Things you can learn at a C Dory gathering

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snal

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C Dory Year
1994
C Dory Model
22 Angler
Vessel Name
Thelma Lou
We've had our 22 angler for a year now, and although we haven't used it as much as we'd like to, we have made several trips and spent several nights aboard.
The NC gathering allowed us to see ALOT of other boats...22 cruisers, 25 cruisers, and Tomcats...as well as ALOT of different set-ups...cockpit covers, engines, generator mounts, ect, ect. I can't imagine a better place to gather all the needed information to make an educated decision about purchasing and rigging any size C Dory! Also...if Gene and Carrie of Mobile East Marine are any indication of what typical C Dory dealers are like...then C Dory owners and shoppers are truly blessed!

Things we learned...
We are fairly content with our 1994 22 Angler. The Cruiser version does have it's benefits, but we prefer the larger cockpit.
Our "dream boat" idea has changed to a 25 Cruiser over the Tomcat. The big difference noticed (after walking out of our angler and onto the "Donna Marie" 25 footer) was the massive cabin. We had room to pass in the hallway (we're always in each other's way on Thelma Lou) and the built-in cockpit seats more or less do away with the need for folding chairs (we'd still have them aboard). The Tomcat had been my choice, but we noticed something about them when the water/wind was a bit rough at the marina docks....they "pop"! Water seemed to slap the hull regularly, which would drive me nuts if I were trying to sleep. I also noticed that they seemed huge on the trailer when I looked at them at Mobile East, but I could live with that, they certainly didn't look too big on the water.

Now, I'm constantly aware of all boats in general, if I see one on the water or being trailered, I can't help but look, and make mental notes of what I like or dislike, boats have always facinated me. But I had a dread fear that Jo was going to talk "bathroom" (as in Tomcat or 25 Cruiser) all the way home from the gathering...by saturday I was even more worried that "I" was going to try to talk "her" into it! It was then that I got knocked back into reality. Nick, from "Valkyrie" listened as I spoke of the benefits of the 25, and then simply stated..."do you think you'll have more fun than you're having now, on a 25 cruiser?"...this was from a man who has been there and done that on a 22 cruiser with his lovely wife Marcia, and a porta-potty just like mine. So I'm back to being perfectly content with our 22 Angler...at least until the next time I have to carry the bottom half of the potty to the "dumping station".
 
We own both the C Dory 25 and the Tom Cat. The slap has not been a problem--just turn the stern to the wind if it is.

The head is slightly bigger and is easier to use in the Tom Cat. The dinette seats are larger on the Tom Cat--and the bunk is much bigger and easier to use. But the major difference is when you get on the water--the Tom Cat is twice as fast. Fuel economy is about the same, and ride is much better. Why don't we have two Tom Cats?--the Tom Cat is heavier on the trailer---and costs considerably more.

We love both boats, and they both have good points, but if I was voting on one boat--it would be the cat.
 
If one must turn the stern into the wind to alleviate bow slap, then it is in fact a problem; but one which can be dealt with by turning the stern into the wind to alleviate the problem. The Tom Cat is faster, but twice as fast? My 25 does 30 knots, and with the TC you must go faster or else go hull speed. There is no in-between. The flat bottom boats have that useful in-between. I sampled both and went with the CD25, even though I am 6'8" and could use that wonderful extra space that the TC berth provides. I have a plan for that, though. And the 25 has 6'10" of head room in the cabin. That is important to me, but perhaps not for most people.
 
Well, I agree that C-Brat gatherings are awesome opportunities to see all the pluses and minuses of the various boats. Nick is right, you will have just as much fun on a CD22 as a CD25. We certainly did. Bob is right, if you can handle the initial ding, the TC255 has a lot of advantages over the CD25. But for a price / value ratio, we are firmly in the CD25 camp. We loved our CD22, but the CD25 has so much more elbow room (passing in the aisle is a great example), and more amenities (pressurized water sytem, fridge, head), and for us, is our perfect boat. To each his own, that is the basic principle here!
 
I think Tom's reference to speed may have been from 0 to top speed. I didn't board a Tomcat, so I hadn't considered the room in the v-berth...that could be a huge plus too.
Still up in the air on the hull slap...there were 2 Tomcats there this weekend (at least) facing 180 degrees from each other in slips....I could hear both of their hull slaps at the same time.
 
Pat Anderson":njy9dqgp said:
Well, I agree that C-Brat gatherings are awesome opportunities to see all the pluses and minuses of the various boats. Nick is right, you will have just as much fun on a CD22 as a CD25. We certainly did. Bob is right, if you can handle the initial ding, the TC255 has a lot of advantages over the CD25. But for a price / value ratio, we are firmly in the CD25 camp. We loved our CD22, but the CD25 has so much more elbow room (passing in the aisle is a great example), and more amenities (pressurized water sytem, fridge, head), and for us, is our perfect boat. To each his own, that is the basic principle here!
Click to expand...

Now we're talk'n!
Jo and I talked about the 22 cruisers that we saw, and we still prefered our angler with our set-up having the stove in the cockpit. Sink?...well...we improvise.
I can see the usefulness of a sink and stove in the 25, but having that in a 22 would limit "us" to one in the cabin while in use. The 25 seemed to be a different story, but again, this is "us".
 
Another thing you can learn at a C-Brat gathering is that even though many of us have VERY different opinions about a lot of things (especially politics), the vast majority of brats are pretty decent people. I've never met a C-Brat in person that I didn't like - even if I've disagreed strongly with their views on one thing or another. I've also learned a lot about fishing, crabbing, cooking and beer at CBGT's!
 
Speed in our C Dory 25 (130 hp) is 17 cruise and top about 20. Tom Cat cruise is 17 to 35 and top very close to 50. I realize that some light weight CD 25 can get close to 30 with considerably more HP than our boat has. As far as low end speeds on the Tom Cat, we can cruise at 3 mph with one engine at an idle or go up right on up--but between 9 and 10 we are starting to go into planing mode (pretty much the same speed that the C Dory 25 gets into planing mode. In 2 to 3 foot seas, the Tom cat will have some hull slap and you are more compfortable getting up on a full plane and getting an air cushion under the hull--the C Dory 25 will pound in some of these same conditions--with the Tom Cat winning the ride hands down.... When you get into four foot head seas you are at the limit of comfort in the Tom Cat, and you can run the C Dory 25 at 5 to 8 knots, but it will be very uncomfortable and throwing a bit of water (been there, and don't like to do that). But what do I know, since I own both and have a couple of thousand miles on each of them?

Head room--about equal. Isle width--a bit more aft in the CD 25--but Marie and I can pass easily in the Tom Cat also. We wonder why the isle is so wide in the 25--gives up storage space and table width.

I find that the hull noise is no more of a problem in the Tom Cat than it is in the C Dory 25--I don't know what conditions you had at North Carolina. In my opinion, the Tom Cat should have been built with deeper hulls--basically a higher wing deck.

Yes, we are passionate on all of our boats. But I get to drive both the 25 and Tom cat about equally, so have a pretty good idea of how they handle and the plusses and minuses...
 
I routinely have 3-5 people on trips, sometimes more(!). I bought a slab of melamine wood ($10) just like the factory table and extended it another 6-7". Also mod'd the seats slightly to extend out into the aisle more, utilizing the 'dead space' tucked under the walkaround side. Now I can seat 4 at the table fairly comfortably. The narrower TC's interior I don't believe will allow this, but I could be wrong.

I'm extremely happy with all aspects of my 25 Cruiser.
 
I look forward to my first gathering here in Boston next summer.

Every boat design has its pluses and minuses as we all know. The Tomcat does slap if a wave rolls straight into the bow. When I overnight I just make a point to choose a calm area. It has not been an issue for us. Contrast that to the comfort of riding at 22 knots in two foot seas for example compared to the C-25....you will be sold. It is absolutely a pleasure to cruise on the Tomcat in conditions that would otherwise be uncomfortable in a monohull.

I too wish the tunnel clearance was higher on the Tomcat. Again, comes down to the net balance of features for what you want to use the boat (any boat) for.

I would own multiple C-Dory's and a few Ranger's if I could though. I like them all for their different characteristics, advantages, and personalities. To choose just one, the Tomcat was best for me.
 
Hi all, Well, if the tunnel was higher in a TomCat, you'd have more deep-V performance problems. As it is, I think the TomCat has the ability to operate well at any speed, other than, as Dr. Bob points out above, just before planing between 10-12 knots.

I anchor out frequently and the boat seems to naturally take an angled set to the waves which minimizes the hull slap. I think it is the almost vertical side hull panels that make the most slap noise. I just envision all the cracks, creaks, and popping of the old wooden windjammer hulls and glide off to a comfortable sleep.

I've spent time on the 22, 25 and TomCat and I prefer the lateral stability of the TomCat and the way the Armstrong brackets get the outboards out of the cockpit and offer a huge aft platform for genset, swimming, etc.. In choppy seas, I think more comfortable cruising at middle to high speeds is the TomCat's forte. The huge, flat bow area with high SS rails allows a lot of extra use and gets ppl more spread out when at anchor, or still fishing.

The CD 25 may use a bit less road towing fuel, due to lighter weight, but as far as ease of towing goes, the TomCat on a trailer is rock solid stable and a very smooth, controlled tow. The TomCat must sit high on the trailer due to the hulls over the wheels, but the trailer has a great set of forward steps and hand rails and the Dive Ladder allows easy aft entry of the boat from the aft.. I tow my TomCat with at 3/4 ton diesel and it is a breeze.

The TomCat's huge bunk and massive under deck storage really spoil you if you spend much time aboard like me. I have 3 grills, microwave, A/C, all my kayak gear and wetsuits, computer, easels and art supplies, cameras and photo supplies, TV, DvD, 4 radios, a week's clothing and food, fridge, Rain Gear, Fishing gear, steamer, 2 vacuums, coffee maker, and on and on... not to count two Raymarine consoles, radar, and on and on more... Quite a bit of stuff for a 25.5 ft boat!

To each his own... btw I still drool over the 21 EC's lines and the CD 16's jaunty look...


John
 
What I've learned at C-Dory gatherings: people are pretty much like they write; if you see a lot of exclamation points and smileys in their posts, that's also the way they talk. You can see the passion folks have for these boats. Certainly there is a lot of "show and tell," but even better is the warmth and sharing. And something I've found particularly endearing: very little competition. There's a lot of discussion on the threads here about "which boat" with everyone promoting their choice... but when you attend a gathering, we have seen no "my boat's better than your boat" behavior. It doesn't matter which model you have, we're all family.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Dr John, I have to disagree with your statement about "having more deep V problems if the hulls were deeper". The Tom Cat is a planing catamaran, but the characteristices at lower speed are more like a barge or jon boat, because the tunnel is not clear and drags in the water. One could make the point that you might get on a plane faster with this flat area just under water. I don't believe this is true, based on other cats, and the drag factor. . If the tunnel was clear, it would work like a displacement cat--at low speeds, and a planing cat at high speeds. I have driven a number of cats which had adequate tunnel clearance, and they don't have any of the deep V type of problems (such as wandering or bow steering).
 
Bob,
I'm curious about your CD-25 speed numbers, is that mph or kph. Our CD-25 with an 06 Honda 135, full fuel,water and groceries and two adults will do 24.7 knots at 5000 rpm. I don't have a kicker or generator. Thanks in advance for any information. Larry
 
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