Smart Rail - anyone installed on a Tomcat

[BoatDay]

I own a 2007 Tomcat 255. I have noticed a lot of spray in the cockpit on windy days. This wasn’t a problem when it was just my wife and I cruising. But, now I am using the boat for charters. And, I don’t want my clients getting soaked during the boat ride.

Has anyone here ever installed smart rail (https://www.integritymarinecorp.com/smart-rails) spray deflectors on their c-dory? If so, please share some info, if it worked, and any pictures that you have. Thanks so much!

Captain Scott

 

[Gulfcoast John]

Hi Capt Scott,

It is a 25.5 ft LOA trailer boat with a very low bridgedeck clearance (almost none at rest, and less than none with a six-pack of 300 pound Good Ol’ Boys PAX if you have that license).

I wouldn’t waste money on that item. Take fewer PAX, move them into the cabin, and adjust engine trim with them in there.

I’m on record here that it’s an ‘almost perfect’ non-overwide trailer able pocket yacht for a “cruising couple” (as you found). Don’t add 900 pounds of gas and 900 pounds of PAX and 400 pounds of ice + beer to a 25.5 ft trailer boat and expect it to have a dry cockpit while remaining under the 13.5’ max hgt on the trailer with a ‘anti-wave’ rub rail extension. Get real, man!

And No, I have not tried it and I wouldn’t waste my money on it, but I hope someone has and will sing out about it.

Cheers, and Good Luck!
John

 

[thataway]

I am going to agree with John on this one. C Dory did make the 30' long 12' beam cat with better tunnel clearance for the 6 pack charter business in Alaska. Even then, when riding at plane or long distance the fishing folks sat inside of the cabin (it was a walk around type of layout). See the photos below.

When I was making my decision about buyiing the Tom Cat 255, I had ridden in my neighbor's TC 24, and next sea trialed an early Tom Cat 255 which had been setup for diving in S. Calif. He had a several hundred lb dive compressor, plus multiple dive tanks in the cockpit. There waa definately a spray problem. Next I tested one in Apachacola, FL. and it was a light boat. Just the two of us aboard, and the spray was less--but still some spray. We were running alongside a Reguator 26, (deep V) and the ride and spray was better in the Tom Cat in the 2 1/2' chop we were running into. When I was fitting out my 255, I put extra AGM batteries in the cabin, to get weight out of the stern. I also had an extra water tank (but never installed--factory goofed on the order)

Below is the 6 pack Tom Cat in Alaska by "Black Feather Marine". These were designed for the charter trade in Alaska. Last I saw the molds they were in Juneau, AK. I don't know if the molds are in servicable condition, and if any boats have been made in the last 10 years. This boat has the tunnel clearance, and beam (30' LOA and 12 foot beam) to be a better running boat. Every once and a while you see one for sale. Some have been barged down to Washington State. It would be difficult to take the boat on the road to Florida. Probably cheaper as a deck load on a freighter to somewhere in the Caribbean, and then on its bottom. I also saw the "cruiser" version on this same hull. I believe there were only one or two of the cruiser editions.