OK ...before I sell the boat, or end up in Divorce Court

Chuck.... While a bit sketchy in my mind, I seem to remember several 'fixes' for some of those problems in various threads here. One major thing, when I was considering a 25, C-Dory went to great lengths to advise a singe engine to reduce the weight aft. Also, that 3K Honda is a great genset, but oh what a weight increase! So right off the bat, you have chosen two things to reduce performance and interfere with a level waterline.

Several mentions have been made about reverse flowing scuppers while cranking up heavy crab pots, etc., and several mentions of fixes have been listed for that.

The new TomCats and Cd-25s come with the toilet atop a 9 gallon holding tank right there in the shower and Pat Anderson's "Airhead" composting toilet installation (shown on his photo album) both raise the seat to a more comfortable height. You can get that head thru West Marine and other sources , or maybe your current toilet will mount over a similar tank.

By cutting back on the gallonage of the holding tank, and moving it to the head compartment, room was left to move the freshwater tank back where the old holding tank used to be.

Several ppl, Brent on Discovery for one, have mentioned using the space forward of the dinette for stowage instead of a forward facing front dinette seat. You could strap some kind of hanging closet in that space.

The TC 255 Thataway had a fuel vent problem and found the vent hose running down into the hold before coming back up and outside. I think they found a faulty releif valve that fixed that problem.

Owning the first few of a new model encumbers one with some unforeseen problems to be worked out later. I think you are lucky to have a wife that would let you sail for over fifteen years!!! Sometimes, when things are stressed, one or two simple things can push one over the brink into a fit. I would advise addressing her concerns while trying several fixes to the easy to solve boat problems and maybe only take the wife out when everything is low stress and under control a bit more.

Also, maybe the fishing tackle,tools, etc., could be kept outside the cabin most of the time you are aboard. As Jim TX says, shelves and mesh hammocks in the V-berth help out down there. I would measure the space forward of the dinette and see if you can find a storage case to fit there or have a handyman make a small removable hanging locker.

Don't give up! hang in there and patiently address each problem.....John
 
Flagold - that Nomad looks good in the writing and the interior set-up, but the windage area is phenomenal! I looked at them years ago when they first came out, but there is just too much wind in the waters I use to allow something like that out of the marina except in very calm conditions! John
 
Chuck,

Some time ago you sent me a PM when you read that Marcia and I had moved from sail to a CD 22. At that time you voiced some of the same concerns that have just stated and hoped that we could manage in Valkyrie.

Well, in our CD, a 22 footer, we find that we have enough room for gear, food, fishing tackle and all essential safety items and have cruised for two weeks without needing any major reprovisioning. We cruise simply and enjoy Valkyrie very much and find it emminently cruiseable and comfortable.

When we have been at the East Coast Gatherings, we have been amazed at the additional space in the 25. A Tayana 37 is a larger, roomy, voluminous cruiser. Trying to compare living on a long-distance cruiser like that to a trailerable, 25 foot powerboat will definitely cause culture shock. That's somewhat like selling a 36 foot motorhome and expecting a conversion van to be as comfortable.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
John, Thank you for the understanding Post, it was appreciated. Quick question, is there a pressure valve of some sort in the fuel vent line? A friend said in cars there is a spring valve that remains closed on the vent line till the pressure builds then opens and closes up again. If that's the case maybe mine is not working. Anyone with any input on this?
 
Sorry that things are not working well for the wife and you in the CD 25.
We have gone up and down in boat size numberous times and know that some adjustment is necessary. I am fortunate to have a wife who is just as happy back packing as she was on the 62 footer (well almost...).

For the CD 22, we used the ice box for storage, and put food in two high effeciency ice chests in the cockpit. We also had one of the large storage boxes at Wal mart--about 4' x 2' x 2'--both the ice chests and storage box acted as seats. We put Dry Deck plus a 3/4" closed cell foam pad on the cockpit floor which handled any water. We put in two mesh sailboat sheet bags along each side of the V berth for clothes--these were adequate for our clothing for 2 to 3 weeks, even in the PNW. (There are photos of these bags in the "Thataway" album--we are using similar bags in the Tom Cat, even though it has more storage than the 22.)

Just a correction--our fuel vent problem is only "solved" by full time airconditioning and having used up fuel. The extra fuel line (not vent line) is still sort of a mystery, and the obstruction was in the antisiphon valve, which has been replaced with a new one).

If the wife is not happy with the accomidations of the C Dory, then I agree it may be a time for a change. The philosophy of the boats is minimilist. I personally am happier with that type of existance, but realize that many people are not.
 
Back
Top