Al
& Karen Baensch Share their |
 |
Customer Opinion C-Dory 16' Cruiser & Angler
Al
& Karen Baensch Share their |
|
Letter Dated: January 15, 1999 The Boat: 1993 C-Dory 16’ Cruiser Purchased used from Marben Marine, Kent Washington. (Spring of 98) Equipment:
Added by owners:
Background: Our experience with boats reaches across a wide spectrum, from canoes, power and sailboats on the East Coast and the Great Lakes to sailing a 301 Islander sloop in Puget Sound and north as far as Desolation Sound. The more recent focus was on a trailerable powerboat that affords comfortable and safe cruising of the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands for a couple. Sleeping aboard was also considered very desirable. We enjoy the process of planning trips, navigating, exploring out of the way places, observing and photographing nature, as well as hiking ashore or dinner in town. Because of employment restriction on time off, decent speed and range were important. A full cabin offering protection from the weather was considered essential, as we like to go boating year-round. The boat should also be beachable and easy to trailer for long distances to extend the boating fun to lakes, rivers, and distant waters more easily reached by overland travel. Several makes of boats were investigated thoroughly. We found that boats with the desired features were larger and consequently heavier and much too expensive to be considered. The C-Dory 16’ Cruiser was the only boat that appeared to be meeting most of the points desired. The availability of a used boat at Marben Marine led to the purchase in June 1998. Trips taken to date, from Squalicum harbor, Bellingham: 1998 - 7/ 4,5 Cypress Isl. Deer harbor, Friday harbor 7/25-27 South Pender, Salt Spring, Wallace Isl. 8/23, 24 Deer harbor (Orcas Isl.), Stuart Isl., Garrison Bay, Rosario (San Juan Isl.), Jones Isl. 8/30 -- 9/1 Victoria via San Juan Channel, Strait of
Juan de Fuca. 9/13 -- 15 Butchard Gardens on Saanich Peninsula via S.
Pender. 9/20 Day trip to top of East Sound and Friday harbor 10/20 Day trip to Matia and Sucia Islands. 1999 – 1/3 Afternoon trip to Sinclair Isl. This trip with 4 persons on board, all others with 2 persons. 1/5 Day trip to Sucia Island. On that day we had the smoothest water, both going and coming, we ever seen in Puget Sound. We ran with 4700 RPM out and back and depleted the first 6 gal tank after rounding Point Francis, and were well into Bellingham Bay, on the return trip. That comes out to 34 nautical miles at 17+ knots. Comments on our experience:
Prior to purchase we had never been on a C-Dory in the water, although we had known about the boat since 1984. We find that the boat meets most of our expectations very well and exceeds several. It is a practical boat, easy to maintain, tow, and store. Its sturdy construction and good sea keeping is only fully appreciated after some experience. We generally set power at a point below pounding for a comfortable"!" ride and simply hold course toward the chosen point. There is very little transition from displacement speed to planing and the boat maintains plane to remarkably low speeds. This means that it can keep on a comfortable plane in fairly heavy seas with good control. We generally find that we are making way somewhat faster than large semi -displacement cruisers.
When staying on board the aft camper, enclosure makes the boat. It affords privacy, keeps the weather out, and allows the shifting of gear from the bunk to the back when sleeping. It also "buttons up" the boat neatly when left at the dock while we are away. We learned to leave the "camper" on while cruising. It keeps the spray out. In cooler weather it also keeps the boat warm. (We have a Swedish alcohol heater, which will warm the boat in minutes but don't necessarily recommend the practice due to the proximity of gasoline. However, it serves safely on the dock to make coffee, tea, or soup.) We also tow with the camper up for short distances at no more than 50 mph with no ill effectsStaying on board is a cozy affair for two compatible people of average or smaller size. The V-berth is quite comfortable with hatch and windows providing plenty of ventilation. Getting in and out of the berth elegantly requires some practice. After some experience in rough water avid strong currents we became very comfortable with this boat. Confidence in the vessel is essential to enjoyment on the water. We feel that with reasonable care the C-Dory will take us anywhere and bring us back safely. We had more fun this past summer on our little pocket cruiser than on any other boat before. More than once we heard surprised comments like "You came all the way from Bellingham in that?''
If we had the free time we’d be planning a trip along Vancouver Island, on the outside, and would love to work our way to Alaska, at least one way. (Although we do imagine that it would be even more fun with the 22' C-Dory.) As it is, a trip to Princess Louisa Inlet is definitely on the menu for next summer, along with Desolation Sound. A long weekend on Lake Chelan sounds good, too. And trips on the most scenic sections of the Columbia.... By the way, our tow vehicle is a Toyota Tacoma with the 4 cyl, 2.4 1 engine, automatic, and 2-wheel drive. It tows and hauls the boat out just fine.
Al and Karen Baensch |
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