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

Followup safety suggestion -

I have added a cockpit/ backup camera to Sea Angel. I had it on the shake-down cruise last Fri. and wished I had done this earlier. The pixs are on my page 3.

Sorry I have not learned to attach a sample to this.

Why did I go through this??????

The blind area behind the helm is now covered. The CCD camera head also has a mic to track any events going on in the cockpit whose level can muted or level adjusted. It is especially good for talking with crew. I have a PA system rear speaker which will complete this function.

This for me is a good safety item; especially since I had 2 near misses with boaters coming down the creek and cutting behind me while I was trying to back into the finger pier for retrieval.
 
A cell phone picture will have to do, but the feller shown on the deck of my boat is now sitting in salt on my kitchen counter.

ATT00005.jpg
 
Put the boat in under lowering skies and cruised up the coast to Ventura for lunch. Stopped by the new C-Dory Dealer at Ventura Harbor, He has a 19', 22' Cruiser, 22' Angler and a 25' on display.
Cruised back to Channel Islands Harbor in the rain. Passed a Hobie Cat and felt kind of sorry for the poor couple that was huddled together trying to keep warm on the net.
PJ and I was nice and cozy in our dry, warm cabin.
 
Hello to all,

Today I pulled the boat up to our home from the storage area and plugged the shore power in so we could charge up the batteries. I did not pull the batteries this winter because of a planned trip to Florida that did not happen. I hope the cold and lack of charging did not damage them. I will give you a report if they need to be replaced.

I re-installed the GPS Garmin 192C. We had it out to update the built in charts. You buy and adapter for your computer and a blank chip. Then you down load the corrections from the Garmin web site to the chip. Next install the chip into the Garmin and it will down load to the unit and you are up to date.

If you are interested in doing this PM me and I will try to give you some hints.

Tomorrow I will put on the ear muffs and se of the 90 HP Honda will start.

Fred, Pat and Mr. Grey(the cat)
 
Played hooky on friday and fished the lower willamette for springers. Had one brief tussle but lost it. Not many fish in yet. But the fishermen are out in force. Warm and sunny helped. Good day to spend on the boat.
 
I got my 16 back from the 20 hour service 3 weeks ago and promptly developed some health problems before getting her back in the water. Between running to the head (colitus) and the oxygen machine (lung infection) I installed a permatrim and a 12" pitch prop 11 3/4 in diameter. This is a step down from the recommended 13" Honda prop. I also installed and overhead shelf as per Oldgrowth. I finally thanks to the little porta potty was able to put her in the water today. I took her to the mouth of the Saint Johns and probably about a mile out in 3 to 4 foot seas. She slide over them like a cork, handled great. This was my first time with her in any kind of sea and I was really impressed. I took the ICW home and it had a light chop boat ran good with no porposing I previously had trouble with. The first thing I noticed was the permatrim was everything all you great folks said. The second thing is the new prop enabled me to get on plane much quicker and reach 5900 rpm with 15 gallons of fuel on board plus about 150 pounds of other assorted junk. With the old prop and no permatrim it was a chore to get on plane with four people on board. I haven't any exact figures but it appears that I'm getting far better gas mileage from this prop permatrim combination. Thanks for all the great advice.
 
I have been cleaning/detailing my boat the past several days (a few hours at a time). Here are a few tips to pass along (some of which I picked up on this site)...

1. Barkeeper's Friend (which I purchased at Wal-Mart) really works well to remove spots and streaks.

2. WD-40 is also a good cleaner. I used it on the rub rail. Using a brawny paper towel I used my fingernails to clean the groove along the top of the rub rail. The WD-40 renewed the fiberglass above the rub rail, cleaned the metal edging, and oiled the rub rail--all in one easy step.

3. WD-40 also can be used to oil fiberglass. While it does not last as long as wax, it is easily and quickly applied. I have used this technique (instead of waxing) on RVs as well as boats. This week, I applied it to the bottom of my CD-22. It was a lot easier than trying to wax the bottom...and better than doing nothing. I used it to clean the bottom as well as apply some oil to the fiberglass.

4. Spectrum has gel-coat, factory-matched, in 2 oz. kits. I used the white it to repair a typical dock scrape (about 3' long by 1/2' wide). It went on easily and smoothly. The repair is almost impossible to find.

5. West Marine sells factory-matched spray paint for OBs. I used it on my Honda motors: first brush-painting the nicks and then spraying the lower areas where they were located. They look like new: the paint match was perfect.
 
I spent a couple of hours cleaning the pollen, mildew and dirt of of SeaDNA. It's not yet "Brock worthy" but it's a lot cleaner that it was yesterday. Then I launched at Kenmore slough and took it for a ride on Lake Washington. We ran down to the 520 bridge where we ran into Checkpoint II - a quick hello and we cruised along the N side of the bridge. Then back home to the launch and the cluster %$*# that is the ramp early in the season. One guy needed some help carrying his jon boat to his trailer, another launched and then his friend pulled his boat over a tad and block the ramp while his buddy took forever to park the trailer. I took off my shoes, waded in and pushed his boat over so the next guy could launch. He launched but didn't have a plan to get the boat off the trailer and out of the way of the ramp. So, I waded in again, took the bow line and pulled his boat off to the side. THEN, and only then, I could retrieve my boat....

I love the early season launches at the ramp! Lots of fun.....lots of people standing round and lookin' stupid. Anyway, Joyce, I and Wicket (the dog) had a nice trip around Lake Washington. The boat will get cleaned up further and readied for Lopez during Mon-Thurs. I'm leaving it attached to the trailer and we'll be off early on Fri AM.
 
Roger,
Now I remember why I decided to pay the price to keep Sea Angel in dry storeage, little if any wait to launch or retrieve. There is a price for this convience, but worth it as long as I can afford it. After 19yrs of trailering my SeaRay 18' bowrider around the area, my CD25 is a castle on the water.

I see the local city ramps backup when the bass and blues are running. The jump points to the lower Ches. Bay are always busy during the weekends, especially during any fishing event.

The same ramp antics are true here on the North Landing River (ICW) and their feeders. BUT, there you also have to be aware of the Cain Back Rattle and Cotton Mouth snakes as they migrate to and from the Great Dismal Swamp. I have encountered enough of those snakes while boating in that area, at the ramps and on the water. [ I like the ocean side of Va Beach better, rather than the beauty of the ICW.] You would not believe the stuff some 'adults' would do with those snakes, even with their children there in the water with them.
 
We have been mooring the Lori Ann at a transient dock here at Skyline Marina. It is OK but on the same dock as the water taxi, no security, etc. Plus it required parallel parking which I basically sucked at doing.

I am so stoked to report that yesterday we made an offer, which was accepted, on a 30' slip (+ 6' overhang, 11.5' beam, 9' draft) with private, gated parking (for all members of this particular condominium association) and a keyed gate to the dock ramps. It's the D dock for those of you who know the marina.

We'll move the boat there when we get back from Lake Powell.

Warren
 
Warren,

That sounds great!

Boy what I would give right now to have a parallel docking spot...In Edmonds we share slips. I happen to have a slip facing south on the east side. The last two days we've had winds from the NW, which puts my docking space upwind. Since I am very new to the boat, as I'm learning with the CD25's large cabin to catch the wind and flat bottom she slides like a leaf on the water....right towards my slip mate!!!! Plus the area to maneuver around is very tight. I feel like the ball in the old video Pong game.

Timflan in Two Lucky Fish, who is next to me seems to be able to maneuver his boat just fine.

I'm on the marina's waiting list to have a slip on the NW side so that the wind can just shove me into my slip and all I have to worry about is the impact on the dock, which I can live with.

Enjoy your new slip. I envy you.

-Sarge/Carl
 
Hi all. My first post. I usually let my chatty husband do all the talking....

We had our first official outing on our C-Dory this weekend. We had a couple of rides last fall after purchasing it, and a test ride Saturday, but Sunday we went to a local waterfront restaurant in Chesapeake City, MD and got to show her off to a large group of our boat club friends. They were impressed!

We had a great waterside meal, lots of great conversation, blues music and good drinks. After a while my daughter (7) and I went down to the boat and played cards and games until it was time to head home. Got to our slip just before dark, and boy was it nice to just close and lock the door and off we go, compared to the prior boat that took twenty minutes or more of hard-to-snap-on canvas fighting.

Loving it,
Bonnie

(And looking forward to the Chesapeake Bay gathering) :smilep
 
Hi Sarge,
Learning slow speed maneuvering on these boats takes some time and practice. One of the things we did after imitating a billiard ball on our first few dockings was to take the boat out into open water, put out a throwable, and practice bringing the boat up to it in different wind conditions. Then it was time to put out every fender we owned (OK, I bought a few more just for this :wink: ) and then we practiced going in and out of different slips... mid-week, at a marina 2500 miles from our home. Yes, people on the docks gawked and commented (and sometimes looked like they were about to throw their bodies between our boat and theirs :shock: ), but it was great practice. Good crew coordination (discussing what you anticipate the arrival to be before you actually get into the slip) helps - get a line on and you have much better control over the boat in the slip.

With one of our sailboats, we had the misfortune to share a slip with a guy who owned a pontoon boat that looked like something out of a Mad Max movie. Also, he docked by braile. We quickly fashioned a fenderboard to protect the whole side of our boat... since it was pretty clear he was going to use our boat to ricochet his way into the slip! :x At that time all the slips in that particular marina were full, so we had to live with it for a season.

Good luck,
Jim B.
 
Saturday afternoon on Cajun Dory.
The usual Saturday cruise! This time to Marsh Island. Marsh Island is 14 miles across Vermillion Bay on the Gulf of Mexico. Absolutely no problem!
And yes Joe there was plenty of marsh on Marsh Island!
On the return trip saw the moon rise and the sun set in a cloudless sky. And now I watch the full moon out my window as I type this.
Have been busy since my last post with the following projects:
Removed the stock 13" wheels and installed 10" pontoon boat wheels and tires. Cajun Dory now sits proudly in its rightful place UNDER the carport next to the Arima and the wife's car has assumed its rightful place out in the open. ( I might have to pick more flowers ).
Installed a Lowrance M68c/sounder on top of the dash. An amazingly small machine and very acurate. Just what I needed.
Installed Scotty's rod holders on the port and starbboard gunnel and a vertical rod rack on the back side of the splashwell.
And just today a pair of Arima style storage nets in the cabin under the gunnels ( thanks, Belinda! ). Storage space for clothes, towels and misc. stuff.
And thanks to all you Brats for your advice and ideas used to help outfit Cajun Dory!
 
On Monday I had the Lori Ann slinged out of the marina and placed on its trailer. While waiting for the marina guy to come over with the travel-lift I was watching another person self-launching a 26' Orca. "Self-launching" was the operative word, as the Orca slipped out of the slings and fell about 10' to the dock below. I guess the guy misjudged where he should put the slings. Expensive mistake as I talked to the boat dealer where they took the boat after and he told me the hull was broken in three places, plus the transom was fractured. They would have to completely disasemble the boat, remove flotation, etc. to find out the extent of the damage. I think this boat could be Old Growth's next project! He could get this hull cheap, I'm sure.

I was planning to self-launch the Lori Ann but the marina wouldn't let me because they said it was too heavy. (Probably right, the lift is 8000# capacity.) And after seeing how self-launching can go wrong, I am happy to pay the professionals.

Trailering the TC to Lake Powell has been somewhat of an eye-opener. It is a b-i-g boat, which I did not fully appreciate until it was on the trailer again. I doubt I will trailer it very far from here on out. The good news is there is a lifetime of destinations to drive to in the boat from Anacortes.

Warren
 
Warren,

Your comment on how BIG your boat is on the trailer brought a smile to my face! 10 years ago I took delivery of my 31 ft trailerable trimaran 200 miles South of where I live (with a 40 ft mast on top). THAT was the longest 200 miles I've ever driven, thought I'd take out every car and object I passed. The dealer kept saying "you'll get used to it, it's all relative." And I did. In 6 months it was like trailering any other boat I've owned.

In 2003 when I "downsized" to my CD25, piece of cake, maneuvers like a dream, your brain just has to be properly conditioned to tow big and long objects.

Write again in 6 months and tell us how it goes trailering...
 
Steve is right on - the trailerablity is part of what makes these boats SO versatile. We used to tow our trimaran behind a 40' motorcoach, making us almost 80' long going down the road... the trailering was no problem, but finding a place to park was a real PITA. As long as your tow vehicle is up to the task, it won't take long to get comfortable dragging that boat behind you. And while you have some spectacular places to cruise locally, there is a whole 'nother world out there that awaits you thanks to that trailer.

Since we can cover way more ground at 65 mph than we can at 15-20 knots, Wild Blue has more road miles than sea miles at this point.

See you at Lake Powell (and trailering is the only way to get here from there :wink: ).

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Will second Steve and Jim's comments -- our Halcyon has FAR more miles of trailering than boating -- and that is part of the joy of a 'pocket' cruiser -- lots of variety and water to see, share, and cruise -- and on those drives the boat is sure a dandy RV.
 
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