Question regards to C-dory's engine

Oh no, I didn't take any offense at all...Thanks Harvey!
My wife just looked over my shoulder and asked: "you're looking at boat again.. one is not enough?"...I am hooked with the C-dory...I should have checked out this boat before....never too late right? :)

hardee":kblotzy8 said:
Sacboater":kblotzy8 said:
Thank you everyone for your feedback. Your information is very valuable for a newbie like me and I am sorry for opening another can of worm on this topic again :D
I wish everyone have a nice weekend,
Eric

PS: I am thinking on double axle but let see because I plan to get a used one first so whatever come with it...I am ok.
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Eric, Please don't take any offense. How could you know? It's OK, we are all following the 1 Rule, "Just be Nice" and we all have our reasons for our choices and they make sense to us. (Don't really have to to anybody else.)

Some of the other "interesting" topics:

Single or Tandem axles

Boat drain plugs, Inside or out side.

Fishing or Cruising

Wallas or Not

AGM or wet cell (batteries)

Try a search for an afternoon, or a couple of weeks of reading there. :lol:

have a great night.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
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:D :D :D :D
 
You also live fairly close to " joewall ", who has a C Dory 22 for sale with twins on it! Worth a drive over to Napa area and to see one in person!
 
Eric, I went from a 1988 Searay 268 Sundancer to a 2007 CD-22. Single screw to single screw with 6 hp kicker, and tandem axle to tandem axle. I'm very happy with my C-dory and it's set up. Goes every where the Searay went, plus a lot more shallow places too. Only weighs half as much but gets better than twice as good on the gas. And pretty much the same top speed. But nice thing there is whereas the Searay only had 3 useable speeds (no wake, plow and plane), the C-dory pretty much can operate at all speeds between idle and wot! :-)
 
Eric:
Another thing you might want to do, when you have hours to kill, is click through the picture albums on the forum. There are so many great ideas represented in those pics, both where to go, what to see, how tos, and mods and upgrades.

While the many opinions you will get here may not be the answer you choose, most are given with a sincere attempt to help. Of course, there may be a little good natured humor included, free of charge.
 
Eric

I was one of the people trying to squeeze as much mileage out of a gallon of gas as I could. The reason wasn't money but distance, we planned trips that consistently required some fuel planning and predictable consumption. We had several trips we did each year where we covered more than 200 miles with internal fuel on a CD-22 plus 10 gals. We did these with a single 90 and a 9.9 kicker. The kicker was a part of the planning because when we deviated from the route to do some exploring we ran on the kicker. We never counted its 6 gal tank in our planned fuel consumption. It was our play gas.

I am pretty sure we could do the same trips with twins, I just never had a boat with twins to try it. I did meet some C-Dory owners with twins that did similar trips so whatever you choose, you have range that many boats can't match without becoming tankers.

Tom
 
@Cobysmith: You're right about the SeaRay weight..it is too heavy and I can't tow it anywhere besides Sacramento river which is 30 minutes from my house. I just don't feel safe to tow a big heavy boat on the street. I've had my boat for awhile but Sacramento river is the farthest distance I go....kind of boring. C-Dory is the best boat year-round (eventhough it is not as comfortable/luxury as the SeaRay...and I think it is a bit overprice too)

@Anchorout: I did scan through our member boats, they are so nice. I already picked up some ideas what to put on mine when I get the boat (hopefully soon if the boss say yes...I have been bugging her since I found out C-brats website). I love to follow their travel stories and pictures as well...I wish I have time and my dream to go to Alaska with it one day...but I am a long way to go (I'm only 41) :)

@Tom: Thanks for the information...I plan to get a used one so i guess I won't have a choice between a single or twin engines...it is good to know they have the same amount of gas consumption...:)

Thanks everyone for information :)

Here is a couple pics of my current boat:

The boat name: Little Master 2
image-2.jpg
My daughter Alison (aka Little Master)
image.jpg
image-1.jpg
 
Eric, your Searay is much nicer than mine was. You will give up a lot of cabin space with the C-dory. Along with the enclosed head. For me, that was ok, as I didn't spend that many nights on it, and the porta potty does the job. And the C-Dory does do so much more than my SeaRay! Like you, when I first started looking at used boats, I pretty much decided the engine set up didn't matter. If I found a boat I liked, I would accept either twins or single. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages. I did test drive one with twins, and did not like how it handled. Maybe it was a bad set up, I don't know... But I do trailer a lot, so having a tandem axle trailer was important to me. Now there are some here that will tell you a single axle works just as well, but having had a blow out at highway speeds, and trailering several thousand miles each year, I'm not of that mindset...While much of my boating is on local lakes, I also do a fair amount of boating on Lake Michigan, up to 10 miles offshore. I had no fear with my single screw IO in the SeaRay. But being a lot like a car engine, I was comfortable with my mechanical abilities. The outboards scare me a bit more, since I don't have a lot of mechanical experience with them. That and wanting to troll some while fishing, is what led me to pick up a 6hp Kicker. It is big enuf to suffice for where I boat and when I boat, and still light enough not to add too much more additional weight to the boat...and if I ever did get a dinghy, would work for that too. I also agree with you, the boat it self doesn't justify the prices being charged. But supply and demand tend to keep the cost high. I have not yet regretted downsizing from the SeaRay to the C-Dory. Also allowed me to downsize from the Ford Excursion to a Toyota Highlander. I lost a lot of storage space onboard, but then how much crap does one really need to carry? Keep looking. You'll find something that stands out for you, and hopefully at a more reasonable cost than what some are asking. There are some relatively fair deals out there, but they tend to go fast. Lastly, while the C-Dory tends to pound more in chop, I don't know if the ride is really any worse than my SeaRay was. If you use your boat as a floating second home, stick with your SeaRay. But if you want something that is much more versatile, you'll be happy with the switch. Colby
 
hardee":2wf2fgdg said:
Some of the other "interesting" topics:

Single or Tandem axles

Boat drain plugs, Inside or out side.

Fishing or Cruising

Wallas or Not

AGM or wet cell (batteries)

Try a search for an afternoon, or a couple of weeks of reading there. :lol:

have a great night.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Click to expand...

and not to forget the Cruiser vs. Venture!
 
My take on this is a little different than Colbysmith, but not a disagreement. I had a Rinker 270 When I got the first 22. The Rinker had an queen size aft bunk (not sure if your Sea Ray does--I have a neighbor across the street with a Sea Ray 26 and his does not have the aft bunk.) The enclosed head and shower are nice. But the galley in the 22 was more functional than in the express. The express needed to take the table down, as the C Dory 22 for a second bunk (all be it smaller--or the only bunk if no aft cabin).

I prefer the enclosed cabin where you can look around from the galley (not available in the Sea Ray) The enclosed helm station (the Express does not have a good protection even with the windshield.

I had more "fear" with the inboard--it was almost impossible to get to the starter when it went out. There was no easy way to put on a kicker. I didn't like the engine room with a gas tank right there. The Rinker was underpowered with a 350 hp V 8, and it got 1.6 miles per gallon--vs 3 to 4 miles per gallon with the C Dory. The Express did handle chop better, but had to get up to 19 mph before it would plane--and usually I had to get crew to get down into the cabin to shift weight forward (even with trim tabs). Even found getting forward easier in the C Dory. I found as much storage space (under seats, in lockers etc) in the C dory--so it depends on what you need to store. In any regards--happy to go to the C Dories over the express caves.
 
Sacboater":28mf13vy said:
Hi all,
My name is Eric and I am new to this forum. After watching the C-dory videos on Youtube, I am very interested in this brand (22' cruiser). I notice that the boat's either equipped with one single 90hp or twin 40 hp engines.
Per your experience, which setup is better in term of fuel consumption and balance? with dual engines, can you run with one engine only? (I saw one video clip and the boat owner run with one engine)

I currently own a 1995 270DA Sea Ray Sundancer with twin engines. If one engine dies, I can't drive the boat.

Thanks in advance,
Eric
Click to expand...

Mine came with twins which are 60's and fuel injected. I think style is a major factor of appeal when it comes to twins vs. main/kicker. Not to say they're aren't advantages.

This is my first "real" boat so I can't compare to the main/kicker setup.

Aside from the redundancy, some things I love about my twins:

Trolling on one engine, alternating to keep the hours the same. Kickers are going to be carbureted and if not run regularly could not be as reliable when needed. Plus I can throttle up the one engine and move and 10-12 mph if needed when finished with a trolling pattern and wanting to move back. Its nice not having to fire up the main. Many troll on their single 90's with no problem though.

Having spare set of parts for troubleshooting. I had a starter issue on one engine. I could pull solenoid, starter, relay, ect. from the good and put on the bad until I found the faulty part. Was a nice perk.

Things I don't like:

Double the maintenance and double the odds for something to go wrong. As reliable as the new outboards are, they are going to have something come up somewhere along the line.

In the event of a prop strike at cruise (log, unseen debris), you have good odds of taking out both where a kicker would be out of the water. A kicker is probably the best, true CYA out there. Pull start, you can isolate the fuel source and can be kept out of the water at cruise. May not get you home fast, but it can get you home or at least out of danger until help gets there.

Both have pros, both have cons. Comes down to preference. Twins do end up bringing more cost into the equation both upfront and over the course of ownership. They do have legitimate pluses, plus they have some serious "style factor". I get plenty of compliments on the water and on the trailer.

When I purchase my next boat, I am torn between which setup I will choose as both have excellent merits.

Good luck with your decision and enjoy the site!

Troy
 
If the biggest reason you want a c-dory over your current boat is the towing hassle, it could be cheaper to upgrade your tow rig to something more substantial, (I dont know what you're towing with now) and keep the searay.

Alot of c-dory owners have downsized from larger boats and have made it work just fine. Looking at the interior photos of your boat, that thing is luxurious!

Im not going to sugar coat the c-dory experience that we've had. We love our boat, it's great for us and I can splatter fish blood all over the interior and hose it off. We like the fact that it's similar to an old jeep. Old jeeps arent for everyone though!

We spent alot of long weekends and some longer extended trips in our 22 cruiser since we picked her up last winter. I'll admit that neither my wife nor me is all that excited to get back in the boat for any long trips any time soon. We got burnt out on the small space. By Spring we will be excited again, but it's something to keep in mind, especially coming from a nice, big searay with lots of space. For us, one person has to move for the other person to get by in the isle. If I need to get in the cabinets under the sink and stove to get a cookpot, our dog, my wife and kid has to get out of the way so I can open the cabinet door.

For a 22' boat its really narrow. After we decided we wanted a c-dory, we saw one in person for the first time in the water at a marina. My wife was really surprised how narrow the boat was compared to our boat we had at the time, which on paper was 2' shorter. It was a couple feet more narrow than our 20' glasply. This translated to a more cramped feel.

It has worked out great for us, but I just wanted to throw that out there. Check one out in person first before you sell your boat and commit to a c-dory.

I agree they are expensive as used boats compared to others, but they hold their value better than any others as well. What you pay, you will most likely get back when you sell. I can tell you that our c-dory is our 7th power boat, and with the previous 6 boats I might as well have dug a big whole in the ground, put a stack of money in there and set it on fire. i lost most of the value on depreciation and repairs. Any boat is one of the worst investments of all time. At least c-dorys are easy to sell and hold their value.
 
Just to clarify, the Beam of a C Dory 22 is 7' 8". It may be perceived to be narrow, but there is a dinette on one side and the galley and helm seat on the other. I am 6' 2" and Marie is 5' 8" and we feel we have plenty of room. We have no problem spending 6 or more weeks on the boats and feel comfortable with the space.
 
I think your right Bob, I misspoke about our old boat. I never measured the beam but it was only marginally wider I'm guessing.

When we were shopping for boats last year, we were looking at Arima, Defiance, Parker, and also the Hewes pacific explorer series. In comparison to those boats, the c-dory seemed narrow especially compared to the Arima sea legend we had already looked at. Those are exceptionally wide beamed boats.

We love our boat and it does everything we want it to. A larger boat is not for us. I just wanted to encourage Sacboater to check one out first. We were surprised that at 22', it wasnt as big as we had imagined.

Oh also, you're gonna want twins, they are the best! :thup :twisted:
 
What is cool about having twins on your boat? Advertising to the world that you spent to much on motors? or that you like oil changes and maintains so much you want to do it twice? And for all those "smiles" you get at the gas station,dock and the highway, I always smile at fools it makes them feel better :wink:

i have driven both and there really is no difference in power and handling. I fine twins a bit of a bother keeping them set the same but I over stress about it I am sure. I fish so I need a kicker and that's the best setup for me on a c-dory.

As for safety.. if you hit a log with twins you are going to hit it with both motors, with a kicker you got one out of the water and safe. Hitting logs around here is going to happen to you at some point. As mentioned a single 40 is not going get a loaded boat on plane so you are going to cruise to safety at about the same speed on a kicker. If you get bad gas? well its not going to mater if you have a single or twin unless you carry a small can for the kicker, which I do in the summer. ( use it in the dingy)

either way its going to work and its just a choice you have to make. I think the bigger choice is how much total H.P. you put on the boat. I believe firmly in having as much as I can get at the right weight for the boat. So look at motor weights and H.P.. you can always choose not to use H.P. if you have it, but no amount of wishing or praying is going to cause it to appear when you really need it if its not already hanging back there.
 
Hey Tom, you bit my troll! Actually this is our first boat with two identical outboards and I don't have a preference either way.


With a good bracket you can troll with a kicker from the helm. I've never had one, so I'd have to sit back at the transom and absolutely hated it.

We really like how our boat trolls with a single 40. It works perfectly, I have absolute control at the helm and can idle down to whatever troll speed I need and maintain for hours without thinking about it.

Your boat would need a couple of big outboards for twins, so I have no idea how well that would work for trolling.

Every downside you mention is absolutely right. If you hit a log with twins you're likely screwed, or at least replacing a prop with a spare. We keep one on board. All that extra maintenance, etc.

They look cool! I didnt have to pay the extra purchase cost to get them, otherwise I might choose a big main.
 
Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences.

I really love the C-Dory and I don't mind to down size my boat at all since my family size is getting smaller. I kinda have an idea what I want when the time come and the price is right: A single fuel injected engine with a kicker :)
Thanks,
Eric
 
Well now that you've decided that, we can talk about size. ;-) I have a Mercury 115 HP EFI 4 Stroke. That came with the boat. From what I've seen "racing" with others up the Mississippi a while back, and with two seasons on it now, I think I would have been just as happy with a 90HP of the same type (EFI 4-stroke). Unless the fuel usage and weight is the same between the 90 and 115. Maybe if I towed waterskiiers or a wake board I'd prefer the largest engine. But I really think a 90 is best suited for the CD-22. Colby
 
single, twins, it's all good but-

I'm having trouble with the math on this thread. I keep hearing a single and a kicker is less maintenance than twins.... I keep crunching the numbers and the calculator keeps telling me that two three cylinder engines =six cylinders and that a big v6 engine plus a two cylinder kicker = 8 cylinders. I don't understand how more cylinders can be cheaper to maintain.
 
@Thataway: Do you know how fast the boat go with a single 90hp (approximately with normal load)? I just did some search on Honda Marine website (between 115hp and 90hp), they are not much difference in power but the 115hp engine is around 50lbs heavier than the 90hp.

Ken, you are funny..properly people barely use their kickers :). It really give me a headache everytime I change oil for my twins (engine and stern drives)...everything must be double..
Eric
 
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