New TomCat 25

If you sign up on the BoatTEST.com web site, the video can downloaded online. Also some other data and an article is available. No cost to register.
 
rogerbum":2aybt8jk said:
If you sign up on the BoatTEST.com web site, the video can downloaded online. Also some other data and an article is available. No cost to register.
Click to expand...

Thanks Roger.
I watched the video, and noticed they still use the shortest wiper blade on the market to clean the windshield. I added 4inch longer blades to ours, and it will still take a slightly longer refill.
Ya gotta love those fish boxes. After Wefing replaced the port tank on the "Katie Kat", I noticed that they had skipped replacing the flotation in the bilge behind the tank. The factory says they determined it wasn't necessary, and have opted to leave it out. I'm giving some serious thought to adding some in deck storage on our boat. There should be enough room for a box(boxes) big enough for most snapper and grouper.
If I do it, there should be enough room after the hole(s) is cut to add some foam insulation around the existing storage area under the cockpit bench seat. Things to do............always something.
 
Yes...and I had also thought about adding the armstrong boxes to the transom of FreeByrd prior to selling her...and giving me some "non-structure" change options on the aft end of the cockpit too...

We gotta get together next time I'm down in Eastpoint Kat...and sorry we missed each other at the P'Cola show. Hope to see you (and others) 20-22Oct05 in Apalachicola Bay....

Byrdman
 
Byrdman":1shn6ens said:
Yes...and I had also thought about adding the armstrong boxes to the transom of FreeByrd prior to selling her...and giving me some "non-structure" change options on the aft end of the cockpit too...

We gotta get together next time I'm down in Eastpoint Kat...and sorry we missed each other at the P'Cola show. Hope to see you (and others) 20-22Oct05 in Apalachicola Bay....

Byrdman
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I had asked one of the folks at C-Dory(Scott), about a problem with chopping a big @ss hole(or two) in the cockpit deck (since they had done it with the 255). I haven't followed up to see if they thought it would be a structural integrity issue. He wasn't sure at the time I spoke with him if the factory had made deck changes to facilitate the in deck storage on the 255, or if I could just chop away.
 
I think Jeff is the Daddy of the TC255 and I believe he would know that right off the top of his head... in fact...when I possed my Armstrong motor box on the aft of the TC24, and doing a little retro-work in the current aft section of a TC24.... he just grinned at me as he does some times with some of my ideas...and said something to the effect of well...count on it costing about $10K. Well....OK...so I take it that it could be done...and gain about 18" in length in the cockpit...which is large. And have followed the extention job on a 22 that seems to have had pretty good results too... and having looked at TC255s sitting in the water, with twin "150ish" motors on the Armstrongs... the boat sits dead in the water with the aft end lower, or deeper than the forward end... OK... let me make sure I am saying what I want to say....i.e. the water line on the sponsons gets progressively "shallow...er" as you move forward. I recall my TC24 with twin 90's and no Armstrong boxes being "basically flat"...unless 100% topped off with fuel in both tanks filled in the water at the docks....and even then...after about 50 miles...she'd float flat again.

But...I basically chicken'd out.... and was simply afraid to make the leap of faith on my hull as the 22 extention guy did....successfully I think needs to be added. ....and.... the factory did it with the TC255!! but much heavier than the TC24 with twin 90s...

I just want a cockpit large enough to comfortably seat six folks around a table in the cockpit....and I am still looking for that boat/cockpit.
 
Thanks to Steve and Roger for the heads-up about BoatTest. I missed the broadcast yesterday, but checked it out on-line... and they even had a video on the CD-25 archived. Every bit helps when one is landlocked.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Thanks Jim, my (our) pleasure. Most all of us know what a tough time it is for you, waiting for your boat to be built. Very very tough. But I'm also a believer in the best pleasure after the MOST pain, you're gonna love the boat. Even after 3 1/2 yrs I still go out almost every night before bed and check her out and admire her lines. Dreaming of the next trip out.
 
CStandard--some of the reviews with the words spray and slam may have been written by me. I considered three boats (after a lot of sea trials and reading--mostly in the fishing forums, where the cats are harshly reviewed.) I thought that going into the waves the Glacier bay 2690 had a better ride (but that was not free of spray and some noise). I found that the engines and trim made quite a bit of difference in the two Tom Cats which I sea trailed. The World Cat also has a good reputation--but the accomidations are no where those of the Tom Cat--Also the Glacier bay has a much smaller pilot house, does not seem to have quite as good fuel economy.

If I was going to be primarilly fishing I probably would have gone with the Glacier Bay 2690--however this is only based on performance into the waves:--down wind/waves, the Tom Cat 255 wins hands down. Not only wins--but remember that one of the Glacier bay 2690's capsized in what were described as moderate conditions and there was loss of life! That chinced the deal for me!

For a cruising boat--which can run in up to 3 foot surface chop--and 6 foot seas, the Tom Cat is fine--if you want to go to 4 foot chop--and that is huge--winds in the storm category--you might be better off with another boat. However in beam seas and down wind/seas the Tom Cat 255 is much better behaved. It slow speeds/trolling--the boat handled well.

I could have purchased any of these boats. I choose the Tom Cat. Reason is accomidation and layout, 8' 6" beam for trailering, quality of construction and handling in most conditions. As for it being "Crapola"--I think you need to really rethink that statement until after you have done some serious research.

If you notice my post on the boat I trialed at Wefinger's I was running at 24/25 mph along side a Regulator, 26 degree deep V--acknowleged to be one of the, if not the best riding monohulls in 3 foot seas, with no problems, except some spray in the cockpit--and occasional spray on the windshield. The wind was in excess of 18 knots and a fetch of about 10 miles.

If you check the Power Cat forum, you will find that some designers feel that 8' 6" beam is too little for a 26 foot boat....but that is a trade off. Every boat has some trade offs. Come one down to Pensacola after the first of July and I'll give you a ride.

Regards,
 
One other item CStandard--The Tom Cat is a planing hull--the Glacier Bays and World cats are semidisplacment/displacment cats. You have to understand the theory of hull design/especially cat hull design and dynamics--but there is a difference between the semi displacement and planing cats, so that a semi displacement will do well at 15 knots, and a planing will not do as well at 15 knots. Bob Searles has a lot more experience in the S. Calif waters in his cat--and my comments were based on an hour ride. However I think if the Tom Cat 255 is properly trimmed and propped, that the speed range of 12 to 18 knots is going to be very useful, just as it is in the C Dory 22's. There is definately a difference in the handling characteristics at 20 to 22 mph--and the boat is on a plane. I suspect as people experiment with Peritrims and Doelfins that the trim issues will be resolved (the same evolution occured with the Glacier Bays, if you go back and review their history). The greatest fuel effeciency will be in the 22 knot range. I am putting Navman digital fuel flow meters, and will be able to answer this issue better when my boat is rigged and I have experience with this. Also remember that TomCat 255 are over #40 now--and there have been some significant changes from the frist boats in the brackets, monting height and props.

Regards,
 
Hey Bob... Great notes on fiddling around with things and learning your boat. One of the things I had done wrong....well, that I could have done "more effeciently" with the TC244 was to have ran her with her nose a bit lower.... I had ran her "too high"....and that may be strong...but one day had inadvertantly left the trim down a bit further than normal....and made about a 25 mile run... which was enough to show up upon re-fueling... The Navman for sure will show that too I feel with the TC255s. The cats like to run flat... and yes...they are great boats when you do some research...and you like flat one level floors...and open space instead of little slots to fit our bodies thru.

Hope to see ya soon in Eastpoint area. I heard today they finished up the paint on C-Byrd....and will start the motor retro and other stuff Friday and Monday. I should be back down mid week next week.

Byrdman
 
Hey Thataway, thanks for the information. I am planning to schedule a trip to the factory for a ride later this year.

I may just take you up on your offer!!!
 
I will have a chance to see Pat's "new" boat tomarrow. Marc tells me it came out very nicely! We pick up "Thataway" the new 255 tomarrow PM.

Regards,
 
Actually we have never named our dinghies--other than "Tender to XXXX".
However we have played with the Which a way, this a way etc. The "Thataway" came to us while we were cruising on a friends boat in New Zealand and had just purchased a Cal 46--which had been named "Amadeus"--not suitable for us. We were talking with friends on other boats on the radio (Lowell North on "Got to go" and Dick Deaver on "out o'here"--where to go?)= "Thataway". It was doubly significant, since my wife and I can never agree where we went and what we saw--so it is just easier to say "Thataway"--the logo includes a hand on each side of the "Thataway"--with fingers pointing in opposite directions!

Yes--we will keep a 6' 7" inflatable dinghy for the cabin top, but I suspect it will not be used often, since we will have a ladder on the bow as well as the "diving ladder" on the swim step. In our area of Florida, there is little tide and it is is not unusual to run the bow of the boat on the beach.

We will get an album up in the next few days--and document our rigging--We stopped and purchased some teak for the "electronics shelf" face while we were in Calif.

Regards,
 
Extremely happy to report:

I figured out how to fool the Xantrex Inverter/Charger into accepting the input from the Honda eu2000i. We now have hot water, microwave, coffee in the morning and battery charging going on, just not all at the same time.

Dive Cat is now at 100%.

Bob Cat
 
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