TomCat in the ocean

S

sawmilldon

New member
They say that there are no stupid questions, but this may push that boundary a bit.

I was showing the wife pictures of a 27 foot Sea Sport, oohing and aahing over the amenities. She said, "Yeah, but I really like the TomCat."

I countered that the Sea Sport was more of a blue water boat.

So I must ask the collective authority here whether I was correct in my statement. How would the TomCat handle fishing out of Neah Bay, or Westport in the big water?

We live on Camano and would spend our time in and around the islands most. I know a TomCat would be great in that role, but is it a good choice for a trip into the ocean where there are 10 foot swells?

Thanks for the guidance.
 
Dick (Squidslayer) regularly chases tuna out of Orinda, CA on his Tom Cat, Shirley Mae. You might want to talk to him about his experiences.

Warren
 
We have been 50 to 60 miles offshore on Discovery. Large swells are no problem. Most uncomfortable conditions are closely spaced swells. The period and the swells are the same, I.E. 4' waves at a short period. Just slow down and ride over the swells. If you need to go fast then a deep vee style boat would be best.

Brent
 
I fish out of Neah Bay pretty regularly in my 22' CD. I go as far as 30 miles west and I can tell you for sure that I'd far prefer the Tomcat to a 22' CD for this. In the typical conditions out there in the summer, the Tomcat would be fabulous. The best thing would be the ability to do 35-40 kt's out to get to the fishing grounds (Blue Dot, Cape Alava, Swiftsure etc.). In anything <3' the Tomcat will win hands down over a deeper V hull boat. Once things get above 4-5', the deeper V-hull of a Seasport might be better. However, even with that, you'll be running slower and probably still wouldn't get there faster (or safer) than in a Tomcat. You should get a demo ride in each boat when the weather is nasty before you make up your mind. I spent a day on a Tomcat two Decembers ago when we have big wind storms. We went from Edmonds to Deception pass and back in fairly heavy seas (2-4' with 5' around the points) and winds above 30kts. The boat handled beautifully and in the 2-3'stuff we ran about 42kts. Based on that experience and a few others on other boats, I'm not sure in what conditions the Seasport would handle better than a TomCat. The fuel mileage will also be better on the Tomcat.
 
Warren (and probably Bob on Thataway) have me beat, I've had Napoleon 30nm offshore from Boston on Stellwagon Bank.

The most common seas we have out here are 2-4 wind chop on top of whatever swells we got. The Tomcat will float over chop up to 3' (and real 3' chop is considerable). Swells are pretty much irrelevant unless they are steep and close together.

To give some perspective about seas, I recently spoke to the Captain of a 100', 200 passenger high speed passenger Cat. He said he can handle up to a 6' wind chop before it really pounds. (When you read other sites with owners talking about going 40 knots through 6' seas in their 30' monohull center console it's hogwash - they don't know what 6' seas are).

The Tomcat is an excellent ocean boat. Every boat will pound in the right circumstances, but the Tomcat on plane will handle wind chop very well. I suspect you guys get the same kind of wind chop we get.

I had a great Tomcat moment cruising from Boston to Salem 4th of July weekend. There was a line of 30-34' monhull cruisers. They were all going about 16 knots. I was able to take a course farther out to sea and cruised right by every one of them at 22 knots in comfort. We had a strong steady wind and solid 3' chop. It was a beautiful thing!
 
I dont think that the milage would be better on a tomcat with out board then a sea sport with a diesel I/O. I have ran warrens boat and rode on my friends seasport and at 30 knots I would bet the sea sport gets better gas milage. Now a ss with a big gas motor or out boards is another matter.
 
My 2nd C-Dory was a TomCat. I loved the boat....I hated the trailer. Since those days, Brent, myself, Jeff Messmer when he was still at C-Dory, I think Thataway, and some other TC24 owners indicated the trailer was a big issue....or, lack there of. To say there was a custom trailer at the time was hog wash....or something a bit more solid.

Then, even after working out a new trailer, some folks still attempted to use small stuff on the trailer...but, those that went ahead and got the "newer set up" when the TC 255's came out.....well, they had a much better trailer. If getting a used TC...be sure to get pics of Brent and some others trailers...and make sure you get a proper trailer build.

As for the hull of the TCs, I for one wished when Scot Reynolds and crew made the TC255, that the sponsons would have been a bit taller. But that would have taken more money and new molds...so, they are what they are...and that is not saying they are bad, that is saying a bit taller would have been a bit better.

Brent & Dixie's comments on performance speaks very accurately as to what I too experienced in my own TC24. At times with some "bay chop" you can just get up on top and run "over it"....but, I found that it was much more enjoyable to just slow her down a bit.

I loved that boat, I hated my trailer and looking back, I wish I still had that boat. Hands down a great boat on the waters about 95% of the time, and the other 5%, well..... there was no comfortable boat for that water at any speeds other than about 6-11 knots.....and even then, you were just glad you were on the water and wished the water was a bit better.
 
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