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You're getting a lot of good advice, so I'll just try to add my two cents w/o writing another treatise.
I have both a CD-22 and a Sea Ray 265 Sedan Cruiser, and they're very different boats, but both of high quality.
The C-Dory is very functional, spartan, and holds it's resale value much better than a Sea Ray.
Since the C-D is outboard powered, you can replace the engine and drive train easily and simply for about $7-8k for a 22 and $ 10-12k for a 25. The engine and outdrive on a Sea Ray are $4.5-6k each, and installation/replacement time will add $1000 or so to the cost. (Rough estimates.)
The outdrive (Mercruiser, since Brusnwick owns both Sea Ray and Mercury), is suitable for trailered boats, but prone to problems when moored in water, particularly salt water. If the aluminum casings are immersed constantly, then corrosion takes its toll. They're hard to keep marine growths off of too, unlike an outboard that can be tilted up out of the water. Also, the outdrive is simply a more complex design with a lot of seals and bellows units that have to be monitored and replaced periodically.
I don't like the express cruiser deign, myself. It is OK on a 35 foot boat where the down below area becomes reasonably large, but on a boat under 30 feet, it is a real pain. The express cruiser, with it's slick "European" like styling, places the helm down at the somewhat raised cockpit level, then limits the forward cabin's height to get style and visibility. The results are that the forward cabin has a low roof, limiting also the size of the side windows and allowing no forward windows, giving you a "Cave" effect, and thus a feeling of being in a different world than if you were outside in the open air. I don't like it!
I have a sedan cruiser, which has a flying bridge up top, full height windows all around in the cabin, and generates an open air effect for those in the cabin. It then also generates a full cockpit behind the cabin for even more room, and this later area can be enclosed with canvas to make an additional weather protected area. (This can also be done with canvas on C-Dorys.)
Another bad effect of the express cruiser design is that the middle of the boat, middle height helm station, limits what you can have below it. It's too short to stand up in, and is usually made into a sleeping area. Many folks just use this area for storage of bags, suitcases, etc.
Once you go for an express cruiser design in this size boat, you get:
1. v-berth forward, 2. galley/dinnette in the middle, 3. head to the rear on one side, companionway to the other side, 4. mid-height helm station above/tight sleeping quarters below, 5. raised cockpit to the rear (because of the motor below).
Those are the design limitations of the express cruiser. Sea Ray quality is first class. The boat is much more finished than a C-Dory, with full headliners, upholstered walls and all interior flat surfaces dressed up and padded like a car, full carpeting, draperies, Venetian blinds, slick, luxurious lighting, nice teak trim, and every detail brought up to a very high standard. Sea Ray has built huge numbers of boats for years (until the slump), and knows how to engineer and build a boat without going through the trial-and-error process with the consumer holding the (parts/problems) bag. The wring and plumbing in a Sea Ray are first class, and show quality concern, as does the whole boat.
The other side of this coin is that a Sea Ray is so finished that it's a challenge to figure out how to run new wiring around the boat or make any personal modifications to fit your own needs. Imagine trying to run some new wiring or make some personal modifications in your new Buick sedan (like from back when we had big, luxurious cars).
These are two very different boats. The C-Dory will not only hold it's value better, but will be easier on your wallet at the gas pump. The CD-25 will get about 3 mpg (realistic, not claimed), and the Sea Ray 25 maybe 2, depending on the the boat size and engine configuration. I have twin V-6's that can chew up 8-10 gph each at cruise speeds of 20-28 mph, and that'll yield up to about 1.5 mpg if you're lucky! At the gas prices we had on the lake last year ($4.75/gallon), the 120 gallon tank held $570 worth of gas, and the use of 100 gallons of it could get you up to 150 miles. As a result, we do a lot of displacement speed cruising, at about 5-7 mph, a technique also familiar to C-Dory owners and Ranger Tug folks as well. A Sea Ray 25 should have a single V-8, probably a big block, with a Bravo outdrive.
The big, deep v boat also rides much different than the C-Dory. While the C-Dory must slow down and basically ride over the waves and larger chop, the Sea Ray both cuts through and crushes the smaller stuff, and has an at least a somewhat cushioned ride through the larger waves.
I like the Sea Ray for slow cruising and staying aboard. It's four times as large inside as my CD-22, though the CD-25 and Sea Ray Express Cruiser may be about equal, but you'd best go to a boat show or somewhere you could go back and forth from boat to boat, to really get a feel for the differences. You also ought to really spend some time aboard each boat and even a night or two aboard, if possible, to get a real feel for each boat. Wefings, in Florida, has a CD-25 that they'll charter to you if you're interested. They might even be able to arrange a Sea Ray visit of some sorts.
The Sea Ray may also require a larger tow vehicle, depending on the exact model you consider, as they are generally heavier than the equivalent length C-Dory.
Have to close for now!
Good Luck!
Joe. :teeth :thup
