Small Power Boat Livaboard?

[haha49]

I was wondering if there were any small boats with good mileage. That you could also live on. I like barebones basic type of setup were it's practical does any company make a boat like this were you can put around fish and sleep anywhere. It would also be nice if you can beach it but that's not a deal breaker. I just want good mileage a place to go the bathroom a bed and a place to cook for 1 person. It would for going around the gulf islands I can live with out a hot shower and would also want to dive from it

[NewMoon]

C-Dory 22 Cruiser.

Has porta-potty, two burner stove, sleeping for 2-3. Simple, seaworthy, and very economical to own and operate.

We cruised the BC coast and SE Alaska in ours.

[FamilyVan]

I recently happened across the Nimble 26, they have both power and sail versions, I think they would make very nice singles or couples cruisers.

Of course Ranger Tugs are nice but they are $$$.

Sent from my XP7700 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[haha49]

Originally Posted by NewMoon

C-Dory 22 Cruiser.

Has porta-potty, two burner stove, sleeping for 2-3. Simple, seaworthy, and very economical to own and operate.

We cruised the BC coast and SE Alaska in ours.

What sort of range do you get on the tank I wanted something that can at least gas station hop up and down the coast of Alaska. So I was wondering how far can it go.

I was also looking into an aluminum boat since you can beach it on the rocks if they made a c dory in aluminum I would be all over it

[NewMoon]

Originally Posted by haha49

What sort of range do you get on the tank I wanted something that can at least gas station hop up and down the coast of Alaska. So I was wondering how far can it go.

I was also looking into an aluminum boat since you can beach it on the rocks if they made a c dory in aluminum I would be all over it

Our CD22 had a 58-gallon tank. Cruising at 16-18 knots with a 90hp 2-stroke, we got about 3 mpg, so our max range was only about 175 nm. Less than we would have liked for some routes in SE Alaska, but we went pretty much all over SE AK with it. Today's 4-strokes would give 4.5 mpg or more.

The CD22 is very light, only about 2,000 lb empty. Draws only 8 inches with the motor up. Easily towed. Here's ours in Port Hardy.




I'm not aware of any similarly small power boat as well designed and outfitted for cruising the Inside Passage (or Lake Powell, for that matter).

You could learn more about them from the enthusiastic owners at c-brats.com

[MBWhite]

Newmoon,

Did you have an "econo-cruise" setting figured out, something in the 6-10 knot range? If so what sort of mileage range was possible?

[NewMoon]

Our 2-stroke didn't like running at low power, smoky and noisy and probably quite inefficient, so we didn't do that. I understand four-stroke CD22's cruise happily at 5-6 knots and get way better mileage going slow - maybe 6-8 nmpg IIRC? With the more current model's 46-gallon tank, that would give a max range of maybe 300-400nm.

[Captain-Avenger]

Originally Posted by NewMoon

Our CD22 had a 58-gallon tank. Cruising at 16-18 knots with a 90hp 2-stroke, we got about 3 mpg, so our max range was only about 175 nm. Less than we would have liked for some routes in SE Alaska, but we went pretty much all over SE AK with it. Today's 4-strokes would give 4.5 mpg or more.

If you cut that speed in half you should easily double your mileage.

[NewMoon]

Originally Posted by Captain-Avenger

If you cut that speed in half you should easily double your mileage.

Well, not exactly in half. The CD22 planes at 12 knots. At 8-9 she'd be halfway up on plane, and inefficient. 5-6 knots works.

[Captain-Avenger]

Originally Posted by NewMoon

Well, not exactly in half. The CD22 planes at 12 knots. At 8-9 she'd be halfway up on plane, and inefficient. 5-6 knots works.

Sorry. I assumed it was a semi-displacement hull, even though nothing in the post indicated as such. I should not have assumed this. My error.

[Scout 30]

Cape Dory Trawler 24 Great Condition No Reserve | eBay

[Scout 30]

A small Downeaster, like a Rosborough, Eastern, Seaway, etc, would work well.

[Cheechako]

With a powerboat, it's all about speed vs fuel consumption.... until you get up on a plane anyway.
So if you want to be super economical, keep it at displacement hull speed, probably talking 5-6 knots for a smaller boat.

[Scout 30]

Sam Devlin has some great small boat designs that would be worth checking out.

Devlin Designing Boat Builders

[Ironman162]

For ehat its worth, Ive got a 30ft fibreglass motor cruiser with 2 engines and find it the ideal size and combination for me.
I dont want to handle anything bigger on my own.
Must admit economy is not its strong point but when you live aboard, you will eventually need more space/luxuary than initially anticipated.
There is just something about 30ft that makes it magic! A full bathtoom, seperate bedroom and kitchen for example as well as room for enough solar panels. Works for me anyway