Looking for C34 but need infor on differences with years? (updated)

[Scooter]

We've considers those (and other) options too.

1. We keep this at our second home.  It's not our primary residence and it's a 2 1/2 drive to get there.  We don't always have the luxury of waiting for the wind to change.  Remember the wind is driving the water depth.  It could be days before the wind direction changes.

2.  Technically you can't dredge a "natural waterway" in eastern NC. I may not have to wording correct but there are strict definitions of what you can and can't dredge.  We considered simply renting a high pressure pump (the kind that you use to re-level docks).  We could do that 2-3 times a year.  I can't say on this public forum that we "will" do that.  It was only discussed as an option.   There are fines for "dredging" without a permit.  All we need is a safety factor for unusual water depths.  Normally the depth isn't a problem.

3. The bottom is very soft silty mud throughout most of the area so the bottom isn't much of an issue.  NOTE: We know of a Catalina Wing keel couple that are changing to a fin because their marina has shallow water and the other boats with fins can get out when they can't.  They say the fins "knife" through the mud while a wing gets stuck... 

Every situation is different.  You just never know.

[Stephen Butler]

Have experienced the "fin keel slicing through muddy bottoms" more than once getting into and out of some Florida marinas, while seeing shallower wings get stuck.  However, this is definitely not something we ever wish to repeat and certainly not something we build our cruising plans around.  Given your winds, depths, and local ordinances you do have a challenge that at the end of the day, may simply require a boat with a swing keel.  A C34 just may not be a workable hull for you.  Best of luck to you.

[Ken Juul]

I know it's an expensive option, but can you extend the dock to reach the deeper water?

[Scooter]

Thought of that one too.  Here it's about $22 sqft or (if your dock is 5 ft wide) $110 for each foot you add.  We could get them to only place the pilings an we do the work ourselves to save money????  They offered that as an option when we got quotes.

Main issue is CAMA as controlled by the DCM. (Coastal Area Management Act - Division of Coastal Management)

They are very active here and use satellite pics to monitor it.

The rule is that you can't have a dock that extends more than 1/4 the way across a river.  Our place is on Smith Creek up Bay River.  It doesn't extend perpendicular to the shore since we are on a point between two branches within Smith Creek.  It's hard to explain but I think we could extend at least another 50-75 ft without any issues.  When I first called them they said "No" without even looking.  But I kept after them and we plan to setup a meeting with them the next time we can match schedules.


We have about 300 ft of bulkhead that has about a 15ft opening.  We can't join the walls because "technically" the 15 ft are "wetlands".


Extending the dock is not out of the picture yet.  Maybe just persistance.

Good try though.  Maybe somebody has an idea we haven't thought of yet.

[MarkT]

There is an Ericson parked at a dock near us that can not get out at low tide. The owner has a mooring out from his dock in deeper water. He will move the boat out to the mooring at high tide and then depart later when it suits him. Maybe you could keep your boat on a mooring and bring her to the dock when you are visiting but leave her on the mooring when gone. I know it isn't a perfect solution but at least you know you will be able to go sailing when you come to visit your boat and you won't find yourselves stuck in the mud instead.

How much did your C25 draw? I expect you will find the difference in draft is not as significant as it seems. My Mk1 shoal draft C34 is at the same dock as my C27 (4 ft draft) used to live at and I know the 27 was slightly aground at extreme low tides. For the last two summers we haven't had a problem.

Mark Tamblyn

[Scooter]

C25 Wing is about 3 ft.  Some are suggesting moving to a 27ft but that's too much to go through for 2 ft.  If we do this we're "doing" this and moving to one that we may take to the islands. 

I know.... I know.... You can take a 27ft to the islands too but we want (don't need) more room if we do that.

For us, this next boat doesn't have to be our final boat but we want one similar to our "perfect" boat. (If there is such a thing).

Part of the fun is deciding on a boat. Catalina or not.  We are looking at everything from Pacific Seacraft, Island Packet, Sabre (Also comes in a swing), Morgan, etc....  Our main criteria is "well made" to handle a blow. There are some shallow boats out there.

When it happens it happens.  We still lean (heel) towards Catalina.

[Steve Sayian]

If you ground-out a wing, don't initially react to trying to kedge off!! 
When we were buying our boat, the surveyor said that if you ground it, don't try and kedge off because you have "the world's biggest Danforth anchor down there"... If he hadn't said that, it would have never occurred to me because my first instinct would have been to try and kedge off as I had a C-30 fin keel for 10 years!!!

[Mike and Joanne Stimmler]

I think Irwin's are also swing keel and I believe they are popular in the Chesapeake.