"Maiden" Voyage...

G

garyf

New member
OK! We're making progress!

After sitting high and dry with my dad for 11 years, I finally got her in the water yesterday. Of course, I probably picked one of the busiest days of the year for the boat ramp - but hey, go big or go home, right?

I spent over 3 hours on the water - Sacramento river, several trips back and forth from the Tower Bridge to Sand Cove.

Everything really went pretty well overall. I didn't sink! (I saw someone else who did!! - low profile boat sitting low in the water and lots of chop and wakes with so many boats in the water)

As expected, I did discover a few things - (1) wow, I am definitely bumping up the priority to making the front middle window able to open! I need that ventilation on a hot day! I know it's been discussed in here, but haven't dug for it yet... is it a direct swap out kind of thing, or more involved? What about a 12V fan, anyone add one of those? (2) Some of the screws that hold the door hinge to the bulkhead are backing out :( - my initial thought is to reseat them with epoxy, but I don't know if that's best and obviously could create a problem in the future. Beef up the holes with some sort of metal inserts maybe? I remember seeing something like I'm thinking about, but don't know what they're called.

Other than that, no big huge surprises and I didn't screw anything up :D :D

We're making progress! I still have some things to install and work on... but the heat is making it tough!
 
Good to hear that you didn't sink. Maybe because you didn't have a Trump flag on board. :lol: If you want a fan on board, try one of these. I have three and they are great.

Caframo Ultimate Direct Wire 12V Cabin Fan, Small, White
 
Congratulations. Yes, there was...not sure now..a drop in replacement for the middle window.

I thru bolted the screws, and then peened the heads over--that way it would be difficult to unscrew the door on the similar C Dory 22. Another way is to put a bunch of toothpicks and epoxy into the hole--and then redial a pilot hole, and go back. You could use thickened epoxy. Even a dab of 4000 on the end of the screw... lots of ways for the door hinge screws.
 
garyf, good thing -- not to sink. makes boating a whole lot more fun :lol:

One of my favorite spots on my Delta cruise, (or more fun moments), was docking at the Sacramento Old Town dock, against that current. Cool fun, 3-4 knot current, just move up to the spot you want, maintain throttle and ferry over (with the fenders in place), snuggle up to the dock and with the engine running on the port side, get out and tie up the bowline. A little spooky but it worked like a charm.

While I was down there I wondered how often those flat boats catch a big wave and turn into submarine. I saw several that were fully airborne after crossing a wake. No windshield, or little, and maybe 8" of freeboard, 60 mph and the guys were wearing face shield so the bugs wouldn't hurt :shock:

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

0_CD_Cover_SlpyC_with_Classics_MBSP_2009_288.thumb.jpg
 
Peter & Judy":1vqk8nw5 said:
Good to hear that you didn't sink. Maybe because you didn't have a Trump flag on board. :lol:
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Ummmmmm...

Haha - thanks for the tip on the fan - they're kind of spendy! Does the quality justify the cost?
 
Haha - thanks for the tip on the fan - they're kind of spendy! Does the quality justify the cost?
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My boat came with two Caframo fans pointed at the port and starboard front windows and I added a third one over the galley. I just bought another one to put into my camper. My original one in the camper, which I bought for about $10, had the switch melt, so it was time to replace it after at most 10 hours of use. The Caframo is very well built, quiet and has a low voltage draw. It can really move a lot of air. Excellent Quality overall. As German I appreciate quality products and abhor junk. This is one of the reasons I bought a C-Dory and not a Bayliner.
 
Reading Peters post reminded me I didn't address the question of fans.

I have always had one or two fans up near the windshield--the Caframo are excellent for perment installation. The more expensive are better and variable speeds. They can be used as "defrosters", moving heat or cool around the cabin, or blowing directly on a person. I also carry either a Ryobi 18 volt battery operated fan or "Endless Breeze" fan runs off 12 volts. These can be put in front of the opening window, or in the hatch at night to cool the V Berth area. We always put Caframo fans in the corners of the V berth. Currently we have the Maestro--which have remote controls, red and white lights, plus variable speeds.
 
garyf":3a9upska said:
As expected, I did discover a few things - (1) wow, I am definitely bumping up the priority to making the front middle window able to open! I need that ventilation on a hot day! I know it's been discussed in here, but haven't dug for it yet... is it a direct swap out kind of thing, or more involved? What about a 12V fan, anyone add one of those?
Click to expand...

thataway":3a9upska said:
Congratulations. Yes, there was...not sure now..a drop in replacement for the middle window.
Click to expand...

Ok! I went thru this exercise when we bought our boat last year. Get the checkbook/CC out!!!

If you contact the C-Dory factory, no dice. Gave me Diamond Sea Glaze info and sent me on my way.

If you contact Diamond Sea Glaze, They'll make one for you if you don't mind paying ~$800 USD to have it made and sent to your door.

There's another company in WA that will make one for you too. ~$700 to get it made and sent to your door (I can dig thru some emails to get the info on the WA company if you'd like it).

We haven't completely given up on getting one but it hasn't made it to the top of the priority list just yet. I do know Barry Rietz is also interested in one for his boat. Group buy maybe?

And! Congrats on a successful voyage. I grew up in Sacramento and spent many, many hours on the surrounding waters. It's a boaters paradise.
 
Desert Dory":1rr03eox said:
We haven't completely given up on getting one but it hasn't made it to the top of the priority list just yet. I do know Barry Rietz is also interested in one for his boat. Group buy maybe?
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I may be up for a group buy if that is helpful. I'm not exactly excited about $700 or $800, that's for sure.
 
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