Marinaut 21. 5 update?

T

tparrent

New member
I am in the market for a boat that performs like a CD 22 (and the CD 22 is the obvious choice to fulfill that function!) and figured I should give serious consideration to the new Marinaut. Is the official debut still scheduled for the next week or two?

Has there only been the one boat made or are others in the pipeline?


I apologize in advance if this has been covered recently but I did a search and it seems awhile since an update has been provided.

Also, for 22 owners, what did you consider before buying a CD 22?

Thanks!
 
I'm sure Dave will give you the whole scoop, but the Marinaut was on the water at the Sequim Bay CBGT last September. A good showing, fun to drive, responsive and quick, smooth and dry. Many of the photos and the video on their website was done at that event.

I know Dave is planning on bringing it to the Friday Harbor CBGT May 13, on it's own bottom from Olympia I think. He posted his route and schedule on the Friday Harbor thread.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I'm on boat number 12 in the past 40 years. Running from a 12 foot aluminum boat to a 32 foot fiberglass motor cruiser. Every single boat had some manufacturing problem show up in the short term and others in the longer term during ownership. It was a frustration to call a factory and find they are not longer in business...normal for the boat manufacturing business. (Yes, there are a few who have had staying power, but for each one there have been a dozen fly by nights and failures due to economic staying power, etc.).

So, my comment here is that I always let someone else buy the first several years of production of boats and cars. Then I will buy.

Even the beloved CD's still have issues that crop up during manufacture with changing materials, techniques, workmanship and so on. Would I want to buy the first run of a new boat or the 30th run of a design that hasn't fundamentally changed. Give me the later, and I'll bet that the major glitches will not be a concern. But, all boats, have minor glitches right out of the show room.
 
Fellow C-Brats,

My wife and I had been searching for a bigger boat (we currently have a CD 16 Cruiser) on the East Coast, and were discouraged with what was available, but we were continually drawn to the Marinaut 215. So we flew out to EQ Marine in the state of Washington to see the Marinaut in person and take it for a test drive. We were blown away by the quality of this boat and the brilliance of its design.

The first thing we noticed was that in entering the boat, it barely moved. The deck is quite spacious, and there is a lot of space for stowing gear under the splash well area.

The doorway was plenty wide (I'm 6’ and 250 lbs.) for me to enter. The space inside feels enormous for a boat of its size, and it's very well laid out. It’s also bright and cheerful due to the large windows. As a large person, I particularly appreciated the ample and comfortable spacing between the table and seats.

Another reason for seeing the boat in person was the berth, and it did not disappoint us. It had ample room for two large people, and because the berth is open, it feels spacious.

The fit and finish of boat and the quality of the hardware on the Marinaut is top notch.

We love the way the boat handled. The ride was so smooth that at 21 Knots, it felt like we were going in slow-motion. We also enjoyed the excellent visibility afforded by the boat’s design. It was easy to get the bow down to the right trim angle as the boat glided through the water.

Speaking of top notch, we appreciate all the comments that the C-Brats community had for Les and Kathy at EQ marine. They are quality people, which is a major reason why we spent the time and money to travel to the West Coast. Les is obviously an expert on boats, and we benefited from the considerable time he spent on educating us on the boat and options for its customization.

We gave EQ Marine down payment for the boat right on the spot, and from what we understand, it will be the first production boat off the line. Are we nervous about being the first? -- not in the slightest bit. This is perhaps the most well thought-out and well built boat for its price range that we have ever seen. It was designed by master boat builders with year's of experience. With all due respect to comments made about being the first to own this boat: once you see the boat in person, see how well it is constructed, see how it handles, and hold the high density foam samples that went into its construction in your hands -- you may find that you will change your mind.

We hope that the group decides to allow Marinaut 215 users on this forum so we can share with you our experiences with this boat over the upcoming years.

Thanks!

Rich
 
Congratulations on your purchase! Les and Kathy are the best and I'm sure that the Marinaut will be a great boat for you. And please do keep us posted about how do with the boat. Do you have an anticipated delivery date? How about rigging? Motor, electronics, etc. A good part of the fun is putting it together the way you want it.
 
If all goes well, we should have our boat in August. We currently are working with Les on a wide range of options, but these have not been nailed down yet. You are right though -- half the fun is putting the boat together, and there is no better a teacher than Les. I can say that we are leaning heavily toward procurement of the Honda BF115 motor, and toward Garmin GPS and Radar. I'll keep the forum posted.

Thanks!
 
Congratulations, Rich! It will be fun following along as your boat becomes a finished product. You have a good team putting it all together - all of them an integral part of the C-Brat family. I can't imagine anyone would have any issue with a "cousin" being part of the family and participating here.

Keep us posted.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Rich,

Congratulations! :thup Good choice on the Honda. Having driven the boat at the Sequim gathering last fall, I felt that it would benefit from a heavier engine. I'm sure the boat will more than meet your expectations.
 
Right On, Rich. That is what I am talking about. As others have said, I can hardly wait to hear of your experience w/ the boat. I already know what kind of experience you will have w/ Les and Kathy. :thup
 
Good news, I have bought two boats from Les and Cathy and they are stand up people. I would also like to mention Dave, the owner of the line. Dave is a friend and a great guy with a wide range of knowledge on not only boats but many other things. Did you know he helps run a animal breeding farm with elk, buffalo and giraffes?

His boats are not only well thought out but where not taken to market until all the bugs where worked out. the fuel tanks are one of the best ideas I have seen in a boat this size. I am sure you will enjoy your boat and have years of fun with it.
 
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