Is the Tomcat 255 still being built?

G

GulfSailor

New member
Hello all.
I'm already a cat convert as we sail a PDQ 32 catamaran sailboat.
However, we're thinking of transitioning to a powerboat and the Tomcat 225 seems to fit the bill in almost every respect that suits us.

We don't have any problem with buying pre-owned, but we've never seen anything later than an '08.
We did see this ad for a 2011 which appears to have been placed by C-Dory themselves:
http://www.usedboats.com/boat-listing/2 ... /106189143

But even though there's a verification system to confirm the email address of anyone that responds I've had no response to my enquiry, which leads me to wonder if C-Dory is still in business, and if so what can their customer service be like.
I did manage to track down a previous C-Dory dealer that was fairly close to me, but he could provide no information other than that he ceased doing business with them because they had so many quality control problems, and that they have been in and out of bankruptcy.

So, we really like the concept and the look of the Tomcat, but I'm not exactly getting a warm and fuzzy feeling about the company that builds/built it.
The questions I like to find the answers to are (a): What's the production history and is there a year that's considered to be the best, and (b): What's the real C-Dory story?

I can usually find this sort of information fairly easily with Google, but in this case there's little out there except for press release type reviews and multiple copies of every ad that's ever been listed.

Thanks.
 
Yes Tomcats are still being built. yes there was a period a few years ago where C-dory underwent 3 different owners in as many years. One set of owners thought they could mass produce what is a niche boat, pressured dealers to carry lots of stock, and generally did not do well by the brand. Finally C-Dory was sold to Triton Marine. They will build boats to order. Like much of the boatbuilding industry, they are hanging on through bad times. There is a link to their site on the home page of this site. I would recommend you contact Marc at Wefings Marine in (near) Appalachicola Florida. They are excellent and frequent contributors on this site. I have never heard anything bad about them. A site member, just bought a 255 Tomcat, "Thataway" He will be selling his other cat "Captains Cat. Look down on the right side of this site's homepage for C-Dorys for sale by owner and you will see about everything now on the market. I think this site is the main place people come to to buy/sell C-Dorys.
 
You can call Scott Boysen at Triton
His phone number is 360-303-6315

Triton Marine Industries
5375 LaBounty Drive
Ferndale, WA 98248

(360) 393-3283 Phone
(360) 922-0842 Fax
info@tritonmarine.us

Alok's TC 255 is for sale, too

Best
 
All correct above. One used TC255, Captain's Cat, just came on the market, so if you want used, that is the best bet. If you want new, Triton will build it and Marc at Wefings will sell it to you!
 
Thanks guys, that's all good news. :D

As long as a couple of things fall into place I'm going to try to get up to Wefings in the next week or two, which should be a good starting point.
I see that Alok's Tomcat is there, so we'll be able to see one first hand if it hasn't been sold.
 
I'm going to Pensacola on Aug 19 to pick up and bring home THATAWAY, and as you have been told, CAPTAIN'S CAT my current TC255 is for sale in VA. You're welcome to meet me at Dr Bob's place and walk around THATAWAY too if you want to see one first hand, I'm sure he would not mind.

I like the older hulls better as they had the decraguard interiors that you can cut and modify. The newer hulls have a molded interior, one piece that is all fiberglass and very hard to customize. On all of the older ones, you could remove all of the cabinetry to get to the inner hulls or rebuild or replace it. A definite plus in my book.

The 22s underwent the same design changes in the late 2000's, I think they have gone back to decraguard but I'm not sure about the TCs. The only later model TCs I have seen have the all molded interior!

I'm on the gulf coast this week on shipbuilding business but no time to go east to look at my new (to me) TomCat!

Charlie
 
I'm not totally sure but I don't think Triton has built any Tomcats yet. No worries before you order one you can talk to Tomcat owners here and see what they would ask to have changed if they were having a new boat built. Loads of good experience with these boats right here on this site.
D.D.
 
I am not sure that saying that C Dory had been Bankrupt is correct. The company has changed hands several times. As they change hands, the assets or the name is picked up, but not the liabilities. Percent wise, there are probably more C Dory products in use years after build than any other boat. They just don't "die"--They keep on running--and rarely may need some fairly easy repair.

My understanding is that Triton Marine has built several of the Tom Cat 255's. I would hesitate to buy any vintage of of the Tom Cat. Captain Charlie is buying my "Thataway"--and I would be happy to show it to you any time you are in the Pensacola area before August 19Th (when Charlie picks up "Thataway".)

I agree with Charlie about the ease of modifying the older boats. "Thataway" comes with a second 30 gallon water tank--and it will be fairly easy to put in place because of the way the interior is built.

I have recently seen Alok's boat--and it is also a very nice boat--and would be an excellent buy at Marc Grove's shop.
 
rogerbum":3494nikp said:
Bob, did you mean you would "not" hesitate to buy any vintage of the Tomcat?
Click to expand...

I'm hoping that's what was meant! :wink:

Bob, thanks for the invitation to Pensacola, but it's a 700 mile round trip from here which is a bit too far for a quick look.
I'm hoping to get to Wefings in the next couple of weeks to see Alock's boat, and if 'Captains Cat' is in Sarasota in a few weeks I should be able to make the trip there.

If started reading the 'Thataway' thread and it seems to confirm what the local ex-dealer told me.
He said that in his opinion the Tomcat was an excellent concept and design but with poor execution of the final construction.
It was as though the fitting out was done by minimum wage workers with no understanding or training in the requirements of marine construction.

It seems from the thread and pics that the issues were down to ignorance, laziness, and corner cutting, coupled with poor QC, rather than actual design issues.

Finally (for now :) ) does anyone know what year the construction of the interior changed?

Thanks.
 
GulfSailor":2ok3ouqf said:
rogerbum":2ok3ouqf said:
Bob, did you mean you would "not" hesitate to buy any vintage of the Tomcat?
Click to expand...

I'm hoping that's what was meant! :wink:


Finally (for now :) ) does anyone know what year the construction of the interior changed?

Thanks.
Click to expand...

I'm sure that's what Bob meant!! :lol:

And to answer your question, I think the interior changed around 2008-9, I think I saw one at the Seattle Boat Show in Jan 2009 that had the new interior which included a headliner (very nice) along with the molded interior. I think Triton would build you one with the old interior if you asked nicely and put a bunch of $$ on the table. Or you could give my :cat a new home before I have to take her to the shelter! :mrgreen:

If you're going to Wefings, Dr. Bob is not far away!

Good luck with your search hope you find what you're looking for. Remember, A :cat IS BY NO MEANS A :dog [My new motto! :lol:
 
We bought our tomcat (an older 24 version) from Wefings and could not be happier. The cat has a much better ride and the extra room in the berth is great. You'll love a cat!
 
I would not hesitate to buy any vintage of the Tom Cat...That is what happens when I get up at 6 AM, drive 350 miles in the RV, unpack the RV, and then try and make sense on C Brats!

The hulls are well built. In the Reynold's era there were some issues with quality control in the systems. I don't know if my boat was typical for that period or not. But it took about 6 months to get everything where I wanted it. However I may be a bit picky. Many new boats have quality control problems. I do some pro bono marine surveys, and see lots of problems on new boats which are just due to lack of training or quality control in the assembly.

I have to assume that the ex C Dory dealer you mention is in Crystal River. There was some "Bad Blood" involved. At that time, as I heard it, an offshoot of the former C Dory company introduced the Cape Cruiser line. The Florida Dealer ordered several Cape Cruisers, and then visited the C Dory factory (Reynolds era), and let it slip that he had ordered the Cape Cruisers and he was told that he lost the C Dory dealership. Eventually this competition evolved into a law suit where the molds for the Cape Cruiser were forfeited to the Reynolds, as part of the settlement.

If you want to visit Pensacola, "Camp Thataway" is a great place to stay and visit to talk about boats. The room rate is right. It is a few more hours drive from Apalachicola however.
 
Thanks for all the mentions , we would welcome you to Oystertown for a thorough showing of "Top Cat" and a discussion on Tomcats , the new owners of C Dory ,how we operate , and whatever else comes up .It would be my pleasure !
Marc
850-670-8100 shop
850-653-5950 cell
 
rogerbum":1tp6g32m said:
I know they've built at least 2 Tomcats at Triton. The factory album shows a picture added on 11/4/2010 titled "Second Tomcat"
Click to expand...

That's really good to see.
Is there a link to the factory album? I couldn't see one on the Triton home page.
 
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