Buying a Used CD 22 Cruiser - Help a Rookie, Please!

C

Comfortably Numb

New member
Good evening to everyone.

I am very new to the site, but not necessarily to boating. My Dad and I had a very capable 21' Boston Whaler (I think it was a 21 footer) back in the mid 1970's when we lived in Delray Beach, FL. My family and I boat with friends every weekend during the warmer season here in Southern Illinois, about 50 miles east of St. Louis (we enjoy freshwater lakes, and the Mississippi and Illinois rivers). Sometimes, when it's not so warm...we have been on the water even on New Year's Day some years.

It is my intent, after seeing C-Dorys at the St. Louis Boat Show for the past several years, to buy a CD 22 Cruiser. I am really thinking used, particularly in light of all the conversations going on right now on the site regarding the current plight at the factory and QC problems.

My question is this: do you all regard any particular "era" as being exceptional in terms of QC? I am interested in some 2003 and 2004 models I have found on the Net. Anything in particular that should scare me about these years? Anything to be on the lookout for?

I sure would appreciate your feedback! :smiled

Thanks and regards,
Mark
 
That era was the bulging fuel tanks (which seem to be a non-problem in the tanks themselves, but they did loosen the mountings). By now the mounts have been long fixed, I should think. There was also a run of boats with the stem screws to long, but again, by now that has probably been cured or prevented in the first place (I re-sealed and glassed over mine before it ever hit the water). Mine is a 2003, I would take it anywhere and have.
 
My '94 has exhibited none of the problems mentioned with any of the years.... It will be for sale in the spring too, after I finish some upgrades and do some maintenance it needs.

Charlie
 
I have never had any QC issues with my boat. At least none that I have seen to date. I am very happy with my 22.

But I would like to upgrade to a 25!
 
I own a 2003 and it does not have any problems.... I think that there were a few boats that had those problems and the factory took care of them quickly... from what I have seen the factory is really good with warrantee service and any problems like that were long ago fixed.....
When my boat was first delivered my porta pot leaked water...(the blue stuff) and when I mentioned it to Scott he immediately sent me a new one... never was an issue... I for one think the company is first class.... and consider them as persional friends... never have felt that way with anything esle I ever bought...

Joel
SEA3PO
 
Mark Robertson":188mn26q said:
It is my intent, after seeing C-Dorys at the St. Louis Boat Show for the past several years, to buy a CD 22 Cruiser. I am really thinking used, particularly in light of all the conversations going on right now on the site regarding the current plight at the factory and QC problems.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, the CD22 has not been the subject of any significant "QC" problems. And frankly, I'm growing weary of potential buyers, lurkers, wannabes et al who are assuming that these boats are full of quality control issues. Our 2005 CD22 has been problem free. Even our Wallas has worked great (knock on wood).

I think this site has been focused on the negative much more than the positive recently. I think that people lose sight of the fact that these boats are meant to be enjoyed on the water rather than dwelling on potential problems or qc issues. And it's this most positive experience of enjoying our time on the water that seems to be overlooked. We prefer to concentrate on the experience and deal with any problems as they come up. I realize that this attitude is very subjective and does not apply to many, if not most.

In our experience, the only service issues we've needed to address are scheduled service on the motor. I don't think we are just "lucky", I think we bought a good boat. And I'm not knocking on wood either. As mentioned in another thread, these boats are not junk. They are well-built and seaworthy. Have qc concerns cropped up? Yes. Are these boats perfect? No. Is the factory addressing these issues? I assume so, I hope so. But if you have any doubts about the new boats being produced at the factory, rest assured that our two year old boat seems to have been well-built and worry-free.

Mark, I'm not criticising you or your question, it's just that as a satisfied owner for three seasons, I think you outta know that our boat has not experienced numerous "quality control" issues. And it's my understanding the flagship CD22 has the least amount of problems of all.

Just my $.02
 
I agree that the earlier CD 22 have not had any significifcant quality control issues. I owned a 1992, which had absolutely none. From what I know the CD 22 on thru recently were relitatively unchanged. The more complex the boats became, the greater the probelms seemed to be....

As for discussing the quality control/problems, vs the trips and joys. There are centainly a lot of the good gatherings, great trips and "What I did"--but there are also some significant quality control issues. I am elated that some folks have not experienced them. But in-order to resolve the issues, they do have to be discussed. Like Forrest Gump said--life is like a box of Choclolates....
 
The "Jenny B" is a 2005, and I can honestly say I only found two "significant" problems, only one of which was hull related.

The fuel tanks were replaced when I discovered fuel stains down the tank side caused by a Neanderthal employee of the tank manufacturer. He/she tightened the fuel barb so much it split the pipe fitting that was "welded" into the tank. Weeping fuel is sorta dangerous to have around.

The other problem was a small crack in the gelcoat on the starboard side, at the juncture of the gunnel and the cabin. It was promptly fixed locally but reappeared a few months later. The second attempt was the glass guy's nickle, but they did find the crack was adjacent to the earlier repair and said "no more free repairs." All is well now, but should it crack again I'll have to consult with Scot and/or his minions about a more permanent fix.

I've not heard of anyone else having the crack problem like that so I assume it was just a fluke; maybe the hull and cabin were joined on a Friday afternoon in a rare Seattle sunny period....

Ok, if you want to count a single stripped screw holding the forward opening window, then three. Otherwise, anything else has been geezer caused.

As others have pointed out in numerous threads, problems always get posted but the satisfaction percentage must be derived by counting the sheer numbers of happy C-Dory owners on here, and the high resale value of our little pocket cruisers.

Don
 
Thanks to all for helping me out. I sincerely appreciate the feedback.

At the same time, please believe me when I say I am a great fan of the C-Dory; otherwise I would not consider parting with my hard-earned $ to buy one. If anyone was offended by the question, it was not my intention.

Peace,
Mark
 
Mark,

I bought a 2003 22' Cruiser new and watched it's birth from the mold as I lived roughly 10 miles from the factory. My father and I also sold a Whaler to purchase the boat. My father has a great deal of on the water experience and has built at least 8 boats on his own from scratch, from plans and from a fiberglass kit (24 foot Luger as I recall). My father visited the factory with me on several occasions as he wanted to make sure they knew what they were doing. This was after Scott purchased the place. My Dad will tell you how pleased he was with their quality and the employees he met. He is a big fan of the C-Dory although the only way he'll own one is if he bought a wrecked one that he could re-build as he just flat loves to build boats. He actually tried to but one of the C-Brats out bid him on E-Bay.

Had I wanted an absolute turn key piece of perfection that was exactly what I wanted in every way, I would have looked for a "Mercedes" style boat and paid through the nose to get it. The C-Dory was and I believe still is as close to a "Jeep" as you can get in a boat. If you know any off-roaders, you know Jeeps are the most popular all around 4 by 4 there is, bar none. But everyone I know that's into Jeeps modifies them to meet the owner’s individuality. C-Dory owners are very similar and one of the things that make a C-Dory such a great boat is the tremendous ease and enjoyment of making it your own. I do not believe there is another boat currently available that is easier to modify or as fun, that has as much of a diverse owners group, or vocal and more importantly is as forgiving a boat to those who make those modifications for the price point that you can pick one up for.

Yes, you can modify a Bayliner, or an Arima or for that matter a SeaRay. But as soon as you do that, you drastically lower the value of the boat. C-Dorys have such a large number of fans that you can usually find someone who has performed a similar modification, can help guide you and even better, people who want a used C-Dory are similar folks that value your modifications instead of trying to discount your asking price just because the boat's different from how it was delivered.

Yes, I had a problem or two when I got the boat. I took it out to see if it could take serious and dangerous water and two things failed. The "fridge" that the 22' came with at the time decided it had enough of me taking green water clean over the cabin and it tried to abandon ship, breaking every single plastic mounting flange it had in the process. I also discovered that my head was attempting to construct a new sun roof in the cabin top. Neither the fridge nor my head was manufactured by C-Dory. Everything that C-Dory could take credit for worked to perfection.

That boat can take more than most families of four can dish out. As you can probably tell, I off-road when possible. I know of no general use car built today that can perform as well in as many varied circumstances as our C-Dory can for the price point that the 22 sells. It would be like taking a $25,000 Toyota sedan out on the Rubicon trail (where they test Jeeps) and expecting it to come back ready for to escort you to a night at the Oscars. The C-Dory can perform to this level, the Toyota on the other hand is going to need some serious down time before Paris steps out of it.

When I brought the busted fridge to Scott's attention, he had it immediately replaced with a cabinet, shelves and door, free of charge. He offered to replace the fridge for free, but I didn't want such a wimp on my boat. He also asked if I wanted the seat lowered but judiciously said nothing about the lack of brains in the owners head. I guess I'm not the only one that takes his C-Dory out so see how tuff the thing is.

After five years of ownership the only change I'd like to see is some way for me to off load a quad onto the beach from my boat. Other than that, I am as pleased with our 22' today as I was when I tried to perform a James Bond stunt and eject myself from the cabin and in the process proved once and for all that this thing is tuffer than me.
 
I have never owned a CD22, but the things I would look for in a used one would be:

Make sure the cabenit materials is not fiberglass. The new stuff look pretty, but, some storage space and access is lost as well as ease of function of the port seating/table. It works...but you gotta work it much harder than some of the 06-04 vintage boats.

Not sure when the "Barber Chair"...or forward facing chair was first used by the factory,,,but that is a nice gig to look for.

Not sure when the twin tanks in the back with the "I can see the fuel levels" slots cut into them were picked up by the factory...

And the floor inserts in the cockpit to have a level floor, although higher than the natural concaved shap floor....seems to have folks on both sides of the fence as to which is better.

The chair and fuel sites were actually developed by C-Brats who owned and used the boats, and made the modifications themselves...and could be repeated if any boat you find used that fits your needs/budget does not have them.

Having said all that.... I have never been at a gathering when any C-Dory boat pulled in and one of the first things the C-Brat cult likes to do is the poke-n-see moves just to see what little things folks have come up with which comes with using any boat. Part of the love and fun of it all.

Do watch out for all fittings and add ons...for sealant or lack there of. Some of us just do a better job than others when we go to "FIX" something... Tuff old hulls for sure, but have even heard of folks getting motors upgraded and no sealants being used on the thru transom bolts.. You just gotta look for these small things that will have big long range effects.

Happy Hunting and you will love the nice dry ride instead of sitting out in the spray.

Byrdman
 
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