C Dory's posted weights (I'm pissed)

S

South of Heaven

New member
It really bugs me that the C Dory website has posted weights that are really understated. I've had several folks contact me about buying my 25 and then ask me the weight. I tell them between 7-8k lbs on a trailer and they say "oh, the website says 4800 lbs". Unbelievable.....

Is the C Dory website run by NMI? Or is it older? How can we tell someone to update the weights to give a more accurate estimate?

I think it's total BS that they are showing wrong numbers and it doesn't help potential buyers at all. FRUSTRATING.
 
The number isn't too far off if you understand what it is: a bare hull.

What drives the weight up is making it a boat. You add refrig, batteries, motor, gas, water even the toilet. The things that aren't included in the hull weight, including the trailer. So you're floating ~7000# and towing ~8500#. So actually you're only a little over 2000# from the published hull weight and the engine accounts for 1/4 of that (unless you have twin engines.)

The real problem is that those people who complain are new to boats. Try to educate them or tell them to look at a 22.

Boris
 
Those weights and marketing literature pre-date NMI, they are just posting flyers that were developed by previous makers, perhaps from the original factory that built the 25, and like Boris said, that factory probably weighed a bare-bones boat, motor, and marginal trailer. But clearly even those numbers don't quite add up so there is a mistake on the flyer somewhere. Even if you assume the bare bones hull weight is correct at 3600 lbs as advertised, add a 1500# trailer (probably on the light end of the capable spectrum), and 500# outboard, you're already at 5600 lbs, with no rigging, fuel, water, gear, batteries, electronics, accessories, options, or anything, so it would be impossible for them to achieve a "average towing weight of 4800 lbs." as the flyer states.

It sounds like your main complaint is uninformed buyers wasting your time? Just be up front and post the actual towing weight in your ad, if you know it. That should keep away anyone who can't tow your boat...if someone isn't capable of towing that much, you don't want to sell your boat to them anyway. And they certainly aren't going to find a lighter C-dory 25 from another seller, just because someone else says theirs is lighter. (to be honest I think they'd be hard pressed to find a lighter weight comparably equipped 25' cruiser by ANY maker, even if yours is 7500 lbs on the trailer.

Good luck with your sale. Hope you find happiness in your next boat.

-Mike
 
Even the Cruise ship 25's (mid 1990's) were posted at about the same weight. Not NMI's fault. They just left prior information web site up there.

I doubt that the weight would have "spoiled" a sale. Any knowledgable boater should have already done his home work and checked this site, It is also a question which comes up here fairly often on all of the C Dorys.
 
I was one of those buyers - I agree 10000% the listing did post the weight but I glanced over it and the manufacturer does post the weight on their site so I assumed it was with gear 5500 or the like. SoH I would buy your boat in a jiffy if I could tow :-(

Bob - you are correct a knowledgeable buyer would know this. I am new here and new to c-dorys. Unfortunately I didn not go back and read every post out there befor wanting a boat. The bottom line and I agree with SoH the manufacturer should care enough to update th r brochure and website. Heck they list the 23 as weighing more than the 25 WET with engine and trailer.

H
 
Sorry I was incorrect in my statement these are the exact specs for each in their brochure and on the website:

25’
Average towing weight is 4800 lbs. (boat, motor, trailer and fuel).

23’
Average towing weight is about 4300 lbs. (boat, motor, trailer and fuel).

Either way it is all water under the bridge but the point is the manufacturer needs to fix this. I guarantee there are people out there towing these boats way over loaded. Even my dealer here told me the weight would be 5500-6000 not 8000 fully loaded and that my jeep with a 6200 lb tow rating should be fine. I posted the question to the forum and everyone basically told me that was not advisable...
 
My 2007 cd22 boat motor(suzuki 115) and aluminum trailer came in at 5K. No fuel. No water. But included anchors and the other normal stuff.

roger
 
If any of the previous manufacturer entities cared about it (there have been 4 in the last decade), it could have been corrected in 2006, when I complained about it... after being informed of the more-than-a-ton discrepancy by other CD-25 owners. This isn't a new situation.

Be up-front with potential buyers - the right tow vehicle makes all the difference in being able to take these great boats anywhere! If the 25 is the right boat for the cruising you want to do, stepping down to a 23 or 23 because of weight or price means giving up a lot of room and amenities.

Good luck with the sale.
 
We had a 22 cruiser 1999 witha Suzuki 2.oL engine and galv single axel trailer it weighed in at 3800lb -4000lb for day cruising not really set up for long term .

Now we have a 23 Venture CC which the brochure had said it was 2900lb add a 400lb motor then a 1100lb trailer then add fridge ,windlass,anchors 2 batteries and assorted tool and it came out to 5100lb with a few gallons in tank no water . the brochure now says its 3000lb for a CD 23 venture which is about right .

I think 3600lb for a 25 CD might be a little light but when one adds all the stuff members take on it all adds up .
 
I guess this needs to be typed in all capital letters, sorry!

THE C-DORY WEB SITE IS NOT CREATED OR MAINTAINED BY NMI! I think it dates to the Reynolds family ownership, which is now three owners ago! NMI could do something about it but they do not see themselves as marketers, only manufacturers. I don't like it either but that is the way it is!
 
Pat Anderson":1mdtkt21 said:
I guess this needs to be typed in all capital letters, sorry!

THE C-DORY WEB SITE IS NOT CREATED OR MAINTAINED BY NMI! I think it dates to the Reynolds family ownership, which is now three owners ago! NMI could do something about it but they do not see themselves as marketers, only manufacturers. I don't like it either but that is the way it is!
Click to expand...

Whatever Pat. That sentiment will not lead to the proliferation of the CD brand. At the very LEAST the stated weights on THE ONLY FACTORY WEBSITE should be accurate within a few hundred pounds. You of all Brats should be hyper-sensitive to the litigious society we live in......
 
Whatever Pat. That sentiment will not lead to the proliferation of the CD brand. At the very LEAST the stated weights on THE ONLY FACTORY WEBSITE should be accurate within a few hundred pounds. You of all Brats should be hyper-sensitive to the litigious society we live in.....
Click to expand...

Jason, You know that Pat is an attorney--and he is just trying to explain something to you--as many of the rest of have.

Are you saying that C Brats have some type of liability because the web site underestimates the weight of the boats? If so--on what grounds? Apparently MMI is happy turning out a few quality boats. Don't see a thing wrong with that. Their choice, they own the company.

Regards,
 
I agree with Jason. If someone buys the boat based on false advertising and tows it with an underrated vehicle and end up in a car crash my guess is that the law will look quite unfavorably at the company. Bottom line they are making false claims about how light their boats are. Maybe a 25 with a kicker falls under the rating but that would be quite a sad defense. Are you saying buyers should rely on third party forums for real information versus the vendor? That is ludicrous. I find it interesting that with all the articles in their fan club c-brats community that they have yet to correct this. You would think a company that cares would pay attention to its user community. To me this is equal to GMC selling a truck with a 18000lb tow rating where in reality it can only tow 10000lbs.
 
No surprise we're not far from ''buyer beware" days; snake oil, good
buys in the Everglades, etc.

Aye.
Grandma used to say, "Relying too much on others leads to anguish."
 
Somehow I am reminded of that scene in Starwars where Kanobi says "This is not the droid you're looking for..."

Perhaps someone who is unhappy about the posted weight should take the initiative to call the factory and suggest they correct any errors in posted information.
 
Just a question (more of an sarcastic answer). Do C-Dory's ship from the factory with their engines, or is the engine rigged later by the selling dealer? I suspect that the weights the manufacturer show, is for the boat as shipped from the factory. I agree, if they are saying the engine is included in the weight, then it should be. But I suspect they are showing the dry weight of the boat as shipped from the factory. Kind of like how so many of the tow vehicles show the weight they can tow, with no regard to that vehicles GCWR, and Payload, which many times can drastically reduce what that vehicle can really pull! Colby
 
From c-dory.com:

Re: 23 Venture
"Specifications: weight 3020 lbs
Features: Average towing weight 5000 lbs (boat, motor, trailer, fuel)"

So what's all the noise about?

Aye.
 
Please folks, read A C-Dory History Lesson, including my 2011 magazine article, just posted. Not to offend you, but many of you are speaking whereof you know not about WHO "C-Dory" has been and is now.
 
The Web site CDory.com gives the weight of the 25 @ Weight: 3602 lbs. No explanation as to what is included.

I might also point out that the web site is copyright by Fluid Marine. So does Fluid Marine have some liability? I doubt that.

I believe that the molds are still owned by Fluid Marine, and a fee is paid to Fluid Marine for each hull molded. If this is not correct, please correct me.

As to towing with any truck--a prudent owner weighs the boat, and tongue weight to be sure that is vehicle is not overloaded. Many dealers sell undersized trailers for both the 22 and 25. Many owners run on tires which are more than 5 years old. There are lots of liabilities in owning a boat. I would think that the weight given by a company which made C Dory's years ago would be given very little credence by a jury.

I believe that Jason has been very up front as to the weight of his boat.

I would love to see The current owners advertise the boats a little--but not happening--and I had direct communication with them several years ago about that. Their choice.
 
Back
Top