Has a C-Dory ever sunk? Lost of life?

[captd]

Out of curiosity, Has anyone ever heard of a C-Dory going down in any kind of weather? Or losing a life while running a CD?
We had our 2000 22 Ft Hunky Dory in some pretty rough weather out of the Prince of Wales area, The Gulf Stream to the Bahamas. The worst ride was in protected shallow waters off Carrabelle on the Gulf side. As you know the water can get very rough in shallow water. The waves get very close together and steep sided. Green water coming over the bow with every wave. I had an old salty fisherman with me.
( Fishes the Gulf of Mexico every fishable day.) He even got concerned.

The CD reminds me of a light bulb floating in the seas. It seems to rise to the occasion no matter what the seas. Now I am not saying it can take a breaking wave from above or a breaking wave over the stern. Never have been out in that type of condition. (Except on a Navy Destroyer). I do have to admit at times I hung on pretty tight. So did my other half. I have thought about bolting a two inch towing ball in the middle of the seat. :wink

I did swamp the Hunky Dory while launching the boat into the surf in Mexico. Two waves put her on the bottom. The rest of the waves came in and went out. Once we got the boat out and removed a bucket of sand the boat was fine. One engine was not so lucky.

captd

Maybe that is why Mis Dee is reluctant to going off shore any more.

 

[20dauntless]

There was an accident with a 25 somewhere in BC as I recall. I think they somehow got stern to the current and seas after the anchor line got caught in the prop (I think). I can't remember the outcome.

My biggest concern is flooding the cockpit. Because the forward 2/3rds of the boat are covered, most water that comes aboard quickly drains, but significant water in the cockpit, say from a breaking following sea, could cause some real problems.

Obviously hitting submerged debris or rocks could also cause a serious problem. I think my CD22 would sink pretty quickly if there was a sizable hole in the bottom. In reality, especially in the PNW, I think this is probably a bigger risk than flooding the cockpit. But I think it would be pretty tough to hole the boat. I haven't hit much in the C-Dory, but I've hit some big logs going 40+ in other boats and never caused any damage (luckily!). The slower speed of the C-Dory certainly helps avoid mostly submerged debris.

 

[tpbrady]

I think the sinking you were referring to was a CD25 that got its anchor line fouled in the props and sank in the Cook Inlet off of Anchor Point. The tides there run 3+ knots and when combined with waves can make being stern anchored a losing proposition. It didn't really sink, but the only visible portion was the bow. Some people got cold and wet but were rescued.

 

[DaveS]

Out of curiosity, Has anyone ever heard of a C-Dory going down in any kind of weather? Or losing a life while running a CD?

Never have I heard of anyone losing a life while running a CD. One 22' C-Dory rolled in the Oregon surf, (I believe after running out of fuel) and that vessel has been resurrected by one of our C-Brats and the other is the 25' with the fouled anchor rode that was just mentioned.

 

[thataway]

I am only aware of the two incidents which were mentioned. No loss of life. In comparison to many boats, the C Dory is a very safe boat. Part of that is due to the construction--with the hull to deck joint being glassed together. The other is the cabin--Even if the boat were to roll, the bouyance of the cabin would help to right it quickly--of course there would be water in the boat. I guess that if one did a trick like taking an anchor on short scope to a stern cleat, and giving it full power, as a wave set came along, (as happened this Spring off Florida, with an Everglade 23), the boat could turtle. Maybe the owners of C Dories are generally more experienced and cautious folks. Just like you don't see many VW Camper's crashed going 100 miles an hour!

 

[hardee]

Dr Bob Said:

".... Maybe the owners of C Dories are generally more experienced and cautious folks...."

I was thinking along the same line. C-Dory owners may be more cautious, experienced, and skilled than the cross section of general recreational boaters. May be due to many reasons, but discernment or discretion does have it's advantages.

Just my humble opinion, YMMV,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[Sneaks]

I also remember a boat going over a little waterfall up in Alaska with nothing lost but some electronics and the owner's dignity. He has a video somewhere on here but I won't mention his name to protect what remains of that dignity.

Plenty have grounded. Intentionally and unintentionally. A few had some scary moments and one boat cruised several times to and from Catalina with a delaminated hull, only noticing his boat seemed to gyrate it's "breastworks" like a dancer doing the Salsa.

A good solid boat.

Don

 

[Hunkydory]

I also remember a boat going over a little waterfall up in Alaska with nothing lost but some electronics and the owner's dignity. He has a video somewhere on here but I won't mention his name to protect what remains of that dignity.

Don

That be us :lol: Went back up to Fords Terror, but the dignity was to far down under those rapids to recover.

"Cautious, Experienced, and Skilled" Likely true of the group as a whole, but don't think Jo-Lee and I's adventures would have been described in those terms during our first few years boating being as our Hunkydory was the first boat we owned other then a canoe and small RIB. The C-Dory 22 cruiser was the perfect boat to make up for our lack of caution, experience and skill and allowed us to have many wonderful adventure's during a very steep learning curve without becoming a statistic on this thread.

Jay

 

[Holoholo]

I did hear of a C-Dory capsizing 2 - 3 years ago out of my home port at Tomales Bay in N CA. The captain was an experience fisherman and boater but made the fatal mistake of trying to cross the dangerous bar in an ocean that was at least 6X6 or bigger. He was told to hold port in the bay for the evening but decided to take a look and then decided to make a run for the deep water in between sets. The story goes that he made it over the first wave, but then got caught in the 2nd set and subsequent waves that capsized the boat. He ended up drowning and his crewmate survived. I have fished this mouth for over 20 years and being from HI and grown up in the water, I still today have the utmost respect for this and any cold water bar. The reason I know this is a reliable story is that when I purchased my CD22, some of the local guys who performed the rescue asked me if I knew this guy since we have similar boats. The simple fact is that this could have happened to any type of seaworthy craft whether it be a Grady or Whaler under these conditions...you just have to be very extremely cautious when wind and waves are up.

Vern

 

[starcrafttom]

I don’t know of many boat makes that have a history of going down for no reason. Just like planes, most boating accidents happen due to operator error, either a lack of skill or a lack of judgment. I have made mistakes and gotten away with it and we have all seen that happen to others. Hopefully we learn and don’t do it again.

I cannot think of one boat make that has a history of failures based on design or construction other then the Glacier Bay cats and that was a matter of opinion of what happened.

Now many will point to bayliner but that’s not fair. Cheaper boats with larger sales to new boaters with always have a higher accident rate then other boats due to pilot error.