Max. number of passengers on a 25?

[South of Heaven]

Guys, I'm in the process of buying a 25 as we speak and should have her in the water in less than 2 weeks or so.... I have TONS of questions and will start a separate thread for that but for right now I have a simple and direct question.

How many folks can comfortably fit aboard a 25?

The bulk of my cruising will be divided between solo cruising and 1 or 2 passengers in salt water.

BUT occasionally I would like to take a bigger group. From my brief time aboard the 25 at a slip I noticed that the cabin will accommodate 3 people perfectly or 4 people if 2 sit on the forward bench. SO.....Does that mean that 4 people is the max on board?????? Or can I also add 1 or 2 passengers in the cockpit, since the boat has the transom well seats?

Is 5 or 6 total passengers on board doable for a day trip? This would not be a fishing trip. More of a picnic style outing in inshore salt waters (but they do get choppy and sloppy. Buzzards Bay, Ma).

In my mind I'm thinking that 6 adults would be tight to really enjoy the boat but 5 would be fine. Obviously 4 would be ideal! Haha!

I love how the rear well has 2 side seats with cushions; that's a great feature. But when I'm underway can I still put 2 chairs in the cockpit? Won't the bulkhead get in the way? Could 4 people really sit in the cockpit while on plane? Standing is an option I guess and also folks moving from the cabin to outdoors and vice versa. Maybe I'm overthinking this but if I invite 4 people then I want 4 people to have seating.....If I invite 5 people then 5 people need seating. If they choose to stand or sit on the bow or sit on the commode that's fine! But I still wanna know that they have safe and adequate seating if needed.

 

[thataway]

One family of 5 (teens) and a Golden Retrieve cruised in a 22 in the PNW!

6 would be OK- 5 probably better. The 25 cabin two seat on the aft dinette seat--and probably 1, best on the front seat--plus helm. You could put 4 in the cockpit; 2 aft and two in chairs.

In larger boats, it depends on the number of life jackets. I have had 10 on a Grady White 21--and 37 on a 42 foot Trawler...Just be safe...

We feel that 2 is plenty on our 22. My son's Cruise ship easily sits two forward and two aft on the dinette--could easily put 4 in the cockpit...but it is not a game of how many do you want on board? The capacity plate says 6 people.

Boats over 20 feet do not require a capacity plate. By the usual calculation of beam x length divided by 15 your boat could handle 14!

 

[Ron on Meander]

I have had six aboard several times for long day trips. No problem .These have been tours showing friends and family some of the sights of Desolation Sound and our cruising area. (50 -75 Nmiles) We break up the day with some beach time,possibly a restaurant stop, or a hike. Some people like the cockpit seats. Usually two on the forward port seat and if the weather was cool even two on the aft dinette seat and one standing. Its less crowded with 4 of course. I've even had up to 8 people for short trips.
Have fun
Ron

 

[South of Heaven]

One family of 5 (teens) and a Golden Retrieve cruised in a 22 in the PNW!

6 would be OK- 5 probably better. The 25 cabin two seat on the aft dinette seat--and probably 1, best on the front seat--plus helm. You could put 4 in the cockpit; 2 aft and two in chairs.

In larger boats, it depends on the number of life jackets. I have had 10 on a Grady White 21--and 37 on a 42 foot Trawler...Just be safe...

We feel that 2 is plenty on our 22. My son's Cruise ship easily sits two forward and two aft on the dinette--could easily put 4 in the cockpit...but it is not a game of how many do you want on board? The capacity plate says 6 people.

Boats over 20 feet do not require a capacity plate. By the usual calculation of beam x length divided by 15 your boat could handle 14!

Thanks Bob. I forgot to ask you this question when I called you today!

I think 5 would be better too. I'll probably start out with 4 on a day trip and then I'll know if I can add 1 or 2 more.

Overnights are a whole 'nother ball game. I'm assuming 2 is perfect. And 3 is doable.....

 

[South of Heaven]

I have had six aboard several times for long day trips. No problem .These have been tours showing friends and family some of the sights of Desolation Sound and our cruising area. (50 -75 Nmiles) We break up the day with some beach time,possibly a restaurant stop, or a hike. Some people like the cockpit seats. Usually two on the forward port seat and if the weather was cool even two on the aft dinette seat and one standing. Its less crowded with 4 of course. I've even had up to 8 people for short trips.
Have fun
Ron

Thanks Ron. That mileage of 50-75nm is probably what I would do too. My normal day trips on my 19 were about 30-45 miles in total on average. I'm assuming on a 25 I'd probably double that amount.

Wow, 8 people! Even for a short trip that's impressive. Lol

 

[JamesTXSD]

What you can fit and what you can "stand" (by that, I mean "stomach," not standing room) are two different things. We had 7 on our 25... once. From my perspective, it is a great couple's cruiser. More than that, and people start getting in each other's way.

When Bill Carli had his 25 as a whale watch boat, he would take up to 6 guests. Not my idea of a fun trip, but everyone has their own tolerances.

The boat was not designed to be a "people hauler", like pontoon boats or open bow runabouts. If you put 4 people in the dinette, you will likely not have enough trim tabs to keep the boat comfortably level. 4 in the cockpit is certainly doable, but it will be noisier back there, especially in the aft built-in seats. Really comfortable at anchor (especially with something to put your feet up on), but we used camp chairs back there most of the time (the view is better looking out the back instead of looking at the cabin bulkhead).

Enjoy your new 25 - they are great boats! (especially when not overloaded :wink: )

 

[South of Heaven]

What you can fit and what you can "stand" (by that, I mean "stomach," not standing room) are two different things. We had 7 on our 25... once. From my perspective, it is a great couple's cruiser. More than that, and people start getting in each other's way.

When Bill Carli had his 25 as a whale watch boat, he would take up to 6 guests. Not my idea of a fun trip, but everyone has their own tolerances.

The boat was not designed to be a "people hauler", like pontoon boats or open bow runabouts. If you put 4 people in the dinette, you will likely not have enough trim tabs to keep the boat comfortably level. 4 in the cockpit is certainly doable, but it will be noisier back there, especially in the aft built-in seats. Really comfortable at anchor (especially with something to put your feet up on), but we used camp chairs back there most of the time (the view is better looking out the back instead of looking at the cabin bulkhead).

Enjoy your new 25 - they are great boats! (especially when not overloaded :wink: )

I totally agree James. As I stated before most of my cruising will be either solo or with one or two passengers. I'm aware of C Dorys pros and cons; and that's why I chose the 25.

I looked at a Eastern 27 Lobster and a Eastern 22 Sisu. I loved the 27 but I didn't love the I/O engine. There were way too many systems that could fail and need vigilant maintenance. If I had found a used 27 with an outboard then I probably would have bought it (and it would've been cheaper than a used 25 C Dory).

The 22 Sisu was pretty cool but didn't have the size I wanted. The boat which I wanted to sea trial but couldn't find was the Seaway 24 HT. Those boats were very intriguing to me.

 

[ssobol]

..., but it will be noisier back there, ...

On my 22 with a Honda BF90D it is actually quieter in the cockpit than at the helm (by a couple of db). Seems like the engine noise and hull resonance concentrates the noise at the front of the cabin at cruising speed.

 

[JamesTXSD]

..., but it will be noisier back there, ...

On my 22 with a Honda BF90D it is actually quieter in the cockpit than at the helm (by a couple of db). Seems like the engine noise and hull resonance concentrates the noise at the front of the cabin at cruising speed.

I didn't find that to be the case with the CD-25. With the cabin door closed, even at high cruise power, it was always quieter in the cabin and at the helm than in the cockpit. (Honda 135)

I have been driving some diesel boats the last few years that make me miss the whisper quiet of that Honda. :wink:

And for the record, when we had anyone sitting out in the cockpit, I was generally not running at high cruise on the 25; attitude was already bow high and these boats (while a ton heavier than the 22) do notice shifting weight.

 

[colbysmith]

Good question. I've kind of wondered the same thing about my CD-22. At least what is safe? I don't think I'd want 11 on my boat, as per the formula Bob shared. lol! Of course I also think each persons size/weight has a big effect also. I've never had more than 4 on my boat, but a few times if other families I've invited show up, I could be looking at 6. And of course, the 22' is very sensitive to weight balance! Colby

 

[beermanPDX]

My 25 had twin Honda 90s and a fresh water tank at the stern so it was very stern heavy. The first time we tried to sit 4 in the cockpit at anchor, we soon realized how bad the scupper design and placement was. We had about a 1/2" of standing water toward the back of the cockpit. After that, I cut down some wooden bungs so they'd fit in the scuppers in the cockpit. I'd just put them in when we're sitting back there and remove them afterward.

As a side note, I once had 10 passengers on my 25. We were a safety boat for a river swim and had to pull people out quickly due to a lightening storm that came out of nowhere. It was standing room only for the 5 minute trip, but the boat still got up and moved even with that many people on board.