Which boat?

[Charlie O]

Hello all. I've been cruising the C-Brats forum for some time, but just now joined.

I am in the process of shopping for a cruiser, new or lightly used. My goal is to have a craft that the wife and I can spend long periods of time cruising on more comfortably than my current boat (2002 Formula twin V6 cuddy).

Originally I was thinking mid-cabin express cruiser (like a Sundancer 260) but now I'm thinking pilot house/trawler, which would be more all-weather friendly, right?

I dock on Lake Ontario; we like to cruise around the many ports on the lake, also up to Canada & its canals, and the Erie Canal and Finger Lakes. In the future I'd like to head down to NYC, maybe even do the Loop someday.

I'm thinking the Tomcat or the 25 Classic or Venture 26. Next month I'll be in Fla. and am planning to check them out at 3 Rivers. I'm guessing the cat would take the chop the best, but one of the v-hulls would be easier to haul & get better mileage.

Any thoughts greatly appreciated!

 

[thataway]

Your thoughts are exactly correct. Going into the chop, the Tom Cat 255, then the Venture and finally the C Dory 25 would be the procession of best ride down. Same with the fuel consumption. (However fuel consumption is actually a minor amount of boat ownership costs for most people).

We would be lucky to get 2 mph in the Tom Cat, and averaged a little over 3 mph in the C Dory 25 in AK, the only trip I kept very accurate records on. There are other issues--such as some under the wing deck slap if there is a chop at anchor on the Tom Cat.

Room Wise--again, the Tom Cat, has a much bigger bunk than the others--and there are options in sleeping positions. (With a cushion in the foot well in front of the navigator seat, you can sleep fore and aft, leaving room for another person or two to sleep athwart-ship.

One of the Venture 26's made a number of runs from San Francisco to Catalina and back. This is a run which many very seaworthy boats are never able to make. Most boats have to watch their weather--as did the c Dory.

There are other factors--and I for one prefer a non lined interior--I believe that all of the boats now can be purchased with a lined interior.

Try and get a ride in each type. Come on down to Hontoon in March and see them all! Maybe get a ride--and talk to owners. There are other boats such as the Ranger line (now in outboard versions) and Rosborough 246. However, those of here think the C Dory is the best of the lot!

Also read Pat and Patty Anderson's blog on the Great Loop in a C Dory 25: Here.

 

[Charlie O]

Thank you for the excellent input. When I actually see the boats for the first time next month I think that will help me decide.

Leaning towards the cat; there is 1-3 ft. chop on the lake a lot of the time, the Formula takes this pretty well but I'm thinking the Tomcat might be even better.

 

[ken35216]

Thank you for the excellent input. When I actually see the boats for the first time next month I think that will help me decide.

Leaning towards the cat; there is 1-3 ft. chop on the lake a lot of the time, the Formula takes this pretty well but I'm thinking the Tomcat might be even better.

How big of a truck do you have?

I looked at the TC but decided on the 25 Cruiser as I already had a 2500 GMC (one ton better on the TC I've been told) and I would have also had to have a special frame built at the high and dry where I keep my boat. To me the 25 Cruiser looks a little "shippier" too which I like (that is a personal preference).

 

[gulfcoast john]

Hi Charlie!
Agree with Bob that you should count on under 2mpg with the TC255 (or the Sundancer 260 or my prior Regal 2665), and that for your purposes boat gas mileage is not important compared to the other costs of ownership. It holds 150g, which is 900lbs, which you DO feel in a 26 ft boat. That lasted us over 12 months of our cruising to spots 3-12 miles away between Key West and home port Pensacola.
We found the TC255 is our perfect boat. We were looking for an expedition-quality cat trailer boat (defined as you can haul it anywhere in the continent 24/7 without a over-wide or other permit) with a standard production truck and non-custom gooseneck trailer. That means a beam under 8.5", wgt with trailer <14K, hgt on trlr <13.5, and some other engineering compromises.
We don't accept a 'head by the bed' which eliminates all other trailerable cats (most made for fisherpersons). The level pilothouse design allows 360 Degree views out Diamond Sea Glaze windows (not on the SeaRay or Regal).
It has a cockpit as big as the Ranger Tug 27 but only 1 inch off the water, which is heavenly but yes some wave slap if you're not in a marina. (Ref 'engineering compromises' above). Note to self: many families who spend over $240,000 on a new 255 and EOH Float-On Trailer ($10,000) and lux truck do NOT spend all that many nights anchoring out in nasty windy conditions because they spasm over spending $78 for a nice comfortable calm marina with hot showers and a hot tub with Happy Hour drinks at the Tiki Hut. Go figure).
That said, our $68,000 2005 GMC2500HD turbodiesel (with Allison commercial transmission and #20,000 park prawl) with 71,000 miles is now only worth $16,000 per NADA, but pulls our 11,000# load more happily than an Alaskan sled dog while getting 11.3 MPG at 60MPH, to counter my friend Ken.
I agree, come to the Hontoon Gathering and stay on land at one of many options to see and talk to real owners of each of these boats you may be interested in (this year 2 TC 255, mine at 5 years of ownership and BTDT coming from Oklahoma).
If we spent 4 weeks on this 26 foot boat happily in Key West at $43/night then you can too!!
Happy Shopping!
I admit that as an avid C-Brat, I readily concur that you can have just as much fun, or even more fun, on a smaller, cheaper C-Dory. Especially if you don't go out in condidtions in which none of us should go out anyway!
Cheers!
John