Howdy - this is my first post here, I'm not currently a C-dory owner but we are looking to move that way in the near future, and I had several questions for the group here. Just to give you some background, I currently own a 1991 17' arima Sea Chaser, which my wife and have used to get us to our place in the San Juan Islands in Washington located west of Orcas island. Living north Seattle, we usually come over from Anacortes across Rosario strait. For the past 2 seasons, we've made it safely through the waters in the arima, but we've had some really uncomfortable rides with the variable NW weather and wave action especially through the Strait. The 17' arima seems to be seaworthy (which is why we purchased for this use in the first place) but when the water turns choppy (anything above about 2' wind waves) we are pounding hard for hours and taking tons of spray over the bow and into the cabin through the canvas top). My wife and I are starting to think that the 17' arima just might not be a good choice for these continual trips across water like Rosario and that a 22' C-dory cruiser would fit the bill much better. It sounds like from reading posts on this site that C-dory hulls perform similarly to Arimas (some pounding), so I'm wondering how much different our experience in semi-rough water would be in a 22' C -dory over a 17' arima? Obviously the big advantage would be the enclosed cabin, but could we expect a much different ride otherwise in the c-dory? We don't currently have trim tabs on the arima but I suspect this could help if we upgraded to a c-dory. I know a deep-v hull (also considering a Boston Whaler revenge 22') might help more with cutting through chop but I'm trying to avoid having to up the horsepower and fuel expense. Finally, we have a budget of $20k - is it realistic to find a decent c-dory 22' hull (can be older, early to mid 90s probably) with a newer (2005 or up) 4 stroke or good 2 stroke like e-tec outboard within this price range? Or are we looking at an older hull AND older outboard at that price point? Thanks for any info and advice you guys can provide!
Arima to C-Dory - advice?
- Thread starter CrabLeg
- Start date
South of Heaven
New member
I think you'd love the upgrade to a 22 and a fully enclosed pilothouse. C Dorys are bone dry boats, that's one of the reasons why I love them. You wont have to deal with spray or rain anymore.
Yes, you'll still do your fair share of pounding but I think with the countless other awesome C D features that you'll love the upgrade to a 22 from the Arima 17.
Now...the cold hard reality! You'll be very hard pressed to find a decent 22 for $20k. But good deals do pop up from time to time. Keep a vigilant eye on CL, C Brats, BoatTrader and Yachtworld. If you can raise your budget to $25k then I think you'd definitely find something. I've seen lots of 22's sell in the mid to high 20's.......
May the force be with you!
Yes, you'll still do your fair share of pounding but I think with the countless other awesome C D features that you'll love the upgrade to a 22 from the Arima 17.
Now...the cold hard reality! You'll be very hard pressed to find a decent 22 for $20k. But good deals do pop up from time to time. Keep a vigilant eye on CL, C Brats, BoatTrader and Yachtworld. If you can raise your budget to $25k then I think you'd definitely find something. I've seen lots of 22's sell in the mid to high 20's.......
May the force be with you!
I would think the arima would pound a little less than the c dory but you would get a drier ride. If I had to make a regular trip out to the islands in a reasonable amount of time I would go with a small sea sport or something similar. Weight and the v make it a whole lot nicer, to a point, and the regular chop in that area would make a little more weight and a little more v a sensible move. I loved my 22 cruiser but never had to keep a schedule so the chop seldom was an issue for me.
We've kept our 2005 22' C-Dory Cruiser in dry storage for most of the 11 years we've owned her at Twin Bridges between Mount Vernon and Anacortes. We had to cross Rosario Strait each and every time we ventured into the San Juan's over the past 11 years and I would say we've maybe had 3 crossings during that time where conditions were "scary". Not all crossings were smooth but 1-2 foot chop. Depending on wind and current the conditions can be lumpy but definitely doable in a CD-22. We just slow down to the 10 knot range if more than a little lumpy. Of course the ride is dry and comfortable for the most part. We also have a Permatrim and trim tabs which help a great deal in keeping the nose down. Now of course this was mostly used in the summers on weekends or during vacations so it didnt require a daily crossing. YMMV. If you're asking is the boat capable of crossing Rosario Strait comfortably in CD-22, I would say yes in most conditions. If it pounds, slow down. Is it better than an Arima, that's hard to say since I've never ridden in an Arima but it would certainly be drier.
Good luck with your decision
Good luck with your decision
CrabLeg":2nkir9k6 said:
Here's a boat that meets your criteria. The seller is a senior and well respected C-Brat who is selling because he is downsizing.
http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=24416
For 10 years I had a 16' Arima Sea Explorer which I felt was super sea worthy and rode quite well in the chop. It wasn't large enough for extended camping/cruising so I upgraded, then down-sized, and now most recently upgraded again to a C-dory 22'. The 22' definitely pounds much more than your 17 Sea Chaser at any given speed that you currently cruise at. If the Arima is pounding, the C-dory 22' will be pounding even harder at that speed.
BUT, as Peter said, just slow down to 10 knots and you are on a nice slow comfortable plane that seems to ride nicely through just about anything, plus you are completely dry and comfortable. I'm up to 31 hours of running time on mine, so still just a newbie but have encountered a lot of different Puget sound / San Juan chop conditions in the first 3 weekends. So far I'm actually LOVING the slow cruise speed and even when it's calm enough to do 20+ knots I find myself often cruising around at 12, it's just so nice to go slow and enjoy the scenery! Boat will do 30 with a 90 hp, but only if flat calm. This weekend I made Edmonds to Sucia in 4 hours, and Sucia back to Edmonds in 8 hours, due to head-on 1-2' chop the entire way back.
Regarding price point you might find something like that locally but it may need some work on the boat. One boat I looked at while shopping for my 22' was an early 90's hull with a 2015 Yamaha 90. I believe he eventually sold it in the low 20's, but the boat and trailer were more of project than I was interested in taking on. By the way, reason he was selling was because of the ride - he was a "fisherman" and wanted something to get through the chop faster, without pounding. Again, in the chop it seems 10-11 knots is a good speed, faster than that you may be pounding harder than in your Arima currently does at higher speeds.
-Mike
BUT, as Peter said, just slow down to 10 knots and you are on a nice slow comfortable plane that seems to ride nicely through just about anything, plus you are completely dry and comfortable. I'm up to 31 hours of running time on mine, so still just a newbie but have encountered a lot of different Puget sound / San Juan chop conditions in the first 3 weekends. So far I'm actually LOVING the slow cruise speed and even when it's calm enough to do 20+ knots I find myself often cruising around at 12, it's just so nice to go slow and enjoy the scenery! Boat will do 30 with a 90 hp, but only if flat calm. This weekend I made Edmonds to Sucia in 4 hours, and Sucia back to Edmonds in 8 hours, due to head-on 1-2' chop the entire way back.
Regarding price point you might find something like that locally but it may need some work on the boat. One boat I looked at while shopping for my 22' was an early 90's hull with a 2015 Yamaha 90. I believe he eventually sold it in the low 20's, but the boat and trailer were more of project than I was interested in taking on. By the way, reason he was selling was because of the ride - he was a "fisherman" and wanted something to get through the chop faster, without pounding. Again, in the chop it seems 10-11 knots is a good speed, faster than that you may be pounding harder than in your Arima currently does at higher speeds.
-Mike
I believe your best bet is call or email mark at Wefings he sells both so he would know . From what i've heard the 17 Arima pounds pretty bad in a chop .I know the 15 Arima that I was going to buy pounded terrible I believe its the beam to length formula the 17 arima is 8ft beam I believe .
I would look at a 22 cdory Angler that way you have the cabin and the ride seems better then the 22cruiser style and they are less expensive . Try to get one of the c-brats to take you out on both models . jim
I would look at a 22 cdory Angler that way you have the cabin and the ride seems better then the 22cruiser style and they are less expensive . Try to get one of the c-brats to take you out on both models . jim
Salmon Fisher
Member
We did exactly what you are thinking of 7 years ago.
The move from the 17 Sea Chaser to the 22 Cruiser was very easy. As you know, the 17 can fall into the holes out there between the chop, the 22 rarely did. As others have said the 22 cruises on level flat plane in chop at about 10 mph and with trim tabs deployed will cut through the chop.
It doesn't take too long to cross Rosario and then inside the islands is much easier.
I think you will not regret going to the 22 for fuel economy, smooth ride and dry and secure cabin.
BTW we only went to the 25 because we need more room on extended cruises with a 4 legged golden retriever!
Any other questions, shoot me a PM.
The move from the 17 Sea Chaser to the 22 Cruiser was very easy. As you know, the 17 can fall into the holes out there between the chop, the 22 rarely did. As others have said the 22 cruises on level flat plane in chop at about 10 mph and with trim tabs deployed will cut through the chop.
It doesn't take too long to cross Rosario and then inside the islands is much easier.
I think you will not regret going to the 22 for fuel economy, smooth ride and dry and secure cabin.
BTW we only went to the 25 because we need more room on extended cruises with a 4 legged golden retriever!
Any other questions, shoot me a PM.
Thanks everyone for all of the fantastic advice! Really great to hear perspectives and experiences from so many seasoned members who have lots of first hand experience with the conditions and uses I was describing - seems like the CD 22 would be a really good fit, especially as I prefer to slow down a lot anyway in rougher water but still be on plane and adjust to the water as needed. Also when I first bought the Arima I was skeptical about what others told me about the need for an enclosed cabin/ hard top in PNW waters, but now I am totally a believer and that cabin on the CD 22 looks pretty sweet! Definitely going to check out "Sea Wolf" on this forum as it does seem to be a boat that meets the "older but well maintained hull w/newer reliable motor" criteria... Hope to be officially joining the C-Brats sometime soon! Now i just have to figure out how to tell the folks over at the Arima Forum... :wink:
CC Rider
Member
I had a 17' Arima Sea Ranger for a couple of years. Great boat for day fishing and very sea worthy. The Arima Owner's site is also very good - lot's of info and nice people over there.
I didn't have trim tabs on the Arima and no perma-trim so either one may have helped the porpoising and pounding that I experienced with it in a light chop. I never slept overnight on it - seemed that camping out on it would be challenging (although some people have no problem with the lack of space and dry cabin). I had thought about a larger Arima (19 or even the 22 with a hardtop) but when I looked at the C-Dorys I was convinced that this was what I wanted.
I bought our current 23' Cape Cruiser and when I took it out for a sea trial I couldn't believe the difference in the ride and ability for the boat to go through the light to mid chop easily without the pounding and porpoising that the Arima had. Mind you, it's a very different boat in hull design and dimensions and much heavier which probably makes the most difference.
I can't speak for the 22 CD cruiser as I have never been in one in a light to medium chop but I would have to disagree with those that say the CD will pound more than the Arima. I believe the ratio of beam to length, hull shape and weight will mean the CD will cut through the chop better than the Arima.
Chris
I didn't have trim tabs on the Arima and no perma-trim so either one may have helped the porpoising and pounding that I experienced with it in a light chop. I never slept overnight on it - seemed that camping out on it would be challenging (although some people have no problem with the lack of space and dry cabin). I had thought about a larger Arima (19 or even the 22 with a hardtop) but when I looked at the C-Dorys I was convinced that this was what I wanted.
I bought our current 23' Cape Cruiser and when I took it out for a sea trial I couldn't believe the difference in the ride and ability for the boat to go through the light to mid chop easily without the pounding and porpoising that the Arima had. Mind you, it's a very different boat in hull design and dimensions and much heavier which probably makes the most difference.
I can't speak for the 22 CD cruiser as I have never been in one in a light to medium chop but I would have to disagree with those that say the CD will pound more than the Arima. I believe the ratio of beam to length, hull shape and weight will mean the CD will cut through the chop better than the Arima.
Chris
CC Rider":3sqcgu7a said:
It's true, my 16 Arima was a newer hull design than the 17's (the Arima Sea Explorer went through 3 hull iterations, and I had the last one, 15'11" with a 7'6" beam, and it might have also had slightly more deadrise than the earlier designs the 15 and 17 are based on). In any case, in my 10 years of owning the boat it rode very nicely in small chop with little or no pounding at slow planing speeds around 15-16 mph (and once I repowered with a 90 hp you also had the option of cruising "up on top" of the waves around 28 mph with what felt like an air cushion underneath!). The same type of small short waves has my new 22' pounding good at those speeds. But slow the 22 down ever so slightly to 10 or 11 knots and it rides much better than the Arima did, but you are going a bit slower. And my 22 is likely lighter since it's new and I cruise solo, which would contribute to the difference with others' experiences. Also I'm a few years older and maybe my tolerance for acceptable pounding is lower now than it was when I had the Arima!
T.R. Bauer
New member
They are both excellent boat and each has trade-offs. I would rather have fuel economy and a nice cabin. Now, if you get the CD 22 loaded heavy enough, it does ride quite a bit better. I've always been surprised at the difference as it is significant.
We do the same run year round, from Skyline to Decatur across Rosario Strait. Others have identified the tradeoff between your 2 target boats I believe: the C-Dory will pound more but will keep you drier and plane at a lower speed. An Arima 21 HT would be a better choice than either if your object is speed through 1-2' chop and staying dry, maintaining reasonable fuel economy. Not sure how much they cost used. Other good (but likely more expensive) choices below 24' for crossing Rosario to the San Juans are the SeaSport, the Osprey, Hewescraft, Pacific, Stabicraft, Armstrong, to name a few. As you no doubt have observed, most folks have a hard top, and most have outboard motors. Best of luck with your boat search! Mike.
san juanderer
New member
As I sit here typing this, I am looking out my dining room window at Rosario Strait. It has a glassy texture right now, and the San Juan ferry is approaching the dock.
The C-dory will get you there dry, but slower than a deep vee hull.
No doubt, the C-dory and the Arima are fuel efficient.
Rosario Strait tends to be lumpy, and can be very nasty. 6 to 8 footers can be encountered. I have hit many times, retrieving my crab pots over near Spencer Spit.
Personally, I would recommend the 19' Seasport, or 22' Seasport, both have enclosed cabins but will burn more fuel than the C-dory. If you have to transit the route, then a deep vee hull is going to give a better ride.
Rosario Strait can be so bad, that boaters have had to overnight at James Island to wait out the winds.
An Olympic boat might also be an option, it has a 12 degree deadrise and gets better fuel economy than the Seasport that has a 22 degree deadrise.
Good luck on your boat search,
alan
The C-dory will get you there dry, but slower than a deep vee hull.
No doubt, the C-dory and the Arima are fuel efficient.
Rosario Strait tends to be lumpy, and can be very nasty. 6 to 8 footers can be encountered. I have hit many times, retrieving my crab pots over near Spencer Spit.
Personally, I would recommend the 19' Seasport, or 22' Seasport, both have enclosed cabins but will burn more fuel than the C-dory. If you have to transit the route, then a deep vee hull is going to give a better ride.
Rosario Strait can be so bad, that boaters have had to overnight at James Island to wait out the winds.
An Olympic boat might also be an option, it has a 12 degree deadrise and gets better fuel economy than the Seasport that has a 22 degree deadrise.
Good luck on your boat search,
alan