"...Oh, what a Cute boat!"

C

Casey

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Joined
Nov 2, 2003
Messages
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C Dory Year
2006
C Dory Model
23 Venture
Hull Identification Number
GXK23017A606
Vessel Name
"Dessert 1st"
Have you noticed - when folks react to your boat (at a gas station, on the water, in a parking lot; ...where ever) men will comment about the vessel's nautical lines. Men will invariably say it looks "seaworthy," or "functional," or would be great for fishing.

Women, on the other hand, will almost Always use the word "Cute."

This has happened so often that when-it-does, Mary and I will invariably look at one another and smile. It's our own, little private (?) joke.

Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Casey-

I pulled into a gas station in Jackson, California one time and a guy offered me his wife and two kids in trade for my C-Dory (in jest, I think!) :lol:

Don't know if the wife would have thunk of the idea as "cute"!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Isn't that what the C in C-Dory stands for?? :wink: When we hear "cute", I used to point out what a MANLY boat it is, rugged and seaworthy... now, I just say, "Thanks."

Kinda like explaining to some sailors (especially out east) that a C-Dory isn't made by Cape Dory. I've had people tell me I'm wrong when I explain that they are not the same company. :roll: Have you run into that with your Cape Cruiser?

We used to get all kinds of comments when hauling our Corsair Trimaran on the trailer; the amas fold in, leaving the akas (beams) standing about 11' high. This was one of the more absurd discussions...

Him: What is that thing?

Me: It's a boat.

Him: Doesn't look like a boat, it looks like an airplane.

Me: Nope, it's a trimaran sailboat.

Him: No, I don't think so - I think it's an airplane.

Me: I'm pretty sure it's a boat.

Him: Naah, I think it's an airplane.

Me: OK, you got me - it's an airplane.

Him: I knew it!

:mrgreen:
 
Na Waqa's full name is "Na Waqa Lailai Totoka." She started out just as "Na Waqa," which means "The Boat" in Fijian. I added "Lailai Totoka," which means "Cute Little" after I'd heard "My, what a cute little boat!" about a thousand times.
 
People say the same of our Marinaut, saying how cute she is, and why shouldn't they? The Venture 23, CD 22 Cruiser and Marinaut 215 have similar interior set-ups, and are sister boats. They are all beautiful and functional boats. I remember when we were at Friday Harbor watching C-Gnome come in. In my opinion, she was the most beautiful boat to enter the marina.

I think the reason why people call our boats cute is that they think of them as beautiful, but small boats. They are not small, however -- only look small, because they have a low center of gravity. Looks are deceiving. Our boats are at least 24 feet in length from anchor to back of engine. Not having deep V hulls, and owing to their brilliant design, they have the space of much larger boats.

Casual boaters ignore our boats, because more often then not they are the smallest looking boats in the marina. However, when the more experienced boaters take a close look while we explain our boats features, they are blown away. In the last month of the season, we were approached by a ferry boat captain, a person who owned a 23 foot inboard fishing boat, a person who owned a million dollar, 55 foot yacht, and two eldery large cruiser owners who wanted an easier boat to maintain so they could continue boating. Many were interested in conducting further research.

It is sad that with few exceptions, new C-Dory's are no longer being sold on East coast, and C-Dory sightings are now rare off the Connecticut coast. C-Dory's are no longer seen in boat shows, so that it would hard for people on the East coast to educate themselves that there does exist alternatives to the flooded market of mass-produced, cookie cutter, production boats. So if people call our boats cute, we should take it as a high compliment.

Rich
 
You're right Casey. We get it lots too. We take it as a compliment and say "you bet" Enjoy the St Johns.
 
So one day I'm messing around on our boat tied up in a slip at Everett. The guy across from us is trying to sell his Bayliner Classic, a very nice well thought out boat. Along comes a young couple who had an appointment to look at the Bayliner (with a big 'For Sale' sign on it). The woman stops, looks at our boat and says "Oh, it's so cute, can I come aboard?" Well, she fell in love, her husband just shrugged his shoulders, and the Bayliner owner just stood there and glared at me.
 
the one thing I hear from every person I meet at the dock or the gas station is "oh yeah, that boat will go anywhere", or "you couldn't sink that thing if you tried".

They really are great boats and well received.
 
DuckDogTitus":1ouxjtlw said:
the one thing I hear from every person I meet at the dock or the gas station is.... "you couldn't sink that thing if you tried".
Click to expand...

That's funny since one thing they don't have is a self-draining cockpit. (Not to say they aren't capable and good-looking, of course :D) Re: cute -- I think it's that "little engine that could" look that does it.
 
Yeah, I got my C-Dory 'cause the wife thought it was cute.

One day we were out cruising around some marinas looking at various boats (to upgrade from a console RIB). I was actually seriously considering Albin 27 Aft Cabins. In one marina the wife says "Ooh, look at that one. It's so cute." So we go have a look (it was a 25 cruiser). It was locked up an no one was around so all we could do was look in the windows. Not having heard of C-Dory before, we go home at look it up on the web.

Before long the wife says that a C-Dory is what we should get.

So here we are.

There are only a few in my area that I have seen (including mine), 3 22's plus the original 25 we saw.

Usually people comment on it when we take it out. I've had people stop their cars and ask for a look when I am working on it in front of my house.

For the two of us a CD-22 Cruiser seems plenty big enough (although we have yet to take more than a 2 day trip in it).
 
Years age when we owned the C Dory we always got lots of comments about our boat. Cute, nice, seaworthy ect. Then we got a new kitten "Mr. Gray", the comments changed to what a cute kitty. My wife loved all the cat talk, but I kinda missed talking about the boat. Mr. Gray is in kitty haven and we are boat less. We do however have a lovely little girl cat, Bonnie!
 
The word cute should be reserved for baby animals and little girls. I hear it all the timed. My wife now refers to it as "hay we just got Cuted!" When on lookers feel obligated to comment about the athtetic apeal to the gorgeous lines of the C-dory."Cute" seems to be the norm.
How would you describe a sweet 69 Mustang? Cute??
A vintage BSA or Triumph motorcycle ? Cute??
Now a boat?

Better than ugly I suppose.
 
"Cute" is a judgment. It's a relative and subjective evaluation from the one who issues the statement. It bears nothing on what really "is". Some live on expectations from others. This is foolish.

Grandma used to say, "Expect a compliment and what you'll probably get is disappointment".

I like "We don't see the world as it is, we see it as we are".

My point: It doesn't matter what others think. If you like your boat, that's all that matters.

Aye.
 
Well, I think my boat does look kind of cute! ;-) Then again, I think a lot of gals look kind of cute! ;-) ;-)
 
dotnmarty":2d66hb82 said:
So one day I'm messing around on our boat tied up in a slip at Everett. The guy across from us is trying to sell his Bayliner Classic, a very nice well thought out boat. Along comes a young couple who had an appointment to look at the Bayliner (with a big 'For Sale' sign on it). The woman stops, looks at our boat and says "Oh, it's so cute, can I come aboard?" Well, she fell in love, her husband just shrugged his shoulders, and the Bayliner owner just stood there and glared at me.
Click to expand...
I can see how that could happen. But Marty, you're a married man.... :wink:
 
Oh - I guess maybe she fell in love with the boat. :wink:
 
I was coming out of a Dollar General store after coming off of the St. Johns river one Sunday when I noticed an older couple parked next to boat, rolling down their car windows and admiring the boat. They thought the boat would be perfect for them and wanted to know how easy it was to trailer, handle on the water etc. I hope they bought one or will in the future. I do think a lot of people think their "cute" until they inquire about how much they cost. Cuteness is not cheap.
 
'Brats,
...ooh, don't get me wrong - Mary and I Love our CC23!!!
We just find it interesting (and humorous) that 'cute seems
to be such a common descriptor with women, when describing
our "type" of boat(s). We are entertained, and flattered.
Jim - now that I think about it, are you Sure your trimarans
wasn't an airplane in another life? Great story!
We're sitting in a Quiet cove alongside the St Johns River, having
morning coffee ad watching the water hyacinth slowly surround
Dessert 1st. ...almost like something in a horror movie!
Yesterday, as we motored north from Astor, a small floatplane
flew past. It was Tom&Joyce (CD22 "Out2C")and they waved
as they flew past ... Very Cool!
Life isn't Good; it's Great!
Best,
Casey&Mary
 
Casey and Mary: we are soooooo envious. We put up our boat in the middle of October and can't use it again until May 1st. :( :( :( :(

Rich
 
Roger-Ya think? :wink:
 
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