Swim Deck.

[Donald Tyson]

Has anyone figured a clever way to enlarge and perhaps wrap around the swim deck. I always wanted a swim deck. And while they can be problematic they do make nice places to fish from. Oh well….

[JamesTXSD]

There are two kinds of people in the world: people who do stuff and people who talk about doing stuff. Well, maybe three: people who ask questions about doing stuff, with no basis for actually doing stuff. Most of the folks on this forum are the do-stuff kinda people. You seem to have a lot of "Has anyone ever tried...?" questions that are beyond the scope of how most owners are actually using their boats.

C-Dorys are niche boats. They attract a lot of attention when you're out on the water or towing one down the road. They look purposeful because they were designed that way: they are most often used for fishing and/or cruising. They are weight sensitive... add things like an extended swim deck or a camping conveyance on the cabin top and you are into experimental territory.

With your "inventive" mind, you could probably come up with all kinds of changes to what these boats were designed for - but first you have to own one. Buy one, then have at it. Or, use it and see how functional they are when used as designed.

Yes, you could put a ceramic type heater on/in a C-Dory - just be sure to have an opening to allow fresh air to enter and keep the heated surface away from anything flamable. You could add an extended swim platform, but the weight will drag the ass of the boat down. There is no cheap trailer/nice trailer option: plenty of owners have bought trailers from different trailer makers around the country. A less expensive trailer will be galvanized and weigh more than an all aluminum trailer. No one at the boat ramp will laugh at your trailer - they are more entertained by how you back the trailer down the ramp and launch and retrieve.

Whew. Has anyone here ever tired of...

[Donald Tyson]

Thanks James

[JamesTXSD]

[thataway]

I believe what you are asking about is the Swim Platform. Some of the C Dorys have one on both sides--and some of the boats have none on either side. There have been a few who have tried to build a larger platform, and they have not faired well. It has to do with the size of the transom, and the shoal draft of the C Dory.

I will however take exception that the Swim Platform is a good place to fish from. Actually it is a dangerous place to fish from. There were a number of tuna boats which had a basket type of platform, where they cast into a school of tuna, hooked and then threw the fish up to the aft deck to be processed. These had safety (sort of) railings--much of the time the fishermen were standing in water, and waves could wash them off the platform.

It is rare for recreational fishermen to use a platform in this fashion. The Ranger Tug has an extended platform, and I believe it is with the boats which have the dinghy lift which pulls the dinghy up on its side than flips it upside down for running.

[Donald Tyson]

Thanks Bob.