northeast question

D

ducati1212

New member
So I am in the market for a c-dory (or maycraft) for next summer. I am actively researching, looking at pricing new and used ones now for a purchase this winter.

I have asked a few questions here about ride in rough seas as I have not owned a flat bottom boat before.

I would like to ask a similar question in a slightly different way, the boat will be used in cape ann area in mass I am hoping to be able to take trips up to maine maybe as far as bar harbor and to the south as far as Nantucket. I know my last boat a 24 foot donzi medallion would not have made either of those trips easily if at all. in avg weather (meaning I dont need to wait for the perfect day) how feasable on a 22 c-dory are those trips and for people who have done them how long a ride is it

thanks for any help and sorry for all the questions people have been very helpful so far
 
Hi Folks,

I have a 1983 22' C-Dory on Nantucket. I have no problems taking it off island. I usually pick the days when it is not to rough (like early in the morning) but I once took it from New Bedford to Nantucket in 25 knot winds. It was work. I hope to never do it again, but the boat performed very well. One has to play the waves in that the wind was on my port quarter most of the way.

Hope this can help you in your decision.

By the way, In a flat bottom boat, you have to slow down so you don't pound.

Fred
 
Taking a C-dory, or any boat from Rockport MA or Annisquam north to Casco Bay ME or further is a chore with the strong afternoon Southwesterlies. It will do it safely but you'll be tired at the end of the day.

I have frequently taken my C-Dory from Portsmouth to Cape Ann and back for day trips. As long as the wind is less than 15 kts it's delightful. But, when it picks up, the chop is less fun.

The real advantage of a C-Dory is trailering it to new cruising grounds. Tomorrow, I'll trailer to Newburyport and cruise thru Plum Is sound over to Essex and maybe up the Annisquam before heading back to Newburyport to trailer home. It takes 1 hr to trailer and about 2 hr to go by boat. Saturday I'll be on the Cayuga-Seneca Canal.

To go to Casco Bay, it will take you 1 1/2 hr by trailer to spend a pleasant day or weekend cruising, then a quick trailer ride home. Boothbay Harbor and the Inside Passage is just a 2 hr trailer trip away. With a C-Dory you have a system, and the trailering is a significant part of the system.

Rick from Maine
 
Cap Ann is part of my regular cruising area. This past weekend I was diving off Eastern Point, Gloucester.

I have made a few trips to Duck Island (ME); part of the Isle of Shoals. The morning calm is nice, the afternoon chop will slow you down. The afternoon chop slows me down in the Tomcat if I am leaded heavy with 4 divers and gear.

I concur with Rick about the beauty of trailering the 22 to other areas. You will burn much less fuel and save time. Of course, if you want the pleasure of the cruise that is another matter! When I had a smaller vessel I too would trailer to other areas (Sebago Lake, Point Judith RI, etc.)

If you were shopping for a Tomcat I would be happy to offer a ride but of course I know you are looking for the C-22. Maybe you can cross paths with others to get a ride.

Good luck with your search.
 
DUCATI: Come on out of the closet brother!

This is a boat owners group. Tell people your name. Tell people where you are. This is a pretty big family of folks here, not a mass marketing pit for folks to pull customers from. Let Go, Jump in... it is fun.

I guess is what I am saying is that you are covered up with 22 foot C-Dorys up in that little corner of America...with both Anglers and Cruisers.

I would say we have between 50 & 100 C-Dory 22 boat OWNERS... in less than 200 miles up and down that coastal area.... and many of them often get together for gatherings.

You can only learn so much at a boat show, and I love to make them all over America, but so far, I have never, ever encountered any real water conditions on the concrete floors and bright lights. Get out on the waters with the current owners.

Go to a gathering... You have only been a member on this site for less than a month. I do not blame you for stepping in slowly... but, this is one of the best groups of folks in America.

But, folks that do not complete a good profile, do not share their names, do not tell folks a bit about themselves.... well...they simply will not be able to enjoy the friendships on line here, or, get invited to folks homes to just jump on the boat and find out... or meet them at a launch ramp some day.... You get the idea...or you should.

Now, for the dealership side of the house... things are in what you may call "transition" as I see it. The last C-Dory factory web site I have is when Fluid had it and here is a link to the dealerships. There use to be one in Baltimore area which does not look to be there as a new boat dealership anymore, but, I do know he had a couple few 22s in the water at the marina at that location.
http://www.c-dory.com/dealers/classic-venture/

Have not been to the new owners site under Sea Sport Boats...so, they may have the real up to date info on current dealerships with 22 inventory. I do feel sure they have their hands full...just getting things settled. Some of our current dealerships may even have feedback or info on that. I am sure they must first focus on gettng set up for operations.


Go get on a boat.... and come on out of the closet and play.

Byrdman
 
thanks Byrdman


I have some test rides already set up but getting input from the site here has been valuable. I am in contact with dealers and have spoken to the factory. So I am all set in that regard. Also going to test ride a maycraft this sat as well as a proline 23 walk.

I have had boats my whole life just always deep V so im just getting some additional thoughts on the dory. Trailering is not for me I trailerd a boat for 2 years in the 80's and I find it annoying. Its all marinas for me except for the occasion long trip on the trailer.

I'll work on filling in my profile but I plan to marina this boat in either Newburyport or the cape ann marina. with an occasional trailer up to moosehead since I own some land up there
 
ducati1212":1h5ec3mi said:
....

I'll work on filling in my profile but I plan to marina this boat in either Newburyport or the cape ann marina. with an occasional trailer up to moosehead since I own some land up there
Click to expand...

I would suggest Cape Ann Marina in terms of location. Regardless of the weather, you will always have a calm marina and can cruise north to Wingaersheek Beach or south to Gloucester Harbor on the Annasquam River. Newburyport is beautiful, but where the Merrimack dumps into the ocean can be a meat grinder. Vessels capsize there every year as I'm sure you know. The greatest volume of water ever to come over the top of Napoleon happened right there while outbound for sea during ebb tide with an easterly swell.
 
I had a boat at the cape ann marina for 8 years when I was in my 20's and loved it. but its very expensive compared to other marinas around. I have only made the run out the Merrimack a few times and every time it was awful last time was in my buddies 24 Monterrey pocket cruiser and I wasn't sure we would make it.

but its a short ride down plum island to essex area and nice beaches I might try Newburyport for a summer just to see how bad it really is day in and day out. I t would be a savings of almost 1500 a season which is not huge but its a weekends gas bill : )
 
Ha ha - well you know the drill with the Merrimack. I don't believe some of the people that try to go through the worst of it in 18' open bow boats for example. There are rescues there every single year and unfortunately some fatalities. I really enjoy Newburyport, but the mouth of the Merrimack is not a fun stretch of water.

I'm surprised the prices in Newburyport are better than the Cape Ann Marina....wild.

There is certainly the option of timing your entry/exit of the Merrimack with slack tide or cruising behind Plum Island at high tide (many areas are awash at low tide) and sneak out through the entrance to Essex Harbor but you are of course limited to the tide schedule.

Good luck with your research.
 
ducati1212:

There's been lots of posts about how these boats handle in rough waters. I'll add that you would be wise to buy one with, or add, hydraulic steering. This will be my winter project. BTW: I'm told it also makes docking far easier :thup
 
ducatti: AKA "masked man in the closet" : MMINC

Sounds like you have some neat stuff to contend with up there on the waters but I be it is very pretty too. I have not boated on the waters in that particular section.

What brought me first to the C-Dory boats was the fact that I could select the speed rather than the hull selecting the speed... with the input of mother nature of course.....but, I loved being able to knock around at the 10-12 knot range which I could not do on my deep V and other similar hull boats.... You know the drill...either displacement speed....or, you have to run about 17 knots to stay up on plane....which, often is simply not a good speed for the conditions.

And then,...when you toss in staying warm and dry and boating all 12 months.... well.... it was just over the top then.,,,, and, when most of the folks at my marina were setting up their chairs on the docks, I was heading out..... and loving the waters.... then, joining them for the dock parties at night.... sharing what all I saw on my little 50-70 mile trip during the day....other than just the docks.

Happy Boat Hunting.... and shed those closet clothes man... come on out. :smiled :thup :xnaughty

Byrdman
 
Back
Top