After a couple of years of getting educated by reading this excellent site, we've purchased a C-Dory! My wife and I purchased Ron's 1990 22' Cruiser which he kept at Channel Islands Harbor in California. We picked it up and trailered it down to San Diego, rented a slip over the Labor Day Weekend and did some shake-down runs. Our son and daughter-in-law live in the San Diego area so we stayed with them until we got the boat organized enough to stay a couple of nights on board. Both the 75 hp and 9.9 hp HONDA's performed well during our test runs. The boat will be re-named C-VIEW.
Our 1990 C-Dory is well 'experienced' so we've got a number of projects underway. West Marine has a 10% discount for new boat owners and they have a Super Store in San Diego. That got us started, but there are more things to purchase and more projects to complete. I retire in December so I'm looking forward to having more time to do the more complex projects such as 3 drawers under the helm seat.
We trailered the boat back to Phoenix with no problems. The trailer is a single axle EZ loader trailer. We backed it into our RV garage and were able to move it by hand to the side and still get our motorhome inside.
So where does one use a C-Dory based in Phoenix? Lake Pleasant is only 24 miles from our house. We keep our 1980 Montgomery 23 sailboat there. Most of our trips to Lake Pleasant will be on the sailboat and with our Lake Pleasant Sailing Club. But there are a number of other boating destinations where trailering is involved and it will be easier to take the C-Dory rather than the sailboat. There is Bartlett Lake (40miles), Saguaro Lake (45 miles), Canyon Lake, Lake Havasu, Lake Mohave, Lake Powell. We occasionally trailer to California and go to Catalina Island. We suspect the power boat will be an advantage as we can do the crossing in the morning before the wind and waves pick up and get a mooring while they are still available. My big plan in retirement is to visit the Pacific Northwest and cruise the San Juan Islands.
One project that has become apparent to us - we need to add an opening center front window. It is a little warm in Phoenix and the air flow will be much appreciated. Any advice on how to accomplish this will be appreciated.
Tony
Our 1990 C-Dory is well 'experienced' so we've got a number of projects underway. West Marine has a 10% discount for new boat owners and they have a Super Store in San Diego. That got us started, but there are more things to purchase and more projects to complete. I retire in December so I'm looking forward to having more time to do the more complex projects such as 3 drawers under the helm seat.
We trailered the boat back to Phoenix with no problems. The trailer is a single axle EZ loader trailer. We backed it into our RV garage and were able to move it by hand to the side and still get our motorhome inside.
So where does one use a C-Dory based in Phoenix? Lake Pleasant is only 24 miles from our house. We keep our 1980 Montgomery 23 sailboat there. Most of our trips to Lake Pleasant will be on the sailboat and with our Lake Pleasant Sailing Club. But there are a number of other boating destinations where trailering is involved and it will be easier to take the C-Dory rather than the sailboat. There is Bartlett Lake (40miles), Saguaro Lake (45 miles), Canyon Lake, Lake Havasu, Lake Mohave, Lake Powell. We occasionally trailer to California and go to Catalina Island. We suspect the power boat will be an advantage as we can do the crossing in the morning before the wind and waves pick up and get a mooring while they are still available. My big plan in retirement is to visit the Pacific Northwest and cruise the San Juan Islands.
One project that has become apparent to us - we need to add an opening center front window. It is a little warm in Phoenix and the air flow will be much appreciated. Any advice on how to accomplish this will be appreciated.

Tony