C-Dory as a survey vessel???

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Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Michael Krivor and I am a Underwater Archaeologist with SEARCH, Inc. of Jonesville, FL. We are currently in the market for a 22- to 25-foot survey vessel to conduct remote sensing survey work.

Our remote sensing surveys (mostly federal/DOT contracts) consist of towing a magnetometer and side scan sonar, all integrated with a DGPS and navigation system. These instruments are not large or cumbersome but we need to keep the electronics (i.e. laptops/GPS) dry.

The previous company I worked for used a 25-foot Parker sport cabin (2520).

However, in researching other suitable vessels I have come across the 22' C-Dory Cabin Cruiser as well as the 25' Cruiser as a viable alternative. The interior appears spacious and able to accomadate our electronics. We would need to run cables (3) from the back deck into the interior cabin (via a flapper valve)....is there any anticipated problems here? We also need a laptop computer mount at the helm to run our navigation program (Hypack).

What are everyone's thoughts about using a C-Dory (either model) as a small survey vessel? We typically cannot survey in adverse conditions (+3' swell), would like the dual engine option, and require a shallow draft vessel.

I like the 25' for the additional space especially if we are taking a client out on the boat for a survey. We typically have 2-3 remote-sensing specialists onboard during a survey (that includes the helmsman). We do not anticpate running dive operations off the boat as we typically lease larger vessels for the additional room.

I can appreciate the value of these forums and look forward to everyone's opinion.


Best,


Michael Krivor
Underwater Projects Manager
SEARCH, Inc.
 
Welcome, Interesting line of work you're in. I think the C-Dory would lend itself nicely for that duty. With the flatter hull, the vessel would be rolling less and handle very predictably off plain. The interiors are very adaptable & I believe the factory is pretty accommodating as far as modifications. I'd opt for the 25', more room & the enclosed head would be nice for a work boat.
 
Years ago I was Survey Manager for DEA out of Portland Oregon and we had an aluminum vessel custom built for the same purposes as you are proposing. Although I am a C Dory owner and belong to this site, I really think the custom designed craft would better suit your purpose. I know how much stuff accumulates in your work and sooner or later you are going to want to make major modifications. We added multiple plotters, huge battery banks, a generator, multiple computers, and the electronics for the heave compensation and the rest of it and it required quite a bit of change over the years. And this was on a 30' aluminum vessel. For basic hydro, without sidescan and the specialized requirements, a C Dory would be great, but your contracts require more than that, especially if you are, or will, become successful with your clients. But stick with the outboard approach. Our Kodiak inboard with the big pump required a new engine every year. Just too costly.
 
Hi Michael,

I can speak to your query, as I'm in the same work and have used my boat, a 22 cruiser, for survey. I'm at Washington College, on Maryland's Easetrn Shore. We're on the Chester River & Chesapeake Bay and usually use the college's 31 ft workboat for survey. However it is very slow, and therefore not as useful when we survey farther afield. I used my boat for several weeks of survey two summers ago, and it worked out great.

Two of us typically run the surveys, and we used sidescan sonar, a marine mag, and fathometer. I have a Raymarine C-80 at the helm and put the survey laptop above the entry to the v-berth. As in your set-up, we run Hypack, so the DGPS, fatho and mag all run into the laptop – cabling is no problem. The sonar processor sits on the dinette table, and we output corrected positions from the laptop to it.

For power, we used a Honda EU-2000i generator (really quiet!) strapped on the starboard lazerette. The mag was towed off the aft starboard cleat. We boom the sonar off the bow, to get clearance from the hull and bow wave, and that works very well.

All of our survey work has been done in reasonable weather, so far, so cabling simply runs out the door or through windows.

I love the C-Dory as a survey boat - the enclosed cabin is great for the gear (and for me - enough sun!), but I have never found it uncomfortably hot. The boat tracks straight as a rail. Draft is about as shallow as they come without a jet drive.

I have a single 90 hp Honda. I suspect that you might find it more difficult to deploy the mag with a twin engine set-up. I find the swim platform handy when deploying the mag, but I don't believe you can get that with the twin engines. You may also find that the engine cowling hits the cable on turns with twins, although that's probably not a big deal.

Disadvantage of the boat is that room for additional people is limited. You can get a third person on board ok, but it will be cramped in the cabin. If one person hangs out in the cockpit, it’s fine. The 25, in my opinion, doesn't improve on this much, as most of the extra space is taken up by the head, etc. Extra beam is not a lot.

A better option probably would be the 25 Tom-Cat. If I had the $ and needed a boat for both survey and diving, I'd probably go that route.

I posted some photos that show some of the configuration for survey at:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

If you'd like to talk by phone, feel free to give me a call: 410-778-7756.

John Seidel
 
Thanks for the input so far. John, I appreciate the pics. to you vessel setup.

We definately need a survey vessel that is trailerable so I think anything over 28' is a little much. In my line of work we tend to travel extensively from Texas through the northeast.

We will be going to look at a couple of C-Dorys here within the next couple weeks and make our decision then.

I like the Tomcats as well but am a little wary of the trailering weight (6,000lbs +). Too heavy of a boat and you find yourself changing blown tires a lot as well as truck brakes.

We have made not definite decisions at this point but look forward to the possibility of being future C-Dory owners...
 
another plus for the C-Dory is that the interior is all modular and can easily be taken out and reconfigured for what you want.none of the cabinets are molded in so very easy to modify.
 
Hi Mike,

I have a CD25, I agree with most of the comments that it would provide more room for "clients" and would be a great work platform for your research. The flat bottom really does cut down the over-roll experienced by 95% of other boats (this is my 15th boat). My trailering weight (2,000 lb galvanized trailer) is 7,400 lbs, which is considered a lightweight among 25's. The new aluminum trailers weigh 700 lbs less. My trailer is overbuilt as an 11,000 lb plus capacity because they couldn't figure out how to put my boat on a standard 25 footer. I like extra heavily built -- tires, bearings, everything -- never hurts -- except maybe a few extra towing pounds.

Also you asked if adding wires from the cockpit to the cabin is doable, yes it is. There is an intention hole high in the cockpit where it joins the cabin, just follow the rest of the cabling, easy.

Steve
 
Bluecrab":3ja02q0w said:
Hi Michael,

<lots clipped> The 25, in my opinion, doesn't improve on this much, as most of the extra space is taken up by the head, etc. Extra beam is not a lot.

A better option probably would be the 25 Tom-Cat. If I had the $ and needed a boat for both survey and diving, I'd probably go that route.
<clipped>
Click to expand...

IMHO, it's significantly easier to fit an extra person (or two) in the cabin of the CD 25. That little bit of extra space (both beam and lenght) seems like a lot when you're actually inside of it. The dinette table is a bit wider and can more comfortably seat 4 - on the 22, it's really a 2-person table. The extra height also makes it less claustrophobic. The cat has the same beam overall but since it's wider at the bow, the V-berth is MUCH bigger. I don't think it provide wildy more space from the helm back though. Just my 2 cents worth.
Roger on the SeaDNA
 
I'm sure you're right about the 25 having extra room, and I'd definitely go that way myself if I was purchasing for survey work. Guess I was really just cautioning that you shouldn't expect a huge amount of extra space, especially aft, considering the amount of cabling, etc. that ends up back in the cockpit.

Extra V-berth space would be pretty useful, as that seems to be where all of our computer bags, cases, extra tools, etc. end up during survey.

I'm curious as to how flexible the factory is in configuring the interior...suspect that a number of changes would be possible to fine-tune it for this kind of work.

From talking to others, I gather that the biggest advantage to the cat would come if you planned to dive from the boat. But I've only dived off the 22 and haven't tried if off the cat myself. I believe that ECU recently purchased a Tom-Cat for their marine archaeology work.
 
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