on Hunky Dory/Cayman would just fit into the cabinet under the sink. Hmmmmmmm.

When it's all over and the tally is in I'll make information available. Keep in mind that many hours were spent doing F&T work, that is, Figuring and Trying. Some things worked right away, but many things didn't. I was really amazed at the show to see so much stuff installed but the boat still looked pretty normal. Utilizing all the little nooks and crannies and working around the compressor was a real challenge. I personally have a hard time replacing a water heater at home! It's amazing what Les and his team have accomplished.

Anyway, I'm sure Les has a pretty good idea now of the challenges of a TomCat hull vs a C-Dory. We'll review the hours spent. I'd like to be able to be informative to curious folks down here and perhaps start a litter of little Cats in SoCal.

As I said at the Seattle Gathering, anyone interested in seeing/riding better get up to EQ quick. We will be leaving the building a week from today.

Bob Cat
 
My thoughts on the AC were leaning towards room in one of the forward sponsons...... I realy use the room under the sink for food and cooking stuff... I do not really use the room in the sponsons forward ......and, I have not really used the AC except at night to sleep... but I would not have the boat without the AC for the summer heat/humidity down here...(again.) Going to have to look at routing the vents/ducts. I think really once you turn the air over a couple/few times and take the humidity out more than lowering the temp makes a large differance. And, that big ol ugly 20" box fan for $10 at WalMart really circulates the air anywhere in the cabin... just point it from or to where ever you want the air moved to or from. She is ugly...but she is functional too.... and adds a bit of "white noise" as to keep the things around the boat from interupting a good sleep.
 
For moiving a lot of air around the cabin while still limited to 12 volts, a Fantastic Endless Breeze three speed fan is a great and efficient addition.

http://www.fantasticvent.com/products/e ... reeze.html

Operates from about 1.18 to 2.6 amps of draw, and moves at least one half the amount of your 20 inch 120 ACV Wally Wind Generator.

It's relatively small, just about 14 1/2 by 14, and less than 4 inches deep. Has feet that fold away, but can be mounted from the celing.

http://www.andybaird.com/travels/gertie/fans.htm

AND:

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/lw5315us/ ... /my_photos

Much simpler and less expensive than real AC in our dry climate!

Joe.
 
Yes Joe those are great fans. Some of the guys on our dock have them. They are much easier on the battery too as you pointed out. And, a lot of boats do not have the 1800 watt inverters. Nice post.
 
Jammin gave us a tip a couple years ago about the Caframo 747 fan - the things work great, are dead quiet, and sip the juice - according to his testing, they use .8 amp at high .5 at low. They throw out a ton of volume, and with the suction cup and swivel head, you can stick them just about anywhere.

Here's a link to West Marine with a pic, but you can find them cheaper.
 
We use the 12 volt fantastic fan to push air in the foreward hatch. Just wire tie two 3/8" x 24" dowling rods to suspend it in the hatch.
 
Good idea about the hatch application, Bob!

I have three Calaframo fans that have oscillating heads on them.

One is fix mounted , the other two are on clamps that can be moved around with cigarette lighter pigtail plugs on them.

They work as cooling fans, defrosters, and cooking odor dissipators.

Good, quality equipment from Boat U. S, W/M, etc.

But the new Endless Breeze from Fantastic is a much stronger fan that is more efficient and quieter. Well worth the estra $$$.

Use Froggle or similar to reduce the cost from $90 to $60.

Joe.
 
Hi, Everyone

Bob Cat, Katy, and Mika The Dog made it home with Dive Cat in tow! And we saw another C-Dory pass in the opposite direction on I-5 about 2pm north of the Grapevine, white with grey trim, 25 cruiser, I think.

So, after Mika locked us out of the truck at EQ . . . and after the 4am fire alarm in Auburn when it was freeeeeeezing outside, and after the hold-back wire on the trailer winch broke somewhere on the Grapevine to allow the boat to slip back about 8", we made it to the parking lot of the ramp at Marina del Rey.

Tomorrow morning we meet a couple guys from Santa Barbara who will go on a test drive, but first I think I'll see if anything shook loose. There are some pretty rugged stretches of I-5, especially in the right lane.

A lot to report and I'll get back as soon as possible. We drop her off Wednesday to get the compressor hooked up.

Patrick, congratulations on the sale of FreeByrd! They changed my cockpit drains on the way down. C'mon out for a few days and check it out.

Bob Cat
 
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