What Was (Is) Your Top Boat Purchase

flagold

You might think it was our old trawler that we made so many trips and lived on, or the Whalers I chartered for a short time, or maybe the 13 Dauntless we have now - but no - when I think of all I've done: it was this ugly thingie . . .  A C-Dory.  I towed that all through the west and it doubled as an RV.  Camped comfortably at 7000 feet in the teens with its onboard diesel heater while the rest of the campers were outside freezing.  Had numerous adventures with it in many waters.  It will always operate inside "bay boats" and most flats boats as well (see the water line? - if your motor will pump water - that's all the water you need 9" (true) with the difference being you can stay if you want until the food runs out.  So anyway - this ungainly duck was it for me.

C-Dory Boat Buyer's Guide: https://youtu.be/wCIjkHzEEgU

MelbourneMark

Thats a cool looking boat!  I always wondered how it would do crossing to the bahamas?   I have watched videos of a guy who does that with a parker and A/C. 

I guess the dory is more narrow?

gogittum

The C-Dorys are very popular in the northwest.  Lots of them in the Puget Sound area, because they're very seaworthy and comfortable.  Just about un-sinkable in any conditions because of the way it's built. 

That heater you mentioned is very well liked.  I liked them, but was uneasy on board because of the low freeboard.  The coaming (??) is very low and nothing to lean against.  I was used to the very high sides of my ancient (1962) 19 ft. Glastron runabout.

A friend  (82 yrs old) in Alabama has one - 24 ft, I think, with twin motors that he calls "Grumpy" after the grumpy old man who owns it. 😎  He takes it on long river journeys all over the east, camping in it in comfort, just as you do.

This year he even made the trip from Alabama, around Florida and up the east coast to the Washington, D.C. area, then returned via rivers and canals.  Quite a guy.  Quite a boat.

Alex from GA

My favorite was a 16' Astrocraft bass boat with an '85 hp Merc I ran for 18 years several times a week.  The floor had a soft spot so I glued a road sign on it.

GrantS

I am huge fan of the C-Dory! Such a cool looking boat. I am trying to find a C-Dory 25 right now actually for someone but it has been quite the challenge.