C-Dory vs Cape Cruiser?

[Waterfish]

I am saving for a new 22' C-Dory Cruiser - I have lots of saving to do so I won't start to become a Salty Dog for several years. In the October 6-20 issue (pg 39) of Fishing & Hunting News there is a ad for a boat that looks very similar to the C-Dory; the Cape Cruiser, built in Kent, Washington. Does anyone know how these compare (price-performance-build quality-cost) to C-Dorys?

[tomictime]

I think these are off the Toland molds, which was a guy if memory serves right started or worked at C-Cory in early days - design in public domain now - Cape cruiser located in C-Dorys old plant on Pac Hwy when CD moved to Auburn

I looked at a Toland at DesMoines marine some years ago and thought it had better details than CD but it was more expensive. Also IMHO, the CD will have much better resale.

have fun, looking can be more fun than owning... %^%$#@!!!

[tomictime]

yep do a google search w cape cruiser tolan kent wa and you will get what you need.

BTW, most of the on-water photos are of my home harbor in USA :smile:

Jim

[Mr. Fisherman]

There is also considerable information on the C-Brats web site. www.c-brats.com

I hope this helps.
They look like a fine boat ans will be on display at the Seattle Boat show. If you are looking at a C-Dory you should stop by the C-Brats and check us out.

[flapbreaker]

You might consider going to the Seattle boat show in January as both boat manufactureres will be there. I believe the prices are similar. I have heard that the cape cruiser is about 1000 lbs heavier so if towing is an issue that might be a deal breaker. If no the cape cruiser has it's own unique features that may or may not appeal. Your best bet is to climb all over both models and ask lots of questions so you can get a feel for them and which one would work for you.

[wilbur1]

I did a fair amount of research on C-Dorys vrs Olympic, Skgit, Trophys, et al., and determined that Olympic, Skgit, et al are out of my price range. What convinced me was to talk with a person who had at present a C-Dory, as I recall a 20', and also a 21" Arima, and the Arima far excelled in ocean due to hull design. He had hjis CD for sale on boattraders. The C-Dory is too flat midway and back. I did buy a new 21' HT Arima, though I found at least 3 listed in Oregon or Washington for less money; however, all had poor choices of motors, and the one with a good motor had only 5 hours on it, but asking price was about $3,000 more than I paid for a new one. From my research, the CD is great for the bay or lake, but it is not excellent for going over the bar or in medium rough ocean.The Arima 21' Sea Ranger HT is a hidden jewel. It is impossible (I have read) to sink one. Anyway, that's my 3 cent s worth.

[flapbreaker]

I did a fair amount of research on C-Dorys vrs Olympic, Skgit, Trophys, et al., and determined that Olympic, Skgit, et al are out of my price range. What convinced me was to talk with a person who had at present a C-Dory, as I recall a 20', and also a 21" Arima, and the Arima far excelled in ocean due to hull design. He had hjis CD for sale on boattraders. The C-Dory is too flat midway and back. I did buy a new 21' HT Arima, though I found at least 3 listed in Oregon or Washington for less money; however, all had poor choices of motors, and the one with a good motor had only 5 hours on it, but asking price was about $3,000 more than I paid for a new one. From my research, the CD is great for the bay or lake, but it is not excellent for going over the bar or in medium rough ocean.The Arima 21' Sea Ranger HT is a hidden jewel. It is impossible (I have read) to sink one. Anyway, that's my 3 cent s worth.

Now now now don't be dissin the C-dory. They were made for rought water. Your just not going to blow through the waves like a deep V will but on really bad days when the deep V's can't stay on plane the C-dory holds it's own. The Arima actually has a flat bottom as well. I've spent a lot of time on one and let me tell you they can pound in the chop as well. So far I love my c-dory. I still need to get it in some big stuff. Anyway I just had to defend the c-dory. There are other members that will attest to their ocean abilities. THere is no "right" hull design. It all boils down to what a person is looking for and what's "right" for them.

[Waterfish]

I am not speaking from experience because I have none with either C-Dorys or Arimas. But from the homework I have done and speaking with owners of both brands, I have narrowed it down to the C-Dory. Contrary to what you are saying about the C-Dory's hull design, others I have talked to say that it excells in the ocean because of its hull design. The C-Dory brochure I have claims the 22' cruiser is the only boat of this size that will plane at only 10 mph (because of the hull design). And because of this, it can stay on plane in rough seas when other boats have to slow down below their planing speed. This is another reason why C-Dorys get such good gas mileage. Yet another reason they get good gas mileage is because the hull design allows for much lower horsepower engines than similar sized boats. If I remember right, a 22' cruiser is rated for about 100 hp maximum. A similar sized Arima would need 225 hp or more (and corresponding higher fuel consumption).

I prefered the cabin space lay-out in C-Dorys much better than the Arima. There was more usable space, and more head room. The 23' Arima Sea Ranger hardtop I looked at was more cramped, and the only way to get more head room was to take panels out of the floor, so you would be walking in trough. Very strange. One option you can order with a C-Dory is a cabin with 6'4" of head room. I would need that since I am 6'2" and the standard C-Dory only has about 6' of headroom.

I hope some C-Dory owners post some replies here. How does it perform in the ocean compared to deep V hulls? I have heard people bash the C-Dory hull design before (the flat hull causes it to pound in rough seas, the hull is too flat, etc, etc), while others praise it. Unless I am convinced that the hull design has some major disadvantages, when the time comes my choice will be a C-Dory.

[flapbreaker]

Waterfish,

I have a c-dory (2006 model so I haven't got it in the ocean yet) and Mr. fisherman above has a c-dory. He has quite a bit of ocean experience with his. He's been out Tuna fishing in it. The main thing to consider is that the c-dory's comfortable cruising speed is probably aroun 15-18 knots where as the deep V guys might let there's fly at 25-30 knot's. So it might just take a little longer to reach the fishing grounds. But as you have already found out there isn't anything out there that can touch the low operating costs in a boat this size. The C-dory is just that efficient. Gas prices are driving me crazy and it's nice to know that 4 or 5 gallons of gas will actually get me somewhere (approx 16-25 miles depending). Not to mention they're not a pig to pull around so there's savings on the tow rig fuel as well. I'm not knocking other brands, just pointing out the positive's of the c-dory line.

[Lowranger]

I hope some C-Dory owners post some replies here

Since you asked, here goes. Define your mission. The C-Dory hull is a two-edged sword. It goes slow real good. It goes fast real bad. That said, I take my 22' Cruiser over the Columbia and Tillamook bars all the time in comfort and safety. Close the door, turn on the furnace and enjoy a warm quit ride to the outside. In 16 years I've never once worn a coat on the boat. She weighs 3500# and only runs a 70 Johnson. She planes @ 9-10 with no bow-rise at all. Top speed about 25 mph. Typical cruise 12 - 20. As it gets rougher I just back down on the throttles. This summer I spent three weeks fishing/cruising/anchoring out between Olympia and the San Juans. Extended trips are why I selected it. However, even though I love my boat I know that others would hate it. Too damn slow! That doesn't make them wrong. They just have a different mission. Go to the boat shows and crawl over all the contenders. Then take a ride in the finalists.

[TyBoo]

The C-Dory is too flat midway and back.

It is built similar to a true dory. You know, the boats they launch on the beach and take through the surf.

...it is not excellent for going over the bar or in medium rough ocean

I had a CD22 and now have a CD25. Both boats have taken me across the CR bar, and I feel more comfortable out there in a C-Dory than any comparable size deep-v that I know of. That includes the go-fast guys, the Sea Sport genre, and anything aluminum. But, like the guy in the previous post, I am not in a big hurry. The neat thing about the CD hull is the control it maintains at low speeds. In slop that slows all 20 some foot boats down (expect that Key West out of Hammond), you'll generally see the flatter stern hulls like CD and Arima faring much better than the heavier, rocking and rolling deep vees.

The C-Dory is not for everyone, but for those of us whom it does fit, it is ideal. Both of the little CD fishing boats I have had also served well for two week stay aboard vacations in the SJ Islands, and bunches of weekend trips on the CR. Boaterhomes, we call them. The CD22 you can tow safely and easily with a half ton pickup, and the CD25 is known as a "trailerable trawler". The CD25 is considerably heavier (and needs 130 hp instead of 70 hp), but the last few boat camping trips we took with ours had two adults, two kids and two dogs living inside - comfortably.

Every boat is a compromise. You want fast and fishy, get what Dean has. You want slower fishy with offshore comfort, get what Mr. F has. You want more comfort and less fishy, get what I have. You want what is probably the best combination comfort/fishy on the market, get what Flap has. You want it all together, get a lot more money and something big to tow it with.

I haven't seen the Cape Cruiser yet, but have heard just about everything said publically about it. It is a little more nicely appointed than the CD, is heavier, and has about 3º more dead rise in the stern. More compromises, but designed to better serve the folks it is designed for. The CC is being built by the former owners of, and a couple key shop personel from, the C-Dory plant (verified fact). It is about as close to a copy of the C-Dory 22 hull as they can get without hiring a bunch more lawyers (my opinion, not necessarily fact). It is a very nice boat, and should be considered if you are looking for something more pretty inside the cabin than the sparsely appointed C-Dory.

But don't buy a boat because it is the best fit for me; and don't not buy a boat because someone with little or no experience on that particular hull says it is a dog. The best advice is in the previous post. Look over the contenders, and ride on the finalists.

[KeyWest]

Well said Mike!

[My Limit]

When did Arima start making the 23? : )

[sixpak]

I take my CD16 cruiser model offshore all the time you just have to go slow when the wind blows and your going into it. When I am running down hill it goes through the chop pretty well. I have taken a few over the top and most of the water goes off the sides of the top. I have never had to use the bilge pump yet. A CD22 you should have no problem in rough seas. Just take your time. Can't beat the gas mileage! Sixpak

[ArimaRees]

tThe C-dorys are great boats, so are the arima's. I have the 22ft sealegend hard top . The 23...I was going to make something up... yes they are 1ft greater

[BigWaterBigFish]

Saw the Cape Cruiser at the Seattle Boats Afloat Show last month and was impressed. Did some research and what other posts state is corrected, Tolman design, fit and finish a little nicer than C-Dory, certainly alot more fit and finish interior than Armia's, did not discuss price. My companion thought it was nicer than some of the fishing boats I hade been locking at to replace my Striper and would feel comfortable inside/outside in it. Her vote is starting to count more than I would like to admit. My intention is to do as noted above and see both at the Seattle Boat Show side by side. Construction for Cape Cruiser apprears to be similar to Arima and C-Dory, handlaid fiberglass, fiberglass encased balsa.
The young guy at the show was very knowledgable and polite, did not diss other boats, rather spoke of the design differences and personal experience in the Puget Sound in the boat.