Pre Purchase Questions?

[matt_unique]

... The speed was not a major consideration.

Warren

Speed was not a major consideration for me either, but man I was smiling when I ran WOT for a test drive. 46 mph in a 7000 lb boat?!? That is moving...

The "speed" most Tomcat owners talk about is the comfort of cruising speed in chop that would slow down the C25 or other boats.

 

[thataway]

Speed is a real difference between the Tom Cat and CD 25. Our CD 25 with a single 130 will make 18 to 19 knots--top. The Tom Cat--light will hit 49 knots. Today, loaded with full cruising gear--we cruised at 35 knots. A speed which even the higherst powered powered CD 25 cannot sustain. This 35 knots was an a bay with 2 foot steep chop--and the CD 25 would be pounding on this.

If you don't know the difference between diesel and outboards--then I would suggest that you start reading a number of forums--including all of the posts in the last year on this forum--also read Boat Fix, and The Hull Truth. There is no book which will give you the information which you can obtain from these forums.

 

[drjohn71a]

Sailed Away.... I did not mean to hihack your thread, but I typed a very long bunch of words in answer to your query, but had clicked on "New topic" instead of "Reply". I could not "copy" that much to your thread, so had to let it go as a new thread....

John

 

[acustis]

Just to a remark regarding Old dog's comments. The water tank can be accessed. We have done it. We had added a monitoring system to the tank. I tow these boats everyday with a F250 with a big gasoline engine. Doesn't do well on fuel but it tows it fine. Any other questions please feel free to shoot me an email and I can help.

 

[Old Dog]

Andrew,

This is a different answer than I got when I asked about accessing the water tank and installing a sensor and gauge.

Easy enough to do during the build process but are you saying you found a way to retrofit a sensor? If so, what kind and how did you do it?

I'm asking this via the forum rather than email because others might be interested.

 

[El and Bill]

We were also former sailors - 20' Flicka - and now stepped up in size to a 22 C-Dory cruiser. This is all you need, if size, price and economy are a consideration. We obviously believe in simplicity and the smallest boat on which to be comfortable. Check out our website, below, if you don't think it's possiblde to live aboard and cruise extensively on a CD-22 -- and we're still a loving and happy couple. Get the smallest boat on which you can be comfortable.

 

[PenguinPA]

I am considering buying a Ranger 25 tug - Any views on stability in 4-6 ft seas? Is it a problem?

Sailed Away-
Evening, I just purchased the R-25 and brought her home from Anacortes to Tacoma last weekend. Late saturday we had a "small craft advisory" with a north wind and an outgoing tide. This created 3-5' wind waves. We were going about 12.5kts at 3000rpm prior, but when it got bad, we slowed down to about 9kts and had no problem.
Heading into the swell the stability was great and even with a quartering sea there was no problem at all....However, coming into Elliott Bay in Seattle with a following sea was a little ugly :shock: and I would prefer not to do that again for a long while!

So from a relative novices' prospective (1st time out with this hull) she will handle seas like a dream, just don't turn your back on them!

Good Luck!

 

[denny48]

Unless you just must have a go-fast boat, don't forget about the demure but impressive Ranger 21.

Like Bill and El, we believe smaller doesn't necessarily mean lesser. I think we're able to do most things our big engined cousins can do except go fast. We may see less scenery, but we think we may enjoy it even more going slower.

With combined personal body weights of over 400 lbs., (I won't get into specifics for fear of broken bones), we've slept snugly, but comfortably, fished, cooked, partied, etc. We've even entertained as many as 6 aboard at one time without feeling cramped.

With the little 30hp Yanmar, it sips fuel at about 1/2 gallon per hour with speeds at around 7 knots. At our chronoligically advantaged ages, our goal was to spend more time than money while cruising. And we love the HUGE walk-around engine room!