Re: Over Nighting/Weekending - Looking for Input
Hi Folks,
My wife and I are looking to purchase a "new to us" boat. Budget: $25K-$30K, Length: 20ft-25ft (trailerable). We are looking to use it on the OCMD Bay, Chesapeake Bay and various lakes and rivers in PA (maybe tow to the Keys one day??). We are somewhat new to boating but have owned a pontoon in the past.
We are considering something with a cuddy/sleeping quarters to cut down on lodging expenses and because it sounds like fun.
So our question is, considering all the above – Will it be as much fun as we are thinking?
From the reading we have done, 20ft-25ft might be on the small side for a cuddy? How easy is it to find a slip/dock to spend the nights? What else should we be thinking about? Last one, and my wife’s favorite, “What do you do in case of a storm/lightning storm?”
Any input, stories, theories, etc… are welcome and needed.
Thanks!!
Depends on what you think is "fun".
I would look at C-Dory boats (I have one). We use it on the bay and the Potomac River (so far). In comparison to a newer style cuddy cruiser (e.g. Bayliner), the C-Dory has a more square cabin profile. This provides a lot more interior space in the cabin. The C-Dory cabin has lots of windows and is not the cave that a lot of cuddy cabins are. The 22 cruiser provides plenty of room inside for 2 adults to move around without getting in each other's way. The 25 cruiser has a dedicated head and larger cabin.
On both the 22 and the 25 cruiser the berth is separate from the main cabin. This means you don't have to convert the cabin from day use to night use (e.g. turn the dining table into the bed, although you can do that for an extra berth). The forward berth on the C-Dory has kind of a low overhead and getting in and out requires a certain dexterity. However, once you are in, there is plenty of room for normal sized adults (just don't sit up suddenly).
The cruiser version usually includes a stove, sink, water tank, and porta-potty.
The C-Dory boats are outboards with usually 90 Hp on the 22 and 150 on the 25. Some have twin engines. These boats will go a little above 30mph at WOT and cruise nicely in the low 20s. For a boat that size it was quite good on gas. I can go a little over 180 miles on a full load of gas (46 gallons) while cruising at ~20 miles/hour. The C-Dory hull is quite sharp at the front but gets pretty flat at the back. This makes it plane quickly (and not have much draft). However, it can pound if you take it into to chop at high speed. Using the trim tabs to lower the bow helps quite a lot. If that still is not enough, just slow down. The enclosed cabin will keep you dry in sloppy weather.
The C-Dory operator position is inside. Some people may not care for this, but it saves having either to enclose an outdoor control position with canvas or have dual controls in the case of inclement weather. These boats are designed and built in the PNW and are suited for the typical weather there. We have been out overnight in our boat in April and December. People have cruised these boats from Seattle to AK and back. There is a guy who is cruising a 22 all the way around Vancouver Island right now.
The interior of the cabin is kind of utilitarian. While this may not be as nice as other boats, it reduces the maintenance and upkeep quite a lot. There is little that will suffer if it gets a bit wet and any systems that might need work are easy to access.
A 22 cruiser can be towed by an SUV or minvan (towing weight less than 3500#). The 25 cruiser needs some sort of truck to tow it (~5500#). The C-Dory company also makes the Venture series which is more furnished (and heavier), but they are basically the same boats.
I have not cruised the bay during the busy season, so I don't know about the availability of dock space. The website Activecaptain.com has a lot of information about places to stay, marinas, repairs locations, etc. that is very helpful. In the Ch. Bay area docking runs $2-2.50/ft/night. Sometimes electricity and water is included, sometimes its extra. So, docking will cost about $50 a night for a small cruiser. If you don't want to pay that, there are plenty of places you can anchor out for free (which is what we tend to do). With the small size and draft of the C-Dory, there are plenty of places that we can go that others cannot.
The only issue with a C-Dory is the price. They hold their value quite well. Newer used ones tend to be a bit more than your budget. However, there are some older ones that might be in your price range.
The C-Brats.com website will tell you pretty much all you'll want to know about C-Dorys. They also have a good For Sale section.
P.S. My wife saw the C-Dory first while we were out cruising around looking at boats. She said "That's the one we have to get."
