Thanks from a C-Brat wannabe in Sidney BC

S

stevie

New member
I read about the C-Dory and the C-Brats in the local Sidney newspaper on Friday evening, and realized that although I've owned a couple of small sailboats (Cal 20 and C&C 25), I didn't even know what a C-Dory was. Checked out the C-Brat website and the Manufacturer's site Friday evening, became convinced this was one intelligent little boat, and knew I had to meet the Brats and see their boats. So yesterday (Saturday), I wandered out to the far end of Pt. Sidney Marina with my little doggie Catreeya and there you all were with your fleet of beautiful pocket cruisers. Within minutes I had met a whole crew of friendly, hospitable people - Chuck, George, Roger, Patty, David, Tanya, Dan, Jamie, Denise, Sam, Barry and many others (forgive my forgetting several names here), and then someone said "Hi Steve", and when I turned around I saw my friends Jane and Anthony, who were there with their Skagit Orca 24 - I know them thru a doggie connection - my little Havanese Catreeya is their dog Farley's Mom.

At any rate, I was given the royal tour of at least half a dozen C-Dorys, and then Barry invited me to stay for the lovely buffet dinner. In all I spent about 6 hours on the dock with this fabulous group of mariners and their lovely boats, and by the time I left at 9 pm I felt I was leaving a group of friends!

I am so impressed with the C-Dory - I think it would be the perfect boat for me, for coastal cruising and exploring, and certainly the C-Brats would be wonderful to hang out with!

I don't have a truck to haul a trailer and I live in a townhouse without adequate parking to store a boat, so I have many details to work out before I can make a purchase, but hopefully I can find creative solutions to these issues, partly by drawing on the experience of some of you who have made the transition from "no boat" to "boat and trailer".

Many, many thanks to all the Brats at the Sidney gathering for making me feel so welcome and for the wealth of information they've already shared with me! I look forward to reading this website thoroughly and staying in touch with you all.

Steve
Sidney BC
 
What a very nice introduction to the site. You experienced typical C Brat hospitality! Welcome aboard. You will feel at home with the C Brats. Many of us are ex sailors...
 
Indeed, the Sidney gathering was one of the most hospitable ever, I am glad it worked out for a "wannabe" to visit and see everything first hand! Details can be overcome! The only things we regret in life are things we could have done but didn't!
 
Thanks Bob. Nice to hear from a C-Brat way across the continent from me in Florida.

And thanks Pat and Patty too. Nice meeting you and Hi to Baxter - your puppy came right over and settled in beside Catreeya and me and I enjoyed his company!
 
What a great first post Steve!! It was nice to meet you and glad you hung out with us all. You'll make a great C Brat. Enjoy the working out of details. See you down the road. George and Carolyn
 
Welcome, Steve, to a fine group of experienced and helpful mates. As Bob said, many of us are former sailors -- and in our experience cruising around the continent on our C-Dory meeting Brats all over the place, we are not surprised that you were befriended by great C-Brats in Sydney -- you will be in the company of a gang of wonderful folks with a CD.
 
Thanks George, for your reply. Talking with you last nite was very inspiring to me, especially to learn you and Carolyn have lived aboard successfully for a year now. At first I was a little shocked to hear this and I wondered how you could live happily without hot water, a shower or head on the boat, not to mention the compact space, but you two have obviously found a way.

And El and Bill, thanks for responding! I'm honoured to hear from you. George told me about "Halcyon Days" yesterday, and I've already begun reading your site. Needless to say, I see why George spoke of you as an inspirational couple. I truly admire your decision to live simply and close to the beauty of land and water. Obviously you've been very successful at it and I look forward very much to reading all of your writings. I saw you had made the decision to move ashore awhile ago, but thanks for staying in touch with the C-Brats site.

I hope perhaps to meet you one day. First of all, I need to do my homework and learn as much as I can.

I would love to live aboard a boat for the 7 mildest months in BC, and then travel south for the 5 winter months. To accomplish this, I had thought I'd need to buy something much larger (eg. Grand Banks 32, 36, etc.), but owning this kind of not-really-trailerable boat is much more expensive. The idea of living aboard a C-Dory 22 is revolutionary for me (and part of me wonders if I've lost my mind even to think such a thought)...

So, a few questions for you both and for George and Carolyn: How difficult is it to learn to live fulltime in a tiny space with no running hot water, a tiny fridge, and a portapotty? How do you manage to keep nourishing foods (eg. salad greens, etc) fresh? Apart from the obvious solution of using the shore heads, how do you deal with having no running hot water? How about living with only a portapotty aboard?

Any perspective you can give me on these things is more than welcome! Thanks.
 
Great questions Steve. Others have asked some before. I usually reply something like...., " indoor plumbing, hot running water, daily showers, fridges. (don't have one!!), use ice box etc are relatively recent inventions. Mankind has lived for eons without them. A lot of times these items are more a nuisance than a convenience. Hot water is a few minutes away with the stove. Wash up! Porta potty is used where no facilities exist, ie remote anchorages. Marine parks, marinas etc usually have good facilities. As we tour, we stop and shop for groceries, restaurants, coffee, ice cream, museum visits etc, all with facilities so no problem. Space is an interesting topic. One would think more marriages would suceed in a 12,000 sq ft house as apposed to a mere 2,000 sq ft house if space was all one needed. I bet it isn't so. Big houses is again a fairly recent development. I think many of us have been "sold" on the concept of big spaces to live in and hence big dollars to pay it off and thus years of our life toiling to pay it off. Quite often, our best, healthiest years too. If one looks at the average size of a house from 100 or so years back in many small towns, you'll see something like 500-700 sq ft. Whole families were raised in 'em!! The c dory space is about the minimum size that has the requirements for sleep, preparing meals, lounging and best of all mobility. Both by land and sea. The trailer is the secret weapon. Sailors will recall Lyn and Larry Pardeys great advice.... " go small, go simple, Go Soon"! Life is uncertain. I think Goethe said, "grab a chance, and you won't be sorry for a might have been". Come on in Steve, the waters fine! One item, I tend to view our style as "cruisers" more than "liveaboards" as we see many liveaboards never go anywhere. The boat is too big! Kerri On is seldom still for long. She's little. Best of luck in your quest. By the way, there are quite a few of us who live aboard/ cruise quite a few months of the year. Just a few albums to look at are Bob and Marie on Thataway, Thisaway, Bill and El's of course, Katmai with Casey and Mary, Two Bears with Chuck and Penny, Wild Blue with Joan and Jim and Hunky Dory with Jay and Jo Lee. Others also. You won't be nutty all alone. Best. Carolyn and George :thup
 
George put it very well, and if you read all of Bill and El's blog, it will be like reading a manual on small boat cruising. To answer several specifically: In Lake Powell there are pump out stations, many state parks have dump stations or facilities where you can dump the lower part of the porti potty.
If you are 3 miles off the coast, it is legal to toss in the ocean. We stay at camp grounds, the occasional WalMart or truck stop when towing the boat across country. I have a 2 1/2 gallon gas can I move the sink drain hose into to catch the water and dump it in the morning into the dump station.

For greens, many boaters grow sprouts. But most of the world today does not have refrigeration--they go shopping every day. With the C Dory we usually use an ice chest, or have a Dometic 12/110 volt freezer Refrigerator combo. Marie often cooks a number of meals at home and we freeze them. Many items will last for a long time--Cabbage will last weeks, so before we crossed oceans, we would buy fresh cabbages. Carrots do well also. Eggs which have not been refrigerated will last 6 weeks or more. We just turned them over once a week (got right from the chicken egg frame). Showers--Sun Shower--plastic bag, you put in the sun. One side clear one side black, and the sun heats it up very well--too hot on occasion. You can heat water and pour into the sun shower. Salt water baths, or river/lake baths are a joy. You can get a good bath in far less than half a gallon. One true story I tell, is in a sailing race to Hawaii, we had only 50 gallons of water for 10 men--15 days in crossing (don't ask about the time), and there was plenty left. In that passage we used Dry ice and had frozen food at the end of the 15 days.

I was very fortunate to grow up on a boat with a galvanized bucket as a "head" and water in 1 gallon bottles. I learned young, then appreciated the luxuries of life. I also back packed a lot in my teens and thru life.

Please always feel free to ask about any questions you have.
 
Welcome Stevie,

I've enjoyed reading your posts. You express doubts and questions, but in an open, interested way that is excited to be thinking about new things :thup.

I haven't lived aboard my C-Dory (yet), but I have lived long-term in tents, tiny campers, and sailboats. One thing I notice is that people who find it a big negative to "live like they are camping" will perhaps have a harder time adjusting to small boat (or camper) living. Yes, you can make a boat/RV very much like a non-camping home, but that tends to require larger, more complicated boats/RV's. On the other hand, if "comfortable camping" can work for you, or even better feel satisfyingly "light" and free, then you should find a 22 (or 25) pretty luxurious. I mean shoot, you have a comfortable bed, your own head (toilet), and your own food/galley right to hand, and you don't even have to physically carry them (a la backpacking). Luxury!

As far as the details of daily life: On the one hand, it's good (and I find it enjoyable) to think about them and plan them out (especially if it helps to tide you over until you can put them into practice). After all, planning can be part of the fun. But on the other hand, I find that once you just do it, many little details just iron themselves out at the time. For example, you pull into a marina, find another boat with a Porta Potti, and they show you the ropes. Or you just figure things out as you go. That is not to say one shouldn't investigate ahead of time, nor that the lifestyle would make all (or even most) happy; but rather just to say that many things can get solved pretty easily once you are amongst "kin" out there doing it, and presuming you enjoy the basic concept. For people who aren't really "into" it, then many little discomforts can add up to un-fun vs. just being a part of the experience.

Sunbeam
 
Steve, it was good to meet you in Sidney.

I've spent quite a bit of time on my 22 and love the boat. The longest stretch I did was 3.5 months to Alaska and back.

I don't find the space or lack of amenities limiting while cruising. The stuff that's happening outside the boat is the interesting part; the boat is the tool that enables me to see it. Every day is new and exciting with lots to do. Plus, the shallow draft and small size of the C-Dory allows us to get to places we couldn't reach in a bigger boat.

I could totally see living aboard the C-Dory for many years while traveling with the seasons.

That said, I wouldn't be nearly as happy living on the C-Dory when going to work every day. Space for "work clothes" is too limited, the boat is too damp, and the early morning trek to the shower in freezing temperatures isn't fun. Plus, if you like to entertain occasionally, space is pretty limited.

My recollection is that El and Bill went south in the winter. George and Carolyn did too. I think living on a CD22 through the (admittedly mild) PNW winter would get old fast. The days are too short, too rainy, and too dark.

A CD is good as a cruiser, not so good as a dockside condo. At least that's my opinion.

Sam
 
20dauntless":3pkiueqb said:
A CD is good as a cruiser, not so good as a dockside condo. At least that's my opinion.
Click to expand...

Those are good points. If I were living aboard "dockside condo" style in one place (vs. traveling with the seasons) then I'd probably choose something different. I mean, if not using the trailerable feature, then the equation changes. Living through winter, needing to go to work every day, being stationary long term... suddenly other options might look more attractive.
 
Sorry to take so long to get back to you all, but although I set my profile so I'd receive email notifications when someone posted to my topics, I didn't receive notifications of several of your messages. I'll check my settings.

At any rate, thank you all for your helpful perspectives already. The idea of having a small, trailerable boat, and following the seasons so as to stay in the good weather and keep cruising, is a brand new idea which I'm still absorbing. Wonderful stuff.

Watching Kerri On leave Sidney today as they go on to their next anchorage was very inspiring for me. I just happened to be on the waterfront walkway as they left the marina, so I was able to watch them head out on their next adventure. I was quite moved, really, by the small size (relative to some of the other boats), the lovely lines and the elegance of their C-Dory as she turned out of the marina entrance and headed north.

I will stay tuned to the C-Brats site and participate as I go along.
 
I see lots of larger boats (some live aboards) that never or rarely leave the dock because it is too much hassle or too expensive to run the engines. In other cases I've seen boats that more off the dock a hundred yards and drop the anchor (thus going out) and sitting there for the weekend and then coming back. Again because it is too much hassle or too expensive to go somewhere farther.

In a CD-22 you can go quite a distance on what it takes some live aboards just to get out of the harbor.
 
Yes, I learned that by talking with the Brats at their Sidney BC rendezvous last weekend. They came from all over the place and they really get out there and use their boats. That's how I want to do it too. I see larger boats at the marinas that never seem to go out - too much hassle and expense and skill required to get in and out of the slip...
 
Steve,

Welcome. I may have missed you at Sidney. My Bad I'm sure. I grew up there so spent a fair amount wandering some of the side streets.

I just spent 9 nights on my boat. that is my longest stretch. Work and lack of vacation time have kept me to pretty much long weekends at best. Those 9 nights were great. I tried a new experiment. NO fridge and NO cooler. YUP, it worked and I can and will do it again. It is a matter of choice and adaption. I am working on the KISS principal and working on paring down. I want to learn systems for dress, and food that take less maintenance and less energy. It can be done.

Glad you came by and visited. Those you listed are good representatives of the C-Brats and it is like a big family. hang around and enjoy.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Steve,

Welcome. I may have missed you at Sidney. My Bad I'm sure. I grew up there so spent a fair amount wandering some of the side streets.

I just spent 9 nights on my boat. that is my longest stretch. Work and lack of vacation time have kept me to pretty much long weekends at best. Those 9 nights were great. I tried a new experiment. NO fridge and NO cooler. YUP, it worked and I can and will do it again. It is a matter of choice and adaption. I am working on the KISS principal and working on paring down. I want to learn systems for dress, and food that take less maintenance and less energy. It can be done.

Glad you came by and visited. Those you listed are good representatives of the C-Brats and it is like a big family. hang around and enjoy.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
So glad you could find the time Steve to visit us and enjoy some C-Brat hospitality. They really are a great group.

I have never lived on a small boat but I find the subject interesting. I did spend years in the Navy where my locker was the size of a medium suitcase. So I do have a little experience of minamilistic living.

If I did not already own a 22 and I was thinking of living aboard for lengthy periods of time, I would go for something a little larger like a 23 or a 25. No problems towing with the right sized truck.
I would sell the condo or downsize to a smaller one inland where the prices are more affordable. The saving might pay for your new boat, trailer, and truck. If not going the smaller condo route, I would buy or rent a storage locker for all those items I'm really not ready to part with yet but have no place on the boat. Also the storage compound will probably have room for your trailer while you are away on the boat.

When I was a nipper back in England, we only had a bath (no showers then) on Sunday evening before school. Being the oldest, I got to use the clean bath water first. The rest of the week we had a strip wash with hot water at the sink. Easily carried out on a C-dory. I do not have refrigeration on my 22 but my fruit and vegetables do well in the bilge under the dinette table. I have had lettuce and cucumber last for as long as 10 days. Of course the bilge also keeps my beer at perfect temperature, me being English and all.
George on Kerri On gave good info on showers, toilets, and laundry ashore. So if you are a couple, go for it, and if you are single, it's even easier.

Good luck Steve. Look forward to you joining up with us when you get your boat.
Port BoatHouse in Pt Alberni is the only C-Dory dealer on Vancouver Island. You can order new through them or leave them your contact info for a used one that comes in from time to time. That's how I got mine. Or if you are willing to travel south of the border there are some good deals.

Martin.
 
Thanks Martin. I appreciate your perspective on the lifestyle. Your solution for keeping veggies fresh is so simple - best fridge ever - seawater-cooled and free - unlimited source of coolant too! Really appreciating everyone's perspectives on the simplicity possible at sea with a C-Dory.
 
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