Question For Warm Climate C-Dory Owners...

J

JamesTXSD

Active member
I have waited almost a year for this, and I am really excited. My wife just booked us flights so we can do the Seattle Boat Show. This will be our first look at a shiny C-Dory in all its glory. We are in deep south Texas on the Gulf, where it gets a tad warm along about August or so. Now, it's always cooler on the water, but how are you warm climate C-Dory owners keeping your boats cool? I saw that interesting thread on the Hunky-Dory in the Caymans... and we have a Honda generator. We have been sailors and haven't felt the need for A/C on any of our sailboats... but they have not been pilothouse boats with lots of windows like the CD. The boat is so cool - how are you keeping yourselves cool? TIA.

Best wishes,
James TX/SD
 
James, we're on the Chesapeake, pretty warm in the summer. I find that if you :beer :beer :beer but not too much, you'll be fine.

Seriously (almost was), there are lots of little 12v fans on the market that will keep you cool and one of those awning type scoops over the front hatch will bring a lot of air into the sleeping area. Just need to rig a hanger to hold it up. On the sailboat, it wasn't a problem.

One of those A/C units would be sweet though..... :thup :thup

Charlie
 
James,

You're really not very far from the latitudes of the Cayman Islands!

There are 3 wonderful things that stand out about this moment in human history: Fresh potable running water at your sink, indoor plumbing (with flush option), and air conditioning. That's why there's anyone down where you are anyway, right?

Having lived in Texas and Louisiana for many years, traveled the entire Gulf coast several times and worked on the waters of the Gulf of Mexico from Alabama to the Yucatan, I stronly suggest you consider the AC, especially since you have the Honda. Why are we even having the discussion? Plan for the AC.

Sorry I'll miss you at the SBS, but have a great time!

Bob Cat
 
Indoor plumbing? Isn't that just a fad?

Lattitude 26 here - about the same as Ft. Lauderdale... without all the people, the gazillion dollar yachts, and the money to keep 'em going.

Talking with Scott today, he mentioned that plenty of C-Dory owners have come from a sailing background. I've read plenty here about the great ride these boats provide... what's it like at anchor?

Best wishes,
James TX/SD
 
JamesTXSD":1ddx6aey said:
I've read plenty here about the great ride these boats provide... what's it like at anchor?
Best wishes,
James TX/SD
Click to expand...


Answer: SLOW :wink


Sorry, James I couldn't resist this one word reply to your question. I actually haven't anchored out much, but I do know that once you get hooked on a C-Dory you'll not want another boat!

BTW, James welcome aboard! Glad you're going to make it to the Seattle Boat Show!
 
At anchor or at a dock, the flat bottom of a C-Dory provides a very stable platform. In my opinion, this is where the "ride" of this hull is the best relative to say a deep V-hull. While moving in slight chop, the deep V gives a better ride.

Roger on the SeaDNA
 
James-

The flat, wide bottom combined with the moderate "v" in the bow do indeed provide for a very stable ride at anchor, providing of course, that the chop and swell are reasonable.

The C-Dory rides on top and over the waves as compared to a sailboat (keelboat) that rides through them, though, so when the chop and swell get going, the surface rider will buck a bit more or so. The lack of a keel is also a factor in determining how quiet the C-Dory will ride as well when compared to a keelboat.

One other factor is the relative high windage of the C-Dory and it's relative forward center placement with the cabin. As a result, the boat tends to wander or "search' more in shifty winds. This can be somewhat controlled with side curtains on the rear canvas top to add rear windage for a more balanced linear stability, and by using an all chain rode.

There are lots of experienced sailboat folks here, and we have a special understanding to share with each other and all the rest of our friends.

Joe.
 
Sorry I haven't read your inquiry much earlier;I'm not a regular on this site, although I need to be. We are in Central Florida, along the Atlantic Coast. It gets pretty warm here in summers, no doubt. With the forward window open, and the door open, cruising is comfortable. At night, the 12v fans help, if staying onboard. We do not have A/C. If you haven't ordered yet, definitely get the opening forword window, and the screen for the door. Add fans in the cabin and v-berth, if possible. Hope this helps.

Gary Lee/Hunky Dory
captainriver@juno.com
 
Air conditioning on a C-Dory just got a lot easier with the application of this smallish unit that will run off the Honda 1000i by Craig of the Hunky Dory / Cayman Islands.

I can survive in Northern California with 90-110 degree dry heat and fresh water with the liberal use of fans and a freqeuent dunking overboard. The nights do cool off reasonably to about 70 degrees, and I hesitate to add one more system that takes up permanent space, as there's just so much room aboard a 22.

However, I wouldn't hesitate at all to add the AC unit if I operated in warm tropical salt waters with high humidity and especially if planning on sleeping aboard. It would be the sine quo non of making the C-Dory comfortably usable under those conditions. :smiled

Joe.
 
I just purchased a new Honda EU-3000 for $1400. I know it may be a bit overkill but I couldn't pass up the savings. It's Db rating is between 48 and 54 and I can plug my shore power cord right into the unit. On the negative side it weighs about 134 lbs (if I remember right) but with only my wife and I on board I'm not too concern. We live in the North East and always have power outages during the winter so the generator is a major plus here to.
I plan on purchasing a A/C roof top unit like used on RV ( unless someone has a better suggestion)
This generator is unbeliably quiet.
We had a Tayana 37 for about 10 years and just sold it this past fall. Health problems made it rough to maintain. We had been looking at the CD-25's since 2003 and are looking forward to doing a lot of traveling with it accross the US as did the previous owners did. The generator will be very helpful to keeping my wife "Happy" need I say more.
 
Chuck, I would think that the little marine unit that Hunky Dory in the Caymens just put in would be far superior to the roof unit. You don't wanna look like a "camper".

Charlie
 
Also, I would not discount the value of window shades to cut down on the greenhouse effect. I never thougth we'd use ours, but they are invaluable.
Al
 
Chuck-

One more thing-

When adding a heater or air conditioner to a boat the size of a C-Dory, it's important not to have such an oversize unit that it has to cycle on and off constantly which will happen if the output is over sized for the small volume of the cabin.

This happens when a Toyotomi, Webasto, or Espar diesel forced air heating unit is installed on a 22 or even a 25, for instance.

Best to have a heater or AC unit that can be "ON" constantly with the rate adjusted down to match the need, rather to cycle on and off every 5 minutes or so.

The unit Charlie mentions is about 5.5-6.5 thousand BTU's (2 models), while most RV units are about 13,000 BTUs. They do, however, have a high and low setting, and, fortunately, a thermostat. They can also be equipped with a 6-7,000 BTU heat strip for heating, which is a real advantage!

I'd suggest you take a close look at that RV AC unit's BTU capacity and how the blower and refrigeration functions operate to see if it can be throttled down to avoid constant on/off cycling, which you'll also notice as the load cycles up and down on your generator.

My $0.02!!! Good Luck! Joe.
 
James, having just survived one of the hottest summers in Florida's recent history, I can tell you that our C-Dory with an aft bimini is a vast improvement over our 22' Chris Craft walk around in the summer sun and heat. With all windows and hatches open, it's quite comfortable without air conditioning! Like they say, a small fan helps, but we haven't even felt the need for that, I guess because we're on the coast and always have a nice breeze.

We have more problems with the "no see em's" then the heat, but then Rich on the "Don Quoite" told us how to solve that problem. From the inside, spray the screens with bug juice. The first time we did that at the Chesapeake Gathering, in the morning the deck under the window was BLACK with "no see ems" WHICH WERE NOW "SEE EMS". :smile
 
Chuck-

Two more thoughts about the RV AC unit, which I've considered before as a choice for the CD-22, prior to the latest developments:

The standard RV AC unit weighs about 110 lbs, which does not preclude its use on the cabin top, but the weight would definitely have some effect on the rolling motion of the boat when placed at that height.

The other thought is that the air volume of the typical RV unit is quite high, even on low, and might be a bit much with the low roof of the boat and small cabin.

None of these or the other factors above preclude the use of the RV unit on a C-Dory, but are just factors to consider when weighing the various choices available.

Joe.
 
As another 12 month of the year boater.... if you are going to sleep comfortably often, and I mean sleep...not pass out, I, again....I want and need the AC. The 1st summer I used the fans blowing over the ice chest with damp towel on my chest gig.... and it was OK, and much better than no ice and just the fans blowing.... Originaly desinged for one of the Mermaid AC units and an on board generator, we were going to put the "box" under the sink area. Then, in Nov/Dec03 when Les was putting the "cruise package" on my boat, some of the parts for the duct work were not available....thus, we made the descision to simply send what had come in back....and forgo the AC and generator at the time. On summer #2, I had a brain dump one morning while laying in the bunk dripping in the humidity, looking out the aft window opening...and thought .... :idea :idea just build an AC stand like the TV stands used in the briefing rooms, and point it into the window. :idea :idea It worked great...and the "proto-type" stand and window unit can be seen in the FreeByrd photo albumn on this site. Got $118 invested, it can be removed during the cooler moths of the years, (need AC for about 4-5months), ZERO HOLES were drilled ANYWHERE in the boat for mounting/dismounting. All accomplished with multi-bungee cords, a bit of foam, a bit of duct tape...which can look neat and clean with about an hour of time..... Now, for year #2 of AC, I plan to have the stand moved to the port aft window as to allow for very clear view of both motors which is needed for backing down on items, and particuarly for backing into slips at the marina and water restruants... the unit in the starboard window looses much rear view....and the big open door and starboard window allow for clear rear view while backing in. Alos, with a bit of adjustment on the stand, I can put the 2nd smallest Big Green Egg Smoker/Grill in it and out of view until I need to roll it out at anchor for grilling. The extra shelves in the cockpit will be nice too. Yes, the door will not be able to fold all the way back, but a few trial runs with a basic cardboard box configuration the size of the overall cabinet with the AC and Egg enclosed, proved to be fine. The wash down may need to be moved to the starboard side but maybe not....

Then....these newer upgrades that use less power are now on the market....so here goes all the thinking and plotting again.... I do/did have to dismount the unit while towing down the highway. The ride on the trailer is simply much too ruff to leave that much weight that high up without being bolted down...and permanatly mounted....

As far as AC when underway.... well..... the 5000 BTU was not enough to "recover" on a hot, 95 degree day, with 85% humidity, the slanted windshield "green house" effect on the current TC24 design...without sunscreens..... but, I really just want it for a good nights rest. Other thoughts ideas on cooling my boat underway include cutting a hole (I hate cutting and drilling holes on boats) amid the captains chair and the forward facing dinette seat for a 2nd Bomar hatch. This can be done much less exspensive than the $1000 opening center windshield for he TC24. For "MY USE"...just another foward facing hatch would "drive/route" the air flow down into the cabin rather nicely ....especially underway.

Bottom line for this C-Dory owner....it THERE WILL BE AC !!
 
In the past 2-3 years, portable home a/c units have hit the market that may be much more suitable for the C-Dory crowd than permanently installed units. This unit is both affordable and capable of being powered by either shore power or the ever popular EU2000 Honda generator.

Were we to go cruising in the high humidity/heat areas I'd latch onto one in a heartbeat. At least it could be used at home for spot cooling a bedroom while not in use on the boat.

Don
 
Sneaks / Don-

Great possibilities!

Set this baby on the cockpit floor on the starboard side and duct it in, underneath, and through the galley. Remove it in the cooler part of the year. Less wasted space inside. Do you suppose it would start on a Honda 1000i?

Says it uses 620 watts, or 6 amps, but (as I rememberr it) the start up load can be as much as 2.5 times the running load. Wonder if it would start on the low setting and the resulting start up load would be less? Would be worth asking the manufactuer's technical rep!

With this kind of new stuff becoming available for so much less, you could go out and buy the "perfect" set up one day and find out you overpaid by 2-4X for a semi-outdated solution a few months down the road. Kinda like facing the question of whether to buy the latest computer/marine electronics/gatdegorama product. Hot seller today, garage sale item tomorrow! Hmmmmmm...............?

Thanks for the post--too bad we won't see ya' in Seattle! Joe.
 
Joe, I've had good luck starting and running a 13,500 btu Dometic A/C in my 5th wheel using an EU2000, as have other RV'ers, but usually only at or near sea level, so I know it will start and run the 7500 btu unit handily. Yer right - it's the initial start that's the killer and I just don't think the 1000 will have the cajones to get past that initial surge. Ya never know though, folks said the EU2000 would never work on the 13.5's but they do. Kinda like the bumblebee shouldn't fly but it does?

The 16 X 16 footprint of that particular A/C does have potential and any excess evap water can just drain into the bilge pump pocket via tubing.

Yah, I really would like to hit up the show/party, meet the folks and maybe score a hat. My dealer didn't come through and now he sells Cape Crusaders so I'm SOL there.

Have fun at the show, Joe.

Don
 
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