TC-24

D

Dene

New member
I may be in the market this spring for a cat like this. Weather permitting, I might look at it as early as Saturday. Would you say 65k is a fair price for this TC 24? From what I've read, the sloping front windows can create a greenhouse effect. Can that be solved with some aftermarket tinting. Any other ups or downs about this model.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/2005/C- ... ted-States

-Greg
 
To my mind the big downside is that the boat is somewhat ugly. However, once you get past that, it's great platform for fishing, camping etc. The ride in the cats is awesome as is the near queen sized berth. 65k is not a bad price for that boat.
 
We owned one (Cygnet) for two years. The down side is the huge solar collector windshield and the head under the helm, down in a hole with a canvas door.

We traded up to the TC255 as soon as they announced the new model. Look at the TomCat on the for sale listing on the front page. Its a good boat at a fair price.

Brent
 
For what are you going to use the boat? If it's for cruising, there's more room in a C-25 which has a separate head, is easier to tow and cheaper. If it's for fishing in rough water, then the 24 becomes a lot better. That's why the 225 is better, though more expensive.

Boris
 
How would the boat be used? Cruising and perhaps as a Coast Guard Auxiliary facility.

As you may know, I have a 22' Campion just a mile from me, moored on the Columbia. We have our 27' Devlin 2.5 hours from us near Bremerton. We cruise on it in the off-season and charter it in the summer.

It's possible it will not charter well. So far, no bookings, although it's early. The Seattle boat show will be a good barometer.

So...if if doesn't charter well, we are going to evaluate our boating needs, likely selling the Devlin, perhaps the Campion, then buy just one 24'+ boat and trailer it to the Sound when time allows. I'm investigating the SeaSwirl 26' Sport Cabin along with this TC. 80k would be our max budget but I'd love to spend considerably less. A 300 hour, '99 SeaSwirl with all the goodies, twin outboard Johnson 130's, is priced at 22k. The TC intrigues me because of the ride, room, price, and performance. I do agree that they can be homely but this particular paintjob seems to help it some. As far as the solar aspect, how much of this would be a factor in the PNW? The head is not a concern. It's more private than what we have in either boat.

-Greg
 
Agree. The TC-24 front cabin looks like it was designed by NASA in it's early years!

Besides a tint job, how about a neutral partial silvered reflector coating on the outside?

Also, how about a window shade a-la an early 1950's Pontiac, Chevy, etc?

Someone could have a retirement hobby business making after market hood / shades for the TC-24 front window. Didn't we learn anything from the "59 Chevy rear windows and their cousins from GM?

Joe :teeth :thup
 
I've never seen the interior but I like the looks of the TC24. I think the window makes it look quite sleek.

I can imagine the window space would make for challenging temp control.
 
Discovery":1wceyviv said:
We owned one (Cygnet) for two years. The down side is the huge solar collector windshield and the head under the helm, down in a hole with a canvas door.

We traded up to the TC255 as soon as they announced the new model. Look at the TomCat on the for sale listing on the front page. Its a good boat at a fair price.

Brent
Click to expand...

We are a bit north of you, so that huge solar collector has never been a problem for us. Ugly on a stick - yes, but a problem - not at all.

The TC255 is a much larger boat than the TC24.

Look up the TC24 "Molly Brown". I recall that one in Florida, and they had come up with a pretty snazzy canvas shade for their windshield.
 
Here a LINK to to Molly Browns album and a quick look at the sunshade:

Arch.jpg

Custom radar arch with bill to provide a little shading over the front windows.
Side.sized.jpg


Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Not to hurt anybody's feelings, but with the TC255 available, there is NO WAY I would even consider paying $65K for a Tomcat 24. There is a reason it is a discontinued line. I was on Sea Salt at Olympia in 2003 when Dusty was getting it christened. We were not impressed with the layout, but the worst thing was the condensation - it was literally like it was raining inside. Unless you want to get somewhere really fast, you would be better off spending $65K (or less) on a used CD25. As noted, there are a few used TC255s available, and they really would be worth the extra money. The Tomcat 24 was, in my opinion, just another of C-Dory's mistakes...
 
Susan will not even consider me getting a tc24. She cant stand the looks of it. I dont think its that bad and would make a great fishing boat. As I recall its a lot less weight then the tc225. I dont like the head up front but it would be an improvement over the 22 porta potty. She's much faster then the c-25 or the c-22 and better in chop. I would buy on in a heart beat if it was not for the minister of finance and her love or "cute boats" . I have always wandered how hard it would be to cut out the windows and build the front to look more like the tc225? I dont know enough about glass to know if its doable. Hell one of us has rebuilt a wrecked boat to new( help with the name guys, it was hurricane damaged) including a new cabin and we had a short boat made longer. I would go with a forward leaning window like a sea sport.

If it's speed and ride appeal are what you are looking for then go for it. Just like women, if she looks good to you and only you then thats more then good enough.
 
I suppose it would come down to one's intended use. The difference between a $65k TomCat 24 and the $99k TC255 is... well $35k. That's a lot of money. For me, operating in the ocean chop all of the time, I would definitely consider the TC 24 over the CD 25 recognizing the trade-off in space for peformance in chop.

BTW, Dr. Bob did a review of the TC 24 several years back when he was shopping for a power cat -- well worth reading HERE.

I also came across a great blog site of TC 24 owners. Some great reading HERE.

You can also find the original C-Dory factory web page for the TC 24 archived HERE -- complete with performance data and a couple of magazine Reviews linked (since it's an archive site it takes a minute to load completely).

Still, it may be worth waiting a couple of years for the TC 255s to drop in price. That's my plan -- put the kids through college, then buy a well used 255. I have to admit, I've owned a lot of boats -- and Tortuga (a '94 CD 22) was the newest at purchase... it was only 13 years old.

I really like the look of Molly Brown a lot. The custom brow and bimini really balance the sloped window. The TC 24 may be well worth a second look.

Matt
 
Could the house on the Tom Cat 24 be modified to look like the 255? Certainly--but it would be a lot of work--and you still have the problem of the head under the helm--The modification would be a lot of work--much mroe than just changing the windshield and extending the cabin top--the side windows would require complete modification. I don't think it would be worth it.

The next question is the C Dory 25 vs either Tom Cat ride. In chop from 1.5 to 3 feet either Tom Cat would win. Over 3' chop--there are some advantages to the C Dory 25 at the very low speed. Unfortunately I have not had a chance to compare in identical conditions of 5 to 6 feet. But the Tom Cat would have some serious slamming if steep waves of this hight and low peroid (steep waves--not a problem in either boat with long peroids). The biggest problem in either boat would be going into seas of this nature. In our cruising on both boats so far, the days when we would not be moving; no other boat under 50 feet was moving either.

I had the choice of a C Dory 25 and a Tom cat 24--I choose the C Dory25 and was not disapointed. The bill can be built out as a sun shade--but it would have to be fairly long to give good protection. I have experimented with dark shaded windows--and there are two problems--even the gray lexan/plexaglass acts as a heat collector. The other is the loss of night vision by the decreased conductivity of light. The C Dory 25 with trim tabs and Permatrims dose much better than the C Dory 22 (in my experience).
 
rogerbum":18zw22de said:
To my mind the big downside is that the boat is somewhat ugly.
Click to expand...

Beauty certainly is in the eye of the beholder.

I, for one, find the look of the TomCat 255 downright frumpy while the TomCat 24 looks sleek and attrractive. There is now question the TC 255 has a better interior, but it also costs more and is larger and heavier.

On looks alone, we dismissed the TC 255 and opted for a TC 24--and are so happy we did. It's a great all-around cruising or fishing machine that stands out in a crowded marina.

You can read all the reasons the TomCat 24 is, for us, the perfect pocket cruiser at <http://tomcat-tales.blogspot.com/2008/07/tomcat-24-ideal-pocket-cruiser-for-us.html>. In brief:

  • It looks good.
    It's small yet spacious, and relatively inexpensive.
    It's trailerable.
    It won't roll, and provides a stable, smooth ride in cruising conditions.
    It has a nice turn of speed.
    It's unsinkable.
    It has an enclosed head.
    The berth lies athwartships.
    It’s a multihull.
    It looks good.

After a season and a half on Lake Ontario, we have had no issues whatsover with the sloping forward windows.

--Georgs
 
Some folks love the modern look of the Tom Cat 24, and others prefer the more classic look of the pilot house of the 255. But my father taught me long ago never to critize the lines of another man's boat---or his wife!

The solar effect of the TC 24 certainly seems to be more noticable in the warmer climates than in Georgs' Onterio region. Also the opening window in the 255 seems to work better in the hot regions. However, even in the 255, if I am running the air conditioning, I often cover the inside of the windows with a reflective bubble wrap to keep the solar effect to a minimum.

A smaller person without back problems may find the head in the 24 more usable than I do. Both boats are great boats!
 
Greetings to all:
I was tickled pink and flattered to read the comments about our boat. Haven't participated much since Hurricane Charley but continue to peruse this site regularly. I wouldn't intend to promote the debate over the TC24 versus the TC255. Let's just say that we all love our particular boats for varied and individual reasons. You'd be hard pressed to critique either as both styles present their advantages or detractions. There's a whole lot of things I'd do if I had the means but we have found that we are very comfortable on our boat and don't regret having bought it and though there's are features of the 255 that I like, I wouldn't trade my boat for one.
My captain says not to write a book as we are to leave in the next hour on a 9 day circle route of Southern Florida.
Best to all CBrats, James
 
thataway said:
Some folks love the modern look of the Tom Cat 24, and others prefer the more classic look of the pilot house of the 255./quote]

Methinks it's safe to say the TomCat 24 will not appeal to those who are enamored with the C-Dory look.

We were not shopping for a C-Dory. We were looking for a small power cruiser, preferably a catamaran; thus, the TC24 was an easy and obvious choice.

Greg, be sure to let us know how you make your decision.

--Georgs
Click to expand...
 
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