Alaska C-Dory Buying Advice

A

Andesite

New member
After years of browsing the C-Brats forums, I've pinched enough pennies to buy a boat of my own here in Southcentral Alaska. Oh happy days!

Having worked on fiberglass-over-wood boats before, I am terrified of purchasing a life-consuming project. To help avoid this, can anyone recommend reputable surveyors or boat builders who might be able to provide an inspection on Kenai Peninsula or the Matanuska Valley?

I've spoken with Joel Ashbreeze in Anchorage during previous boat projects (he is fantastic), and I recall Eric Sloth from my Homer days (he is a wizard). However, they're a long distance from boats I might buy in the Mat Valley or elsewhere on the Kenai Peninsula. Because these boats go fast, I was hoping to line up a few other options so I'm prepared when boats hopefully pop-up this spring.

Any other buying advice welcome (I have scoured these forums for such advice. Such an incredible amount of useful information!).

Also, feel free to forward any leads my way!
 
Any other buying advice welcome (I have scoured these forums for such advice. Such an incredible dearth of useful information!).
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You are far more likely to have core problems with an Alaska or any boat kept out of doors in freeze thaw cycles.

If I was buying a boat in AK, I would be looking for a boat which had been kept indoors in some relatively warn environment during the freezing weather.. That may be hard to find.

This does not pertain to just AK-any area with freeze thaw cycles and a boat which has been kept under some shelter to avoid any water intrusion--better yet one where any penetration of a cored area has been already routed out, and epoxy plugs installed.
Moisture meters and phenolic hammers to tap out any high moisture seas.
 
Ha! Good catch on "dearth". New fangled editing software on the work computer. Ignore the word choice.

Thanks for the reply. Very helpful. It seems finding a boat that has already had the rot fixed is a good option. I looked at one such boat in Anchorage. The transom was rebuilt about six years ago. Unfortunately, the rest of the boat and trailer were in rough shape.
 
I agree with Bob that is best to buy a CD 22 that has been stored out of the elements and in the garage which is where I keep mine. As far as freeze thaw cycles, many places up here don't get as many of them as the lower 48 - especially in the interior. I think it's 2 a year.....lol....I personally think it takes 40k in SC to get a good CD 22 Cruiser. And if you find one, be ready to act because they don't last long.
 
Thanks for the local perspective. That seems to be the challenge! Hopefully some pop up this spring. I'm dreaming of a garage queen, but there also seem to be quite a few boats out there that have had their transoms rebuilt already, so that could be a good option.
 
I believe that there have been as many problems with the hull, as the transom--but until you look for transom damage (put the motor in 'up" trailerable position. Put your full body weight on the lower nunit , and if there is any flexion of the transom: It's time for a rebuild.
 
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