Today is the happiest day in my boating life

[DavidM]

Well, you know the old adage so I won't repeat it, but I am now boatless. Our Mainship Pilot 34 was sold today to a nice couple in Warwick, RI. I wish them their share of happiness from this transaction and will encourage them to join TF so that they can share their experiences and benefit from the tremendous knowledge on this forum.

Having bought a nice condo here in Punta Gorda, Fl that we will use half of the year, I am still debating buying a small trailerable pocket cruiser to use for short overnight trips down here. I was interested in the C-Dory 22 but my interest has waned a bit, so who knows if and what I will buy.

It needs to be light enough to be easily trailerable so I can pull it out of the water and store it on land during hurricane season when we are up north. But, small, light and comfortable don't really go together, so I am still thinking. Plus I don't want to put much money into one, maybe $25K. The C-Dory 22 hits two out of three criteria.

So stay tuned.

But I will continue to follow this forum and offer my advice and comments where I think I can contribute.

David

 

[Shrew]

Congratuladolences

 

[MurrayM]

Why not build your dream boat in front of your condo...I'm sure the neighbours won't mind a bit

Thanks for sticking around...your advice is always solid!

Murray

 

[Pack Mule]

Congratulations David.

 

[Bob Cofer]

Congrats, I feel your pain. Ebbtide goes to her new home on Sunday. Most definitely not going to be a happy day!

 

[Donsan]

How about a Nimble Nomad?

I found this yesterday on CL and thought it was interesting. It is in Deleon Springs FL.

https://daytona.craigslist.org/boa/d/nimble-nomad-trawler/6573362579.html

Here is another one in Northport which should be close to Punta Gorda.

https://jacksonville.craigslist.org/boa/d/nimble-nomad/6569667232.html

 

[DavidM]

How about a Nimble Nomad?

Gawd they are ugly!! I could live with one, but my wife would puke.

David

 

[Lou_tribal]

Congratulations David! And yes please keep following TF and provide advices your comment are always welcomed and valuable!

L

 

[cardude01]

Congrats! Maybe we will cruise by the condo this summer and say hey.

If I was in your shoes I would get something fairly fast with an updated outboard so you could cover more water and get places. Like this maybe? Cabin might not be big enough however.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/d/century-walkaround-2017/6577740820.html

 

[O C Diver]

Congratulations on the sale!

Ted

 

[RT Firefly]

 

[BaltimoreLurker]

It needs to be light enough to be easily trailerable so I can pull it out of the water and store it on land during hurricane season when we are up north. But, small, light and comfortable don't really go together, so I am still thinking. Plus I don't want to put much money into one, maybe $25K. The C-Dory 22 hits two out of three criteria.
David

Definitely keep us informed of your search. I'm in the same situation. I like the looks of the C-Dory 22 Angler and the Parker 25 Sport Cabin. I've had an opportunity to get on the Parker, but not the C-Dory.

After a number of years with Moon Dance, a MT 34, I now understand how I'll use the boat. We spent almost all the time aboard taking leisurely cruises of the local rivers, going to waterfront restaurants, watching airshows, etc. Not for any overnight stays, it's too much like camping for me. I'll dock at a waterfront hotel if I want to travel overnight. So I need a sizeable cockpit more than living accommodations. But I do want a small cabin and an enclosed head for the ladies.

The Parker will work for cockpit size, but, it may be a bit heavy for my Ranger pickup to tow. I'm not sure if the C-Dory 22 has enough comfortable cockpit space for a few chairs, a table, etc. Reading the specs on-line can be deceiving. I need to be on the boat to see how it feels to me.

 

[DavidM]

Congrats! Maybe we will cruise by the condo this summer and say hey.

If I was in your shoes I would get something fairly fast with an updated outboard so you could cover more water and get places. Like this maybe? Cabin might not be big enough however.

https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/boa/d/century-walkaround-2017/6577740820.html

I did look at a Trophy walk around recently. It had about the same V-berth size as the C-Dory but just didn't look salty enough for me and like the Century had only two cabin seats, no galley or dinette. The C-Dory 22 has a minimal (well really minimal V-berth) but a decent size enclosed cabin and a small cockpit aft. To BaltimoreLurker's point the cockpit is only big enough for one folding chair, not two and a table.

The C-Dory 25 hits all of the criteria but is more expensive than what I want to pay and I can't tow it with our SUV.

Both the C-Dory 22 and 25 are fast with a fairly shallow planing hull and will easily do 20 kts. That is important as I wan't to be able to get down Charlotte Harbor to the nice anchorages near Boca Grande pass in a few hours. That is another reason why the Nimble Nomad doesn't work.

Give me a PM shout if you are in the area. We have an empty slip just sitting outside our lanai.

David

 

[menzies]

Dammit, haven't you northerners been told that Florida is full?

 

[TomandJeri]

I'm not sure if the C-Dory 22 has enough comfortable cockpit space for a few chairs, a table, etc. Reading the specs on-line can be deceiving. I need to be on the boat to see how it feels to me.

I didn't see this mentioned (sorry if I missed it), but there are two C-Dory 22's - the Angler, and the Cruiser. And obviously, the Angler has the same hull, but shorter cabin and therefore larger cockpit. Enough cabin to get out of the rain and use the head, but small otherwise.

I was looking into C-Dory boats at one time, to make the jump from sailing, but it's time to get away from trailer boats and back into bigger boats, sail or power, but very heavily leaning toward power at this stage of life.

 

[BaltimoreLurker]

I didn't see this mentioned (sorry if I missed it), but there are two C-Dory 22's - the Angler, and the Cruiser. And obviously, the Angler has the same hull, but shorter cabin and therefore larger cockpit. Enough cabin to get out of the rain and use the head, but small otherwise.

I was looking into C-Dory boats at one time, to make the jump from sailing, but it's time to get away from trailer boats and back into bigger boats, sail or power, but very heavily leaning toward power at this stage of life.

Oh, it would definitely have to be the C-Dory Angler, not the Cruiser. According to David, it sound like it's going to be too small for what I want. Bummer. It would be easy to tow with my truck and less pricey than a Parker 25. I wish there was a C-Dory 25 Angler!

 

[Wayfarer]

Congratuladolences

+1

 

[Moonstruck]

David, please let us follow along on your decision. I would hate to see you get out of boating. Your Pilot 34 single screw was a perfect boat for the SW Florida cruising area. I know because I had one, and miss it today. I hope to see you have another happy day when you buy your next boat.

 

[dhays]

But I will continue to follow this forum and offer my advice and comments where I think I can contribute.

Congratulations on the sale David.

And THANK YOU for all that you contribute to TF. For those with even a modicum of knowledge about engines it is probably hard to fully understand how much an ignorant person, such as myself, benefits from your participation.

 

[Bacchus]

David
Congrats on the sale and plans for the next stage.
Always appreciated your insights here on TF.
We have been spending Mar at a motorhome resort on the Myakka in Port Charlotte.

Have you looked at Rosboroughs?
Haven't been aboard one but swapped info & pics w a fellow boater cruising the NE. They look interesting for a small cruiser.

Please at least check in at TF periodically.

 

[healhustler]

Yeah don’t go anywhere, David. Just get yourself another something that floats and put a mast on it. I could see you in one of these. Congrats, BTW.

 

[DavidM]

"Have you looked at Rosboroughs?"

Yes I have. The older diesel models are too heavy to tow with our SUV and the newer outboard powered models are too expensive.

" Your Pilot 34 single screw was a perfect boat for the SW Florida cruising area."

I agree, but the Pilot just got to be too much of a pain to maintain and I always said if I couldn't do it myself I would sell it, so I sold it.

The C-Dorys are vary simple. Just an outboard, starting battery and a few helm instruments. No potable water, head, genset, A/C... to go wrong.

But flash!!! I am now seriously considering a C-Dory 16 that is for sale up in the Florida panhandle. I got to thinking that since my wife won't go out with me overnight anyway (another story) and I wouldn't go out that many times by myself, why not get the smallest C-Dory. I do love the looks of these boats.

Most of our use will be day cruises down the bay somewhere for lunch with an occasional overnighter with me only. Overnighting will be like very rustic camping, but I can live with that.

It has a very truncated pilot house with no back, so it is wide open to the cockpit but you do have protection from sun and spray. The v-berth is probably only big enough for one person sleeping diagonally but that is ok. There is no galley and no head but hey all I want to do is grill a steak on the aft cockpit for dinner and I can pee overboard and hold the other until I get back the next morning (y'all didn't want to hear about that I know).

I may drive up to look at one next week. Here is a pic of a sister ship:

David

 

[Lou_tribal]

"Have you looked at Rosboroughs?"

Yes I have. The older diesel models are too heavy to tow with our SUV and the newer outboard powered models are too expensive.

But flash!!! I am now seriously considering a C-Dory 16 that is for sale up in the Florida panhandle. I got to thinking that since my wife won't go out with me overnight anyway (another story) and I wouldn't go out that many times by myself, why not get the smallest C-Dory. I do love the looks of these boats.

Most of our use will be day cruises down the bay somewhere for lunch with an occasional overnighter with me only. Overnighting will be like very rustic camping, but I can live with that.

It has a very truncated pilot house with no back, so it is wide open to the cockpit but you do have protection from sun and spray. The v-berth is probably only big enough for one person sleeping diagonally but that is ok. There is no galley and no head but hey all I want to do is grill a steak on the aft cockpit for dinner and I can pee overboard and hold the other until I get back the next morning (y'all didn't want to hear about that I know).

I may drive up to look at one next week. Here is a pic of a sister ship:

David

Another option is to bring that aboard with you:

L.

 

[DavidM]

Lou: What do you call those? I will order one on Amazon right now if you can tell me what they are called.

David

 

[Lou_tribal]

Lou: What do you call those? I will order one on Amazon right now if you can tell me what they are called.

David

In french this is called "Pot de Chambre", litteral traduction would be a chamber (bedroom) pot?



L

 

[jleonard]

Lou: What do you call those? I will order one on Amazon right now if you can tell me what they are called.

David

A Homer bucket? LOL

Hey David congrats.

 

[LaBomba]

Congrats David. It is always a relief when a decision has been made and things go as planned. Always enjoyed your posts, hope to see more.

 

[RT Firefly]

Greetings,
Re: Chamber pot. Also known as a Thunder Mug....

 

[Bacchus]

I will always remember the young lad that was touring a nicely equiped cruiser commented....
Grampas boat has a head... he calls it a bucket!

 

[smitty477]

"Have you looked at Rosboroughs?"

Yes I have. The older diesel models are too heavy to tow with our SUV and the newer outboard powered models are too expensive.

" Your Pilot 34 single screw was a perfect boat for the SW Florida cruising area."

I agree, but the Pilot just got to be too much of a pain to maintain and I always said if I couldn't do it myself I would sell it, so I sold it.

The C-Dorys are vary simple. Just an outboard, starting battery and a few helm instruments. No potable water, head, genset, A/C... to go wrong.

But flash!!! I am now seriously considering a C-Dory 16 that is for sale up in the Florida panhandle. I got to thinking that since my wife won't go out with me overnight anyway (another story) and I wouldn't go out that many times by myself, why not get the smallest C-Dory. I do love the looks of these boats.

Most of our use will be day cruises down the bay somewhere for lunch with an occasional overnighter with me only. Overnighting will be like very rustic camping, but I can live with that.

It has a very truncated pilot house with no back, so it is wide open to the cockpit but you do have protection from sun and spray. The v-berth is probably only big enough for one person sleeping diagonally but that is ok. There is no galley and no head but hey all I want to do is grill a steak on the aft cockpit for dinner and I can pee overboard and hold the other until I get back the next morning (y'all didn't want to hear about that I know).

I may drive up to look at one next week. Here is a pic of a sister ship:

David

Due mostly to your posts I have been looking at C-dorys and similar style boats. We have recently been looking at 29' SeaSwirls and similar boats and they may be the ticket for us anyway.