Arima 19' pilothouse?

K

Karl

New member
There is one for sale locally that's about 10 years old, and doesn't seem to have the typical deferred-maintenance issues that many boats of a similar age often have.

Power is 4-stroke outboard, at almost the max. rating for the hull. Not certain of motor hours, but a certified tech. would be looking at it, and hopefully the motor is new enough to have on-board diagnostics and use-history.

Total price is around 30% of package new-replacement value. It's a little older, and a little shorter than what I was actually looking for...but includes good trailer, and 10hp 2-stroke kicker, which is something I think is only just barely an asset to me. For me, it would need an electronics package, and cabin heat installed, but that would be the case if I bought a new boat also.

Arimas around here are about as uncommon as C-Dories. My limited research suggests that they lack some of what I consider to be the Achilles heels of the C-Dory, mainly balsa core, and frequent turnover of company ownership...

Thoughts and caveats appreciated.

-Karl
 
I think you will find this boat cramped and crowded. Nice boat for fishing two or three people, but I would not want to cruise it. I do like Arima's, but a 19 is small. I had the Arima Ranger 17. Again, a good boat for fishing two or three people, but not one that is an easy boat to cruise.
 
I'm pretty much a boating-loner, and would expect the boat to be used by myself alone about 90% of the time, with with zero overnights, since it will be an adjunct to a direct waterfront home.

I have not viewed the boat yet, however, but I anticipate it may still be rather cramped for even one person of my size...particularly in terms of headroom, since I'm 6'6" (but, shrinking...). I would probably end-up installing a suspension driver's seat, since I don't think driving the boat while standing will be an option, and I do have back issues.

I'm still pretty-much "thinking out loud" about this boat...
 
The Arima's are good boats. I don't like their look quite as much as a C-Dory but they're good looking boats with many similar features. The headroom in some of the Arima models can be quite limiting. I was in one at the Seattle Boat show a couple of years ago that I could stand up in and I'm 5'10". In that boat, a 6'6" guy could put in a hatch over the helm and drive with his head well above to roof line. Les at EQ has sold both Arima's and C-Dory's and I'm pretty sure Dusty has owned both. Perhaps one or both of those two will chime in.
 
I dunnot know. Seems that any boat with inadaquate headroom for your 6'6" frame is obsolete for you before you lay your money down. It will never get any better for you, and for your back it can only get worse.

You can do better,

For me, I love my Hewescraft


2 cents worth
 
For the most part, with my height, the only boat I can stand upright in is a center console, without a T-Top. Even the C-Dory with the extra-height pilothouse (22' Cruiser "Hightop 6'6") is limiting, except on perfectly flat water.

So, I'll either stoop, or, sit. Just a fact of life, not a fault of the Arima I'm considering. Yes, I could get a nice custom welded aluminum boat from Pacific or similar other builders that would serve my height needs, but I don't have a $70K budget, either.

To accommodate my freak height needs in fairly small pilothouse design, I realize that I will need to drive sitting, preferably with a spring/hydraulic full suspension seat.

However, I also realize that far-forward seating will amplify any pounding, and the C-Dory and Arima both have issues with that due to similar hull designs.

I have learned that most things in life are compromises...
 
Karl what is your planned use? fishing or just day cruising? does not sound like overnighting. With your height if you install a spring seat system you will be hitting the ceiling. You might want to look at a high soft top on a light alum boat or even a soft top arima.
 
I don't fish, but once the lakefront house is finished, and I have time to kill, I would like to give fishing a try...I used to enjoy fishing as a kid, but that was a hell of a long time ago...

I don't expect to do overnights on the boat, since it's easier to just pull into the dock and have the luxury of a cottage to sleep in.

My desire for a pilothouse is primarily to extend the boating season, to early spring and very late fall. I'm expecting to install a marine railway system to dry-dock the boat into a boathouse, with bubblers protecting the rail system after the lake freezes-over, the timing of which is so unpredictable in my area. Despite being only 4 miles from Quebec, some years the lake barely freezes...I really don't have much local knowledge of the area yet, however.

But, I want access to the lake virtually year-round, and I insist in creature comforts like a Wabasto cabin heater...and a good windlass so I can frequently anchor, have a nice lunch, and maybe spend a few hours surfing the internet while anchored...even if it is February...
 
Hmmmm,

Seems like there are mostly advantages to being the tall guy, but this isn't one.

I have a Webasto heater in my aluminum boat and it is wonderful. Takes about 10- 15 minutes to bring temp up to 70-75 and hold it there. Pricey, but well worth it.
I also have the premium spring seats on both starboard and port sides and they too are priceless in rough water. What a difference it makes!!

Best wishes in whatever you chose.
 
G Gallagher":2802mthw said:
Seems like there are mostly advantages to being the tall guy, but this isn't one.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a midget writing that sentence... :mrgreen:

Reminds me of the joke "I am not Happy..."

Well, then, which one are you?...


I've been 6'6" since 8th grade. About half of the more desirable clothing in this country is simply not available to fit men of that height, or, if it is, it's priced accordingly or only available after lot's of detective-work, and then in limited colors ...ditto for things like beds, shoes, rifle stocks, etc. But, over the years, I have spent very little money on step stools and step ladders.

Everything is designed and marketed for the people toward the center of the bell-curve...boats, too. I'm sure the actual midgets have it tough, also, but I suspect that they have far fewer scalp cuts and abrasions than I manage to accumulate.

Virtually every car I have owned has needed seat-track relocation to provide necessary legroom...surprisingly, my current little Suzuki SX4 has been very accommodating in that regard. So, I don't expect a miracle with either a C-Dory or an Arima hardtop.
 
speaking of cars and giants. My computer tech guy is about 6'6" or 6' 8"? he drives a 2005 scion xb. Yeah those little boxes. every time he comes to the office to fix something I get to make a clown/circus joke. But the car has a lot of head room and he fits just fine. I have drove it and at 6ft its the first car that I don't have to move the seat all the way back to drive. in fact I have to pull the seat forward to reach the pedals, a first for me. And it gets 38mpg. He drive from Bellingham to Seattle 5 days a week and has 300k on the motor with no problems. If you need a gas saver you may want to look into one.
 
I'm going to briefly hijack my own thread just to prosthelytize the Suzuki SX4...

4-wheel drive which can be turned off, manually lockable differential, traction control with manual over-ride...the car came with shit tires, but I corrected that situation within the first month of ownership. It's the best handling snow/ice car I have ever driven.

Also, I'm a stick-shift diehard, and this has a 6-speed manual that's better than the 6-spd. on my Acura RSX-S, with nicer clutch as well. Plus, better power-train warranty (100K on the zuke!).

The shocker: with incentives and rebates, this car was $14,270 brand new to me. My only complaint is that the 6-spd. tranny is only available on the lowest trim-level of this car...I would have preferred some more luxury appointments, but not available with the stick shift.

Over and out, back to Arima/giant discussions, I guess. :cocktail
 
Thats Arima is a collectors item , Arima stopped production and is buiding boats no more as of a few weeks ago.
PM for some suggestions on a tall guy boat .
Marc
 
All I know is they didnt get enough 2013 orders to continue production.
They are very good boats . I have owned a couple .
When you build the same boat [well] and over and over with little or no change for say , 30 + years, you will eventually create a great used boat market , a very nice owners group, and take away almost all of the reasons to purchase new boats .Sound familiar ?
Marc
 
I received a nice email today from "Birdie" (Roberta Deihl) at Arima.

She indicated that they have temporarily suspended production, since there are no pending orders. But, there has been no move to liquidate the company or file Chapter 7/11/13 and they remain open for customer service issues.

Not to rag on C-Dory, but this seems like a far better approach than having the company go tits-up every four years, then liquidating it to a family member, then declaring that all previous warranties are null and void, and that all creditors can go pound sand.

I think that has happened with C-Dory either two or three times since I've subscribed to this forum...quite a sad way of running a business, to my way of thinking. On the other hand, Arima has persevered since about 1980, I think under same family ownership.

The boat-building industry has its ups and downs, with lots of corporate reorganizations that inevitably leave the individual owner holding the bag...
 
Karl":22fpgbjq said:
Not to rag on C-Dory, but this seems like a far better approach than having the company go tits-up every four years, then liquidating it to a family member, then declaring that all previous warranties are null and void, and that all creditors can go pound sand.

I think that has happened with C-Dory either two or three times since I've subscribed to this forum...quite a sad way of running a business, to my way of thinking.
The boat-building industry has its ups and downs, with lots of corporate reorganizations that inevitably leave the individual owner holding the bag...
Click to expand...

Karl, you imply that C Dory has failed a number of times. I believe that this is not the case. Part of the company was sold to the Reynolds family in about the 2002 era--then Reynolds sold to another group in the 2008 era--and finally the current "Triton Marine" organization has owned the company since somewhere in the 2010 era (dates may be a little off, since I did not do specific research). To my knowledge there have been no failures, except with Sea Sport--which then re-organized to become Triton marine. Not quite as nefarious as you imply. Yes, the warrantee have not bee covered. But I can cite a number of examples of boats which I have been involved with where the company is continuously in business, yet denied warrantee claims. Boat warrantees are weak to begin with.
 
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