SO WHAT DID YOU DO WITH OR ON YOUR C-DORY TODAY??

I bought my first boat, a 1985 16' Angler, about two weeks ago. This morning I took it out for my first solo ride out of the harbor. I've been nervous to drive it on my own because I'm scared of hitting other boats, but I settled down and enjoyed it as soon as I untied. Can't wait to get out more!

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Congrats on your NUTOU boat. You will get many days of pleasure with it out of Sitka.
If I could back up to my retirement day I would have moved to Sitka. What a beautiful place and all of that water and fishing year around.
My CD sets on the trailer for 7 mmths each year.
Welcome to the C-Brats
 
Just got back from several days of fishing at newport, central oregon coast. It has been what appears to be a record year for salmon on the coast. For the first time I filled my regular season tag and purchased and started on the additional tag for hatchery fish. Fishing started out a ways out, around 20 miles but then settled in around 12 or 13 miles. The last few days I caught them in around 4 miles. Got to take some of my kids out and they got their salmon, and also my 10 year old grandson got his first salmon. First season ended the 10th but stayed over a few days waiting for the valley to cool down. The next season starts the 30th and runs to september 30th, or until 40,000 fish have been taken. And for that one it is anything goes, native or hatchery.This will be a record breaking season. Sounds like it is the same down on the lower columbia river.
 
I finally took the plunge and made cutouts for three hatches in the V-berth today. I had everything plasticked off already from doing other foredeck/v-berth projects, and access to power and a good vacuum - so it seemed like the time. I was so curious what I would find in "the foam lottery." Would the space be empty, like the 2002 22 Carpy? Would I have hours of painful digging-out of expanding foam that would be also be stuck all over the hull like some others have? :?:

Turns out it was neither: The entire area under the v-berth is tightly packed with HUGE blocks of white styrofoam. They are not attached to the boat in anyway, but they literally fill up the entire space to the brim -- even being contoured for the hull sides. In this case I think they actually would have added good flotation. The foam cut easily with either a hacksaw blade or a sheetrock saw, but neither was anywhere near long enough, so I was unable to get any of it out today. Rats, I wanted to see that empty space! I don't have a long hand saw, but maybe I can find something like a long steel bar to slice it with. Once I can get a piece out, I'll be able to cut the rest into smaller blocks.

Ironically, when I was out at sea on a cruising boat, and could have used good flotation foam (in case of hull breach, etc.), there was no way to have enough and still carry stores, water, and gear. Now that I have an "inshore" boat, I'm removing it! The space will be nice, and also I like to be able to get to the hull everywhere, so I'll accept the loss of the foam. I briefly considered just hollowing out storage "wells" and glassing over the rest, but then discarded that idea because I'd rather be able to get to everything to clean it, see it, etc.

Anyway, long afternoon hunched over in the v-berth listening to the vacuum, jigsaw, Dremel, and Multimaster (even though ear plugs and muffs), but I'm very happy to have the hatches cut out. I also cut back the core in the berth flats around the openings - I'll fill that back in with thickened epoxy tomorrow. I think I'm going to use the cutouts for the hatch lids (no good plywood on hand or I might use that instead), but I haven't decided yet. I'll be adhering cleats below the openings for the lids to sit on, "sailboat style."

I'd post photos, but I left my camera in the v-berth, and I'm too tired to go back and get it :?
 
Took our friends out halibut fishing today probably for the last trip this year. The launch ramp closes after tomorrow but there is 6 footers and small craft warnings for tomorrow.

We had a great day, finally, fishing for halibut. No big slabs but some nice fish to top off our freezer.
Flat water and sunny today. Beautiful day. It is a shame we have to wait until next spring to go out here again.
Jack
 
This young man had never got a sport salmon before and his last goal before taking off to join the Army was to catch one. I took him and his dad out this morning on the river.

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He had to be back to the dock by 10:00 because he meets his recruiter to take off for MEPS at 12:30. He flies out to boot camp tomorrow. So here he is again with the six for the boat at about 8:30. One of my most gratifying fishing days ever.

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I mostly tamed the styrofoam monster in the V-berth today (99%, although I think those little white beads will be haunting my dreams!). While I was glad there was not a lot of pour-in foam stuck to the hull, these GIANT blocks were not easy to get out. What a bear! I finally, Finally prevailed - not without a few marks (on me), I might add. There are now FIVE contractor bags full of foam to be disposed of :shock:

There was a little bit of hard/poured foam (like surfboard foam, it seemed) supporting the Porta Potti well, and a small strip of same running about four feet foward of that well in the bottom of the Vee, but otherwise the hull is bare. Whew, glad that part is done :disgust I'll post some photos in my Sunbeam thread when I get further along.
 
I finished replumbing the fresh water system on Daydream this morning! All new from the pump to the faucet at the sink. Works great, very happy with the result!
 
Pulled into an open spot in the Port Townsend marina parking lot this evening, to take a short snack break while looking out over the marina -- and when I looked up after parking saw there was a pretty grey C-Dory 22 right out in front of me. Name of C-Doré.

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Got the engine back on the boat.... whew! I didn't do everything I set out to do, but did most of it, including the most important one (sealing the balsa core). And I didn't drop it.

1) Overdrilled holes in transom and filled with big epoxy annuli (they were bare [dry] balsa).

2) Got holes re-drilled accurately (whew!). Nice clean 1/2" "tubes" through solid thickened epoxy. I was nervous about that part, and wishing I had one of the nifty rigging jigs shops have (I made my own, but it was not as nifty).

3) Raised engine up to bottom hole to try that out (highest mounting position).

4) Added purpose-made (TH Marine) aluminum bar that runs athwartships between top two mounting bolts and acts like a giant washer.

5) Used correct Yamaha bolts (coated, fine thread) vs. wrong ones that were in there before (and silicone contaminated anyway).

6) Bought similar bar as above for lower bolts, but for various reasons it didn't look like it was going to work all that well, so I made large fiberglass "fender washers" instead (~3" diameter).

7) Mounted it all back up, new caulk, tightened/torqued fasteners.

8 ) Thanked invaluable (and witty! -- that always helps when your 350# engine is hanging in mid-air and forty things could go wrong) helper immensely, then collapsed into bed (was 11:30 p.m. by the time I had cleaned up).

What I didn't end up doing:

1) Changing the two tilt/trim valves (which are accessible with motor off transom without removing T/T unit). We could not budge the first one to loosen it (it's a very wide slot like for a slotted screwdriver), but they may have a special tool that is wider/better at the Yamaha dealer. I didn't want to mess anything up, especially before Powell, and I can live with it until it is fixed later.

2) Adding 5º tuck wedge. In the end I didn't like the look of the wedges I got, and it wasn't a good time to wait to order others and have them arrive. To the good, this way I get to try one variable at a time (well actually it is two already, as I raised the engine plus removed about 70# of kicker). What I didn't like about these wedges was that there was very little faying surface and of course the bottom holes are below the waterline. I wanted more of a flange effect for sealant. This is especially the case on one of them, as they use only one casting so one you have to turn around and use "backwards" and that one is even "skinner" in this way as it is the rounded top of the casting not the flat bottom of it. There are other wedge designs that are a big flat machined surface, and although they show a bit more in use, they are what I will order if I still decide to add wedges this winter.

Nice to have the engine back where it belongs, not hanging from chains, and now I can trailer to the canvas shop for the camperback. Plus no unsealed holes in transom. Ahhhh.

Whew.

Sunbeam
 
Spent the Weekend in Seattle with some friends, boat toured the Bay from Elliot Bay Marina to Alki point lighthouse poking in all the nooks and crannies. Sat PM left for Port Townsend. Got to Mystery Bay for evening. turned 800 hours on the Yami's, and they purr like a kitten at 4200.

NOTE TO SELF (AND anybody using the Port Townsend boat ramp. Cannot put a trailer under your boat on a 0 or lower tide. there is a drop off at the bottom of the ramp. Passing the BLACK MARK will drop your wheels into the hole below the ramp. YOU might get away with this on a launching, but retrieving a boat with that load, could de-axle your trailer.

I learned about the black tape mark today. NO I did not "de-axle" my trailer.

Have not seen this anywhere else, but the black tape mark is at the end of teh ramp. Need to be aware of where it is in relation to where your rear trailer tires are.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Today was the day the HIGH TIDE ii was put to bed for the winter.......again. I hate this day as it will be 7 months before the boat is splashed again. I am getting older (74) and hope I am back to uncover it again to chase the halibut and salmon.
I scrubbed and power washed the entire inside of the hull, deck, storage compartments etc. Ran the engines with muffs and ran them out of fuel. Cleaned the cabin carpet, scrubbed the porta-potti (wife said it was stinky). Fishing boats get stinky.
Next week I will change the lower unit gear oil and put the tarp (new one this year) over the boat. Also pump grease in the wheel bearings and service the batteries. They may be replaced in the spring as they are getting old like myself.

Fishing was mediocre this summer. Lots of halibut but they were relatively small, 30 lbs and under. Only caught two king salmon before the season was closed for the year due to lack of return.

You all have a good winter. I will be in Arizona eating my halibut.
 
Friday morning at Squalicum we had a good visit with Al and Karen (Harmony - 23 Venture) which is their 4th C-Dory with a sailboat between number three and number four. They were getting ready to pull out of the water and head home.

So, after launching, down Bellingham Bay we went. We had lunch on the boat in Anacortes. Then we cast off and went down to the end of K Dock to say good-bye to our dear friends, Captain Jim and Joan (Wild Blue). They were busy working with the new owners, Tim and Mary. Real nice folks. Got some good hugs but it was sad to say good-bye. Hope to see them again.

Leaving Anacortes we went to Stuart Island and anchored out. About 3:30 in the morning I rolled out of the V-berth to make an anchor check. All is right! We're not laid up along side of the big boats and we still have water under the keel. I looked up at the heaven full of stars and "Man" those two are big and bright. Oh, OK! Those big shiny ones are mast head lights on the 60 foot sailboats. Prevost Harbor was full of boats. In the morning we cruised by another C-Dory at anchor. Said hello and were on our way to explore Patos before we met our son and his family at the West Beach Resort on Orcas Island.

Back to Squalicum Sunday morning. Calm flat seas. A truly gorgeous weekend.

Ruth and Joe, C-Brats #22
R-Matey
 
Just got back from oregon coast for a week of fishing. Limited every day I fished with the exception of thursday. A fierce wind came up with no warning and had to cut it off with one fish. This has been a fantastic season. The coho are running 12 to 18 pounds. Amazing amount of feed offshore right now. Chinook have started to enter the river and I have saved two spots on the tag for the river fishery. Dropped off 30 pounds of filets at the smoker. Should be ready by end of month.
 
Took a buddy for a overnighter who is having a bit of relation ship issues at the moment and ended up on Pender Island , Port Browning. I have not visited there for a bunch of years but it is still a great spot. Small and quiet unless it is a Saturday night. They do have all the amenities and the pub and restaurant food was excellent. I cannot remember the last time I closed down a pub but the Blues band { Paul Black } rocked and the Long Island Ice teas were great. :lol:
T
 
Bought a '99 Evinrude 6hp 4 stroke with 25 hours on it for $750 at local dealer! Now to mount it to stbd of my '05 90 hp ETEC! Black and White will just have to be OK. Not having the thing painted! :wink

Charlie
 
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