New owners

E

Ed J

New member
Joined
Sep 28, 2010
Messages
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C Dory Year
1988
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Hull Identification Number
DOR22348C888
Vessel Name
Lady J
[Greetings] - Ed and Louise are proud new owners of a 1988 22ft. cruiser with a 2004 90 hp Merc. We plan to keep boat on a trailer and launch frequently at a nearby ( 1 mile away ) harbor. We would like to hear about other owners experiences with various tow vehicles. The ramp is concrete and steep to salt water and can be a little slick at low tide.
 
Congratulations on your new Dory. This is an extremely helpful website and if you ever have any questions in regards to a modification to your Dory don't hesitate to start a discussion.

Kevin & Randi
 
Congratulations on the new boat!

Lots of threads on towing the C-22. Personally I've used a Chevy Duramax 2500HD, a Toyota 4Runner, a Toyota Tacoma, and a Class C RV very successfully towing the Jenny B. All 2 wheel drive. In your steep slick situation I'd probably lean toward a 4wd 6 cyl "something" though.

Don
 
I use a F-350 4 wheel drive to pull my dory but is an overkill. I have seen a mini-van pulling a dory before but would recommend any vehicle that is a 6 cylinder or better.
 
I second the recommendation of 4 wheel drive. Even using compound low 4WD is a great advantage. My Durango with a 5.9 L (360 cu. in.) V-8 can pull not only my CD-22, but my 8,500 lb. 265 Sea Ray Sedan Bridge out on a steep blacktop ramp overlaid with sand and up a 1/4 mile ramp (end of season low water)!


Another caution: Know where the end of the paved ramp is! Dropping your trailer wheels and/or your tow vehicle's wheels off the end of the ramp and into soft mud is to be avoided! Especially when the drop-off is a foot or more and the tide is coming in! Don't ask me how I know, but some day I'll relate the story of how my nearly new Volvo 142 Semi-Submersible and I went for a dip at the Richmond, Ca., ramp one night with a nearly 8 ft. tidal inflow. Also counts as a nice experiment in the electrolysis of a wiring harness, tail lights, etc.! Many ramps do not have the end of the pavement marked! :cry

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Congratulations on being a c-brat. As far as launching goes, I've learned that towing and launching can be a challenge at certain ramps if your vehicle does not have much ground clearance (we used to tow and launch our CD-16 with a Subaru Outback). We found that at low tide we would sometimes have difficulty getting the c-dory to float off the trailer before submerging the tailpipe. Not a good idea to have vehicle stalled at the launch with a bunch of anxious boaters waiting to see if you can get your boat off the trailer and restart your vehicle.
 
Nice to see another MA C-Brat. Joedee and I were not too far from your neck of the woods earlier this year with a trip to Cuttyhunk and two nights in Woods Hole.

You would be fine with a 6 cylinder buggy that can tow 5000 lbs. Jeep Grand Cherokee, Tacoma, etc.

Enjoy your vessel. Nothing like a pilot house in the spring and fall!
 
The Amish in Pa. simply use 2 horse Buggy with draw bar , big wooden spoke wheels, so no ground clearance problems , no tail lights to short or corrode.
But due to emissions standards , not West Coast legal.
Back to reality , you said just a mile to the ramp . If the occasional trip on the highway, or the likelihood of real honest to goodness C Brat wanderlust is a palpable possibility , get a suitable tow vehicle now .

Congrats on the C Dory acquisition !
Marc
 
We had great luck with a Honda Pilot 4whl drive We pulled the c-22 on a single axcel trl no problems it even pulled my cc 23(5000lb) for the first 2 years get 4whl drive for steep ramps
 
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