Quality Question

If man made it, it will have defects. The main difference between C-Dory and Other® boat manufacturers is just what you said - the dealer network and factory are committed to "marching through problems and getting them taken care of." I know of NO other manufacturer with this commitment (well, I hope C-Ranger has the same commitment) - do you?


Alasgun":w57p19ip said:
My dealer has been great to work with and we are marching through these problems and getting them taken care off post haste. Overall I like the boat real well, will I ever buy another one, let me get over spending over $80,000 for this many problems before I answer that. Mike on Huda Thunkit.
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I am glad some of you chose to quote castanard. Otherwise I would not have known what was happening here. Haven’t had a chance to visit the site as often as I would like to.

castanard if he is stupidberg just can't seem to let go. His ego was hurt the last time here and he needs to put down others in order to have any self worth. He is too stupid to realize he is just hurting himself and is no more than an irritating little insignificant insect to us. :thdown :thdown

If it wasn’t stupidberg, my apologies to him.
 
If man made it, it will have defects.
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Absolute truth. Out of 6 Whalers in commercial duty, 2 had water in the transom (they probably all did, liner boats have a habit of sweating on the inside) so bad they had to be repaired. Out of the things that have given me some grief on the C-Dory, almost none originated with them. They didn't manufacture the tanks -- nor the Wallas and it turns out those problems were easy fixes as well. The backing plate bugged me, but searching the memory banks I can't think of a single 22 lost because one pulled out, nor can I think of any complaints about the forward fiberglass cracking (and it would be here). That said -- facCguy needs to make sure they use a plate 4 inches wider than the outside hole of the cleat (same thickness as the washers is fine). I simply wrap my chain around that forward cleat and have pulled the boat all over the U.S. many times now, so if it will crack with the washers, mine should have by now.

As far as the rest -- you can really tell C-Dory owners from the non C-Dory owners . . . (the non-owners show multiple signs of stress -- ie "cracking up")

Good day.
 
flagold":39zs5igd said:
As far as the rest -- you can really tell C-Dory owners from the non C-Dory owners . . . (the non-owners show multiple signs of stress -- ie "cracking up")
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I agree. I've never heard of a C-dory cleat failure due to the lack of a backing plate or for any other reason, actually. My SeaRay didn't have backing plates either. I'll put my faith in good engineering before urban legend every time.

OAS, fuel lines. I've never heard of non pressurized non-metal engine fuel lines causing a problem by having only one clamp either. Check your squeeze bulb - how many clamps on each end? Are they even metal clamps or are they wirewrap derivatives? (Fill/vent excepted)

Feces occurs. Especially in a manual labor intensive manufacturing environments. Some of us might remember the old saw about never buying a car that was built on a monday or a friday. Pre-robotics it was probably true, but ya ain't gonna see robotics in small boat construction very soon, so ya hope for the best and pick a manufacturer that solidly backs it's product with more than just rhetoric. C-Dory has come through for me so far, so I'm sticking with 'em. Yes, had a gunnel stress crack at the juncture of the cabin and the cockpit. Repaired locally, quickly, and I never paid a dime. See if you can get Dodge to do the same with their transmissions some time....


Don
 
Hi all.

I have a new 06 angler, and so far I am very pleased with the boat. There are a few little things that are not perfect like leaking rub rail in one spot by the battery compartment and mayber a few very hard to find flaws in the gel coat but no serious issues and nothing to bother the factory about.

I have a difficult time with the quote from Pete "designed by genius and built by an idiot". These "idiots" are american workers who have the skills to produce beautiful boats. If any of you have done any laminating work, you just might understand that this is not an entry level position and the slightest screw up can ruin the whole unit.

The cabinets, electrical systems and overall craftsmanship are of good quality and I appreciate the fine work that the factory workers performed on my boat. Great job factory guys!!!!! You have my respect.

I have put almost 50 hours on my new boat and have covered it with blood and scales. I am very satisfied with the performance, seaworthyness and overall quality.

I am not a raw raw person, but feel compelled by Pete's quote to respond. Maybe Pete can give examples to support his statement.

Sea ya 1tuberider
 
I hope that I can convey some perspective.

First of all, my apologies to anyone that I may have offended. That was not intentional and I am sorry for that. Someone said it well that one cannot expect to "put down" this product without repercussions. AMEN. All of you seem like great people and I regret starting off on "the wrong foot".

By the way, I am not sure who is "stupidberg" but it is certainly not me. I am a new member and have only posted once or twice.

I have been looking for a power catamaran for some time. As an engineer, I am aware of the advantages (and disadvantages) a cat hull yields. There have been volumes written on V hull vs. cat but IMHO the advantage go to a the cat hull . Visited the World Cat and Kevlacat factories as well as water tests on those as well as Glacier Bay. These are good boats but did not have the features I have been looking for. Then came the C-Dory Tomcat.

Perfect! The pilot house that no one else had, a good looking cat for a change. I will try to schedule a test drive sometime later this year. It is somewhat difficult since I live in Michigan.

There is NO DOUBT in my mind that the C-Dory factory stands behind their product. That is not the case with many boat manufacturers so I am extremely comfortable purchasing one. That is despite having the dealer over 250 miles away. He is getting his first Tomcat this month and I will be there shortly after it arrives to take a look.

Yes, I am excited about purchasing a Tomcat, probably next year. I retire in November of '07 and this is my retirement present to myself and of course the family.

So, I beg your forgiveness and promise to keep my posts in better taste. I am indeed planning to be part of your family soon and don't want to be the bad stepchild!!
 
20 years on my C-Dory and the cleats are still their and not a Gel-Coat crack in the entire boat.

I'd buy another one in a heart beat. C-Otter.
 
I have been following this post for the last few days. (I am on the C-Brats at least once a day) I am not one that is quick to jump in and try to change the flow or control what is being written. This is an Owners Group site that is for the "Owners", not the factory. We do however take very seriously what our customers are experiencing.

One of the advantages to C-Dory is that we have many years of building the same models. We are continually making improvements to a product with a long track record and thousands of hours of sea time. We also have an Owners Group, like no other that I know of, that provides feedback that we can use to improve our boats. Feedback that we actually listen to and respond to. What a unique relationship.

My e-mail address and cell phone are listed below. I am totally accessible to our customers. Whether you call me to talk about your latest adventure, like Daydream did this morning, or whether you need help with your C-Dory, I would love to hear from you.

We do not build a perfect boat, but we sure try to.

Jeff
 
Thanks Jeff. Good to see your friendly face on our site. Not sorry I had to Zap motormouth -- 1,700 idiots and one brilliant know-it-all just didn't seem fair :lol:

See you in Bellingham I hope. TyBoo Mike and clan, John and Cynthia, and Bill (DaNag) should all be there -- I hope.

Keep building 'em!

Dusty
 
CSTANARD":1r5dhgzy said:
So, I beg your forgiveness and promise to keep my posts in better taste. I am indeed planning to be part of your family soon and don't want to be the bad stepchild!!
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Cstandard,

The internet is a tough place to convey true meaning sometimes, and it only gets easier the more time you spend on it.

I saw a post on one of the other Tomcat threads and it came out almost verbatum regarding our criticism of the boat we purchased. I for one thought you were simply trying to throw a stone. You sounded more like a competitor who was trying to bash the competition both in this thread and the comments you made regarding "thataways" hull slap(banging) post in the other.



You seem interested in the Tomcat, and you seem to have a grasp on what it is. It's a catamaran hull under a roomy pilot house, that will except twin 150's(?) and its only a short arms length from 100k. Mine is the 24 and had a recommended 180 max.(twin 90's). The improvements in the 255 are all good in my opinion.
To the best of my knowledge there isn't another cat out there that is quite like it. Thats why we bought a TC 24.

Every boat out there has its problems, some are easily overlooked, some
can be dealt with at the dealer, some are inherent in the design and should be avoided. Some people would absolutely refuse to purchase a boat with a wood cored hull, when that coring is below the water line, yet C-dory does it with great success.
C-dory sells a product. They don't say their the best, fastest, prettiest, etc. all they claim is that they make boats. If its what your looking for, or can be modified to suit your taste and pocket book then thats a plus. The factory does a good job of standing behind their product thats a plus. You have to look at it(and hopefully other boats to gain some perspective)decide if its for you and you can live with the things you don't like about it, and buy it if thats the decision you make.

Regarding the backing plates for the cleats......The old TC24 link shows a boat under construction hanging from them after it was removed from the mold, and all I have is washers and nylocs under mine.

If you've been on here for awhile, you will have noticed a number of people who owned a 24, and are now the proud owners of a 255. I may be wrong, but I don't think anybody held a gun to their head. :)
 
Although I have posted this under the "Thataway" thread, I need to post it here. Today I developed a failure with the hyraulic steering on the Tom Cat 255 which has only a little over 3 hours on the boat.

I called the dealer (Marc Grove at Wefing's) and withing an hour and a half I had a response that Marc had talked to Jeff M at the factory and that the parts to repair the steering would be overnighted to me. I am gong to be incapicated for a week or so, so I said it could be sent a little slower--and that I would install, bleed and align the Liquid Tie Bar. No, Wefing's and C dory are going to make it good and next week a technician will come by my house and install, bleed and align the new steering. ( I have to state that the boat is kept on a lift at my home, which is 30 miles from the nearest launch ramp adequate for the boat, so there was no way the boat could be put on the trailer easily).

Some companies could have said "That is a Teleflex/Sea Star problem" and let me deal with them (which I have done anyway, and one of their administration will call Jeff Monday)--But C Dory stepped up to the plate and is taking care of it.

I do think that some things could be better, based on my boating experience--and hopefully with time these will be changed. Many of these modifications I will do myself. I also have enough knowlege about the boat building business to know that changing a mold or production line is relitatively expensive--but I have made some suggestions which I think will improve the boat and I do believe that these suggestions will be taken seriously.

I can also say that I have never had a boat which held up as well as the 1992 C Dory 22 Cruiser which the Tom Cat 255 is replacing.
 
and all I have is washers and nylocs under mine.
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-- I think that's all any of us have on any of the boats (if not, pipe up!)

The stainless plate I backed the front cleat with was $1.50 to purchase (8"X10" stainless plate same thickness as the washers). Probably worth it for the factory to install those in the future and not see threads with tirades about lack of proper procedures, etc., even though the old has proved itself adequate thusfar.

The guy charged me 5x to drill it (must have been asleep when he put that one on me . . .). If I'd have been awake I'd have just drilled the thing when I got home.
 
Let me make one comment about backing plates. I do think that stainless steel is excellent. However I have been very happy using 1/4" aluminum.
One one larger boat we rebuilt, we put a very large plate of aluminum under the windlass, fore deck cleates and large welded SS. Sampson post.

I find aluminum so much easier to work with: it is easy to file the edges or grind if necessary with a disc grinder--and a drill press will bore the holes easily. I have never had any problem with corrosion or the mixed metals where the plate was below deck and kept dry. If necessary, it is easy to paint--or bed in 5200 or 4200. I note that the factory backing plates behind the windlass is 1/4" aluminum--and that is adequate.
 
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