Living on a C-Dory
- Thread starter bkcasa
- Start date
We picked up our C-Dory in late July of last year. Since that time, we have spent more time onboard as not. Seems we are cruising for a couple months then a month or so off (but still using the boat almost daily). We have been out on this current trip for over a month and don't expect to be back to our house again for another 3 months.
Our friends Brent and Dixie onboard Discovery do much the same. Their traveling style is also similar to ours. Plenty of others have taken extended trips (such as to Alaska).
It's certainly not for everyone, but for those who find the lifestyle satisfying, the C-Dory is a great traveling machine.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Our friends Brent and Dixie onboard Discovery do much the same. Their traveling style is also similar to ours. Plenty of others have taken extended trips (such as to Alaska).
It's certainly not for everyone, but for those who find the lifestyle satisfying, the C-Dory is a great traveling machine.
Best wishes,
Jim B.
Ihave lived aboard boats (29-62 feet in lenght) full time for 13 years of my life. There is a difference between cruising (either on the water, or combiination trailer/water cruising) than living in a static location and going to work daily. In some ways it is harder to liveaboard and work, because of the clothes storage, pumping holding tanks, and filling water tanks, having place for the computer desk etc. I think for the latter (working and living in a static place, the 22 would be a bit cramped. The 25 or Tom Cat would be far better--and the C Ranger even better than those two.
Also adding the camper canvas, gives an entire other room--this makes a huge difference in a boat the size of the c Dory.
Also adding the camper canvas, gives an entire other room--this makes a huge difference in a boat the size of the c Dory.
El and Bill
New member
As you probably know from our website, we have been living aboard our 22' Halcyon for more than half the time during the past six years. She has taken us down all the navigable rivers (sans two) of North America, many of the continent's fine lakes, and long trips along her coasts. If one is able to assume a simple lifestyle and can share a small space with a companion, it is an incredible lifestyle.
As Bob, on Thataway, said so well, the 22 might be tight if it is a docked home while you go to work -- but for long distance cruising, she can't be beat -- you have all the advantages of a well-built, reliable boat coupled with the ease and simplicity of being easy to trailer, launch, dock, and maintain. She'll easily take you where bigger boats 'fear to tread.' She has the much appreciated advantage of being economical in these days of high fuel costs.
There is a cost (in dollars, convenience, and simplicity) in every additional foot of boat that every owner (and potential owner) should weigh. This has been discussed elsewhere on this site, but the key, in our opinion, is how you wish to use your boat. Two-footitis is a disease (common in our society that believes 'bigger is better') that has proven to be fatal to many boaters who hoped to live aboard and cruise extensively and then discovered that the expense or difficulty of managing large boats can be terminal to their dreams.
We recently received a letter from a Canadian couple who had invested in a 42' steel trawler and became overwhelmed by fear of docking, cruising tight passages and anchoring and by the expense of maintaining. They sold it, bought a 22', and are now "singing their way through life".
Each boater, with the desire to live aboard, must understand themselves, their desired lifestyle, their spouse, and their wallet and then make their choice on the size of boat. We have found the 22' C-Dory to be perfect for our cruising needs -- after six years, we are looking forward to heading back out for another lengthy cruise (with son and grandson aboard again for a short spell).
But first we plan a brief 'cruise' down a stretch of the Colorado River in our kayaks, with family.
As Bob, on Thataway, said so well, the 22 might be tight if it is a docked home while you go to work -- but for long distance cruising, she can't be beat -- you have all the advantages of a well-built, reliable boat coupled with the ease and simplicity of being easy to trailer, launch, dock, and maintain. She'll easily take you where bigger boats 'fear to tread.' She has the much appreciated advantage of being economical in these days of high fuel costs.
There is a cost (in dollars, convenience, and simplicity) in every additional foot of boat that every owner (and potential owner) should weigh. This has been discussed elsewhere on this site, but the key, in our opinion, is how you wish to use your boat. Two-footitis is a disease (common in our society that believes 'bigger is better') that has proven to be fatal to many boaters who hoped to live aboard and cruise extensively and then discovered that the expense or difficulty of managing large boats can be terminal to their dreams.
We recently received a letter from a Canadian couple who had invested in a 42' steel trawler and became overwhelmed by fear of docking, cruising tight passages and anchoring and by the expense of maintaining. They sold it, bought a 22', and are now "singing their way through life".
Each boater, with the desire to live aboard, must understand themselves, their desired lifestyle, their spouse, and their wallet and then make their choice on the size of boat. We have found the 22' C-Dory to be perfect for our cruising needs -- after six years, we are looking forward to heading back out for another lengthy cruise (with son and grandson aboard again for a short spell).
But first we plan a brief 'cruise' down a stretch of the Colorado River in our kayaks, with family.
A lot depends on the people. I am happy in our 19 foot Road Trek RV--Marie prefers the 30 foot Holiday Rambler. I am happy in a small boat, as long as I have enough bed and head room--Marie prefers a larger boat. When we were ocean cruising Marie and I started with a 38 footer we had built heading for Seattle from Long Beach CA. After 4 months, Marie said "get me a pilot house boat and take me where it is warmer". Marie is fine with the Tom Cat or C Dory25, she feels the extra three feet makes a lot of difference. What you give up especially is ease of trailering and more complex systems.
Also each person's comfort level depends on his experiences. For us handling a 62 foot motor sailor was easy and within our comfort zone. Finding dockage sometimes was a challange. We finally decided that 45 feet was ideal for us for ocean crossings and deep water cruising. Yes, larger boats are more expensive to maintain--but there are ways around that--for example if you own a boat which can be grounded or put on a grid for bottom painting. Diesel motor sailors are as about as effecient you can find. Sails are good for many tens of thousands of miles if take care of them--slow turning diesels are good for 10's of thousands of hours.
What is extremely important is that all members of the family are comfortable and in agreement on the boat! In our family, Marie makes the final decision.
On the other hand, I cannot think of a boat which is easier to trailer or to launch, beach, handle etc than a CD 22.
Also each person's comfort level depends on his experiences. For us handling a 62 foot motor sailor was easy and within our comfort zone. Finding dockage sometimes was a challange. We finally decided that 45 feet was ideal for us for ocean crossings and deep water cruising. Yes, larger boats are more expensive to maintain--but there are ways around that--for example if you own a boat which can be grounded or put on a grid for bottom painting. Diesel motor sailors are as about as effecient you can find. Sails are good for many tens of thousands of miles if take care of them--slow turning diesels are good for 10's of thousands of hours.
What is extremely important is that all members of the family are comfortable and in agreement on the boat! In our family, Marie makes the final decision.
On the other hand, I cannot think of a boat which is easier to trailer or to launch, beach, handle etc than a CD 22.
"Living aboard" denotes different things to different people. For some it could be spending a 2-week vacation onboard, for others it could be weekending away from home. If one is thinking about replacing a house with a C-Dory, well that is another matter entirely. While the 25 and TC255 certainly have more room and storage than the 22, you are still looking at maybe 150 square feet of living space (less than a smallish bedroom - and no full length closets). Not many folks would be content with that as their only space. But, for a traveling, cruising, RVing, sight-seeing, excursion-taking, floating/motoring escape pod, these boats are amazingly efficient.
There are times we would enjoy a larger boat... until it comes to where these boats really shine: the trailerability. Which is also part of their versatility.
Think you and a significant other could do this? Take some tape and mark it out in your living room. Put some tarp around those marks so you don't accidently fall "overboard." Put a cooler, a porta-potty, and a small card table with chairs in there. Make the part where you put your bed cushions short enough that you don't have full sitting-up height. Now, stay in those confines for 48 hours (to simulate weather that would keep you in the cabin). If you think you'll be out in any weather, put a sprinkler and a big box fan in the room with you. Don't forget your clothes, toiletries, food, a way to cook that food, dishes, fenders, docklines, some entertainment (radio, small tv, computer, iPod), books, and whatever else you'd need to make the environment more home-like.
After two days, if you find yourselves saying, "That was fun, let's do it again!", you may be ready. If you find it confining and a catalyst for arguments, even a bigger boat isn't going to be enough. Especially when you throw in some rough water, engine noise, and unfamiliar situations. Unmarked shoals, inconsiderate sportfishers, annoying jetskis, and the occasional stuff that breaks.
We really enjoy Wild Blue and the cruising opportunities she offers, but it is not our only home and we can get off the boat any darn time we choose. Our only rule has been: "as long as it's fun." Whether sailing or powercruising, we've seen too many people buy the wrong boat - something not suitable for the way they will really use the boat... and that quickly becomes NOT fun. Bill and El are a rare breed... we didn't say "if they can do it, we can do it"; we knew we could do this because we know each other, trust each other's judgement, and are willing to compromise (to a point, of course :wink: ).
Our families think we are insane. They can't believe we gave up good livelihoods and a big house for this lifestyle. Conversely, they could never do this. This past year has been interesting, exciting, educational... and fun. It certainly isn't for everyone. Of course, I still look at my family and think: "I must be adopted." :lol:
Best wishes,
Jim B.
There are times we would enjoy a larger boat... until it comes to where these boats really shine: the trailerability. Which is also part of their versatility.
Think you and a significant other could do this? Take some tape and mark it out in your living room. Put some tarp around those marks so you don't accidently fall "overboard." Put a cooler, a porta-potty, and a small card table with chairs in there. Make the part where you put your bed cushions short enough that you don't have full sitting-up height. Now, stay in those confines for 48 hours (to simulate weather that would keep you in the cabin). If you think you'll be out in any weather, put a sprinkler and a big box fan in the room with you. Don't forget your clothes, toiletries, food, a way to cook that food, dishes, fenders, docklines, some entertainment (radio, small tv, computer, iPod), books, and whatever else you'd need to make the environment more home-like.
After two days, if you find yourselves saying, "That was fun, let's do it again!", you may be ready. If you find it confining and a catalyst for arguments, even a bigger boat isn't going to be enough. Especially when you throw in some rough water, engine noise, and unfamiliar situations. Unmarked shoals, inconsiderate sportfishers, annoying jetskis, and the occasional stuff that breaks.
We really enjoy Wild Blue and the cruising opportunities she offers, but it is not our only home and we can get off the boat any darn time we choose. Our only rule has been: "as long as it's fun." Whether sailing or powercruising, we've seen too many people buy the wrong boat - something not suitable for the way they will really use the boat... and that quickly becomes NOT fun. Bill and El are a rare breed... we didn't say "if they can do it, we can do it"; we knew we could do this because we know each other, trust each other's judgement, and are willing to compromise (to a point, of course :wink: ).
Our families think we are insane. They can't believe we gave up good livelihoods and a big house for this lifestyle. Conversely, they could never do this. This past year has been interesting, exciting, educational... and fun. It certainly isn't for everyone. Of course, I still look at my family and think: "I must be adopted." :lol:
Best wishes,
Jim B.
El and Bill
New member
We would add to that squared off area in the living room, described by Jim, windows looking out onto glorious sunrises, sunsets, porpoises cavorting in the bay, gulls mewing above a surge of minnows, an osprey plunging into the water for a fish, a deer strolling the shoreline, gentle rocking motion as you read a good book, a conversation with a fellow cruiser rafted up beside you --a person you have known and enjoyed for years, the relative quiet of nature disjunct from the raucous human world that surrounds many land dwellers, a sky so bright with stars that the towering trees on the shore stand in silhoutte against the bright sky, the calling of an owl and the answer from deep in the forest --- as we all know there is a yin to the yang -- and all the more appreciated when sharing that small space with a loved companion. And then there's the joy of trolling that spinner from the cockpit ... and the path of moonlight sliding up a canyon wall ...
No -- living aboard is certainly not for everyone -- but there are magic moments -- whether out for a morning, or a month -- yes -- you give up space (and many other pleasures) but oh, what you can gain -- if the chance for these experiences is what you enjoy in life.
No -- living aboard is certainly not for everyone -- but there are magic moments -- whether out for a morning, or a month -- yes -- you give up space (and many other pleasures) but oh, what you can gain -- if the chance for these experiences is what you enjoy in life.
El and Bill":pbdhh6cv said:
See? That's exactly what sucked me in! 8) Of course, I used Halcyon Days to show Joan what life aboard a C-Dory could be. Our style is certainly different, but we are no less delighted with all that our extended time aboard provides. We've all heard what landlocked folks think about our accomodations, but each couple has to choose what is important (and necessary) for day-to-day living... it's not just the boat, but the experiences and opportunities that vessel provides. And besides all the bliss that Bill and El describe, there are the wonderful friends we've made.
Some folks cannot get beyond the stuff... my motive for blocking off space to see if you can make that work. If you can't give up some of the creature comforts that a home provides, the glory of that sunset may not be enough. For those that "get it"... well, go get it!
El and Bill
New member
Well said, Jim!