First the question of why I want 8' 6" or less beam for trailering. We do a lot of interstate traveling. This requires a permit, and some restrictions for each state. Up to 10 feet in most states is a simple permit. Once you get to 12 feet there are a number of a number of restrictions, and requirements, including lead and following cars etc. I currently trailer a boat 9'3" beam--mostly in Florida. There are plenty of rural roads where this is a problem--mostly because of overhanging branches. I have been driving large trucks since a teenager. My current motor home is 8 1/2 feet wide, but has mirrors on each side which reach out an additional 12" each side, so the actual width is over 10 1/2 feet (and legal--but sometimes a pain). Over the last several days I took Marie (the Admiral) to look at the Glacier Bay 2690--she did not like the small pilot house, the head next to the bunk and the crawl over the other person to get into the bunk. We then drove another several hundred miles to Wefings Marine in Eastport, FL (near Apalachacola), who has a Tom Cat 255 and had just put on counter rotating Suziki 150 hp outboards (My understanding is that all of the Honda powered Tom Cat's are right hand turning only). This was Marie's first look at the Tom Cat 255. She liked it much better than the Glacier Bay--and the photos of the various boats we have discussed on this list. The head is 3 x 3 feet on the pilot house level--there is a hanging locker opposite, which will allow a microwave on top, and there is a two burner stove. Also both seats at the dinette will face foreward and allow very comfortable seating--in fact both of us sat in the front port seat with ease. We found that although the berth is oriented athwartships (84" long x 64" )wide, that I (at 6' 2") could easily sleep fore and aft, by using one of the dinette cushions on the floor (same level as the berth). Marie could easily scoot into the bunk, and sleep at a slight angle, and each of use could easily exit the berth without disturbing the other--one of the major problems in most boats we have looked at--considering our bad backs. So the layout of the C Dory wins hands down. Yes, the C Dory is "utilitarian"--but we like this--because wiring is easy to run and trace if there is a problem. The sea conditions were somewhat different than what I had reported on in Calif--the wind was 14 to 18 knots (NOAA), with a fetch of about 10 miles, seas 2 to 3 feet, short chop and some moderate swell. This time the boat was easy to trim (not able to trim the boat in Calif. because of the way controls were set up). The throttles were not synchronized, so it took a little more manual dextarity, but the boat was much easier to control that the much heavier boat in Calif (had a watermaker, 300 lb diving compressor, dive tanks, extra batteries etc). In this boat there was a gradual progression to plane--at 22 mph, at about 3000 RPM/vs 4200 RPM on the Calif. boat. (bigger and higher pitch prop, plus counter rotation). The noise was definately present "slap". I drove the boat at up to 35 mph directly into the waves, and neither of us had back pain (unusual criteria for sea trial), but I think that the ability of being able to trim the boat, and manage the speed more accurately made a big difference. I think we were close to the limit of the boat at high speed directly into 3 foot seas. In seas 40 degrees off the bow, the ride was fine, we were running right along side a 26' Regulator, a deep V (26 degree dead rise-which is acknowleged to be one of the best monohulls in this type of condition). Later on the River, WOT we reached 45 MPH into the 15 knot wind and at least one knot current. (not that we would ever run this fast, but as we put weight in the boat, the extra power is important). We are negotiating price/options at this point--and I think we will accept some of the limitations in ride, for the space and layout. (Got to keep the Admiral happy). Complete with trailer/engines/options and tax the cost is in the $120,000 range for the Tom Cat 255. With 150 gallons of fuel, at 22 to 24 mph it appears that the boat will have a range of at least 300 miles--probably closer to 350 miles with some margin. I wonder about boats which have a total of 70 gallons of fuel being suitable for Alaska trips? I feel that 250 miles is a minum range for good cruising in that area. >From what I have observed with diesels in the hulls of the smaller cats, there is a problem with the weight of the engines, plus room to work on the engine. The single center diesel with an outdrive, helps to solve these problems. However, outdrives should not be run in a tilted position--because of the gimble bearings (U joints have a limit)--and one of our issues is being able to tilt engines up to clear a sand bar which occasionally has only 18" of water over it on the entrance to the bayou where we live. Regards to all. Bob Austin

Bob, Enjoyed your analysis. Have you given any thought to waiting for the new MC 29 footer. The only drawback I can see, given your criteria, is that the head is in the cabin. Other than that, it seems to have better features that the TomCat. Just a thought. -Greg