Half-ton truck and C-24

[Air-cooled]

My truck is a 2015 F-150 with towing package, but it is rated to pull only 8500 lbs. Hope it does ok. :?

 

[stwendl]

And there is the occasional highway paytrol making sure you are within limits of your equipment in the interest of the safety of others sharing the road with you. You never forget the experience of a runaway truck.

 

[Scuffy]

I had a 2008 23' C-Dory that weighed in at 5500 pounds. I pulled it home from Florida with my 2001 Chevy 1/2 ton 4 wheel drive pickup with the 5.3 litre V8. It was ok on the flat stuff but I had a bad feeling that the transmission would not be up to it. I could drop a couple gears and have the motor spinning at about 3500 rpms at 55 mph and it pulled fine. I sold that and bought a 2009 Chevy 2500 HD with the Duramax setup rated for 14k. Probably an over kill but we trailered that C-Dory from PA to Yellowstone, Grand Teton, Flaming Gorge, The Apostle islands on Lake Superior, up to Maine and down to Florida. Florida Keys trips every winter. It was pleasure to drive. When we sold that boat and moved up to a R 27 the truck required to no adjustments and needed nothing to be added to pull the additional weight. My point is the better the whole package handles and how you feel about driving it makes trailering your boat more fun. That in turn will allow you to travel more and further if you have a above average comfort level. Buy whatever fits the bill for your needs. The idea of a cool looking SUV that can be more of a dual purpose vehicle is attractive. All depends on how far you want to go towing the boat IMHO

 

[Air-cooled]

I won't be going far except once a year from Phoenix to Lake Powell. One ten mile stretch of steep uphill interstate...that's that part that will be concerning.

 

[Levitation]

A half ton truck used sensibly will do the job for short and occasional hauls. But there are other issues.

First - the boat weights listed by the factory have been calculated using fairy dust.
My R25 weighs more than a ton over the factory numbers - yes, a ton +
And that is empty of water, no cruising gear, etc. and I don't have a Maase generator.

Next, the biggest problem about hauling with a substandard vehicle is not starting and it is not stopping, it is getting caught in turn, or worse a descending turn in the mountains, having to suddenly put on the brakes, and discovering the boat is steering your truck not you - into the oncoming lane.

And there is the GVWR and the GCWR (and some other numbers). I'm not going into excruciating detail on these, you can look it up. The thing here is that a half ton truck with occupants and their baggage, going boating gear in the truck bed such as the dinghy motor, etc. and a loaded 24 foot boat on a trailer is all but sure to be in violation.
So, what will happen?
Nothing, as long as you don't have a fender bender. But let some ding dong side swipe you or turn into your lane, or anything that brings the police to make a report and the official eyes will narrow slightly as they look at your (handsome) C24 and your half ton truck. I assure you that they 'know' what those initials like GVWR mean.
Your education will likely be expensive and painful, including points on your license.

But hey, other than that, enjoy :mrgreen:

 

[Air-cooled]

I took delivery of a new 24 with the Volvo gas engine.

p.s. Awesome boat!

I'm glad to see someone here who actually has a C24. Can you tell us a little about your experience with the boat, likes & dislikes etc. It is hard to find reviews of this boat by boaters even though it seems to be one of the best bang-for-the-buck rigs out there. Is it big enough to entertain two couples? How is the V-berth for sleeping two adults? The berth on the main deck looks too short to sleep anyone with the two seat backs in position. How fast will your boat actually go with the Volvo? How well does the AC work? I was torn between this boat and a SeaRay Sundancer 260 even though everyone says they are completely different.

 

[Solaris]

I took delivery of a new 24 with the Volvo gas engine.

p.s. Awesome boat!

[youtube][/youtube]

I'm glad to see someone here who actually has a C24. Can you tell us a little about your experience with the boat, likes & dislikes etc. It is hard to find reviews of this boat by boaters even though it seems to be one of the best bang-for-the-buck rigs out there. Is it big enough to entertain two couples? How is the V-berth for sleeping two adults? The berth on the main deck looks too short to sleep anyone with the two seat backs in position. How fast will your boat actually go with the Volvo? How well does the AC work? I was torn between this boat and a SeaRay Sundancer 260 even though everyone says they are completely different.

..........................
I love it. I have had a number of boats before - from an older Sea Ray SRV255 CB TANK, to a Donzi 16 Classic. I was planning to buy a less than 10 year old 28-30' cruising boat. However, I went to the Seattle Boats Afloat show last September and saw the 24CW. What attracted me was the sheer innovation, and the fact that I could have an ocean cruiser and a trailerable boat with decent accommodations in one package.

I took delivery in June this year and have put about 37 hours on it, mostly Cruising from Vancouver up to Egmont and inbetween. (Google it - fantastic cruising) In the past I have trailered to the Columbia River Gorge area, lake Chelan, and other NW lakes, so having a trailerable option was desirable. I keep it at a dry storage marina, where you can launch it yourself or have the staff launch it for you.

Pluses :
- Unbelievable fuel economy. Cruise 20-22Kn burning 8-9 GPH with latest generation Volvo V6, 240HP
- I seriously questioned the guys showing the boat about a V6 instead of a V8, but it is amazing performance
- Top speed 32-34 kn, depending on currents and wind etc. so up to about 40MPH
- Incredible optimization of space for its size
- Huge fridge - bigger than 32 ft boats!
- Trailerable
- Very well-equipped
- Port side bulkhead window opens to enable the rear dinette seat to become and outside seat
- I like the reversible stern seat
- Very easy to handle
- Capable and safe in rough water, but have to go about 8 - 10 kn
- Pops up on plane with relatively minimal bow rise

Minuses :
- Because of the twin-stepped hull, you trade off rough water handling for increased efficiency, so in a chop you have to slow down, although the bow flare does a great job of keeping the spray away
- I had a number of minor deficiencies at delivery, however everything addressed by dealer
- The anchor that comes with it is a small claw type and has unsatisfactory holding power, and I replaced it with a slightly bigger Delta, which works better here
- the anchor chafes on the bow deck and had a block installed to protect the deck which resolved it

Overall comments :
- It is not a big boat, however it is so innovative in the use of space, that is feels like a 28
- The V-Berth is very comfortable - I am 5'10" and with another person it is just big enough, taller folks will find it short
- I took the pads out of the quarter berth as it makes a far better storage area
- Otherwise, I love this boat so far
- I have done at most 4 nights on board, at full service marinas
- I would say it punches above its weight
- I created a Youtube "Solaris Solara" and uploaded some video - I will upload more
- I will say that this boat gets attention wherever I go. Similar to the attention my little Donzi would get. I believe Cutwater has a "winner " here, and if you maintain it well, it is truly a "boat of the future "
- I cannot get over the fuel efficiency

Hope this is helpful.
Mike

 

[Charlie]

One more thing to think about. If you are involed in an accident whether your fault or not, and you are even a half a pound over your GCVW the insurance companies are going to thumb their noses at you.

 

[Scuffy]

On our last road trip towing the boat. I seem to remember weigh stations in Ohio and Indiana I think with signs stating any vehicle over 10,000 pounds was pull into the weigh station. I drove on by. No consequences. But I do think more weight enforcement is coming for recreational vehicles. The states already have the scales and money is money.

 

[Air-cooled]

Thank you Mike for your excellent review! It helps so much to hear from someone with real experience who is not a sales agent.