Seaworthyness???

What is rough water? We have been in some moderate seas in our C Dory 25. Running down the Johnston Straits with 6 to 8 foot seas: full gale warning against current--and the boat handled well. Going directly into seas I figure that 3 feet is about the limit to have much speed. You are best off with trim tabs and a Permatrim. The Permatrim gives you much more leverage to get the bow down. We came thru San Juan Channel out to Middle Channel with the wind blowing 20 to 25 knots in the Straits of San Juan de Fuca and an ebb tide. The waves were steep, confused and breaking. The ride was rough--we were running at 4 knots and the boat handled it fine.

My personal feeling is that for the size of boat, with the accomidations, and hull type it as seaworthy as any. I agree that boats like the Bartender are a more seaworthy boat--but I don't normally go out into 5 foot seas.
 
Hi Steve,

You may know the tendency for people to overestimate wind and waves. We've been in waves reported (not by me) at 6-8 feet and close. It wasn't fun, but we never felt unsafe. Also got caught out where the waves were taller than the cabin top; we slowed to about 5-6 knots, took ugly water over the bow, and would like to not repeat that. Stuff came off the shelf above the helm and off the countertop, but we chugged slowly along to get into the lee of an island for some protection.

The boat can certainly take more than I care to. It's not like we go out to test it, just a couple times (and we spend a lot of time on the water) where the forecast didn't match the actual conditions and things deteriorated.

For downright uncomfortable, we ran back across Lake Tahoe once with gusty SE winds that resulted in 5 foot waves that were closer together than I've ever seen before... so would that be lakeworthyness? I ran off at a diagonal, trying to stay with the waves, but it was still ugly.

Running far offshore is not something we do with our 25. Probably the longest was 90 miles in Florida Bay, direct from Everglade City to the mid-Keys... waves 3-5 and dodging about a gazillion pots. The boat handled it fine, but we were all bushed when we got in.

So, using those as examples... anywhere close to your definition of seaworthy? The boat keeps the water on the outside, tends to pound in close chop, but can be handled by slowing down. The camperback helps keep water out of the cockpit - the stock scuppers drain too slowly for my tastes.

Still, we are doing this for the fun of it; and if it isn't fun, I'm going to be looking for some protection ASAP. But I've never felt that this boat couldn't get me to that protection. I'd rather wait out ugly stuff than go looking for it; the above examples are very rare with the cruising we do... but certainly instill confidence for us in our boat.

I'm sure you'll hear from many others.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Well, the question was brief: was the C-25 seaworthy? And how does a C-25 handle?

And the answer is as short: yes. And well. About 1/3 of the posts mention something about boat handling, and I've yet to see a negative comment.

Could you give more background on why you asked the question?

Boris
 
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