Taking the PLunge

W

Wye Guy

New member
After much thought, I think I am ready to take the plunge and get a used C-Dory 25 with an eye to cruising the Chesapeake and trailering to destinations on the east coast. But I have a couple of hurdles to clear.

First, I am uncomfortable making the decision without knowing more about what I am getting into. Does anyone know a way to “try before you buy?” I have had no luck finding any charters. There seem to be no dealers close by (I live on Maryland’s eastern shore). So how do you find out if you can deal with day-to-day living aboard?

The next big question is how to get the wife to go along, when her idea of roughing it is staying at a Holiday Inn Express? Anybody got a good strategy for admiral persuasion?

Russ Mail
 
Hello Russ,

This may be a “real road trip” for you and yours, but this is something we want to promote at the National Mississippi River C-Brat Gathering (Guttenberg, Iowa).

Those interested in learning more about C-Dory’s before they buy or trade, are encouraged and very welcome to attend and take part in the Gathering since various C-Dory models and sizes are already signed up.

Time with the owners and try out rides could be easily arranged.

I figure with this posting however, hopefully you will receive invitations from other C-Brats and gatherings closer to your home.

I agree with your wife, cruise/boat all day, stay in a hotel at night and let someone else do the towels etc.

Regards,

Ron Fisher
 
In addition to a good test ride, perhaps as a condition of a sale, you could work out something with the seller to sleep on the boat? Even if the boat was tied up to a dock or to a buoy from the afternoon through the night, this will give you and your wife an excellent idea of what it is like.

Also, some later model C-Dory's have had some quality control issues as reported on this website. I had a 2006 CD 16 Cruiser with a crack in the cockpit floor that cost me over $1,000 to fix. C-Dory's are fine boats used or new, but if you choose to buy a used CD 25, I recommend that you hire a marine surveyor. I spent money on my boat to render it in excellent condition and superbly maintained its two engines before it was sold earlier this year. So the buyer, I believe, got a really good deal. The cost of a CD 25 is not insignificant, so a good marine surveyor levels the playing field and can help to reassure you that you are getting what you are paying for.

Rich
 
We will have a new full warranty 25 C Dory here at Wefing's soon . We also have the Gulf Coast Gathering coming up in October and there will no doubt be some 25 footers there . You would be welcome to see the difference in the new boats as opposed to the previous builders products , and interact with a lot of owners .
Marc
 
Hi Russ,

If you want your wife to be happy, you will need to have her involved in making the buying decision... otherwise, you will hear over and over again, "Well, it wasn't what I wanted..." :wink:

If you have not done any boating previously, this is a tough decision to make... pretty much a leap of faith. If you have boated and want the flexibility to be able to spend time aboard and travel, the decision is easier. If you have been a sailor and are wondering about traveling with a powercruiser, it is all about mindset.

Having said all that, this is something I used to tell people when they asked about traveling with our small trailerable sailboat: "Could you spend the weekend camping under your dining room table? Peeing in a bucket? Eating out of a cooler and a campstove?"

Well, the CD-25 is a LOT more boat than that. Imagine being able to stay in one room of your house for extended time. :wink: Realistically, the boat has about 150 square feet of room (inside and the out in the cockpit). About the same as a pickup camper or a campervan. Of course, the delightful difference is you can wander about on the water pretty much at will.

If you two have camped and enjoyed it, AND you like being on the water, no matter the weather, you will probably be OK. If your wife TRULY thinks roughing it is staying at the Holiday Inn, you might want to re-think this. You have to crawl through an opening to the berth (we both sleep REALLY well in there, btw), the fridge is probably smaller than what you have on just the door of your home fridge. The dinette is pretty much it for a place to sit inside... do you need a Lazy Boy Recliner to be comfortable? Not a lot of counter space in the galley. An enclosed head, but you gotta sit on the potty to shower. (Some people are grossed out by that... I don't know why.) No cable TV. No walk-in closet. No bathtub.

And, we both LOVE it. That's the key: if it is something you BOTH want to do, you can be very happy onboard. If one of you is trying to convince the other, you will likely be giving up the boat after a season. We have known plenty of couples who have tried cruising or full-time RVing and have bailed after a short time because one or the other wasn't happy with the lifestyle.

Instead of looking for this particular boat, walk her on the docks of the nearest marina. See how people live on boats there. Talk to people who are traveling by (offer to drive them to the store to resupply - you will get LOTS of free advice).

We made the switch from a bigger sailboat to the CD-25. I thought we would be happy with the 22, but when my wife saw them side-by-side, she pointed to the 25 and said, "That one." She was right - it fits our traveling style. Over the years, we have traveled coast to coast on motorcycles, VW bug, VW van, campervans, and a series of motorhomes... we worked together for 30 years... we already knew we could handle the close quarters and we both enjoy seeing what's over the horizon. The one thing neither of us likes is not having enough "elbow room", and that was the difference between the 22 and the 25 for us.

We're spending the summer in our 5th wheel, with large slide outs, and plenty of room and amenities... we're both anxious to get back to the boat!

Good luck with the decisions.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

PS Click on the link below, and you can buy her a book that tells the story of traveling on a CD-25... with a cat... and the cat gets the biggest storage area in the boat. :mrgreen:
 
Definately go to one of the gatherings. The Chesapeake was in June. There is one in NC in early Oct, and the Gulf Coast in later Oct. Any of these will have boats you can go out on. Marc at Wefing's used to have a 25 Cruiseship for rent. This was an older 25's built in the 1990's.

Your wife had to be enthusiastic about the boat, or it will not work well. (at least for taking her along). Many of the gals on this board have extensive boating experience, and can tell your wife about what to expect--and the vices and virtues of these boat.

It is possible that there are some C Dories near you--look at the location map to see. Most of us are willing to take folks for a ride.
 
Hi,

When we were moving down to the 22 CD we read almost everything that Bill And El had to say about cruising on a 22. Check out their link on this site and read for hours.

Some of their first posts discuss their feelings about small boats and living simply.

Our 22 handled the Chesapeake with out trouble.

Good Luck in your search.
 
Hello,
Please come on down to the Gathering next month In Oriental NC Sept 23--25th. There will be boats of all size. Everyone will be more that happy to show and tell about thier boats and thier experiences. Please check out the thread for more info. or you can PM me with questions.

The local dealer of these great boats will also be in attendance and last I heard he had a least one 25 over there, the dealership is only a few miles form where the gathering is being held.


Please join us.

Erma
 
Hi Wye Guy,

I have a CD25 at the Annapolis City Marina in Eastport, MD and would be glad to give you a tour and take you for a spin. Send me a PM if you are interested.

Thanks, Dick
 
WYE GUY;
If you get to leave MD and head to Va. Beach, give me ring and we will try to setup a tour and lunch on board. You have to bring the wife so we will be responsible for any decision you may make alone.

Just PM me also.
Art
 
For what it is worth..... Whether a new or used.... I would buy this CD25 again!

I have been watching the For Sale listings and I have seen very few 2005 CD25s. Something must be keeping them off the market; like they are well thought of.

I think this was the last year with the larger holding tank. Each year had slight changes, but this year seemed to have more access to all areas,
except the main water tank in the bow.

Art
 
starcrafttom":m0u8pd2h said:
PS Click on the link below, and you can buy her a book that tells the story of traveling on a CD-25... with a cat... and the cat gets the biggest storage area in the boat.
Click to expand...

spam alert spam alert :lol:
Click to expand...

Oh yeah, there is some bias there, but it is all the cat's :cat

It's a good story AND it covers the living on a 25 is a pretty fun way.

Also check out their thread here on the site, "Cruising Adventures of Wild Blue" or something like that.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
starcrafttom":3j0xfjju said:
PS Click on the link below, and you can buy her a book that tells the story of traveling on a CD-25... with a cat... and the cat gets the biggest storage area in the boat.
Click to expand...

spam alert spam alert :lol:
Click to expand...

Ah, Tom, it's only spam if sending out a broadcast bulk e-mail to people who didn't ask for it. Our new friend here was asking for info about a 25.

Years ago, when we first considered the move from sail to powercruising, I came across the book, "Honey, Let's Get A Boat!" While it was mostly a fun read about cruising, I found it very helpful in our decision making. Then, I found the C-Brats. Learnin' is a good thing, and I'm all about that whole book-learnin' stuff. :wink:

Also note that YOU are in the book... and I didn't even mention the embarrassing stuff. 8)

I've been out of stock on books for a couple weeks after a nice large order from a bookstore; just got a new shipment in, ready to be signed and shipped. Seems that the distributor and FedEX had some issues with our temporary address out here in the boonies.

Your pal,
Jim
 
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