New Venture Hull Shape

[Will-C]

I wanted to clarify my response. I think Ventures, Cape Cruisers handle a chop better than 22' Cruiser. Which was part of what I thought the original post had asked about. As for being a better boat, not something I wanted to imply. Compared to a 22" Cruiser a 23' Venture is heavier, costs more to buy, and probably costs more to run, dock, store etc. It may come with extra items not required for your own needs..
So the better boat is the one you like and can afford, and tow if you want.
I think 22's are cuter.
D.D.

 

[rogerbum]

I wanted to clarify my response. I think Ventures, Cape Cruisers handle a chop better than 22' Cruiser. Which was part of what I thought the original post had asked about.

I think most of us (even those with a C-Dory) would agree with this. However, the responses also reflected the idea that the hull shapes were not so different as to make a large difference in handling chop as all the boats are basically very similar in hull style and no where's near the deep V that makes running through chop MUCH easier (with the downside of increased fuel consumption and more side-to-side roll when abeam to waves). At least I (and I believe Bob) would feel that the design differences are not so large as to result in a big enough difference in handling to justify switching from one model to another (and the costs associated with doing so).

As for being a better boat, not something I wanted to imply. Compared to a 22" Cruiser a 23' Venture is heavier, costs more to buy, and probably costs more to run, dock, store etc. It may come with extra items not required for your own needs..
So the better boat is the one you like and can afford, and tow if you want.
I think 22's are cuter.
D.D.

Personally, I think the Ventures and Marinauts are, on average, a better boat than the C-Dory design. Several "little features" of the Venture design are nice improvements over the CD. A little bit better hull shape, better design on the cleats, wider steps in the cockpit etc. All these add up to (in my mind) a more refined design. Which kind of makes sense since the original designers were for the most part improving on the CD design. I never understood why C-Dory chose to market both a 22CD and a 23 Venture with the primary distinguishing factor to the buyer being the more upscale interior. I think that the 23Venture could be sold in a "bare bones" interior model that is very similar to how a 22CD is equipped. The boats are very similar in terms of the market niche they fill so IMHO it would be better to phase out the 22CD and market the 23 Venture with choices of interior. So if I was purchasing new in this category, I'd probably go with a Venture 23 or a Marinaut as opposed to a CD22 (even though I previously owned and loved a 22CD).

 

[My IRA]

Roger,
the Venture 23 can be ordered without the upgraded interior, Refer, water heater, stove, even AC Shore power can be deleted. NWMI will customize the boat as the buyer desires. We ordered our 23V October of 2012 and took delivery in January 2013. The builder worked with Sportcraft in Portland to coordinate all the changes we wanted.

 

[journey on]

This post is a full apology to AK Angler for saying that his estimate of his aluminum Magic Tilt trailer was just a guess. The 8000# capacity dual axle trailer is shown in their catalog is listed at 880# weight.

I stand corrected.

Boris

 

[forrest]

Cape Cruiser 2007 26' Marinuat
Honda 200 HP main
Honda 15HP kicker
Two axle King trailer (heavy duty 15" axles)
spare trailer tire
Rear Helm
two downriggers
4, 15 pound balls
Full fuel
Not sure on water
empty waste
extra freezer in v-berth
food, clothes, fishing tackle, etc.

On the way to Westport for fishing and weighed on DOT scales
7420 pounds

 

[Sunbeam]

On the way to Westport for fishing and weighed on DOT scales
7420 pounds

Nice to get your scale weight. I wish more states made their scales available to "civilians" like Washington does (I know that OR does too; maybe there are others, but those are two I commonly hear about). I bet a lot more people would know their exact weights - it's so easy to just pull in.

One question: Does that include your tongue weight or is that the trailer axle(s) weight only? I just ask because when I pulled in and weighed my 22 this summer, I got 4,180#. I was thinking "hmm, that's lighter than I thought it would be" -- and then I realized that I had forgotten to count the tongue weight. I "back calculated"* the tongue weight at 330#, which brought me up closer what I was figuring on.

(By "back-calculating" I mean that I weighed the van's rear axle without the trailer and with the trailer, then took the difference and subtracted the amount that the 53" from the rear axle to the hitch would have "added" to the weight on the rear axle. Hopefully that makes sense as I described it.)

 

[Will-C]

Scales are available at most larger truck stops for about ten dollars. These scales have three segments for the front axle, drive axles and trailer axles.
In my case since we are on the highway some of the boat gear is in the back of the truck. And I probably don't have the fuel tanks full or much water on board. My trailer tongue is level and I can pull the trailer without any issues at speeds faster than I would mention here without anything shakey happening. I'll have to weigh the tongue weight at some point. I would not tie up a truck scale to disconnect etc. Our trailer is an aluminum Float On with all stainless hardware with bunks.
D.D.

 

[Sunbeam]

I would not tie up a truck scale to disconnect etc.

Now I'm liking the Washington/Oregon setup (and maybe other states?) even more. The regular highway "weigh stations" are left on when they are not "open" and are free to use. I've pulled in a few times and, since there was no-one there (and even if there had been, it would be another "recreational" person), I had all the time I wanted to weigh the van and trailer separately/together/etc. I know I've enthused about this before (ad nauseum), but I appreciate it even more now, if the pay scales are busy enough that it would be an intrusion to un-hitch (and I would probably feel the same way you did if it were).

 

[forrest]

Nice to get your scale weight. I wish more states made their scales available to "civilians" like Washington does (I know that OR does too; maybe there are others, but those are two I commonly hear about). I bet a lot more people would know their exact weights - it's so easy to just pull in.

One question: Does that include your tongue weight or is that the trailer axle(s) weight only? I just ask because when I pulled in and weighed my 22 this summer, I got 4,180#. I was thinking "hmm, that's lighter than I thought it would be" -- and then I realized that I had forgotten to count the tongue weight. I "back calculated"* the tongue weight at 330#, which brought me up closer what I was figuring on.

(By "back-calculating" I mean that I weighed the van's rear axle without the trailer and with the trailer, then took the difference and subtracted the amount that the 53" from the rear axle to the hitch would have "added" to the weight on the rear axle. Hopefully that makes sense as I described it.)

I weighed the boat on the two axles. I backed up and disconnected the trailer from the truck and set it on the trailer jack. I pulled the truck ahead. I then put a 6X6 on end under the end of the trailer tongue (where the ball attaches) and took the pressure off the jack to get a true tongue weight. I then added the two values together. Here are the original figures I wrote down at that time.
Rear 6860
Tongue 740
Total 7420 I noticed error. Should have been 7600! So sorry!
Also had written down:
Trailer 1800. I think that was a factory number.
Note: DOT scales measure in increments of twenty.

Also of interest. This was done when I was setting up the trailer tongue weight and adjusting the axles in the first or second season. Probably used 10 pound downrigger weights then. I probably have more "stuff" on the boat now. I'll weigh the boat next fishing season to see what it is now. I also didn't have the freezer until the second season. When I live on the boat at Westport I have to keep the previous day's catch in processed form. You are only allowed one limit in fresh form on a boat. Hence I vacuum pack and freeze my catch after I get back from fishing.