Larry, Thanks for the info. I have tested 26' Glacier Bay, Twin-Vee and World Cat. Next test is Tom Cat and Aussie-Cat. I need a good stable, economical and reliable boat 24' to 28' for CGAUX Patrols. Tom Cat style seems to be more like what I am looking for. I too am not a fisherman. -----Original Message----- From: l larsen [mailto:larry3285@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, March 08, 2005 12:58 PM To: Power Catamaran List Subject: [PCW] C-Dory Products --- "Vozzella, Ed" <EVozzella@CMAL.com> wrote: > Hello Larry, > How do you like your C-Dory? I have been reading > about the Tom Cat by C-Dory > and would like your comments about the quality of > C-Dory. > Thanks, > Ed V. > Hi Ed, Of course my C-Dory is a monohull so my comments are a little off topic for a catamaran list but as you pointed out, they also make power catamarans so you may be able to learn something about the quality of their catamaran by looking at the quality of the other products they make. I bought the C-Dory new about six years ago and at that time met another owner who had both a C-Dory (22) and the Tom Cat. He was pleased with the cat and the company. Now I guess they have changed the Tom Cat and I have not heard anything about the newer boat. The C-Dory's have a very vocal and loyal following. Check out the following sites: http://www.c-brats.com/ http://groups.msn.com/CDoryOwnersGroup http://www.geocities.com/bill_fiero/rideau.htm I wanted a very shallow draft boat that would let me get back into the numerous shallow bays in SW Florida. I also wanted to explore the rivers in the area. I am more of a cruiser than a fisherman so instead of the normal flats fishing boat common here I wanted a boat with a cabin so I could get out of the sun and rain if the weather turned nasty. Essentially, I wanted a flats boat with a cabin. The C-Dory has satisfied that need. It is extremely light (balsa cored) so my two small 40 hp Honda outboards cruise it nicely at speeds in the low 20's knot range. I have run hard aground at least twice on oyster bars (softer that rocks but harder than sand) at full speed without damaging the boat. All of the windows, hatches, and doors still work and don't leak. I keep the boat on a lift and it is exposed to Florida sun and weather year around. It took a direct hit from Hurricane Charley (145 MPH sustained -gusts to 170) last summer without damage. It was tied down on my boat lift with ropes at all four corners which, was good because otherwise it would have become an airplane. I had trouble with water spray getting into the fuel tanks through the fuel vents but solved the problem by installing vents with a large inverted "U" shaped tube so the water spray wouldn't make it to the top of the "U". The blue fiberglass trim gel coat shows weathering even though I have it waxed twice a year. I believe the boat should be stored on a trailer or on a boat lift and not be left floating in the water for a number of years because I suspect that eventually the balsa cored bottom would absorb water. I have no facts to back this up, just my cautious suspicion. The boat has been described as a sort of Jeep for the water and I think that is an apt description - rugged, and simple with no frills. With the flat bottom, when you are bashing through a chop the boat takes quite a pounding and after 6 years (and over 600 hours) it is not coming apart. The boat seems to be seaworthy. I've punched the bow through green water several times and it handles the waves fine bow on but I suspect that a large wave over the stern with the cabin door open would mean serious trouble. I think the company makes good quality, tough seaworthy boats. As a side note, the small power catamaran of choice around here judging by what I see in the marina, is by far the Glacier Bay cats. Larry Larsen Endeaver 38 TrawlerCat Sitara (means Star) C-Dory 22 Star-Lite __________________________________ Celebrate Yahoo!'s 10th Birthday! Yahoo! Netrospective: 100 Moments of the Web http://birthday.yahoo.com/netrospective/ _______________________________________________ Power-Catamaran Mailing List

>Ed Vozella wrote: >I have tested 26' Glacier Bay, Twin-Vee and World Cat. Next test is >Tom Cat and Aussie-Cat. I need a good stable, economical and >reliable boat 24' to 28' for CGAUX Patrols. Tom Cat style seems to >be more like what I am looking for. What were your impressions, Ed, of the makes you've tested so far? --Georgs