Trailer Boats Magazine

A test report by Trailer Boats Magazine.
This report is reproduced here (less images) word for word with out any modifications, additions or alterations.

Publisher Wiley Poole
Editor Jim Hendricks
Subscriptions 1-800-877-525

In this ever-changing world, C-Dory builds boats traditionalists can depend on.

Style dictates most of the changes we see in everything that we buy, from automobiles to toasters and T-shirts. Millions of dollars are spent each year to keep us all slaves to fashion. Most folks resist change for the sake of change. Hopefully, improvements are the motive behind change. But what happens to companies that don’t change? Unless they have something exceptional, they go out of business.

One company, C-Dory, is not slow to change, but you might not recognize changes in style in the boats. Changes and improvements are constantly being made, but traditional quality has remained consistent. Since C-Dory boats are not slaves to fashion, they won’t be out of style next season.

A wide range of C-Dory boats are built from 14’ to 26’. The boat I tested was a 16-footer called the Cruiser model, which is about as small as you can get and still have a V-berth for over-nighting. These boats are built in the Pacific Northwest, where rain is a common companion, so a hardtop is standard and weather protection is outstanding. This hull is also available in an Angler model, which trades, the V-berth for more space in the cockpit.

Much of C-Dory’s appeal comes from its traditional salty styling, but owners also appreciate its basic, rugged construction. The C-Dory hull is a one-piece unit, with no double floor or complicated liner. The hull lay-up consists of several layers of mat and 24 oz roving, followed by 1 ¸" of Balsa Core, for strength and bulk, with additional mat and roving on top. The floor lamination, is more than 2" thick, all hand-laid. The hull sides consist of a similar schedule minus the Balsa Core. Chines and stress areas have additional layers of mat and roving for strength. Fairly simple molds are used for seat structures, and the V-berth area provides space for flotation, storage and additional stiffness. Molded side panels give a hint of a finished look, but frankly detail finish falls short of what I have cone to expect in average vinyl-coated foam padded runabouts. This is not a fault of C-Dory. The interior and detail finish is quite in line with the utilitarian nature of the boat. The C-Dory is far more at home tied-up at the weigh-in scales than at the Yacht club doc.

The cabin is basic. An anchor locker forward is followed by the customary v-berth. A Bomar overhead hatch provides light, air and access to the forward deck. The dashboard on the starboard side, is a simple molded affair, with basic instrumentation and an electrical-control switch panel. The port side is relatively open to the V-berth area and features a foldaway table and companion seat with space for a head below the seat. The C-Dory supplies sleeping and seating accommodations for two. Considering the size of the boat, for extended cruising, any more would really be a crowd. The deck mold features a trunk cabin design that provides abundant headroom in the aft portion of the v-berth area and full standing headroom at the helm. Large windows provide excellent visibility and the boat comes with manually operated windshield wipers as standard equipment. On this particular boat the cabin was open to the cockpit. A canvas bulkhead can be installed to divide the areas and provide more weather protection.

The cockpit features a relatively flat floor, and while not spacious, it is larger than expected on a boat featuring sleeping accommodations and a covered cabin area. There is a substantial amount of free board, a large engine well and storage for batteries and fuel tanks under the engine well.

Gunwales are wide and feature an aggressive nonskid pattern. Stainless steel grab-rails are properly located along the roof to assist in going forward, and the heavy-duty stainless steel hardware is through bolted to the hull. With a high-rising shear forward and good freeboard aft, the C-Dory is a rugged little boat, well designed for sloppy Pacific Northwest waters.

Our test boat was powered by a Honda 50 Hp four-cycle outboard. The Hondas have developed an enviable reputation for reliability, fuel efficiency, and smooth operation. The Hondas are perceived to be very quiet engines, even though our dB meter shows that they are in the same noise range as competing engines. The difference is in the quality of noise. The Hondas have a more pleasing sound. The two-cycle engines, while equally quiet, have a higher-pitched whine that is more annoying than the four-cycle Hondas. Overall, engine noise is emphasized more in the C-Dory because of the hard top design, which tends to trap sound. Also, because of its ability to slow troll for extended periods of time, the Honda is an excellent choice for this type of boat.

The Honda-powered C-Dory reached 32 MPH. The relatively flat hull of the C-Dory makes the transition from displacement to planing speed imperceptible. There is very little bow rise, so forward visibility remains good at all speeds. The flat bottom hull is not ideal for high-speed use in rough water. When pushed, passengers can hear and feel every ripple in the water. The flat bottom also contributes to the hull’s ability to maintain a slow planning speed and bow-down attitude. This is ideal for coming home in rough conditions without the excessive pounding of a faster V-hull would experience while trying to remain on plane or the excessive fuel consumption that occurs at faster speeds. This hull will let you know how fast you can go, because the discomfort level rises quickly when it is pushed too hard for existing conditions.

The C-Dory offered no unusual handling quirks. At higher speeds, there was a tendency for the boat to slide a bit in turns, but this is a characteristic that can be easily compensated for after a few minutes behind the wheel. The relatively high free board and cabin profile, coupled with a flat bottom, makes the hull a bit more susceptible to crosswinds, particularly at displacement speeds. The hull took a modest bank in turns, but there was no tendency for the hull to trip or spin out. Slow speed handling was excellent with no tendency to wander from side to side.

The C-Dory was carried on an Ez-Loader trailer. Launching and retrieving were a snap on our wide, paved ramp. The roller type trailer works exceptionally well in more difficult launching situations, and a sturdy four wheel-drive vehicle should be able to launch in some fairly remote areas.

I have always found C-Dories to be rugged and practical, simple and sensible. This 16-footer carries on the tradition. It is hard to imagine a boat that gives more usable space in 16 feet than a C-Dory, which provides the essentials in a well-thought-out package aimed primarily at the sportsman seeking a stable, roomy platform with weather protection, especially where economy of operation is more important than top speed.