The Next boat

cool, that's a nice set up. How long would it take to get to lake powell in that rig? I would be concerned about it's freeway manners :)

Again, dreaming is the key word for me, i'm just trying to dream up the perfered URTP (ultimate retirement toy package). I'm working my arse off now and am thinking it might be wise to start putting some of the URTP pieces together as good deals present themselves......not that I ever plan to retire from my 9 to 5 job (that would be Sept to May) but someday will give up the fishing job and spend my summers exploring.

Lots of good info posted

Mike- I can't buy your set up, if I did you would just blow the money on horse stuff, probably start some damn horse owners web site and we would never hear from you again.....it's for your own good buddy
 
I haven't been on one but the Ranger 25 looks like a good dreamboat.
I have looked at a standard Rosborough RF246 and like it a lot. The Heads Up version seems like it could compromise sight lines and take room away from the area where you spend most of the time.

Try to remember us little people after you upgrade...
 
Having owned both the TC 24 and TC 255 my advice is to forget the TC 24 if you want a cruising boat. The TC 255 fixes all of the shortcomings of the TC 24. If you only want to fish and use the boat as a day tripper, then the TC 24 is OK.

We owned a CD 22 Angler for 13 years and loved the boat. We used it for weekends at Lake Powell or day trips to local lakes. We trailered it to Cabo San Lucas in 2002 and spent the winter there. Mostly near shore and off shore day trip fishing. Usually 3 or 4 people aboard. We traded trips with a friend who owned a Skipjack 25'. There was a definite difference in the big water capability of the CD 22 and the Skipjack 25.

Back at home I began looking for a bigger and more capable trailer boat. I had looked at ads for the TomCat 24 in Trailer Boats Magazine. Web surfing for TomCat 24's I found one for sale at EQ Sales. Dusty's boat. Birdman had already made a deal to buy it, so Les found a TomCat 24 that the factory was taking back from a dealership in the SF Bay area. We made a deal and bought the boat unseen. A mistake, but living in Utah boat shopping is limited.

There are shortcomings to the TomCat 24 we regretted.
The EZ Loader trailer was difficult at best and often impossible to use, but that's a topic for another post.
The sloping windshield. We were constantly bumping our head, and it was hot in any sun. Salt water splashes dried to a white haze immediately.
The head in a hole, under the helm with a fabric door. If you are tall you can't get in and out, and the fabric door gives no privacy. Also no shower at all.
The short cabin roof, restricts what you can carry up there.
This boat had numerous quality issues. It was the first TomCat that Reynolds C-Dory had built. We had many opportunities to discuss the TomCat 24 with the C-Dory factory, and had a lot of input into what would make it a better boat if they decided to redesign it.

We did spend the next winter back in Cabo San Lucas, with the TomCat 24. Yes it's a much more capable offshore boat. We frequently went as far as 65 miles out, chasing Yellowfin Tuna.

We received the 5th Tomcat TC255 that was built. Thanks to Jeff Messmer, we traded in the TomCat 24 for a TC255.
The new EZ Loader trailer fixes all of the problems of the old trailer design.
The cabin is essentially the same cabin as the CD 25, but on the same level as the cockpit. No stepping down as in the CD25'. The cabin is 30" longer than on the TomCat 24. The berth is the same as it was on the TomCat 24, that is, it's a full queen plus. Sleeping crosswise, no "V" berth. The head is in the rear starboard cabin corner with a shower. No crawling into a hole to use the head, and a real door. The cabin top is large enough to carry a dingy, or kayaks or whatever. We have 6 solar panels up there. The cockpit is 30" longer than on the TomCat 24, plus the motors are on the Armstrong bracket instead of having a motorwell. The real gained space in the TC255 vs the Tomcat 24 is almost 4' of useable length. With only an actual 1' 5" in hull length difference.

I didn't keep very good fuel consumption records on the TomCat 24'. It had twin Johnson 140 HP, 4 Strokes. Plenty of power and speed. The TC 255 has twin Honda 135's. We have FloScan, TwinScan gauges, and can reliably get 2.2 to 2.5 MPG. Up to 6 MPG if we cruise at 5 MPH on one motor at a time. We have lived on the boat for up to 3 months at a time, in Canada and also in the Florida Keys.

We have trailered the boat from Utah to Seattle to the Florida Keys, and back and forth many times. Probably more than 40,000 miles. Yes it requires a 3/4 ton truck, but not necessarily a diesel. I have a 1 ton diesel, but also I was carrying a 4,000 lb Lance camper. I don't own the camper anymore. We now use the TomCat as the camper on the road. The next truck will be a 3/4 ton, maybe even a gas motor.

I can't comment on the CD 25, other than to say that we cruised with "Wild Blue" for many weeks, and enjoyed being on both boats.
 
Oh sure, B~C. You gotta bring up the stupid horse. That and the orthodontist and the industry that provides your day job is why the big boat is going to have to go. I can fish sturgeon out of that plastic kayak you said you would loan me.  
 
Our 22 cruiser is the 3rd boat in 5 years, so the wife said I can't have anymore, so this will be my retirement boat. The North Pacific 28' does look like a sweet trailerable, being 8'6" wide I wonder how the stability is in a beam sea.
 
JamesTXSD":qkavbguh said:
Rob & Karen":qkavbguh said:
I know this boat was not on the original list, but it looks like an interesting trailerable boat. I starting looking at it after seeing it mentioned in another thread.

Rob

http://www.northpacificyachts.com/conte ... c-28-intro
Click to expand...

$177,500. I could buy a new CD-25 and cruise over 70,000 miles on the difference.
Click to expand...

Not to mention, keeping the majority of that money in North America as opposed to buying a Chinese-made vessel.
 
In reference to Doryman's comment "Yanmar debacle" i'm interested what he is referencing. As an owner of a 110 Yanmar, 2008, with flawless performance and super economical running, i would not apply "debacle" to the Yanmar name...Curious about the explanation.

terraplane
 
The Seattle Boat Show was a lot of fun. My wife and I went down to this year show to pick out a larger boat to replace our 22 cruiser. We were looking for a trailerable trawler that can carry four in comfort and has a shower and a marine head. A boat that we can cruise all over Prince William Sound on and stay out for days at a time.

I don't understand why C-Dory hasn't put a bigger table on the 25' and the 255. With 25' you should be able to sit four adults at the table comfortably. Hopfully Sea Sport will make it happen. The little Nordic Tug at $215.000.00 seemed way over priced. The North Pacific 28 at $165.000 without a trailer, was very nice but doesn't have much room for fishing in the cockpit. The Ranger 25SC really got us excited. By shortening the house by 18" it really added to the cockpit comfort. Also It appears that Ranger has improved the quality control a lot. Nicely optioned at $155,000.00 on a trailer we thought it was the best buy in the show. We also drove up to EQ Marine in Oak Harbor to look at a Rosborough that was very nice. I liked it because of all the motor options you can do on it. We also saw the 1984 ? 27' C-Dory at EQ for $45,000.00. Unfortunately it has real low head room and I am 6' 2'. And its 39' long on the trailer. It will make someone real happy. We also considered a few of the metal boats and other deep -Vs like the Sea Sports.

When all was said and done we decided that we were very lucky to have our little 22' cruiser, PLAYIN' HOOKY ,paid for!

Last summer we traveled over most of the western half of PWS in comfort,... sometimes cramped comfort but we were warm and dry. We spent over 16 nights out on the hook in beautiful coves. Quite often we tied up next to larger boats owned by friends and party down with them. We pulled up lots of shrimp and a few troll Kings and Silvers. The 22 cruiser is a breeze to tow down to Seward or Homer with our Dodge 3500 Cummins powered truck, even with the Bigfoot 10' 11' in the box. I think we will just keep it awhile longer and look forward to exploring the county with it in our retirement.

However, if I win the lottery...there will be a new 33' Ocean Sport Roamer in Whittier.
C-Dorius
 
Man, I love this read on this thread/link... or what ever they are called.

Just think...great honest right up front stuff about the boats we have owned and used...and our ideas on what would make them better...for us and how "we use them.." each differantly many times. and some things have me wondering a bit on a measurement or two... So, today, when the temps get back up to around 30, I need to ride down the road and check on some measurements on the RF-246 Heads up...

Bret...& Bob.. . I like the chatter on the TC24/TC255 too. I loved my TC24 and had great wonderful times on it with many of the folks at my home marina at the time on board and out loving the day on the water in the 25mph winds and colder days/night.... Ya see...I had the only boat that was not one of our more typical Sea Ray/Maximu open air cockpit/lounge area boats.... I had hard sides, hard top, great heating system, great sound system... so...we all loved that boat. Found myself thinking about cutting the top off and re-doing the front section with a hard top extended much further forward, tilt back front windowns with all 3 of them opening..... and when I get thoughts like that...well... the TC255 was looking to be a great option and providing feedback as a TC24 owner was neat and fun too.

Byrdman
 
Ok I cant stop thinking about it now. In the future we would like to get one of the following boats.

ranger tug 25 sc. Now that it can cruise at 18 to 20 mph, has more back deck and can be trolled with the new troll valves this boat has it all. Susan just loves the look of it and I like the ride. Good all around boat for us.

Sea sport Pilot house or their new 28. Love both of these boats for the same reasons as the tug. Cruise at a good clip, very fishable, lots of cruising room for two. the new 28 does not have the motor dog house which is a small deterrent to most seas sports.

Then we have the smaller end of the alum fish/cruise market. These are boats under 30 ft but big enough to cruise.
The coastal craft, Coldwater boats, Eagle craft and a few others. High price but fast and roomy. The Kingfisher is also a big contender in the 28 to 33 foot. I could spend all summer on these boats.

Then there are the lottery boats.

58 Krogen or 62 Norhavn. both are big enough to live on and carry a decent fishing boat on deck. They are also small enough for a couple to handle alone. never want a boat that requires crew no matter how big the lottery is.

Well thats my list until the next boat show.
 
I want to submit myself as a bad example of where this kind of thinking leads.

If Tom isn't careful when he's my age he'll have a 62 Nordhavn with his 22 on davits for a fishing boat.
Lyle
 
At this point it is a 10' RIB vertical on the swimstep. I wanted a 11' Whaler because I thought it would make a passable fishing boat, but my davits wouldn't handle the weight.

I would love to know how a C-Dory 16 would tow. Do you think someone would let me try at a C-Brats gathering?

I really shouldn't joke that way. When we were headed for the Broughtons some guy at the dock in a bigger boat wanted to look at our 25. He thought it would make a good dinghy for his boat. I thought it was funny, but Shelley got insulted that he wanted to make a dinghy out of her boat. So, sorry if I insulted anyone with a 16.
Lyle
 
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