01/23 - 01/25 - Seattle Boat Show/C-Brat Convention

hardee · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:01 am Post subject:

YaHoo, what a great time. Thanks to Roger for setting this up, to Roger for the name tags and list, and to everyone who helped out, for Linda and her efforts, to the Factory Folks, (actually Fluid Marine) for a good time, great food and door prizes, to Pat for the beer, (I heard it was good) and to all the C-Brats for coming. Thanks too, to Matt for the Thursday night tickets. Special thanks to Mike and Bill, for keeping this site up and for making the C-Brats possible.

It was great to get to meet the staff at the factory, and to get to put faces with names. It was also very special to get to meet some of the far off (geographically) friends that now have faces to go along with the personalities. Many of you traveled long distances and long times. Thank you for making the effort. Some came looking for a new experience, join a family and get a boat. For you I do hope it will be worth your efforts too. Many of us are from much closer, and it was fun to get to see, meet and greet again. It was a great time to share trips, make plans, discuss options and share ideas. Thanks for all of that. For the food, the round table, the instruction, the socialization and the fun. (And yes the short nights sleep too.)

We are looking forward to seeing you all again, on the water or at the SBS CBGT-10. Have a great season. Stay safe, healthy and excited, it suits the family.

Harvey & Deena
SleepyC Moon

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 3:38 pm Post subject:

I am sitting at the office today awaiting the sea trial of a boat by one of the attendees of the event Saturday night.

Since the show started there have been over 250 posts on the site, so I hope to catch up with all of them.

Nice to put faces to names, although it is a bit overwhelming, so if I forget the next time I see you, I apologize in advance.

For those that got the Z Care trial bottles, I'm interested to knwo what you think of the product, as a frined of ours is the distributor. They would also like you feedback on their website as well.

Back to the show tomorrow for the rest of the week, where we will try to add to the number of "Brats" out there.

BTW- Number one question at the show: "Do you have a 25 here?"

We did not, and don't have one in stock, but I am aware of one that may become available (left over new boat, unregistered) so if a new 25 is in your plans, let me know, there may be an opportunity to save some money on one.

The 25 has not been discontinued, as those at the event Saturday saw one in production at the plant.

Doryman · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject:

Has the 29 officially been discontinued? Sure looks like it!

Warren

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 6:41 pm Post subject:

The 29 is not being built because there are still a number of them in the dealer network. So the focus is on the smaller boats right now, as they are selling better right now.

If someone wants a 29, we'd be happy to arrange the sale of one of the existing boats in the market.

20dauntless · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject:

Have any 29's been sold? Does anyone on this forum own a 29? I've never seen one on the water, so I'm just curious...

Pat Anderson · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:11 pm Post subject:

Matt - I think the implication is, you know, nobody here actually WANTS those 29s, AKA "Latham's Folly."

Valkyrie · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject:

If anyone ever buys a 29, it should definitely be named Baby Huey! It looks like someone took a 22 and attempted to inflate it, but somehow it didn't expand evenly.

Nick
"Valkyrie"

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:28 pm Post subject:

I would agree that the 29 doesn't appeal to most on this board.

That being said, I was impressed with the room in the boat, and fit and finish were good. For the last three years we've had the Shamrock 270 Mackinaw to sell, and the number one complaints were it won't sleep four and it doesn't have much storage.

In looking at the 29, it sleeps six and has tons of storage and galley space, so we were impresssed.

But the company didn't invest in the marketing needed to get that boat on people's radar who might be looking at something in that size, and the market for that size boat has been getting tight for awhile.

I won't claim the 29 is the perfect boat (no boat is) but it does offer some advantages for the right buyer. It is not, however, a boat that owners of 22's would consider as a trade up boat.

But then, I wonder what the initial reaction to the Tomcat was when it came out by C-Dory owners?

Captains Cat · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:50 pm Post subject:

rogerbum · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:53 pm Post subject:

TyBoo · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 11:27 pm Post subject:

All I got to say is pretty much the same as every year: What a great bunch of people. Thanks so much.

Matt Gurnsey · Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2009 12:04 pm Post subject:

Yeah, the 29 needed marketing to get the attention outside the C-Dory "Family". AN interesting attempt at broadening their market, but not handled as well as could have been.