The Next boat

B

B~C

New member
Winter is upon us, time to dream about boating and that next boat. Feel free to offer up any pros & cons for the boats below to help me dream more effeciently. I'm dreaming about something a bit bigger, not to much of a fuel thirst & not to much of a pain in the arse to trailer off into the retirement years....the key word here for me is dream

24 Tomcat
255 Tomcat
25 C-Dory
Ranger 25sc
Rosborough
 
We're not much help on boat dreaming - we have found living aboard the CD-22 is perfect for us. After years of working in 'practical' science, we're well schooled in cost/benefit analysis. And cost is not just in $ - the 'costs' of a larger boat, and the loss of the cruising benefits of a smaller boat, make the CD-22 just right for us. We run a little counter culture, I guess. Bigger just comes with too many negatives, so we would suggest that if you plan on lots of trailering and exploring around the country in your retirement years you have the perfect boat now. Of course, many decide, for their own reasons, that they hanker to step 'down' (our opinion) to a larger boat.

Now, dreaming is another matter - our winter days are for dreaming about where we want to cruise this year. So many delightful choices - the candy counter is full of bright colors and interesting possible treats. We are currently in the midst of discussing the Loop vs. Canadian Lakes and the North Channel. Ah - aren't we all lucky to be able to dream....
 
Brent":122ntd7c said:
I wish I bought the Honda snowblower instead of the MTD
Only $1,000 difference
Click to expand...

How much does a snowblower cost?? Maybe I should put that amount in my boat fund.

Herb heading back South soon.
 
HI KEN,
rather than commenting on pros and cons of a particular boat i'd rather speak about the payment plan. many people pay cash, it's only later you find they refinanced their property and pulled out equity to pay cash for their depreciating boat.
it's truly not always possible to pay cash, but if it were, we would all negotiate at better deal, spend less and make wiser purchases.
point at hand, i have financed well over 150k for a boat and didn't flinch when signing the forms. however, i have also walked away from jc pennys because i would not pay the $35.00 they were asking for a pair of trousers. when you reach into your pocket, rather than signing a finance agreement, the task becomes far more difficult. many years ago i decided if i don't have the money at hand then the purchase is not warranted and/or necessary. ok, it's also fair to say i am older, have less time for payments, however had i employed this rule over the past twenty years i would not have lost 100k. many of the boats would not have been purchase, or if they were, would have been at a better price and/or terms. just food for thought. are there others who feel the same?
pat
 
$1,000 and up for the Honda
My neighbor has one and it is a snow eating machine

My MTD costed $150 at Sam's Club and it came with a leaky carb which was repaired under warranty.
It is worthless in snow is more than 4" and I sold my Toro before I used the new one. :( The Toro was 20 yrs old but still worked and repaired. Honda improved on the design and added a larger engine. These are single stage units, btw I had a 2 stage blower but got tried of its bulk and weight although it was a machine, too but slow and it was quickly sold
 
Well here goes
1- Tomcat 240 nice boat Byrdman had one. Easier to tow (weight wise )then the Rossborogh ,Ranger or the 255. I think with the slanted window in front it would tend to get very hot ( Greenhouse) Some of the tomcat owners put visors on the front window just like the 50' cars . Maybe solved problem don't know?

2- tomcat 255 fixes greenhouse problem makes it more C-Dorish but the weight 6000lb plus engines and trailer ,etc,etc,etc puts it into 10,000lb real fast takes twin 115-150's lots of gas I love the bed up front Great boat for mooring

3 C-25,Venture 26 very similar boats ,Lighter then Ranger or Rossborough,or 255. Dr.Bob has had the both the c-25 and 255 .These boats are the best for trailering camping etc for someone that wants to visit this great country plenty of storage and a decent ride if one slows down good mpg on the Venture26 3-4 mpg according to Forrest with a honda 200

4- Ranger Tug at 6000lb plus trailer maybe 9000lb with everything I've only ridden in a r-25 once seems to ride nice 16-18 mphFrom looking at stats the mpg figures are pretty good. I guess someone that has this boat chime in If we win the Lottery this would be in my top 5 Boat list

5-Rossborough 245 Nice boat actually it was on my short list before I bought the c-dory. but weighs 6000lb plus trailer and engines. lots of weight .I think the Venture 26 would be a better fit for me it only weighs in at 4000lb plus engines and trailer .Similar setup as R-245 the way Byrdman has set his Rossboroughs 245 up

Like I said if I win the Lottery its a Venture 26,Tomcat 255 or a Ranger 25SC .All thes boats are really nice Boats Most are on my list I guess I need to buy more Lottery tickets ,Jim
 
But Jim, the big question is are you playing the lottery. If you win I can help solve your dilemma .
BTW I think the new R 25 Sport Cockpit will be a winner for the Florida market .We will have one in a few weeks . Could be my ultimate dive boat. Dealers can dream too..........
Marc
 
Ken,

That's a nice list of Dream Boats. I could be comfortable on any one of those. I can only comment on the TC-255 from experience. Depending on loading, expect 2 nmpg cruising, more if you're content below 7 kts. You will need a 3/4 ton diesel pickup for sure, 10-12 mpg towing.

Jim, Hanging on the hook is the one downfall of the TC if it's at all windy overnight. With the tunnel closed as it is. The wave action is trapped beneath your sleeping area, plop, plop, plop, all night!

Other than that, it's our Dream Boat and we're stayin' put!

Traveler, a really nice CD-25 is coming up for sale due to this SBS buying frenzy. I'd consider it!
 
Wow Ken...that's quite a selection of fine vessels! Each will offer their advantages and personality.

I will comment on the vessel I know the most. The Tomcat will require a truck that can tow 10,000 lbs. My Tacoma cannot tow it down the highway so I either have a buddy move it for me twice a year or I rent a truck that can tow it ($200 from Hertz Equipment Rental for an F350). My Tacoma can pull it up and down the ramp easily in low range 4WD so if a storm was bearing down or something I could at least move her out of the water with my current truck.

The Tomcat will cruise at 22 knots at 1.9 nm/g (or 25 mph and 2.2 sm/g). Relative to the speed you are cruising it does pretty good on gas. She will carry 150 G of fuel giving you a max range (dependent on many factors of course) of 285 nautical miles (330 statute miles).

The Tomcat has a crazy amount of storage space. A grown man can crawl into each of the forward sponson storage areas and close the lid. How's that for space?!? If I'm doing a dive trip up to Maine with 4 divers we stow all our gear less tanks and lead in that storage area (each of us with two tanks). You will also have the most forward bunk space as a function of the cat hull design. You can comfortably weekend with three adults (two in the forward bunk one over the table bunk). You could weekend with 4 with some planning (i.e. 3 in the forward bunk). Although the builders certificate reads 25'5" she is truly a 27'5" vessel without the engines. The USCG recently approved Napoleon as a 7 GT vessel per the Simple Calculation Form based on the positive floatation Armstrong bracket. (This number has nothing to do with vessel weight). The bracket can offer some non-dry storage if properly secured while on the hook for example.

I like the fact that I have just enough roof space to transport my dinghy up there. I use the Mercury 6'7" 2 person inflatable. I have to let some pressure out, but it will fit perfectly behind my radar pedestal and the all around light post. The grab rails make it easy to get around on the outside and also tie down the dinghy.

I find the Tomcat simple to trailer. The center guides put me on the bunks straight and level every time. It sits high on the trailer (13' from road surface to the top of my GPS receiver) so you need to be conscious of bridge or other clearances on back roads but getting it on and off the trailer is as simple as any other monohull I have ever trailered. My trailer does not have a ladder at the moment, so it's a little precarious to climb down from the bow to the trailer, but with a ladder it would be quite easy. I know most Tomcat trailers have the ladder installed. I launch/retrieve Napoleon solo.

The ride is of course excellent. All cats will slam in the right conditions, but I can generally cruise on plane through 3' wind chop comfortably. If I am loaded to the gills and sitting low in the water it's less than that. To be clear, a true 3' chop is considerable! The ride comfort was the number 1 selling point for me. I tried the C-25 in chop and 30 minutes later I was able to ride in the Tomcat in the exact same conditions. I knew immediately the Tomcat would offer the ride I was looking for. It offered a totally different level of ride comfort than any other (recreational) vessel I had been on before.


As far as cons...I would like a higher wind tunnel such that air could flow through at rest and while slowly underway. You must be on plane to get the wind tunnel now. I would like the dinette to be wider to more easily accommodate a berth for a couple and to enable 4 adults to sit comfortably. I believe this could be done without increasing the beam as the "hallway" in the Tomcat is very wide.

Good luck with your search. The research is fun!
 
I'm biased toward the 255 Tom Cat, but here are some issues that were important to us that led us to this boat:

1. no V-berth

2. no V-berth

3. Did I mention, no V-berth?

Actually there were a lot of other considerations. The final decision was between the 255 and the R-25. People convinced me that launching and retrieving the R-25 would be much more difficult than the 255. Now I know better, but by choosing the 255 I thankfully avoided the Yanmar debacle on the R-25. Like Roger says, with either the 255 or the R-25 a diesel pickup is a necessity for hauling any distance. Both are more challenging to launch, so if your plans include frequent launch and retrieval I would go with the C-25 or Venture 26. Our 255 lives in a slip most of the time but is also trailered long distances to destinations where it basically goes in the water and stays there until we come home. That is one reason why I bought the C-22, mainly for day or overnight trips -- we may eventually get a truck camper or small motor home to use with the C-22.

Warren
 
If you're content with 2mpg and accept that a bigger tow rig has to be in the deal, I'll sell you the TyBoo for right around 60% of the cost of a new equipped TC255 and throw in the big Dodge diesel.
 
Like I said before...life is just too short for so many different and different type boats.

I have my personal RF246 Custom Wheelhouse that Les and I built out. Love it. I have the RF-246 Heads Up version of the Rosborough Sedan that Les (EQ) and I have worked on ready for the end user/owner input. It was a longer, but a fun road completing building the custom interior and getting the head up out of the V-Berth area, and in the aft cabin area on a new boat!! She has turned out great! Take a look:
http://www.heartland246.com/node/95

After this boat...well...I am not sure...?? Maybe one of the 32' Cats that Jeff and his crew are building at Sea Sport??? I miss my cat hull(s). That new Aspen C90 Cruiser warrants a bit of time and research too.... But, there always seems to be the next boat...or another one.

Good topic on a snow day.
 
Many years ago in my mis-spent youth, my dream was a 4 car garage (with a one bedroom apartment above it) with a Porsche, a tricked-out van, and 3 or 4 motorcycles. As I "matured", a thought a nice road car would be good to add to the mix. Older yet, I figured it would be best to gut out the garage, make room for a nice diesel pusher motorcoach with a motorcycle lift on the back and towing a classy SUV, AND a hanger on the side of the garage for the airplane. It's only been since my 40s that my inner island boy came out and I realized I'd rather trade that garage for 3 slips and a small beach house. In those slips: A C-Dory 25, a Farrier trimaran, and a big ol' cruising sailing catamaran.

The reality: I have the little house, the boat is out the door at the dock... but, there's only room for one boat out there. The CD-25 has been the boat that suits our style - room for 2 and a cat to spend extended time onboard, and we can trailer it anywhere that suits us.

What's that old Hawaiian saying, LocalBoy Mark? Two ways to be a success: make more; want less. Bill and El probably think they didn't get through to me with that simplifying stuff... but my wants and needs really are more simple these days. If I won the lottery, I'd just spend more money doing what I'm doing. :mrgreen:

Best wishes,
Jim
 
I have owned the C Dory 25 and it is a great boat--but a bit more cramped than the Tom Cat, head is smaller (especially for "tall" people.), and bunk is slightly more difficult to get into and less comfortable. The Tom Cat wins in seas up to 3 to 4 feet--beyond that the C Dory 25 has to be at a displacement speed, as well as the Tom Cat--the c Dory 25 would ride better in the heavier seas at low speeds.

Certainly agree about increased the tunnel height (hulls 6 to 8" deeper), and I would like to see the boat about 18" to 2 feet longer--that would allow a stall shower or at least a much more usable shower. But the trade off would be a very long boat on the trailer (My Tom Cat measures 37 feet including outboards) on the trailer.

As for the slap at anchor--in mild conditons anchor by the stern. If it will be rough--move somewhere else for protection (and we have done this in the middle of the night).

I hear the comment about the berth width--and it might be a good feature, but it is nice to be able to move around in the boat. I have spent a few days with my daughter and two grand kids in the forward berth, and myself on the dinette bunk--it is do-able but crowded. I also have my foreward bunk fixed so I can sleep fore and aft with a filler cushion in the foot well of the navigator seat.

Ideal tow vehicle would be a Dynamax 25 foot (queen quarter, full head with shower, sofa, full galley, big enough chassis and diesel with 100 gallon tank) to have a 10,000 lb tow capacity...

I do like the Down East type of boats--and the Rosborough has its attractions, but for us, the small forward berth and head arrangement, plus part of the saloon layout was a no go.

I love the tugs--both 25 and 29. Great boats. But realistically I needed the speed and ride of the cat.

As for fantisy--Marie's has always been the Defever 49 pilot house trawler. We spent two weeks in S Florida looking at 44 to 58 foot Defever and Hatterae. Conclusion was that all of the C Dories were better built that these boats. Even ones which were in the $300,000 amount had some serious problems--mostly in the decks and leak type of problems. Decision--stick with the C Dory Tom Cat...now as for that DynaMax--Marie says no! But maybe....someday.
 
I've seen the future and it is...

Summer_07_068.sized.jpg

As I've aged I've gotten bigger and slower. Why not my boat ?

Seriously though, I'd like a Grand Banks knockoff to keep moored up in Olympia for long ventures Northward. A tri-cabin with a single Lehman would be nice. Real cheap to operate. I'd still keep Adeline though. She's not going anywhere !
 
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