New TomCat 25
- Thread starter TyBoo
- Start date
Wow! I didn't realize how much storage there is on a TC255 until I starting hiding stuff away for the coming-out party on Saturday!
I put the Honda 2000 down inside the port sponson under the bed, along with all the bedding, pillows, and the dive ladder. I still have the stb. space forward and 2/3 of the cupboard and cabinets.
Compressor Guy finished his work, so next is to install the exhaust pipe from the honda motor through the transom and out the stb stern side. Got all the hardware. This will be my first drill through the hull. How does that go . . . measure once . . . no, drill once, then measure . . . no, well, I'll try to remember before I commit steel to fiberglass!
Got her back safe in the water and took her out into 3-5 foot chop yesterday. Didn't have a lot of time to cover much water, but she rode easily at 22 kts, but dropping to 1.9-2.0 miles per gal in those windy and rough conditions.
Bob Cat
I put the Honda 2000 down inside the port sponson under the bed, along with all the bedding, pillows, and the dive ladder. I still have the stb. space forward and 2/3 of the cupboard and cabinets.
Compressor Guy finished his work, so next is to install the exhaust pipe from the honda motor through the transom and out the stb stern side. Got all the hardware. This will be my first drill through the hull. How does that go . . . measure once . . . no, drill once, then measure . . . no, well, I'll try to remember before I commit steel to fiberglass!
Got her back safe in the water and took her out into 3-5 foot chop yesterday. Didn't have a lot of time to cover much water, but she rode easily at 22 kts, but dropping to 1.9-2.0 miles per gal in those windy and rough conditions.
Bob Cat
Bob,
Nice to see that this project is finally coming to an end. Now the period of enjoyment and exploration. Wish we were closer, we would like to be at the Dive Cat Christening party. Need to see a bunch of new pix of the finished boat, and the party.
I will try to post some pix of the finished Discovery over the next few days. We returned from Texas yesterday (Wed.) and are unpacking. Anxious to get to Lake Powell with Discovery. We camped Tues. night at the old Hite Marina. Just happened to be on the way home, and we wanted to get a look at the lake level.
Brent
Nice to see that this project is finally coming to an end. Now the period of enjoyment and exploration. Wish we were closer, we would like to be at the Dive Cat Christening party. Need to see a bunch of new pix of the finished boat, and the party.
I will try to post some pix of the finished Discovery over the next few days. We returned from Texas yesterday (Wed.) and are unpacking. Anxious to get to Lake Powell with Discovery. We camped Tues. night at the old Hite Marina. Just happened to be on the way home, and we wanted to get a look at the lake level.
Brent
Bob, Brent, others,
I saw the Tomcat 255 at the Alameda Boat Show in the Bay Area; very nice boat! My wife liked the Tomcat the best of all of the 25 footers we saw at the show, including the other C-Dory's. She particularly liked the large windows and the flat floor from cockpit to cabin; it would be easier for her to see the Orcas out of the Tomcat, she pronounced.
I got to go for a test drive on one. Bill at Outboard Motor Shop took me and a buddy out for a couple of hours a couple of weeks ago. Pretty nice. It is a huge boat for its size, it seems to me. And it liked planing speed, though with no bow rise you had to double check whether you were planing or not, it was so smooth! And it seemed to like having a little speed much more than idling - was smoother with no water slap. We "sneezed" when we dropped off plane and fell into a bay roller.
The Tomcat 255 has two fuel tanks. Are they completely separate units or connected in some way? How does a fuel flow meter calculate fuel usage with the two tanks?
With so much glass area, I could see the benefit of having window shades or curtains, or even tinting the glass. I wonder where this falls on your list of to-do's?
I have lots more questions, and with your indulgence thought I would begin with these. Thanks in advance.
As I posted elsewhere, C-Brats is a terrific site. And it seems like the C-Dory community is a great one. I'm a year or so away from getting a bigger boat, and it is going to be a lot of fun to evaluate the choices .... C-Dory 22 (flatter floor than the 25), Tomcat 255. Thanks for your help in my evaluation!
Safe boating,
Hoop
17' Whaler owner, San Jose, CA, and Friday Harbor, WA
USPS Vessel safety examiner
I saw the Tomcat 255 at the Alameda Boat Show in the Bay Area; very nice boat! My wife liked the Tomcat the best of all of the 25 footers we saw at the show, including the other C-Dory's. She particularly liked the large windows and the flat floor from cockpit to cabin; it would be easier for her to see the Orcas out of the Tomcat, she pronounced.
I got to go for a test drive on one. Bill at Outboard Motor Shop took me and a buddy out for a couple of hours a couple of weeks ago. Pretty nice. It is a huge boat for its size, it seems to me. And it liked planing speed, though with no bow rise you had to double check whether you were planing or not, it was so smooth! And it seemed to like having a little speed much more than idling - was smoother with no water slap. We "sneezed" when we dropped off plane and fell into a bay roller.
The Tomcat 255 has two fuel tanks. Are they completely separate units or connected in some way? How does a fuel flow meter calculate fuel usage with the two tanks?
With so much glass area, I could see the benefit of having window shades or curtains, or even tinting the glass. I wonder where this falls on your list of to-do's?
I have lots more questions, and with your indulgence thought I would begin with these. Thanks in advance.
As I posted elsewhere, C-Brats is a terrific site. And it seems like the C-Dory community is a great one. I'm a year or so away from getting a bigger boat, and it is going to be a lot of fun to evaluate the choices .... C-Dory 22 (flatter floor than the 25), Tomcat 255. Thanks for your help in my evaluation!
Safe boating,
Hoop
17' Whaler owner, San Jose, CA, and Friday Harbor, WA
USPS Vessel safety examiner
Hi, Hoop
Fuel: I have a switch for feed from port or stb tank. The flow measuring device is between that and the engines. You always know what your consumption rate is.
"Curtains" are a high priority. Especially the head! For the head, I'm installing a roll-down privacy shade fore and aft. I missed the measurements and have to send them back for modification. For the future, install the brackets you will use, measure the distance between, and put the little control chain on the outboard side on both of them.
For the other curtains, Fishtales provided the solution: Put a mesh sun filter on the first layer over each window connected by snaps, then have a "black out" layer over that for complete privacy when you choose.
WARNING! The back door is all glass. I have walked into the closed door 3 times . . . . . today! I'm putting a dive flag sticker there asap!
Katy and I covered about 25 miles of gently rolling 2-3' seas today. Beautiful weather. Talked in normal voices. Speed from 22-30 kts at 45 degrees to the swell. Warm, dry. Gotta get that Sirius satelite installed! Mika The Dog hasn't found her sea legs yet. Her happiest time was coming back in the channel to Marina Del Rey.
We have pictures, but I left the camera on the boat.
Bob Cat
Fuel: I have a switch for feed from port or stb tank. The flow measuring device is between that and the engines. You always know what your consumption rate is.
"Curtains" are a high priority. Especially the head! For the head, I'm installing a roll-down privacy shade fore and aft. I missed the measurements and have to send them back for modification. For the future, install the brackets you will use, measure the distance between, and put the little control chain on the outboard side on both of them.
For the other curtains, Fishtales provided the solution: Put a mesh sun filter on the first layer over each window connected by snaps, then have a "black out" layer over that for complete privacy when you choose.
WARNING! The back door is all glass. I have walked into the closed door 3 times . . . . . today! I'm putting a dive flag sticker there asap!
Katy and I covered about 25 miles of gently rolling 2-3' seas today. Beautiful weather. Talked in normal voices. Speed from 22-30 kts at 45 degrees to the swell. Warm, dry. Gotta get that Sirius satelite installed! Mika The Dog hasn't found her sea legs yet. Her happiest time was coming back in the channel to Marina Del Rey.
We have pictures, but I left the camera on the boat.
Bob Cat
Hoop-
I owned my CD-22 for a year before I found out that the tinted windows in it were not standard!
Nonetheless, I wouldn't be withut them- a dark limo tint on the sides and rear with a slightly lighter tint on the front. Easy on the eyes and adds a lot of privacy, both during the day and even at night with overhead lights around that add reflective glare and mask the view to the inside.
If you can do it yourself, fine. I replaced one dcracked window and did the tinting myself, which came out ok, but would probably pay a shop to do the whole boat right, as the cutting has to be exact and the control of bubbles is something that takes some learning to get right and under control.
Joe.
I owned my CD-22 for a year before I found out that the tinted windows in it were not standard!
Nonetheless, I wouldn't be withut them- a dark limo tint on the sides and rear with a slightly lighter tint on the front. Easy on the eyes and adds a lot of privacy, both during the day and even at night with overhead lights around that add reflective glare and mask the view to the inside.
If you can do it yourself, fine. I replaced one dcracked window and did the tinting myself, which came out ok, but would probably pay a shop to do the whole boat right, as the cutting has to be exact and the control of bubbles is something that takes some learning to get right and under control.
Joe.
Bob Cat-
My wife doesn't stay with me in the boat overnight.
In the marina on Shasta Lake, I rarely have anyone staying within 5-10 or more boats of me at night.
I often stay out on the lake instead of the marina as well- in a cove by myself, usually.
I'm not known for exhibitionist behavior, nude bathing, or flagrant violations of good taste. And if they don't know about it, it doesn't matter anyway!
I have thought of rigging rope lights around the cabin to generate a light shield of glare and reflections to mask off the view inside the cabin, but haven't gotten around to experimenting with the lights yet! Same for the behavior that needs to be hidden from view inside the cabin.
The thought of making or having made up window shades just doesn't seem to get very high on the project list.
Joe.
My wife doesn't stay with me in the boat overnight.
In the marina on Shasta Lake, I rarely have anyone staying within 5-10 or more boats of me at night.
I often stay out on the lake instead of the marina as well- in a cove by myself, usually.
I'm not known for exhibitionist behavior, nude bathing, or flagrant violations of good taste. And if they don't know about it, it doesn't matter anyway!
I have thought of rigging rope lights around the cabin to generate a light shield of glare and reflections to mask off the view inside the cabin, but haven't gotten around to experimenting with the lights yet! Same for the behavior that needs to be hidden from view inside the cabin.
The thought of making or having made up window shades just doesn't seem to get very high on the project list.
Joe.
Thanks, Joe
Roger (Fishtales) is coming by tomorrow for the christening party. I'll visit with him about this, too. Population density is pretty high at the moorings here. Even in a cove at the islands, you may have new neighbors at any time.
I'd like to do something pretty soon to cut down on daytime glare. And does the dark limo tint greatly affect visibility out at night on the sides?
It's raining this morning, so I'll work on the inside for awhile. Let's see how many times I walk into the door today.
Bob Cat
Roger (Fishtales) is coming by tomorrow for the christening party. I'll visit with him about this, too. Population density is pretty high at the moorings here. Even in a cove at the islands, you may have new neighbors at any time.
I'd like to do something pretty soon to cut down on daytime glare. And does the dark limo tint greatly affect visibility out at night on the sides?
It's raining this morning, so I'll work on the inside for awhile. Let's see how many times I walk into the door today.
Bob Cat
Bob,
We are in the process of making inside window coverings. Bought some Hemlock Tweed Sunbrella fabric on Ebay that matches our seats. Will install snaps around the windows, like the privacy covers in the head, that came from C-Dory. Will post pics when finished.
I moved the trailer brake actuator and the battery/emergency stop setup. I put it on a bracket that's mounted to the front of the bottom step. This raised it up 10 1/2" Should solve some of the launch/load issues. Pix to come later.
Brent
We are in the process of making inside window coverings. Bought some Hemlock Tweed Sunbrella fabric on Ebay that matches our seats. Will install snaps around the windows, like the privacy covers in the head, that came from C-Dory. Will post pics when finished.
I moved the trailer brake actuator and the battery/emergency stop setup. I put it on a bracket that's mounted to the front of the bottom step. This raised it up 10 1/2" Should solve some of the launch/load issues. Pix to come later.
Brent
BOB, yes it is great all the storage areas on the TomCats, and I had the small one...but the problem I had was not remembering I stuck something somewhere...and forgot just where that was and would frequently do "hole inventories" as to find things... But, with time ya learn to put things in the best spot for your use and the hunting starts to decrease. Sure wish I could be there with you guys..but, will be heading NE to my Pushing Plants for Boating Fund project for the next four months. I used dark blue great ol big beach towels for curtains. Kept all my towels folded in the aft dinette seat area to be quickly available for someone coming aboard wet that needed one, and then just used those dark black spring loaded plastic plier looking clamps to clamp them up when needed. I just left the clamps in place on the windows... which kept them real convienant and spread out for those moments you need a little help with "hold that.." And then too... the towels were dual purpose, could easily be taken down to clean... I can relate to the clear door too... 
Hi, Hoop[
Helm control forward is hydraulic steering to each engine, so no tie bars between the engines. This allows divers to come up the ladder between with no obstacles.
The Raymarine device to the lower left of the wheel is the auto-pilot. It works great!
At the aft steering station, the engine toggle that turns the engines port or stb runs through the "manual" mode of the auto pilot. If I toggle port, the engines move to port. If I release, the engines center automatically.
The transmission/speed controls at the aft station are actually the primary controls. My controls at the helm are slave. So, I steer with the left hand and control the engines with the right. As Brother Byrdman would say, "sweet".
Bob Cat
Helm control forward is hydraulic steering to each engine, so no tie bars between the engines. This allows divers to come up the ladder between with no obstacles.
The Raymarine device to the lower left of the wheel is the auto-pilot. It works great!
At the aft steering station, the engine toggle that turns the engines port or stb runs through the "manual" mode of the auto pilot. If I toggle port, the engines move to port. If I release, the engines center automatically.
The transmission/speed controls at the aft station are actually the primary controls. My controls at the helm are slave. So, I steer with the left hand and control the engines with the right. As Brother Byrdman would say, "sweet".
Bob Cat
Bob,
Are there snap studs in the head window corners? They would be in place of the screws that attach the windows, on the inside, 8 screws, 2 per corner. That's how the covers attach. If the studs exist, then you're covers may have been misplaced during the long rigging process.
Brent
Are there snap studs in the head window corners? They would be in place of the screws that attach the windows, on the inside, 8 screws, 2 per corner. That's how the covers attach. If the studs exist, then you're covers may have been misplaced during the long rigging process.
Brent
Posted a pix of my solution to the TC255 trailer launch and load problem. I moved the electric/hydraulic actuator up 10 1/2". Placed it on the level of the bottom trailer step, and also relocated the emergency stop battery to the same level. This will allow me to back in 10 1/2" deeper. Maybe stop the anchor from hooking on the bow stop, on launch and loading.
See pix #22 in the Cygnet, Discovery sub album. Also included some new pix of the latest additions to Discovery.
Brent
See pix #22 in the Cygnet, Discovery sub album. Also included some new pix of the latest additions to Discovery.
Brent
Hi, Guys and Gals
Great Christening Party!!!! Thank you for participating. We threw champayne all over the boat with the last group standing, christening her "Dive Cat" and not slurring a single sylable . . . I think.
What a wonderful day, the culmination of 14 months from order. And thank you, again, so much for participating!!!
did i thank you for participating?!?!?
Dive Cat has many years ahead of her and, as her Captain, I can guarantee participation in many C-Gatherings.
Looking forward to a C-Future,
Bob Cat
Great Christening Party!!!! Thank you for participating. We threw champayne all over the boat with the last group standing, christening her "Dive Cat" and not slurring a single sylable . . . I think.
What a wonderful day, the culmination of 14 months from order. And thank you, again, so much for participating!!!
did i thank you for participating?!?!?
Dive Cat has many years ahead of her and, as her Captain, I can guarantee participation in many C-Gatherings.
Looking forward to a C-Future,
Bob Cat