Advice on a first boat

Hi Dave,

We started out with a C-Dory 22 Cruiser. After building our skills on big lakes, the San Juan and Gulf Islands, and further north inside Vancouver Island, she took us for two months cruising SE Alaska. Two adults, with an occasional third as guest. Lots of fishing and crabbing too.

If you want to do multiple overnights, and sleep cook and eat onboard, the CD22 is about the best bang for the buck you could find - both purchase cost and operating cost. And it's a fine simple and seaworthy boat, great for beginners as we were. More than three adults for extended cruising doesn't work very well though. We've done four, but with one sleeping on the deck. Four during the day is fine, but a bit crowded.

I just pulled up craigslist for boats from 22-25 feet, $30K-$40K. Hardly any practical cruisers in the bunch. CD22 is the sweet spot in that price range.

While you're researching, you might take a look at my book. I wrote it for someone who is just getting started thinking about a small cruiser. You can poke through some 28 pages in the preview.

http://www.lulu.com/shop/richard-cook/c ... 53755.html
 
Hi Richard,

I just read through those first 28 pages of your book. That is really a good intro to boating. Didn't know it was on Lulu, but now I do, and neat that it is available in an electronic "E" book format. I had looked at Lulu lately under C-Dory and it didn't come up. Just went back to check -- that isn't one of your key words. Is It available for android? (a saw the "i"words there but no Kindal or android). Think I'm allergic to Apple.

Thanks again, and for your comments here: often and good, always looking forward to your perspective.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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Hi Harvey,

Thanks for the kind words!

I did not produce a version specific to Kindle, Apple, or Android. But I have the PDF on my Kindle, and that works. Have not tried it, but I'm pretty sure the PDF would be readable on my Android phone. Sorry I don't speak Apple.
 
Spend some time looking at boats on Craigslist. If your boating skills need work, you might consider looking at the lower end of the price range. Open skiffs, like Lund or Starcraft, cost a lot less to purchase and operate than C-Dories. Plus, they're easier to handle. A 14- or 16-foot skiff, with a 15- or 25-horse outboard, can be a great fishing boat--and they are very seaworthy. For a little more money, you can get an unsinkable Boston Whaler. No need to jump in with both feet.
 
Enjoy the search. Many times this is the happiest you'll be (dreaming).
Focus on how you will use the craft.
Charter a few times.
Realize your taste, and wants, will change (everything else does).
Educate yourself: basic navigation, rules, weather, weather, weather.

I'd go for a true deep V 26' - 30' RIB with a big equipped/furnished
pilothouse w/twin outboards; light and fast, protection from weather,
good fuel economy, able to take more than 'chop', almost go anywhere.
I can't find one. If you can, get it. You'll not have a problem unloading
it when you want to move up.

Aye.
 
Foggy":3dyks63c said:
I'd go for a true deep V 26' - 30' RIB with a big equipped/furnished
pilothouse w/twin outboards; light and fast, protection from weather,
good fuel economy, able to take more than 'chop', almost go anywhere.
I can't find one.
Click to expand...

Foggy, sounds like you need a Rosborough Rough Water 9.11 Trawler RHIB. Basically its a RF246 pilothouse mounted on a Rough Water 9.11 hull. I believe these are still made in Canada. Cbrat "Conepatus" has one. You can check out his website at WWWConepatus.com. Not cheap though - the last I heard from Craig(owner) he said a new one would be about $240,000.CAD - that was a few years ago.

Regards, Rob
 
Rob, thanks!

That thing is real close to what I had in mind. The larger pilothouse
version may even need to be larger requiring a stretch to a 34' - 36'
version to 'get it right'. Then it'd be a definite head turner (even w/o
the 50 Cal looking thing on the foredeck) slowly pulling up to one of
those waterside outdoor stuffy looking cocktail parties I've seen not to
mention serving as an all purpose go anywhere cruiser.

I intended this recommendation for the original poster wanting advice;
not me.

I need another boat right now like I need a large hole in my head. And,
yes, it's pricey but my "Gamps" taught me early about that*.

Aye.
* Grandma used to say, "You get what you pay for."
Grandpa used to say, "You can't take it ($) with you."
"Wider is better." and "On the water, length is ride."
 
We had that exact problem...22 or 25...My wife had a great idea..and it worked perfect.... We buy a new 22 and keep it a year..and if a year later we decide we want a 25, we sell the 22 and get a 25....that was in 2003 and we still have the 22.... we love the size and the towability ...our pickup works fine with it and even with our 2 (then) dogs it was not crowded.

As for $50 of fuel.....nope, not gona happen...we always seem to use up all 50 gallons somehow...n that's a $100 bill.....just have not found that $1.00 gas station yet.

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Pandion":2g127qoz said:
A 14- or 16-foot skiff, with a 15- or 25-horse outboard, can be a great fishing boat--and they are very seaworthy. For a little more money, you can get an unsinkable Boston Whaler. No need to jump in with both feet.
Click to expand...

That sounds like I should also put the 16' C-Dory Anglers into the mix for consideration as well.
 
Foggy":176mxicv said:
I'd go for a true deep V 26' - 30' RIB with a big equipped/furnished
pilothouse w/twin outboards; light and fast, protection from weather,
good fuel economy, able to take more than 'chop', almost go anywhere.
I can't find one. If you can, get it. You'll not have a problem unloading
it when you want to move up.
Click to expand...

These boats are nice, and the market is fairly saturated with so many SAFE Boat Inc Defender 25 RBS being liquidated. Check www.gsaauctions.gov and see. You can get these around the country with engines and seats for varying prices, but $20-45k depending on what they left on the boat and engine hours, etc. They are very easy to buy now, but not very easy to sell. I have two (work, not personal) and know them well.

Super seaworthy, and you can go fast in bad weather, but the hourly cost of fuel is about the same as the hourly cost of a good lawyer (I'm paying about $3.50 at the fuel dock for unleaded), at about 35kt, which ends up being the most fuel efficient speed, lightly loaded. So not necessarily light and good on gas. These are thick hulls, and foam collars, but can be refit with inflatable. You will need to get electronics and all the safety and necessary "stuff" like flares, lines, anchor, electronics, etc, but maybe that's a plus? You can get what you want.

I know of these boats repowered by twin 150 outboards instead of twin 225, and they are still seaworthy and handle well, but don't perform nearly as well, and the engines work much harder, so don't save much fuel and will probably need replacement sooner than the twin 225.
 
You may want to come up to Friday Harbor when we have the annual get-together. Lots of boats to see. Lots of owners to speak with. Probably even some offers of ride-a-longs.

Your description sounds like a used 22 Cruiser would fit the bill, budget-wise and use-wise.
 
"As for $50 of fuel.....nope, not gona happen...we always seem to use up all 50 gallons somehow...n that's a $100 bill.....just have not found that $1.00 gas station yet.

Joel
SEA3PO
Click to expand...

Hey Joel, Where the heck are you finding $2.00 gal gas. I'm gonna run down there and fill up right now. :wink:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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El and Bill":2ftk80rx said:
Advice to someone looking for a boat - "keep it simple, and make it fun" --
Click to expand...

Sounds like good advice if you have done proper preparation: study rules
of the road (maneuvering a boat is different than a car), learn about weather,
know your limitations, understand the basics of navigation, take a USCG Aux
or USPS basic boating course, etc, etc.

I have seen and know of several examples of "captains" who can write a (big)
check and buy a boat without much knowledge of how to go from point A to
point B safely or navigate with due regard for others in their proximity.

Worse, "fun" onboard a new boat without minimal experience and training can
be worse then "flying blind".

Aye.
 
Agree, Dave. But, as you know, you don't need a huge boat to travel the US. In fact, the big boats the two-footitis guys buy, can restrict your ability to trailer and have access to travel America's waterways (many of them are shallow or have shallow coves which can give protection from storms, and the big boats with deep draft, are a handicap)
Of course, not suggesting you fly blind. Get the training, practice with experienced boaters, have proper safety equipment and know how to use the nav. gear and safety equipment.
But, don't retreat into such a fear-shrouded atmosphere (and we know those who have) that simply cruising in fine weather, on a good boat, with good equipment and good training, still prevents them from simply enjoying a fine cruise.
 
san juanderer":jdzk8xxn said:
You will not find an aluminum boat 22' plus enclosed cabin for $35 k.
None will have the economy operating of the c-dory.
A deep vee hull will be at least 8 gallons per hour, so your fuel budget will be busted within 2 hours.
They all look so wonderfull at the boat show.
You will be very hard pressed to find something as good as the c-dory, for the money.
You could find a used Olympic, Osprey, or Seasport 22' outboard for your budget, but your fuel budget needs to rise.
alan
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Usually, but this little gem has been out there in the Seattle neighborhood for some time.

https://anchorage.craigslist.org/boa/5939347760.html

It's a larger inboard 350 V8, but it has a jet drive, a Hamilton 212 to be exact, and this combo is actually very efficient. Jet boats are very very cool, and aren't really as limited as google would have you believe, at least not a newer one like a Hami 212.

Good on fuel, better in reverse than any prop boat out there, I promise you, and more maneuverable in tight spaces than even a twin outboard setup, as long as you learn how and have individual controls for throttle and forward/reverse.

This is not true for outboard jets, but inboard jets are a remarkable thing that don't get enough credit. Plus hitting a log isn't as big a deal!
 
Sorry to state the obvious, but an 8.1L gas V-8 motor with a jet drive is absolutely not efficient propulsion. Not even close. In fact, I can scarcely imagine a less efficient setup. It might have other advantages, such as shallow water operation, but as a "first boat" for someone looking for economical operation this should be on the avoid list. There's a reason this one has stayed on the market as long as it has.
 
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