Cape crruiser

Jim,

The Cape Cruiser was made by a competitor to CDory, but because of litigation is now made by CDory. I have not heard anything particularly negative about the Cape Cruiser, and the folks that have the Venture seem to be very satisfied with the boat. I am sure that you'll get some good feedback.

Steve
 
I met a guy two weeks ago in a 23' Cape Cruiser. He had previously owned two C-Dory's a 22 and a 25 and he loved the Cape Cruiser. He said it was very well built. They are of course no longer built by the original designer who designed the C-Dory. C-Dory now builds a version of the Cape Cruiser with the original molds. The boat I saw was a really good looking boat. Most noticeable differences from the outside was the roof line and full motor well. We were both in our boats so I didn't get to see the interior. He said they didn't pound as much as the C-Dory and cruised comfortably at 20 MPH. The cockpit appeared to be larger than a C-Dory 22.
 
The Cape Cruiser was designed and made by the original designer/builder of C-Dorys after C-Dory was sold to the present owners. There was litigation over that and some other things with the result that Cape Cruiser went out of business and the molds for the Cape Cruiser went to C-Dory. The current C-Dory Venture series boats are made from those molds so a C-Dory Venture hull is pretty much identical to a Cape Cruiser.

The only issue I can think of with a Cape Cruiser is lack of any warranty service. A Cape Cruiser has been listed for sale on this site over the last few weeks at an incredibly good price so you may be able to find a bargain.

There are some performance/cost of operating differences due to design characteristics that will allow a Cape Cruiser to be faster than a C-Dory but at a cost in fuel economy. Handling in rough seas will also be different because of those same design differences.

A number of Cape Cruiser owners are on this site, often mainly lurking because there was quite a bit of tension over the whole C-Dory/Cape Cruiser saga but some have posted and been welcomed as folks here recognize that the purchaser of a Cape Cruiser is not responsible for any of the things that caused bad feelings in the past.

Having said all that, personally, given roughly equal economic possibilities, I would choose a C-Dory.
 
On the warranty issue with Cape Cruiser I asked the guy I met in the Cape Cruiser if he weren't worried about warranty problems. His first reply was that he didn't feel he would ever need warranty work as the hull was so well constructed. He went on to say that during the litigation $100,000 was set aside to handle possible warranty issues on the boats already sold under the Cape Cruiser name. It didn't seem to reassuring to me. I don't know if C-Dory inherited the warranty as well as the molds?
 
I owned a 16 foot C-Dory. Now I own a Cape Cruiser Venture 23 (made by the now defunct Cape Cruiser Company, not by C-Dory). I loved my C-Dory and I love my Cape Cruiser. I've been from Olympia, Washington to Petersburg, Alaska and back in the Cape Cruiser. I've had no problems of any sort with the hull. Les Lampman is working on a couple of little things for me at the moment - like figuring out how not to leave quite so much gas untouched in the bottom of the tanks, but I really have nothing but good things to say about the boat. If you're getting an "original," i.e., pre-C-Dory Venture, and are concerned about warranty coverage, I'd try to get something in writing.

When Cape Cruiser went out of business, I was contacted by the owners and told they would stand behind the boat. With the experience I've had, I'm really not concerned I'll ever have to find out just what that means. I'm a realist. You can't squeeze blood out of a turnip.

Best of luck with your decision.
 
Hi bill do you have the 23 ft does it have the twin 90hp yamaha's on it the boat must fly . tell me a little about it Also did you put in side portholes in the v-berth what make and model .Im looking at one with f115 it does about 32mph thanks Jim
 
Jim,

Yes, it's the 23 footer, but those are twin 50's not 90's. I know some people have put a 150 on the 23, but anything above 100 to 135 total hp seems like overkill. Twin 90's are out of the question in my book. Depending, of course, on load and water conditions, top end with the two 50's is about 30 mph. The boat cruises comfortably, and most efficiently, at about 22 mph. In good water with a moderate load, I get about 4mpg at cruising speed. A top end of 32 mph with the 115 hp sounds about right. I really wouldn't want to go much faster than that in this boat.

I added the portlights. Got them online. They're Beckson's model PO310-SS-10.
 
Thanks for the reply Yes I can't wait to get this boat it rides so nice we were out getting about 5mpg at 4500rpm about 22mph Ive been impressed with the cape cruiser I visited them in Seattle and have seen them in many boat shows and I like the non gussied up 23 vs the venture 23 just my 2 cents .
 
Jennykatz: I couldn't agree more. I think the CC 23 is a wonderful boat and in my opinion the more polished interior of the Venture 22 detracts from rather than adds to its appeal. I'm one of those KISS types. I see why the factory "gussies up" the Venture: to differentiate it from the CD22 and capture some of the upscale market. I love our Angler, but if I were still looking I would jump all over that CC23 from Florida (with the Yamaha 115) that the owner is practically giving away. Mike.
 
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