Stay with the 22 or go big?

[redbaronace]

If $$$ were more plentiful, we would have gone the Tomcat 255 route.

 

[haakebecks]

If $$$ were more plentiful, we would have gone the Tomcat 255 route.

Same here... we ended up with a Venture 26, but for us the TC 255 would have been the ideal long term fit. Still simple systems, but with an actual queen berth, nice swim\dive platform, and the ability to bust through chop without pounding. That being said, it was simply more than we were willing to spend. You can buy one hell of a boat for the asking price of your average TC 255. You are paying a lot to be able to trailer the boat.

As it is, we are very pleased with our Venture 26 and we purchased after having been out on several 22s and a 25 and looking at more boats than I care to count. We appreciated the Venture style hull a bit more than the classic and we happened to find one that was a good fit for us. The porta-potty was less than ideal for us on the 22/23.

I will say that nothing really has the 22 beat for a killer lightweight combo though. If it was going to be just me, a 22 or 23 would have been perfect.

 

[ghone]

We're in the less is more camp. For most of the same reasons as others point out. The potty is for us a non issue as we stop at marine parks, interesting towns and marinas almost daily at least for coffee, gas, groceries showers etc so use those facilities. We enjoy our outside solar showers on the fordeck or sitting on the splashwell table, the potty is available in the cockpit and we put up a temporary screen. Best view I have had in any head. Emptying it is not as much fun as having an ice cream cone, but it is way better than fiddling with toilets, valves and tanks etc, which will require work. The biggy we use almost daily right now is the flexi speed mode. With short windows between really lots of wind, as soon as the whitecaps quit being angry looking, we scoot. The ability to go 16+ knots in lumpy conditions puts down 15-20 miles fast. The Nordics and GB's plod along. We were just going to meet friends in Egmont. They didn't cross Georgia Strait as windows were too short. We bopped across and had no issues. One of the traits of the 22 I like best is the trailerability without needing a one ton. For room, I always say a boat no matter how big is not as roomy or convenient as a small house. But then I never met anyone having adventures with a house. We had a 440ft motor yacht (yes 440 ft) via AIS info yesterday go by and while it looked big, it is still small on the big sea. I thought I might like the Nordic 32 but it can't zoom at 16+. And trailer it nope. The Rangers are great. The 25 tries to squeeze too much in and hence systems are hard to service. The cd 25 is great. You will need a bigger truck, but it has the head and the zoom ability it has been said lots. All boats are compromises. My boats I always look at as places to live and magic carpets. If somedays its a bit cramped, oh well. It's paid for and we can point it where we want. The other thing interesting is we fueled behind a guy in Pender Harbour in an old twin gas boat who took $585 worth. He thought it might last a week. Wow. We move almost daily and have not spent that in 2 months. We maybe average $100 week in gas, pacific yachting just did an article on a Boston Whaler 255 and called it's 52 gph at full cruise, of 43 knots economical". When a broker says that word get what he calls "economical". Lots of boats out there but few if any match the cd22. Jeez I shoulda been a writer. George :smiled

 

[thataway]

If you want the most cabin for the money--and size--then a Carver 30 aft cabin (not much deck space)--but has bunks for 5 to 6, maybe 8 in a 30 footer--I had one with a single 150 hp diesel...

A lot depends on where you live and how much time you have to use the boat. We had boats in marinas in Long Beach S. Calif for over 30 years. I grew up on a 26 foot boat which was kept in the water, only went 5 knots and had far less room than a C Dory 22--a galvanized bucket for a head, and I slept in the cockpit--we spent almost every weekend in that boat for over 15 years; most of the time at Catalina Island.

We have also had boats up to 62 feet which slept 10 to 12 in real bunks--and that was like running a boarding house.

Probably the most fun we have had has been in the C Dories. Only you can decide what accomidations are essential. But the Tom Cat has the speed, ride and room to last a long time. It has a bit more room in every way than the C Dory 25--but it is more to trailer. We don't notice a lot of difference in trailering our 22 vs the 25. If I was you--at this point from what you have said--I would suggest the C Dory 25.

 

[c-ness]

We moved up from a TC24 to a Grand Banks 32. We did so because: the wife loves it, the daughter loves it, the grandson loves it, the guests love it. We loved our TC but we found ourselves cruising at 8 knots, and needing more room to entertain. We also find that moored 5 minutes from our house that we have spent much more time on the boat. It's all about how you want to use a boat, and we find that having a larger boat in a slip gives us more opportunities for enjoying the boat. It is more expensive, however. And we haven't given up the notion of returning to a C-dory when we get older. But for now the larger boat is a nice match for us.

 

[journey on]

First, let me say that I wish I was in Bellingham right now. It would mean that we'd be going out to the San Juans and north. However, I'm in Valley Centre and it's been in the 90s, I can only dream.

Next let me ask a question. How is Bellingham Bay in a 22? I've gone out of the bay a number of times and the wind comes up 1/2 hr after I've untied the dock lines, always directly into the bay. I don't care what the bay was like before we came out, it's been a rough ride down to Lummi Isle. So what does a 22 feel like? It has to bounce around more though that's hard to imagine. I've never had the courage to crank up any speed and see if that helps.

Boris

 

[Pat Anderson]

We are CD25 foks through and through. Had a CD22, it was great, we loved it, didn't know we needed a CD25 - until the 2005 SBS anyway. Now, after 7 great years with the CD25, we don't regret a thing! More elbow room, greater stability,and better rough water cruising all add up to make the CD25 a great choice.

 

[JamesTXSD]

The right boat is the boat that fits the way you will use it. Sometimes, you have to take a leap of faith, after doing some research and soul-searching, of course. Not everyone is going to be happy overnighting on a boat - a pontoon boat would be fine for day tripping. Some want to overnight, weekend or spend a couple weeks on a boat, but don't feel the need for an enclosed head or shower... those are also the folks who would be happy tenting on land. Some of us know the minimum amenities required to keep those onboard happy - and in our case, that means: an enclosed head with shower, hot & cold pressure water, a fridge, a microwave, and some entertainment (satellite TV and radio, internet)... it makes the boat feel more like "home."

Go to a bigger boat (non-trailerable), and you have even more home-like amenities, but give up the ability to haul the boat to other cruising areas. If you live in an area that offers infinite cruising opportunities (like the PNW or Florida or the Northeast), I can see the appeal of a bigger boat. Joan and I have been having an on-going discussion about this.

Owning a boat does not have to be a "life-time" commitment. As your tastes and desires change, you can change your boat. Or move on to whatever the next chapter has in store for you. While it's great to get different opinions, this is a decision each individual or couple has to make based on their unique situation.

We've had bigger boats. We've had smaller boats. Each one was the "right boat" for the time. Making the decision to change can be exciting... and a bit disconcerting. When you know what you want to do with a boat, the decisions come easier. Good luck with those decisions.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

 

[Don and Brenda]

My Ranger 27 is trailerable, but would require a trailer and bigger tow rig. Since I am 800 miles from the boat, we decided to place it on blocks in storage. This is cheaper than water moorage and decreased the maint. There are several underwater zinks that need servicing and decreases bottom paint maint.

it does cost $50 to launch and recover. Next year when I retire will then wet slip the boat. So it is all a matter of how one uses the boat.

 

[DuckDogTitus]

. So it is all a matter of how one uses the boat.

The right boat is the boat that fits the way you will use it.
Best wishes,
Jim B.

these are good tips. if they are enough for you, then consider yourself lucky! My boating activities in Washington state (blessed we are to have such opportunity here) include:

Saltwater fishing
freshwater fishing
bass fishing
deep sea fishing
duck hunting (salt, rivers, and marshes/ponds)
pleasure craft (tubes, etc)

The correct boat for each of those applications can be very different. I also wanted to start cruising. My C-Dory is not going to spend time on the Cowlitz river. It's probably not going to tow a wakeboard, it won't duck hunt in Frenchman's Wasteways, and it will never be appropriate for my bass fishing areas. I had to narrow down to the things that were most important and figure it out from there.

i still want a duck boat (sled) and a bass boat. someday. Also a sailboat and a tug.

 

[rogerbum]

. So it is all a matter of how one uses the boat.

The right boat is the boat that fits the way you will use it.
Best wishes,
Jim B.

these are good tips. if they are enough for you, then consider yourself lucky! My boating activities in Washington state (blessed we are to have such opportunity here) include:

Saltwater fishing
freshwater fishing
bass fishing
deep sea fishing
duck hunting (salt, rivers, and marshes/ponds)
pleasure craft (tubes, etc)

The correct boat for each of those applications can be very different. I also wanted to start cruising. My C-Dory is not going to spend time on the Cowlitz river. It's probably not going to tow a wakeboard, it won't duck hunt in Frenchman's Wasteways, and it will never be appropriate for my bass fishing areas. I had to narrow down to the things that were most important and figure it out from there.

i still want a duck boat (sled) and a bass boat. someday. Also a sailboat and a tug.

You left out jet boat, drift boat, canoe and kyak.

 

[DuckDogTitus]

. So it is all a matter of how one uses the boat.

The right boat is the boat that fits the way you will use it.
Best wishes,
Jim B.

these are good tips. if they are enough for you, then consider yourself lucky! My boating activities in Washington state (blessed we are to have such opportunity here) include:

Saltwater fishing
freshwater fishing
bass fishing
deep sea fishing
duck hunting (salt, rivers, and marshes/ponds)
pleasure craft (tubes, etc)

The correct boat for each of those applications can be very different. I also wanted to start cruising. My C-Dory is not going to spend time on the Cowlitz river. It's probably not going to tow a wakeboard, it won't duck hunt in Frenchman's Wasteways, and it will never be appropriate for my bass fishing areas. I had to narrow down to the things that were most important and figure it out from there.

i still want a duck boat (sled) and a bass boat. someday. Also a sailboat and a tug.

You left out jet boat, drift boat, canoe and kyak.

oh contraire, the jet would be my steelhead and duck boat for the rivers and the canoe/kayak would probably be something like a marsh rat or a banks. I hunted out of one ofthese guys too once, very cool.

drift boat though.. probably should be different from the jet for something like the Yak. good point. :thup

 

[BrentB]

Charlie has turnkey TomCat 255 for sale.

Take a trip and look at it

 

[bridma]

I will share our experience. We always had a size of boat that was easily manageable by the two of us. Then the kids started arriving so we took a line out of the movie Jaws, "we need a bigger boat". So we moved up to a 33' with all the mod cons for family cruising. Well you know what happens to little kids, they become big kids real fast. "Do we have to go"? "Can I bring a friend"? "Where we going"? No matter where it was, a destination or just sailing around in circles, the answer was the same, "I don't wanna go". While they were still young enough where we could make them go, they made sure that the atmosphere onboard stank. As kids grow up, the most important things in life are their friends. Not mum & dad and their rotten boat. The good news is, they do start to mature around 30
So we moved back down to a smaller boat. This process knocked a big hole in my bank account. On reflection, maybe it would have been better to keep the smaller boat, transport the kids to land where they could pitch a tent, or charter a bigger boat for the special occasions.
Despite the financial loss, the silver lining to all of this moving up in boat size and back down again is, the path led us to the C-Dory 22, best boat ever.

Martin.

 

[journey on]

Martin,

Let me offer some solace. Those kids will come back with your grandkids and then you'll probably wish you had the 33. Stick with the 22, enjoy the grandkids.

Never the less, I hope we're not talking about going from a 22 to a 33. That's a whole different world. I do hope the discussion is about going from a 22 to a 25. That keeps us all in the light, cheap, trailerable world.

Boris