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TomCat
- Thread starter John T
- Start date
l also agree--I rarely got sea water in the cockpit from spray. If it was windy, we had the camper back on--and it was basically water tight.
However, I would get water in the bilge thru the "fish boxes" in the floor. This was both from wash down, and from rain, if we didn't have the full camper canvas up.
Phil, have you avoided that? We didn't have any anchor locker issues--or water up forward in the hulls. But the drain holes were added later, and differently than many of the boats.
However, I would get water in the bilge thru the "fish boxes" in the floor. This was both from wash down, and from rain, if we didn't have the full camper canvas up.
Phil, have you avoided that? We didn't have any anchor locker issues--or water up forward in the hulls. But the drain holes were added later, and differently than many of the boats.
gulfcoast john
New member
John T,
In my experience the cockpit stays dry in normal cruising conditions. Over 2 ft 'tight chop' is beyond that and a 28 ft Contender or Regulator would also have a wet cockpit from flying splash. Unlike those captains, with the windows and aft door closed in your heated pilothouse, you're warm and dry and they're not.
Hose down the boat and flush the engines after every expedition anyway. Working together, this takes us under 30 min total with practice, where the first priority is hooking up shore power to get the AC and fans going to buttoning up the inside privacy shades.
The ONLY downside to the TC255 is that everything about it is more expensive. You get what you pay pay for...SO UNFAIR!
I've admitted here many times that you can have 80% of the fun at 50% of the cost on a smaller trailer boat (we sure have, this is boat #13)...esp if you don't go out in marginal conditions, which none of us should do anyway....but it sure is a great boat when conditions un-expectantly go bad.
PS Like most TC255 non-fisherpersons I dis-connected the fishbox drains at their macerator pumps so the drain hoses lay in the bilge and drain there. In our torrential Gulf Coast rainstorms perhaps 1 inch of water will drain into the bilge from the fishboxes and gets pumped out by the Rule Gold 2700 GPH pumps; the rest presumably drains out the corner scuppers.
Happy shopping!
John
In my experience the cockpit stays dry in normal cruising conditions. Over 2 ft 'tight chop' is beyond that and a 28 ft Contender or Regulator would also have a wet cockpit from flying splash. Unlike those captains, with the windows and aft door closed in your heated pilothouse, you're warm and dry and they're not.
Hose down the boat and flush the engines after every expedition anyway. Working together, this takes us under 30 min total with practice, where the first priority is hooking up shore power to get the AC and fans going to buttoning up the inside privacy shades.
The ONLY downside to the TC255 is that everything about it is more expensive. You get what you pay pay for...SO UNFAIR!
I've admitted here many times that you can have 80% of the fun at 50% of the cost on a smaller trailer boat (we sure have, this is boat #13)...esp if you don't go out in marginal conditions, which none of us should do anyway....but it sure is a great boat when conditions un-expectantly go bad.
PS Like most TC255 non-fisherpersons I dis-connected the fishbox drains at their macerator pumps so the drain hoses lay in the bilge and drain there. In our torrential Gulf Coast rainstorms perhaps 1 inch of water will drain into the bilge from the fishboxes and gets pumped out by the Rule Gold 2700 GPH pumps; the rest presumably drains out the corner scuppers.
Happy shopping!
John
I have a couple of questions about the TC 255.
My wife and I prefer to sleep fore and aft like in a CD 25.
The bed in a Tom Cat looks like sleeping is side to side with the person on the inside having to climb over the other person.
Would it be possible to sleep fore and aft if an extension cushion was used in front of the port side seat box? I am 6ft and the wife is 5ft.
When running fast (25-35) in the PNW waters, has anyone run over a log or debris? Do you feel safe in your ability to see and dodge logs at speed?
My wife and I prefer to sleep fore and aft like in a CD 25.
The bed in a Tom Cat looks like sleeping is side to side with the person on the inside having to climb over the other person.
Would it be possible to sleep fore and aft if an extension cushion was used in front of the port side seat box? I am 6ft and the wife is 5ft.
When running fast (25-35) in the PNW waters, has anyone run over a log or debris? Do you feel safe in your ability to see and dodge logs at speed?
Larry, Great minds...When I had our boat built, we had a cushion made to fit in front of the navigator seat. I slept that way, fore and aft, with no problem @ 6' 2" Because of the width of the boat, Marie or my daughter and two grand kids (smaller then) slept athwart's ship at times. At other times, we just slept athwartship.
My feeling is that one could see logs if they were in the way on the surface.....But I had hit logs which were semi submerged with the Cal 46, I could not see because of their low position, chop etc. No damage to the Cal 46, but that was 6 knots and a long keel with a boat whose laminate was over an inch thick in the keel...
My feeling is that one could see logs if they were in the way on the surface.....But I had hit logs which were semi submerged with the Cal 46, I could not see because of their low position, chop etc. No damage to the Cal 46, but that was 6 knots and a long keel with a boat whose laminate was over an inch thick in the keel...
Pacificcoast101
Member
We use the fish lockers for line storage. When we wash the boat or get a little rain we dump them as soon as possible. I don't think we've ever had more than three inches of water in them. The scuppers take care of the rest.thataway":ucc4m7cc said:Phil, have you avoided that? We didn't have any anchor locker issues--or water up forward in the hulls. But the drain holes were added later, and differently than many of the boats.
We use our anchor two times each outing as we only use the boat for diving, so water on the rode collects in the anchor locker a bit.
Pacificcoast101":1qxlpowo said:We use our anchor two times each outing as we only use the boat for diving, so water on the rode collects in the anchor locker a bit.
My boat did not have proper holes drilled to the outside in the anchor locker. We re-did the floor of the center rode locker, to be higher on the lateral sides. Then drilled a hole in the bottom of the locker, and put a mini vent scoop cover over that hole. No water into the hulls.
Larry, the best we got was on several fill up to fill up on 200 mile runs, with 95%+ at the mid 20 mph and that was 2.2 miles per gallon. I would say that our average was about 2 miles per gallon. Seldom less. I think that some of this depends on how the boats were set up. The boats with Suzuki's seemed to go a little faster and get slightly better mileage.. Most of our running was on our bays, and the ICW--which is pretty smooth water. I compared that to a monohull 27 footer which had a moderate deadrise (about 18*) about the same weight with a single I/O @ 300 hp, and it got about 1.6 mpg. The monohull did not run as smoothly at the same speeds as the Tom Cat--and the Tom Cat's top speed was much faster than the monohull.
gulfcoast john
New member
Larry,
The California Queen size V-berth is the largest I've ever seen on a production trailer boat. We went to the Miami Boat Show for 10 years straight looking for the Perfect Boat For Us, and it was here, not there.
Count on 2MPG combined at cruise up to 4200 RPM or so and you won't be far off, you will not run out of gas, and if you remove the bimini and half your stuff and have a pristine bottompaint and pristine aluminum props and almost empty gas tanks and no 300# Good 'Ol Boys on board, you can high-five and use the grand total savings over a summer to buy lunch at Wendy's for you two. But not dinner at Ruby Tuesday.
The REAL savings is the ability to tow this rig anywhere on the continent without a permit at 60MPH through a thunderstorm while getting 10-11 MPG with a HD2500 diesel truck.
Like Bob, I'm coming from a 26 ft Regal pocket cruiser that weighed the same (10,700# on the scale, we run in Heavy Cruise Mode), rarely got better than 1.6 MPG and was not nearly as stable or capable and with a 'cave' not a pilothouse view.
Happy Shopping!
John
The California Queen size V-berth is the largest I've ever seen on a production trailer boat. We went to the Miami Boat Show for 10 years straight looking for the Perfect Boat For Us, and it was here, not there.
Count on 2MPG combined at cruise up to 4200 RPM or so and you won't be far off, you will not run out of gas, and if you remove the bimini and half your stuff and have a pristine bottompaint and pristine aluminum props and almost empty gas tanks and no 300# Good 'Ol Boys on board, you can high-five and use the grand total savings over a summer to buy lunch at Wendy's for you two. But not dinner at Ruby Tuesday.
The REAL savings is the ability to tow this rig anywhere on the continent without a permit at 60MPH through a thunderstorm while getting 10-11 MPG with a HD2500 diesel truck.
Like Bob, I'm coming from a 26 ft Regal pocket cruiser that weighed the same (10,700# on the scale, we run in Heavy Cruise Mode), rarely got better than 1.6 MPG and was not nearly as stable or capable and with a 'cave' not a pilothouse view.
Happy Shopping!
John
Phil, Roger, Bob and John. Thanks for your feedback re spray in the cockpit. That was really helpful, and of course what I was hoping to hear. It was indeed pretty windy on the day of our sea trial; it snuffed the Wallas stove within a couple minutes of leaving the dock. Great to read other posts re berths, drains, and fuel economy. The more I look, the more I like this boat.
John T
John T
I appear to be the 'newbie' TC 255 owner having purchased a 2007 in 2015.
My experience thus far:
Cockpit has been dry except in a stiff crosswind.
My overall average mpg with Honda 150's at Mississippi C-brats gathering was 1.8 mpg at around 20 mph. It might have been a little higher in the absence of logs and waiting for locks to open? I did 'nail' one log while on plane but I was never able to find any damage after putting the boat on the trailer
As a retired military pilot I prefer two-engines for both peace-of-mind, and close quarter maneuvering. I also like lot's of fuel capacity. The Tomcat does all of these in spades.
This is my seventh boat and I find the easiest to load on a trailer. My better half backs the trailer partly in, and the boat centers itself using the inside trailer guides. She then backs further in, I motor the boat closer, and then using a remote control, she winches the boat to its stop, and then drives up the ramp.
I will forgo the debate on 1/2 ton versus present day tow ratings of F-150 or 2500' trucks. Times have changed and to each their own.
Our first overnight sleep-in was at the Mississippi C-brat gathering and my wife and I were pleasantly surprised with the amount of sleeping room compared to our past boats. I think you can sleep in just about any direction you want.
One draw-back of the TC is that it looks and feels much bigger than it actually is. There is just too much storage capacity, and our natural propensity to 'never-leave-home-without-it', and to fill every void, can lead to huge weight gains to what in reality is a 25' boat. Guilty as charged :roll:
My experience thus far:
Cockpit has been dry except in a stiff crosswind.
My overall average mpg with Honda 150's at Mississippi C-brats gathering was 1.8 mpg at around 20 mph. It might have been a little higher in the absence of logs and waiting for locks to open? I did 'nail' one log while on plane but I was never able to find any damage after putting the boat on the trailer
As a retired military pilot I prefer two-engines for both peace-of-mind, and close quarter maneuvering. I also like lot's of fuel capacity. The Tomcat does all of these in spades.
This is my seventh boat and I find the easiest to load on a trailer. My better half backs the trailer partly in, and the boat centers itself using the inside trailer guides. She then backs further in, I motor the boat closer, and then using a remote control, she winches the boat to its stop, and then drives up the ramp.
I will forgo the debate on 1/2 ton versus present day tow ratings of F-150 or 2500' trucks. Times have changed and to each their own.
Our first overnight sleep-in was at the Mississippi C-brat gathering and my wife and I were pleasantly surprised with the amount of sleeping room compared to our past boats. I think you can sleep in just about any direction you want.
One draw-back of the TC is that it looks and feels much bigger than it actually is. There is just too much storage capacity, and our natural propensity to 'never-leave-home-without-it', and to fill every void, can lead to huge weight gains to what in reality is a 25' boat. Guilty as charged :roll:
journey on
New member
John T,
You can continue to ask questions about the various C-Dorys in which you're interested, as you have. But this question is a bit of a small point as all cockpits can be wet or dry as conditions dictate. So now you're down to the small points, apparently without much experience with which to ask the right questions.
The cockpit of Journey On, a 25, has been full of water or completely dry, depending on conditions. As you heard above.
If you continue to worry over the small points, you'll miss the big points: what do you want to do with the boat, how big a boat can you tow, what are you willing to put up with as far as basic things. You have had rides on a variety of C-Dorys and now is the time to decide which model you want. Or perhaps, really, none of them suit you. Your choice, but more small questions are fruitless.
Boris
You can continue to ask questions about the various C-Dorys in which you're interested, as you have. But this question is a bit of a small point as all cockpits can be wet or dry as conditions dictate. So now you're down to the small points, apparently without much experience with which to ask the right questions.
The cockpit of Journey On, a 25, has been full of water or completely dry, depending on conditions. As you heard above.
If you continue to worry over the small points, you'll miss the big points: what do you want to do with the boat, how big a boat can you tow, what are you willing to put up with as far as basic things. You have had rides on a variety of C-Dorys and now is the time to decide which model you want. Or perhaps, really, none of them suit you. Your choice, but more small questions are fruitless.
Boris
Hi John, reading through your earlier comments sounds like the 255 would be a perfect boat for your needs. You've had twins before, you aren't planning on trailering a boat, and as you've now seen first hand, it rides awesome in the chop (an important benefit in the waters around here!).
Personally, I was attracted to the 22 for it's size (biggest C-dory that will fit in my driveway), and ease of trailering (it tows great!). Ironically, it turns out that I'm not even keeping the boat in my driveway or on a trailer, so neither of those points even matter, and now a small part of me dreams about how nice a 25 or 255 would have been! Fortunately, both are way out of my price range (at least for new boats) so it's a moot point, and as a solo cruiser a 22 really is a great size. The point being, since you aren't planning on trailering it seems the Tom Cat would be an ideal boat, as it's increased size and weight for trailering seem to be the main down-side for those who trailer.
I think your question about spray in the cockpit was an excellent question related to the TomCat, given the other recent thread regarding excessive spray from certain generations of outboard brackets used on the 255, and since a cat is likely different design from your previous boats. As others have said, all small boats will get a fair amount of spray in the cockpit if it's windy enough (it doesn't take much wind either, just a bit of a cross wind to blow the spray from the bow right back into the cockpit).
I don't see your name on the sign-up list but since you are local, hope we get to meet at the Seattle Boat Show...when I talked to Marty at Master Marine about a month ago they were planning on having a Tomcat as well as a 25 Cruiser at the boat show (in addition to perhaps a 22 and 23), although not sure if that is still their plan.
-Mike
Personally, I was attracted to the 22 for it's size (biggest C-dory that will fit in my driveway), and ease of trailering (it tows great!). Ironically, it turns out that I'm not even keeping the boat in my driveway or on a trailer, so neither of those points even matter, and now a small part of me dreams about how nice a 25 or 255 would have been! Fortunately, both are way out of my price range (at least for new boats) so it's a moot point, and as a solo cruiser a 22 really is a great size. The point being, since you aren't planning on trailering it seems the Tom Cat would be an ideal boat, as it's increased size and weight for trailering seem to be the main down-side for those who trailer.
I think your question about spray in the cockpit was an excellent question related to the TomCat, given the other recent thread regarding excessive spray from certain generations of outboard brackets used on the 255, and since a cat is likely different design from your previous boats. As others have said, all small boats will get a fair amount of spray in the cockpit if it's windy enough (it doesn't take much wind either, just a bit of a cross wind to blow the spray from the bow right back into the cockpit).
I don't see your name on the sign-up list but since you are local, hope we get to meet at the Seattle Boat Show...when I talked to Marty at Master Marine about a month ago they were planning on having a Tomcat as well as a 25 Cruiser at the boat show (in addition to perhaps a 22 and 23), although not sure if that is still their plan.
-Mike
I haven't posted anything for quite awhile, but am excited to let you all know that my wife and I now have a new TomCat on order, expecting to take delivery at the end of August...Can't wait! Mike, thanks for your last post. We did go to the Seattle Boat Show, and it was there that I did the bulk of my specking out of our new boat. Jim "JD" DeGolier, with Master Marine, has been wonderful to work with. His father and mine worked together for years from the beginning days at Uniflite. Jim and I both worked there too years ago, so we've enjoyed reconnecting over shared history. And I simply can't say enough good things about everyone I've met at NMI; completely first class, always helpful, and building very good boats in my opinion. Ron Wright has a long and respected history of building excellent boats. This will be my seventh power boat, ranging in size from 16 to 42 feet. I think it will be a really fun, agile, shallow water capable, even beach-able day boat with some comfort and the ability to go long distances a few times each year. i'm also looking forward to attending some C-Brat gatherings and getting to know some of you, and learning from your experiences with these boats. Dang, this is exciting!
John Thomas
John Thomas
Hey John, congrats on your new boat purchase! Looking forward to the progress reports, hopefully you'll have opportunities to tour the factory during the construction, if not, Master Marine should be sending you some update photos along the way.
Those of us who have bought boats from NMI over the last year (Marc, Ken, Brock, others I'm forgetting) have reported similar feelings about NMI's dedication to the quality of workmanship in their boats. And Master Marine has been a great dealer locally, now carrying the Sea Sport line as well and soon moving to a bigger facility down the street.
That's also a great history you have with working at the current factory site in the Uniflite days. No wonder you'd want a new boat built in the same spot you and your father once worked! Somewhere in my collection of photos is a picture with the late Art Nordtvedt (and his wife), standing in front of my 1956 Bell Boy at the Fiberglassics NW meet on Lake Whatcom in 2004 or 2005. Lots of fond memories of these boats, having grown up in Bellingham...Bell Boy, Uniflite, Sportsman/Sea Sport (and now C-dory!).
Sounds like your new boat will be ready just in time for the August Bellingham CBGT, possibly! It would be cool to see you there! (and Friday Harbor too if you can make it even without the boat).
-Mike
Those of us who have bought boats from NMI over the last year (Marc, Ken, Brock, others I'm forgetting) have reported similar feelings about NMI's dedication to the quality of workmanship in their boats. And Master Marine has been a great dealer locally, now carrying the Sea Sport line as well and soon moving to a bigger facility down the street.
That's also a great history you have with working at the current factory site in the Uniflite days. No wonder you'd want a new boat built in the same spot you and your father once worked! Somewhere in my collection of photos is a picture with the late Art Nordtvedt (and his wife), standing in front of my 1956 Bell Boy at the Fiberglassics NW meet on Lake Whatcom in 2004 or 2005. Lots of fond memories of these boats, having grown up in Bellingham...Bell Boy, Uniflite, Sportsman/Sea Sport (and now C-dory!).
Sounds like your new boat will be ready just in time for the August Bellingham CBGT, possibly! It would be cool to see you there! (and Friday Harbor too if you can make it even without the boat).
-Mike
Thank you Bob. It was a big decision for us, and your input was helpful along the way. Here's how it will be built and rigged:
* Blue accent striping
* Blue & grey interior
* Merc Verado 175s
* AC/DC Refrigerator
* Anchor windlass - Lewmar Pro 700
* Raw water washdown in cockpit
* Freshwater washdown at bow
* Aft cockpit deck light
* Heavy duty interior carpet runner
* Macerator & discharge
* Raised radar arch
* Snap curtains
* Wallas stove/heater
* Windshield defogger fans (2)
* Two additional bow cleats at the p & s corners (non standard option)
* SS grab rail athwartships at forward end of companionway (non standard option)
* Interior grab rails
* Sliding helm seat (non standard option)
* Compass - Ritchie Voyager
* Installed swim ladder deployable from in the water (in lieu of dive ladder option)
* Ski/Tow pylon (non standard option)
* Electronics: Lowrance 12" HDS Carbon display & transducer, Lowrance 4G radar, Lowrance Link 8 VHF & antenna)
* Vessel name, Hailing port & Hull numbers
I appreciate your interest and welcome any thoughts you may have,
John
* Blue accent striping
* Blue & grey interior
* Merc Verado 175s
* AC/DC Refrigerator
* Anchor windlass - Lewmar Pro 700
* Raw water washdown in cockpit
* Freshwater washdown at bow
* Aft cockpit deck light
* Heavy duty interior carpet runner
* Macerator & discharge
* Raised radar arch
* Snap curtains
* Wallas stove/heater
* Windshield defogger fans (2)
* Two additional bow cleats at the p & s corners (non standard option)
* SS grab rail athwartships at forward end of companionway (non standard option)
* Interior grab rails
* Sliding helm seat (non standard option)
* Compass - Ritchie Voyager
* Installed swim ladder deployable from in the water (in lieu of dive ladder option)
* Ski/Tow pylon (non standard option)
* Electronics: Lowrance 12" HDS Carbon display & transducer, Lowrance 4G radar, Lowrance Link 8 VHF & antenna)
* Vessel name, Hailing port & Hull numbers
I appreciate your interest and welcome any thoughts you may have,
John
Thank you Bob. It was a big decision for us, and your input was helpful along the way. Here's how it will be built and rigged:
* Blue accent striping
* Blue & grey interior
* Merc Verado 175s
* AC/DC Refrigerator
* Anchor windlass - Lewmar Pro 700
* Raw water washdown in cockpit
* Freshwater washdown at bow
* Aft cockpit deck light
* Heavy duty interior carpet runner
* Macerator & discharge
* Raised radar arch
* Snap curtains
* Wallas stove/heater
* Windshield defogger fans (2)
* Two additional bow cleats at the p & s corners (non standard option)
* SS grab rail athwartships at forward end of companionway (non standard option)
* Interior grab rails
* Sliding helm seat (non standard option)
* Compass - Ritchie Voyager
* Installed swim ladder deployable from in the water (in lieu of dive ladder option)
* Ski/Tow pylon (non standard option)
* Electronics: Lowrance 12" HDS Carbon display & transducer, Lowrance 4G radar, Lowrance Link 8 VHF & antenna)
* Vessel name, Hailing port & Hull numbers
I appreciate your interest and welcome any thoughts you may have,
John
* Blue accent striping
* Blue & grey interior
* Merc Verado 175s
* AC/DC Refrigerator
* Anchor windlass - Lewmar Pro 700
* Raw water washdown in cockpit
* Freshwater washdown at bow
* Aft cockpit deck light
* Heavy duty interior carpet runner
* Macerator & discharge
* Raised radar arch
* Snap curtains
* Wallas stove/heater
* Windshield defogger fans (2)
* Two additional bow cleats at the p & s corners (non standard option)
* SS grab rail athwartships at forward end of companionway (non standard option)
* Interior grab rails
* Sliding helm seat (non standard option)
* Compass - Ritchie Voyager
* Installed swim ladder deployable from in the water (in lieu of dive ladder option)
* Ski/Tow pylon (non standard option)
* Electronics: Lowrance 12" HDS Carbon display & transducer, Lowrance 4G radar, Lowrance Link 8 VHF & antenna)
* Vessel name, Hailing port & Hull numbers
I appreciate your interest and welcome any thoughts you may have,
John