New Member

L

Lighthouse Express

New member
Hello all:

I am a new member and would like to introduce myself…

Being retired now, my long-time dream to purchase a used C-Dory became real. I had my eyes on a C-Dory 22’. However my sweet wife insisted if I wanted her to come along cruising, it would have to have a real bathroom. Now we got a used 2004 C-Dory 25’ from another C-Brats member via Craigslist.

We have joint the USPS and have taken its boat safety course and the California Department of Boating and Waterways safety course. Our boat just passed the USPS vessel safety check and received the VSC decal.

I had to do some repairs and maintenance before we could take it out the first time: Rebuild the Jabsco macerator and toilet, fix the leaking Teleflex hydraulic steering system, applied dry lubricant to windows frozen in place, clear the dual BF90’s cooling system indicators plugged up by mud bugs, replace broken motor well boots, fix the intermittent GPS antenna connection, replace missing EZ-Loader trailer bracket and broken brake housing flush system, replaced trailer winch cable steel with high strength strap, installed battery post insulators, changed all fuel filters, installed safety handle in bathroom.

The first time we took it to Folsom Lake on June 8, 2012 to get familiar with the mechanical operation, then to Lake Oroville to get familiar with the electronics, and the latest trip to Bodega Bay where had to use all of our limited navigation skills during a foggy and lumpy sea. The C-Dory exceeded my expectations and performed exceptional well under those rough conditions, and the electronic map and radar came in very handy, we did pretty well.

Finally, this weekend I will install the ACR category 1 EPIRB, but I have not decided yet on the type of raft I will carry on the rooftop during our time on the ocean.

We have planned to take an advanced navigation and weather course before we take our C-Dory along the California coast to visit our friends in Kalama, Washington next spring.

It is our dream and intention to take the inside passage with our C-Dory and our friends with their Bayliner Trophy from Washington to Southeast Alaska in the summer of 2014.
 
Friends, thank you very much for the warm welcome...

I have been reading the C-Brats forum for some time and learned a lot. Therefore, I was able to do all the repairs and maintenance myself.

However, being green when it comes to cruising it is now time to get some experience on the water...

We are really looking forward to meet a lot of you and make new friends.
 
Welcome aboard, LE!

If you can make it to any C-Brat gathering, you will have the opportunity to meet a lot of like-minded folks. Everyone has a different opinion of "cruising" - some go marina to marina, others anchor out, most do some combination of both. You have a great boat for taking on all kinds of cruising, including your dream of the Inside Passage.

We'll look forward to hearing more about how you and your sweet wife use the boat.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I just installed the new category-I ACR EPIRB in front of the berth. Not sure if it was the best place; however, I could not install it on the back because it could get trapped in the canopy when it automatically deploys. The roof was not an option either since I plan to carry a dinghy.

Where did you guys install your EPIRB's?

P1010456.sized.jpg
 
Charlie,

Thank you very much for your advise...
I will remove the permanently mounted unit and install it onto a removable aluminum plate on same location. Therefore, I can hide it when not in use.
 
Welcome, and congrats on the new to you boat. Nice :!: Sounds like you have some ambitious boating plans. Good. That is what the boats are for.

Are you boating to Kalama from California? That would be a Columbia River Bar crossing and take some good timing. Doable for sure, just do it carefully.

The EPIRB mount position is a challenge for sure. (One of the reasons I have not done it yet. This is a new position I had not considered. Be interesting to see how it works. I have had green water (buried the bow into an oncoming wave) to that level twice. Neither were planned maneuvers, but (Thank God) that C-Dory floats, and we all came through just fine. I'm thinking that if I had an EPIRB mounted there it would have deployed. Mind you I was in a 22 Cruiser not a 25. You have considerable more bulk, height and beam there than I have.

Be good to hear from some 25 and 26 skippers on that issue.

Enjoy the boat, and keep us posted. Pictures are good.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMG_2044_sized_1.thumb.jpg
 
Harvey,

Yes, my wife and I have planned to cruise from Sacramento thru the San Francisco Bay up the California, Oregon and Washington coast up the Columbia River to visit our friends in Kalama in the spring of 2013. I am retired, I got the time... :D

The Kalama trip will be our trial cruise to get all the bugs worked out before we take the inside passage in 2014.

For rest of 2012 we have planned to take some short overnight cruises to get used to live on our C-Dory.

With regards to the EPIRB, I had written an E-mail to ACR Electronics, the manufacturer of my EPIRB who just changed ownership, inquiring about their recommended removable category-I installation solution. However, I did not hear back from ACR. :(
Therefore, I am currently working on engineering a professional solution myself.

I'll keep you guys posted...
 
LE,

Being retired and having the time could make that trip north workable. The N. Cal and Oregon coasts can be beautiful and extreme. There are places to get into for protection so with time on your side it should be a great trip. Might even be a C-Dory first.

Too bad about no response from ACR. Would be nice to have a response from them.

Enjoy the overnights, and keep having fun.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
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