What boat would you move up to?

C

curioustraveler

New member
Greeting C-Brats,

I can't believe I'm actually asking this...more thinking out loud than anything. I'm researching my next boat and I'm looking for suggestions on boats I may not be thinking of. What have you considered moving up to, or have you seen other's move up, to with similar look/feel/functionality/utility of a C-Dory, around 30 feet?

I purchased my 22 Cruiser last Spring after searching and searching for the perfect boat. I love C-Dory's for many reasons and finally found one that fit the bill. My primary goal was to introduce my wife to weekend trips on the water. Well, the boat has served us perfectly and we absolutely love her. My wife's had so much fun that we actually moved to a nice marina this year so that we could take advantage of the amenities and spend more time on the water.

For 80% of what we do, our boat is perfect. However, now that we have a slip in a "real" marina, we're finding we want to go hang out on her more. We both work remotely a significant amount of time and would love to go work on the boat. We also want our 60 pound dog with us. The 22 is too small for this. There's not enough room to work and our dog has difficulty finding a place to get comfortable. Being in Maryland, we have to keep the door closed and the AC on.

So I'm entertaining the idea of a larger boat but I still want to stay under 30 feet, and I want a boat with a pilothouse or similar enclosed cabin. The obvious possibilities are a C-Dory 25 or TomCat, or RangerTug. The problem is I don't think these are enough of an increase in size to make the significant increased expense worth it.

Ranger Tugs: I don't need trailerability so I'd prefer something without such a narrow beam. I'd probably have to jump up to the 29 to really appreciate any significant increase in space. I also don't love how complicated the systems are. And they are very expensive.

C-Dory: The 25 probably isn't enough of an increase in space. I've never been on a TomCat but it's also probably not big enough to be worth it.

My dream boat is a NordicTug 32 but these are likely out of my price range and larger than I need. The 26 looks great but I've never seen one on the East Coast.

I love the Camano 31's but the flybridge ladder won't work with out dog. Otherwise, this may be an excellent option.

Mainship 35/39 could be great but is a bit bigger than I'm looking for.

I'd like to stay below 30', not for trailerability but for operating expenses (slips, etc.) We need an enclosed living area - not down in a cabin like a down east style, but something like the C-Dory's cabin or a tug or similar pilothouse style.

Basically I'm looking for a bigger version of the little boat that I have. Something where two adults can work at the table and room for a dog to lay around and do what dogs do. What makes and models am I missing?
 
there are a few "down East" boats in the 30' size range. Also some sedan type boats....There is a Nordic Tug 32, for $109,000 in Tennessee and one for $115,000 in New Orleans. They hold value as does the C Dory. They are not going to be as fast.

My impression is that you will not really get much space with any of the Ranger or Cutwater.

I would have also put the Camano Troll up there--since you can put what you want in the pilot house. My recollection is that these are only 28' and then 3' for the swim step and maybe bow anchor roller.
 
Of course, then there is the Ocean Sport 30 or 33. Super (same-ish) style as the C-Dory, have speed when you need it. Ocean able, and really fine fit and finish with multiple power options.

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Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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coastal craft pro fish or sedan 30 or 33, Ocean roamer 30 or 33. Both of those boats are 10.6 ft beam. I have been looking at the Lifetime series of boats in a 28 to 33. wide beam also and very fuel efficient if their numbers are to be believed. Back Cove yachts in 30 to 37 is very down east cdoryish on steroids. 11 ft beam

All of these boats are great boats but all are spendy compared to a c dory. Ocean roamers are 300k used 500k new. Coastal crafts are even more 600-700k. The lifetimes look like bargins used at 100-300k and new at 400k. other then that its old glass slow cruisers. Tolly crafts and and 40 year old christ crafts. Gas hogs and old systems.
 
Camano Troll-
Bob is right that is a great boat that is not fast but not slow either as it will plane if you have too. I like the galley down models a lot better then the newer galley up models. sell them for sale from 70 to 120k
 
Realistically:
Monk 36
Nordic Tug 32
Willard 40

Fantasy:
Nordhavn 41 or 43


We almost bought a very rare Willard 40 with a fly-bridge a couple of months ago. But the boat was in San Carlos, Mexico and I could not locate a slip here. Everything has a 1-2 year wait-list, or longer. We did not pursue it any further.
 
There's all kinds of suggestions out there; some never experiencing what they
recommend.

The best advice when you are in a quandary is to not buy.

Rather, charter several. Get a feel for a narrow beam boat, one larger, one
smaller, different power options, etc. Double check your intended use.

No-one knows your tastes and what you want better than you. Asking questions
is fine but you are the decision maker and paying the dollars..

Aye.
 
I've owned a 22 cruiser and wanted to go bigger as well. I went to a tomcat 255. Compared to the 22 cruiser it has way more space. The queen sized bed makes it more bigger. It has all the things you want in a C dory but definatley bigger feel inside. Under 30 feet I think this is the best option imo. Not to mention the ride is significantly different with this power cat hull and with twin 150's to 175's.
 
I do love the Camano Troll's, and size-wise they are probably perfect. But the stairs to the bridge make the flybridge mostly unusable with our dog and I don't believe the lower station is really set up for two people to have good forward seating underway. Meaning one at the helm and the other in a co-pilot seat. In the Camano, one is at the helm and the other is basically sitting on the settee. I haven't been on one though...the settee may have great visibility and be a nice place to ride.

Some of the other options look great but I should've mentioned my price point is around 100k max!

I need to get on a TomCat to see how much larger the cabin is.
 
Right. That's why you really can't beat the C-Dory. For the price, I have a cabin that really isn't that much smaller (seemingly) than some much more expensive boats.

But there are some options for 100-120k, I just don't know if they're worth the extra $$ considering in about 9 years we'd like to buy our actual retirement boat.
 
The older Camano Troll would work because you can customize it with folding or pedestal high seats for both navigator and captain. I had a similar 32' Carver which was a prototype of the Carver 32. It had an aft cabin which slept 3, a V berth, stall shower, and full head, plus galley down. The Pilot house was a blank slate, we put in folding high chairs, and then a futon. Very versatile. Could also use low folding chairs for seating in port or at anchor.

I think that one of the two Nordic Tugs in Tennessee or LA would be the best "investment"--for resale value. As well as the Camano Troll.

I don't see the dog as a big a problem as you do. We have cruised in all sorts of boats with two labs. For our 42 foot Symbol MY, Sundeck I used the dinghy crane davit to hoist our labs up from the dinghy when they got old. I made a platform of plywood, Crossed nylon straps under the platform, and then stapled sunbrella sides around. I left the opening in the front, with a draw string so it was fully secure. We also had a lab with us on the 62 footer, and until she got too old and sick she would climb a boarding ladder which was straight up. The freeboard there was about 6'.
The other option is a cleated light weight slanted ladder with carpet between the cleats. We made one of very light door skin plywood, and it would take our weight, plus motor bikes--used in many fashions, including as a passerelle.

Even with the TC 255, you don't really. have any more living space than the C Dory 25--yes the bunk is bigger, but the rest of the cabin is about the same. Our 25 with the cutout port bulkhead has a more open feeling than the standard boats.
 
The Carver 32 Aft Cabin was my family's dream boat for years when I was a kid. We eventually purchased the Carver 33, which was really 38 LOA but during the luxury tax of the 90's, Carver managed to sell it as a 33. Great boat. My parents still have have it.

I agree the Nordic's on Yacht World are great options but I'm not ready to pull the trigger yet. We're loving Curious Traveler and I'm researching what are some possible future options.
 
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