Long Shot: looking for a way to lease/charter a C-Dory

dbtfree15

Summary: looking for a C-Dory we could rent/charter to try boat camping in the other sound prior to making a purchase. Preferably a 25 or a Tomcat, but 22 would be ok too.
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Hey there, I have recently been discussing with my wife the possibility of getting a C-Dory. We currently have a Boston Whaler that we take out on Pacific Northwest lakes, Puget Sound and sometimes the Strait. I like to fish, and she doesn’t mind driving the boat while I do. She likes to cruise and use it as a swimming platform.

I have gotten very interested in C-Dorys and like the idea of a boat we could do all these things from but also sleep on. Our kids are not as interested in fishing or cruising and will be leaving home soon.

My wife is skeptical of sleeping on a boat, and is not interested in purchasing a bigger boat until we try boat camping and cruising in one. The issue I think is I don’t see C-dory charters or rentals, at least not in the Pacific Northwest. Looking for any leads or anyone willing to lease or rent their boat (I know, way long shot) in the area. We have experience cruising in Defiance San Juan and Jeneau 22-26’ boats on the sound.

WCF · Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2024 8:27 pm Post subject:

If the issue is just sleeping on a boat, there are pilot house style boats in the Seattle area on Boatsetter.com that can be rented for multiple days.

There is a 24/30 foot Cutwater on there for example. Not saying it's cheap, and I have no experience with the site, but just throwing it out there.

dbtfree15 · Posted: Sat Aug 31, 2024 10:41 pm Post subject:

Definitely a good idea for a place to start. Thanks. I think part of it is yeah just sleeping and being on a boat. I think she is going to want to spend time on the type of boat we end up getting eventually too. But great idea for starters.

Tom Hruby · Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 4:22 pm Post subject:

I have found that the C-Dory 22 and the 25 as usually configured are not very comfortable for sleeping if you are larger and older. The forward cuddy is too low and difficult to get in and out of. I am 6'1" (and 76 years old) and had to really scrunch down to get in and out of the berth. When we ordered our C-Dory 22 cruiser from NMI last fall we had them eliminate the starboard sink and "kitchen" and just extend the 9" high platform under the helm all the way back. That let me build a berth on the starboard side in the main cabin. I sleep on the berth that can be made when the table is lowered, and my wife sleeps on the starboard side. I have posted pictures of the berth and how I reconfigure it for the helm seat in my album (WATT NOW).

We have already spent 10 nights on it and find it quite comfortable. We do our cooking in the cockpit on top of storage boxes we have put there.

rogerbum · Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 4:33 pm Post subject:

Tom Hruby · Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 5:16 pm Post subject:

The pedestal is electric (120 V shore power), but since it only uses 250 Watts it can be run with a small inverter off the house battery. I bought it from Progressive Automation who have their US office in Arlington WA. The cost was actually less ($350) than the hydraulic pedestals sold in marine stores.

I decided to go electric because I sleep on the berth and it was a pain (literally) to lift it every morning. Also the new pedestal does not wobble like the standard one when it is fully extended.

thataway · Posted: Mon Sep 02, 2024 10:07 pm Post subject:

We owned C Dorys for 20 years--never had a problem sleepimg i n the V berth. But I have spent part of my life living on various boats (mostly sail). Removing the port side petition between the V berth and the main cabin makes access easier in the 25, and 22 if you have the sliding (Barber) seat on the port side. I am 6'2" and currently 88 years of age.

My son is 6'4" and in the low to mid 200 lb category and likes the large dinette conversion in his Cruise Ship 25 (1995).

I have had boats with smaller V Berths. (and have slept on sail bags on more than one occasion when racing offshore.).

If you want a larger bunk, there is always the Tom Cat 255.

Tom Hruby · Posted: Tue Sep 03, 2024 3:51 pm Post subject:

To respond to some of Bob's comments:
I have not had problems sleeping in small spaces in the past but I am no longer as flexible as I used to be. I have a old back injury and scoliosis of the spine that limit the contortions to which I can subject my body. It is not the length of the berth, but rather the lack of headroom and space to swing my legs around when getting in and out.

With regards to getting the 25': It is significantly heavier than the 22' and would have required a much larger electric propulsion system as well as having to buy a new truck. I currently have a Honda Ridgeline with a towing capacity of 5000 lbs.

I have built 20 boats over the years from an 8' folding catboat (Flapdoodle) to 26' St. Pierre Dories, so modifying the cabin to include a second berth was not a big problem. It will let us cruise comfortably in a smaller boat. Since launching last May, we have been on the water a total of 17 days of which 10 were overnight.