Question for Alaskan C-Dory Owners

K

Kahuna

New member
Hi there...

My wife and I are very new to the forum, but are determined to find a way to get into our first C-Dory. We live in Juneau, Alaska, and although we can see that a few C-Brats are from here, we haven't met anyone yet in our walks along the docks looking at boats. We've seen some really nice C-Dorys, but haven't seen the owners yet.

We've been in Juneau for over a year and are looking for a good southeast Alaska boat. As you might imagine, there are a lot of opinions about what works best (we're interested in cruising, camping, and some fishing) and we love the lines of the 22 foot Cruiser. However; many of the people I know with other kinds of boats talk about C-Dorys rolling too much since the hull isn't a deep V design. We're mostly inetersted in a safe boat with good fuel economy and will probably not venture out of the Inside Passage in our cruising.

Can anyone enlighten us? How is the C-Dory in SE Alaska? We know many of you have also cruised here as well, and we would appreciate as much feedback as we can get.

And finally, in spite of the shipping costs, we're looking for a boat, and bringing one up from the "lower 48" is certainly part of the fun of living here. We keep looking at the C-Dorys for sale on the forum, but we seem to have some difficulty getting responses to e-mails when we ask for more details.

Thanks for any help and advice!

Jim and Robin
 
A deep V will definately roll also, The roll that we get in the 22's is due to a narrow beam of 7'8". Note how low in the water the C-Dory sits. It is a very safe boat as it has the tendency to bob around in heavy seas and just do it's own thing. Many C-Dory's in Alaska and I am sure they will tell you how safe their boats are up north.
 
Jim and Mary,

Personally, I think the C-Dory is darned near the perfect Alaskan vessel. Small enough to trailer, more seaworthy than I am, and respectably economical. Either the CD22 or the CD25 are great campers and have been used by lots for folks for multi-month trips on the Inside Passage and Prince Williams Sound. They are weather tight and can be adapted to each owner's requirements (in fact, that's one of the really fun things to do ... make it Your's!)

Being as shallow draft as the CDs are, the anchoring-out options are virtually limitless, and there is nothing quite as nice as sitting in a "camper canvas enclosed" cockpit having a 'Sundowner when it's chilly and rainy.

You might search "Our C-Dory's" or "Memberlist" section on the website's homepage. You can sort by location, so there is a very good chance you'll locate the elusive CD owners in Juneau. ...and I haven't met a CD owner yet who isn't proud to show-off their vessel. You could then check the phonebook (once you get name), or even check with the Juneau Harbormaster to see who owns a particular vessel.

Good luck in your Quest!

Best,
Casey
 
Kahuna,

I agree that the C-dory hull does roll and slap in a chop, slow down and you will be fine.

I don't know how much water is too much for the hull but i"ll guarantee it is a lot more than I want to be out in.

The economy of operation is very good in comparison with many other hull designs.

We have had our1982 Angler model C-Dory since 1990.
I have used it in saltwater, lakes and rivers in Alaska,Oregon Washington and use it living a semi-subsistence life style here at Coffman Cove on the Eastern side of Prince of Wales Island.
Previous to the C-Dory I had owned 8 other boats and I have been happiest with the C-Dory.
Look in the for sale section of the C-Brats home page. MOST C-dory owners take very good care of their boat.
Buying used generally gets you good electronics and other equipment that can really add up into a Lot of $$$$.
The 22 models are cruisers (less aft fishing space) more interior room and amenities or the Angler model (more aft room for fishing shrimp and crab pots and fewer amenities and room in the cabin.
If you need more information e-mail us @ secdc@msn.com or call us (907)329-2205.
Regards, Doug and Betty Cruickshank
 
Kahuna":1lzhsxku said:
Hi there...

My wife and I are very new to the forum, but are determined to find a way to get into our first C-Dory. We live in Juneau, Alaska, and although we can see that a few C-Brats are from here, we haven't met anyone yet in our walks along the docks looking at boats. We've seen some really nice C-Dorys, but haven't seen the owners yet.

We've been in Juneau for over a year and are looking for a good southeast Alaska boat. As you might imagine, there are a lot of opinions about what works best (we're interested in cruising, camping, and some fishing) and we love the lines of the 22 foot Cruiser. However; many of the people I know with other kinds of boats talk about C-Dorys rolling too much since the hull isn't a deep V design. We're mostly inetersted in a safe boat with good fuel economy and will probably not venture out of the Inside Passage in our cruising.

Can anyone enlighten us? How is the C-Dory in SE Alaska? We know many of you have also cruised here as well, and we would appreciate as much feedback as we can get.

And finally, in spite of the shipping costs, we're looking for a boat, and bringing one up from the "lower 48" is certainly part of the fun of living here. We keep looking at the C-Dorys for sale on the forum, but we seem to have some difficulty getting responses to e-mails when we ask for more details.

Thanks for any help and advice!

Jim and Robin
Click to expand...


Can't imagine SE being any worse than SC, Cook Inlet, Resurection Bay, North Gulf Coast, PWS etc. I have owned the JMR II since 2001 & love it. Even after recently purchaseing a 2003 25' Cruiser I still have to take the 22' out. You will not be dissapointed with a 22 C-Dory.

Tim sturm
ps JMR II will be for sale here shortly(a wife thing) :roll:
 
I think the 22 C-dory is the perfect "inside passage" boat. It does have the capability for getting out into open waters when the seas aren't too bad, but many hard core fishermen types will prefer a deep V boat, because it will usually allow them to get out to the fishing grounds a little quicker in rough water. In the C-Dory you do need to slow down when it gets rough, or else it will pound.

In protected waters the dory hull really shines. it gets on step quicker than a deep v, and cruises much more economically. The shallow draft is really great for getting into tight anchorages and "gunk holing". If your priorities are cruising economically in inside waters, you won't go wrong with the C-Dory.

If you want to buy one outside (in the pacific north west), cruising it up to Juneau is a very viable option, and many brats have made the trip. Look in the "grand adventures" forum, or search "inside passage", and you'll find many accounts and lots of info for making the trip. If you need to, it's easy to ship the trailer up to Juneau from Bellingham on the Ak Marine Highway (the ferry).

Good luck.
 
Good morning Jim and Robin.
I live in Craig, on the west side of Prince of Wales Island in SE AK.
We have six C-Dory's in our area: 1- 16' Angler, 4- 22' classic Angler's and 1- later model 22' angler. Three 22' classic Angler's are rigged and used for commercial fishing, (hand trolling and halibut IFQ's). The 16' sport fishes the inside water, while the 22' Anglers can be seen on inside and outside waters.

My 1989 22' Angler is a retired commercial boat. We find it to be a very safe boat ...... knowing it's history and the weather it's fished in helps.
I run Honda's (90 and 9.9). I don't have trim tab's and feel I don't need em.

I find that on the outside water's and fishing in the drift, our Angler bobs like a cork. When running, we quarter in and have no problems coming and going.

On inside water, we cruise at 18K in calm seas and pull back to 7-8K in chop.
If fishing in the wind and tide pull, we do get blown around and spend alot of time correcting with the trolling motor. Really no big deal.

Many who talk about C-Dory's- have never riden on one..... But they sure do notice them. It is really nice to have a cabin that is dry and warm..... with a place to nap too. You can't go wrong becoming a C-Dory owner ...... just don't push the wx. jer
 
Wow...what a great set of answers! We appreciate the responses and the private messages as well, and have to say that you have alleviated any doubts we might have had.

We're still looking for a 22' Cruiser, and hopefully will find the right one through the C-Brats.

You are all great and really helpful!

Thanks,
Jim and Robin
 
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