Buying a C-Dory

T

thewolfeinmaine

New member
Hi all, been a boater for 48 years now, and stumbled (surfed?) my way to the C-Dory website and I'm positively hooked. Found out the nearest dealer is in Oxnard, CA (okay, no problem).

Emailed.......no response. Called this morning and you should have heard the guy......"16 footer??!!" "Jeez I don't think we have anything THAT small!" As I am thinking 'yacht snob' :roll: I say, "Are you the salesman that usually handles the C-Dory's?" "Ah no he's out today, I'll have him call you." ROFL.

The 16 Angler is perfect for what I want to do in this stage of life, and with the daughters living in Maine, she will do just fine in the lakes and Casco Bay. I've trailered the big heavy boats, and I'm looking forward to the light weight.

Great forums, looking forward to more.
 
Try to get a hold of Christopher-Robyn here http://www.c-brats.com/privmsg.php?mode=post&u=3251, who lives, I think, about 40 miles from you. About this time last year he bought a brand new 16 foot Angler without ever seeing one. I gave him his first ride on a 16 footer when he visited the factory up here. I'm pretty sure he won't mind answering your questions. You're gonna love the 16 footer.
 
Generally the C Dory members have been happy with the channel Island dealer. But I had a similar experience 18 months ago. The person I talked to didn't know anything about C Dories, and didn't really want to give me the time of day. The person who was familiar with C Dories and outboards, never did call me back as requested.
 
You're right that a 16' C-Dory would be good for Casco Bay. Last summer a bunch of C-Brats spent a week cruising from Peak's Island to Port Clyde. Nate & Betsy did the whole week in a 16' C-Dory.

Rick from Maine
 
thewolfeinmaine":2v8owtpe said:
Hi all, been a boater for 48 years now, and stumbled (surfed?) my way to the C-Dory website and I'm positively hooked. Found out the nearest dealer is in Oxnard, CA (okay, no problem).

Emailed.......no response. Called this morning and you should have heard the guy......"16 footer??!!" "Jeez I don't think we have anything THAT small!" As I am thinking 'yacht snob' :roll: I say, "Are you the salesman that usually handles the C-Dory's?" "Ah no he's out today, I'll have him call you." ROFL.

The 16 Angler is perfect for what I want to do in this stage of life, and with the daughters living in Maine, she will do just fine in the lakes and Casco Bay. I've trailered the big heavy boats, and I'm looking forward to the light weight.

Great forums, looking forward to more.
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You need to just come on down to Florida and buy one from Wefings. You could make the argument that Florida is in between Ca and Maine :wink


Roger
 
Great website as I already said, thanks all for the advice. Actually Nick from CYA called me this morning and sent me a 2009 pricelist.....Holy Crap!

$1,800 for shipping!!!! I can do it for $245 round trip in gas and make a vacation out of it!!! No way.

$600 for bottom paint is a little out there as well, for a new factory paint. I think $300 is a little more reasonable.

$420 for the wipers?! Hmmm, me thinks I will install them myself.

$1,620 for an alum trailer, I see nothing wrong with galvanized.

And the $400 for the bow rail is a little pricey, used on eBay for around $100 usually.

As this will be my first and last new boat, I will try some of the other dealers you guys have recommended.

And Roger, as much as I like Florida, my wife would have a real problem with the trigonometry methods placing FL between CA and Maine!
 
Maybe being a live-aboard for many years and paying yards to do some things took my edge off but most of those costs don't seem to be far out of line in todays' world. Transport seems high but not if boat and trailer are sitting on another trailer. If I was to do it personally I figured the round trip with fuel, food, and shelter just with my diesel truck would come to about $600. The factory also has to pay a driver for more than two days of driving. Plus taxes, insurance, and everything else. Sounds high but not when you examine it.
 
From my previous non-C-Dory experience, those prices are actually reasonable. I always prefer DIY, rather pocket the labor than pay someone, even if the prices are fair
 
As far as the bottom paint goes, if it includes the epoxy barrier coat, get it. That stuff is not easy to put on and thee needs 4 coats. Also, have you priced GOOD ablative paint recently? Micron ranges from $180 to $220/gal at Defender.

Also saw a special on painting a boat bottom: $33/ft, including haul out. For a 16' thats $528.

Bottom paint application and cost is near and dear to my heart.

Boris
 
Lloyd, my wife and I own our own business, (recession proof), and in the midst of this horrible recession, we have been buying, because prices have come down so much.

But saying that, there is NO way I would ever pay that kind of freight charges. No car manufacturer charges anywhere near that much, and it's not my problem if the shipper doesn't book freight back to Wa or where ever.

The only reason I am considering buying new is because of the recession. With what's going on now, "no deal, no buy." There is a guy selling a used 16' Angler up in WA, that's loaded with electronics for $15k, why would I pay $21,000 for a 16' boat with no motor?
 
thewolfeinmaine":2o8fzrk5 said:
Great website as I already said, thanks all for the advice. Actually Nick from CYA called me this morning and sent me a 2009 pricelist.....Holy Crap!

$1,800 for shipping!!!! I can do it for $245 round trip in gas and make a vacation out of it!!! No way.

$600 for bottom paint is a little out there as well, for a new factory paint. I think $300 is a little more reasonable.

$420 for the wipers?! Hmmm, me thinks I will install them myself.

$1,620 for an alum trailer, I see nothing wrong with galvanized.

And the $400 for the bow rail is a little pricey, used on eBay for around $100 usually.

As this will be my first and last new boat, I will try some of the other dealers you guys have recommended.

And Roger, as much as I like Florida, my wife would have a real problem with the trigonometry methods placing FL between CA and Maine!
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I can tell that your just not up on this modern math thing... . I think a lot of us really catch the c-dory fever with the CD16. I know that it was a love affair at first sight for me. I didn't actually ever buy one but literally came to within signing on the dotted line. At the last minute, went with the CD19. I keep that for 6 months and ended up with MY first new and what will be my LAST (LOL) boat, the CD22. Now if I could have two boats I would have the CD16 and CD22 :xlol

Roger
 
I'm thinking a 19 Angler and a Tom Cat!

What is the collective's opinion of the E-Tec motors? There is/was a 19 in Anacortes with a 90 E-Tec.

Warren
 
You are absolutely right on the money Roger, the CD16 just hit me hard. Everytime I went back to the website I would look for something I didn't like, and I never found anything, and that just doesn't happen to me. I even read the Boston Whaler website where alot of them put down the C-Dory's.

My dad scratch built a 17' Glen-L design cabin cruiser (marine grade plywood/glassed over) when I was 5. Laid out the keel in the living room. Living in LA we took her to Catalina, all over San Pedro, Mexico etc. and just about every lake in 7 western states. I always liked the duality of that boat, she could take a rough sea and still be a descent lake boat as well (very very heavy though).

I've owned sailboats and 21' cuddies but, from what I've seen and heard on this website the CD 16 will fill the bill nicely. And I had to swear to my wife, this will be the last one!
 
Warren,

Everyone of my boating buddies and repair friends swear by the e-tecs. They fired one up at the LA boat show (That's inside!), hmmm 2 years ago? And there was zero smoke, and almost no noise, I was impressed.

Larry
 
Welcome aboard Wolfe (if I may call you that),

You are going through the stages. They run something along the lines of...

1. Discovery stage - those are cute little boats, I wonder what they are?

2. Initial Intro stage - after looking at other boats that sell for $15k new (with a motor and trailer), you find out that cute little boat is a C-Dory.

3. Gathering stage - you find the factory website and the C-Brats; what a nice bunch of people.

4. Image stage - you can just picture yourself in one of these boats; you're smiling, the wife is smiling, the sun is shining, and the water is as smooth as all the photos in the boat brochures.

5. Holy S**t! stage - you find out what these boats cost; that is outrageous! How can they possibly get that kinda money for one of these boats? Why, I could buy a _____ (insert: a car, 3 motorcycles, a weekend in Vegas with totally debauchery, a big screen TV and a lifetime subscription to Dish including all the sports and porn channels, an RV, a down payment on a nice house, fill in whatever works for you) for that kinda money. It must be like a car: they will discount 'em 40%, right?

6. Forget It stage - Well, nobody in their right mind would spend that kinda money on a little boat. You go back to looking at the Bayliner type boats.

7. Well, Maybe One More Look stage - shucks, you have it on your bookmarks in the computer. I'll just look once more... you know, mostly to laugh at the people who would actually spend that kinda money.

8. I'll Check Out Other Boats Like It stage - you find that there are other cabin boats, but nothing like these. Those boats are either 6 knot little trawler wannabes or deep v boats that need 300 hp to get on plane and suck fuel like the government was paying for it. AND they cost as much or more than the C-Dory and don't hold their value as well.

9. Maybe I Should See One In Person stage - just what you think. You either "get it" or you don't. If you don't, you can go on with your life, secure in the knowledge that people who spend that kinda money on a small boat are a couple french fries short of a Happy Meal. OR, you do get it and you'll move on to the next stage.

10. What Harm Could It Do To Go For A Ride stage - If you understand how to run a relatively flat bottom boat (or have someone who does demonstrate it), you begin to appreciate what those crazy ass people on the C-Brats are talking about.

11. Back To the Boat Ads stage - You start to look for used models, because the NADA price seems reasonable enough. You find out that if one of these boats sells for NADA price, the owner had no idea what he had. If you saw the ad one hour after it was posted at that price, you can get in line behind the other 30 people who have already called about it.

12. Image (part 2) stage - You again picture yourself in one of these boats. Yeah, it's starting to make sense.

13. Justification stage - You can see why these boats sell for what they do. They are built different and they hold their value. Owners covet them. You work hard, you deserve to have one of these. Your kid can go to a state university instead of that overpriced private college. Maybe you can sell a kidney?

14. This Is The One stage - Whether it's on-line or in person, you find just the right boat. It has all the stuff you want and the color matches _____ (insert: your wife's eyes, the truck, your lucky underwear... you'll find something). This leads immediately to the...

15. I'll Never Ask For Anything Ever Again stage - You use this on your wife. You both know you don't mean it. If she "gets it", you're in. If not, you move on to...

16. The Negotiation stage - If I can have this boat, you can have____ (insert: a new convertible, your Mother move in with us, a Brazilian pool boy, all of the above plus anything else you think might work).

17. It's Gonna Be Mine stage - You go for one more look, with the _____ (insert: money, bank authorization for a loan, your kidney) in your pocket... you are gonna buy a boat!

18. It's Mine, Mine, Mine stage - You've signed the papers, now all you have to wait for is _____ (insert: the owner to sign over the title, the dealer to rig it, the factory to make it).

19. Proud Owner stage - You take it to the ramp for your first solo launch and it takes forever, because people keep coming up, asking about the boat. Silly people are still back in stage 1. :roll:

20. Holy S**t (part 2) stage - You have been running all around with this boat and you get into waves that are higher than the cabin top and this great little boat got you safely back to the dock. You'll think twice about doing that again... until next time.

21. Now I REALLY Get It stage - You are more patient with the people with questions at the ramp. You realize that these boats are about more than their cost, their style, or what people say about them. That scar where your kidney was has healed. You begin to wonder if that career that got you the money to buy one of these boats is really all that important... that workin' stuff really cuts into your boating time.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
$600 for bottom paint is a little out there as well, for a new factory paint. I think $300 is a little more reasonable.
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If your not storing your boat at a marina or leaving it in the water for extended periods, what’s the point of bottom paint? We did 2 and 3 day trips most weekends last summer and the bottom of our boat looks like new; I do pressure wash it after every trip.
My take on bottom paint is ones you start using it you’re pretty much stuck keeping it up.
 
Jim

Absolutely hilarious! And wolf is fine, and before I get all the questions:

I used to work for DeWolfe Realtors in Portland Maine, long ago and far far away, so 'thewolfeinmaine'

Only #7 was a little off Jim, I've got her set as background on both of my computers!

Thanks Jim, I haven't laughed like that in a long time.

Seriously though, I haven't been this dead set on something in a long time, so now it's just finding the right dealer.
 
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