Which is better: 22' cruiser or 25' cruiser?

Bigger is generally more comfortable and thus more fun, I say go for it!

Ha ha, seriously though, what are you upgrading from? What are you looking for in a boat? Where do you plan to do most of your cruising?

The C-25 will require a vehicle that can tow about 8000lbs. Some are much heavier depending upon how they are loaded, galvanized vs. aluminum trailer, etc. Some will be lighter as I recall from previous posts.

You will find freakishly experienced boat builders and owners here, much more than casual owners. A little more info from you will help with the advice.
 
MY WIFE AND I HAD JUST SOLD A 2000 CARVER 356, 41' LOA. LOST $45,000. AND THIS WAS AFTER SELLING A 312 SILVERTON, WHICH WE LOST ON AS WELL. SO, WHEN IT CAME TIME TO PURCHASE ANOTHER BOAT WE SET A LIMIT AND THAT WAS IT. THE 25' CD WAS MORE THAN THAT LIMIT, SO THE 22' WAS PURCHASED. IN RETROSPECT, WE SHOULD HAVE PURCHASED THE 25'. AND THAT IS MY RECOMMENDATION, BUY THE 25'.
GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR DECISION.
PAT
 
Spend some time on both models and then decide. There is no such thing as "better". Only what's good for you. Sometimes people wind up using their boat in ways they didn't anticipate when they bought their first one. Other's already have a good idea of how they will use their boat and know which model fits their needs. You would need to provide more info for anyone to really give you a recommendation.
 
We owned a 22 for four years. The light weight make it very easy to tow. We found that it was a little too cramped for us in the V berth and with bad backs difficult to get into the bunk. The little more room in the 25 made all of the difference in the world. The other pluses were the foreward facing navigator seat and the enclosed head. For us, the 25 fits our needs better. If you want speed and a better ride, then consider the Tom Cat.
 
Wow, Dave, 2 posts on this list and you've manged to hit almost every HOT BOTTON! :mrgreen: Congratulations, that is a new world record! :twisted:

Kidding aside, welcome aboard. Most of us had those same questions as you (what boat should I buy and how many motors should I put on it???). Here's my take: most folks will suggest you buy what they bought, 'cause they know it suits their situation. We don't know your situation, though. Spend some time going through the archives here and you will see COUNTLESS posts on the two topics you asked about... really, you will be able to read for hours... and you still won't have a definitive answer. 'Cause in reality, the right boat and twins vs single will depend on you. You can make any combination of those two work (many here are living proof of that). How's that for a CAN'T LOSE situation? :D

So, my advice to you is: don't buy either until you know a bit more about what you will do with the boat. Many of us agonized with these very questions for months. :wink: And in the end, we bought the boat that is right for the way we use it... or perhaps we use in a way that works good with the boat? I hope you're getting my drift... spend some time here; go to a gathering. The Seattle Boat Show is a great opportunity to see both boats and talk to LOTS of owners face-to-face. We flew in for it two years ago just to do that and came home as the happy owners of a scheduled-to-be-made boat.

Good luck with your decisions. It's part of the fun. Really. OK, cruising on the boat is WAY more fun. :wink

Best wishes,
Jim B (CD-25 with a single Honda... and darn happy with that decision for the way we use our boat)

PS - Speaking of "hot button", perhaps the question would be better presented as "which boat would better fit our needs" instead of "which is better"? 8) Oh, and what's up with your profile? It implies you already have a 2008 CD-25. Or, is that an aspiration?
 
The answer to this question is absolutely clear - the 22 is better. Why? Because that's what I have. If I had a 25, I'd tell you that was better. Ditto for the Tomcat. However, as others have already stated, the 22 is better for ME because it better suited my needs, my budget and my tow vehicle. If money was no option AND I already had a bigger truck AND I had a larger parking spot and/or more $'s for moorage, the 25 or the TomCat would better fit my needs and hence would be the better boat. But, alas, reality creeps in and the 22' is better for me, now. If you ask in two years, you might get a different answer. If I win the mega millions on Tues, you'll definitely get a different answer! :wink:

By the way, once you get the answer to the single vs. twin question, don't forget to ask about props. Dogon Dan has been busy today with fish science but I'm sure he'd LOVE to talk about props instead. :lol:
 
Whew! This time it is some OTHER Pat on the hot seat to answer Bill's question! I am dummying up here! Or maybe not...we are not sorry we bought the CD25 Daydream, it has more elbow room and more amenities for those extended cruises, we really love it! BUT it is a load to trailer long distances, a little more difficult to launch and retrieve, and a bit less fuel efficient (YMMV). Soooo...the best of all worlds? Get a CD25 for extended cruising AND a CD16 for everything else!


El and Bill":1ujrbgvf said:
Pat - why? Everyone (as Flapbreaker says) has personal reasons for the boat they buy. What are yours?
Click to expand...
 
Dave I have a home in Wilmington and will be there weather permitting sometime next month. If you haven't made a decision by then I'd be glad to give you a ride in my 22. You are in a great cruising area.
 
We went through three 25' express cruisers before buying out 22 footer. Which is better? For me, it's the 22.' Easier to trailer, fun to pilot, and superior mpg.

However, my wife hates not having an enclosed head. I have trouble stretching out my 6 foot frame in the V-berth.

Boating is about compromises.

-Greg
 
If money does not matter, then I'd probably prefer the 25'. But, the 22 takes
a smaller trailer, smaller truck, less fuel and the initial cost is less. Also, we
were not sure how much use we would get out of the boat with our
daughter growing up. Would we end up with $70,000 sitting in the driveway?
So, for us, the 22 was the better choice.

The 22 is also one tough boat. Obviously, the ride of a 25 is going to
be better, but I wonder which boat I would have more confidence in
in rough seas?

Mike
 
Is it another:

Fords vs. Chevys. (I drive a Dodge) or
Smith & Wesson vs. Ruger or
Italian shotguns vs. (uhhh, okay that one didn't work)
Yamaha vs. Honda vs. Suzuki or
blondes, brunettes and redheads.

C.W.
 
It really doesn't matter which boat you get, they're both great. Just make sure you get a Mercury to power it, they're much better than those other engines . . . :mrgreen:
 
hello el and bill,
if your question is why would i recommend the 25 over the 22, the answer is because it offers more square footage and thus comfort as well as shower and marine head. over night outings become more enjoyable, therefore should also occur more often.
the cost difference may only be 25,000 or so, and when spread out over time, probably wouldn't be a financial burden.
for me, i didn't want monthly payments so, i was limited to a cash only offer and thus a 25 was not an option. my boating expectations are less now than ten years ago, so, the 22 is ok, but there are days when i wish i had stepped up to the 25.
best regards
pat
 
Allow me to continue the theme.
When its blowing 20 knots and there is a nasty chop I wish I had the 25, but when I fuel up I'm glad I've got the 22. When there are guests aboard I wish I had an enclosed head (so do the guests) but when the porta potti breaks, I'm glad I have the 22. When I'm unpacking the V berth and moving the gear to the cockpit I wish I had the 25 but when I'm washing and waxing the hull, I'm glad I have the 22.

So far the 22 has taken me everywhere I've wanted to go. The smaller hull adds adventure opportunities as the challenge of piloting a "smaller" hull through choppy or lumpy conditions adds interest to the day.

That's 6 sentences and 130 words to deliver my 2cents.
Mike "Levity"
 
Levity":1p0sea2j said:
When there are guests aboard...
Click to expand...

It's not really that I'm anti-social...but the inability of the 22 to adequately handle guests is a major selling point for some of us. :xnaughty

The best boating buddies, have their own boat. Oh - and it's another 22. :xlol
 
Well... it seems that there are plenty of folks that wish for the ease of the 22 with the room and ride of the 25. I think the 22 is a great boat... after reading about Bill and El's travels with theirs, we went to the Seattle Boat Show with the intent of buying a 22. After looking them both over, Joan said, "The 25." Who am I to argue? 8) We bought a tow vehicle to handle the 25, and we are delighted with that as our daily driver. I can't think of a time that I wish we had the 22 instead of our 25. Our 25 works for us as well as B&E's 22 does for them. If you are comfortable onboard, have the amenities (like fridge, hot pressure water, shower, enclosed head, room in the aisle to pass - and don't think that elbow room isn't a BIG deal when you spend lots of time in the boat) that make the boat feel more like home, it is easy to just keep going. :D Our lifestyle is different, and "minimalist" doesn't work for us. Neither boat is right or wrong - you have to find the right fit. Perhaps it's perspective - we think the 25 is easy to launch/load/trailer/maneuver.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
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