boat in the drive way.!!!!!!!!!!!!!

starcrafttom

Susan and I drove up to E.Q. marine and picked up our c-dory yesterday. What a great bunch of people there. we can not say enough about the service and cooperation we received from les and kathy. when we got there the boat looked great. As we entered the cabin i noticed a bottle of Domaine ste. michelle and two glasses next to two new c-dory hats. now that may not seem like a lot but the thought and idea behind it means a lot. On the front bulkhead above the window was a wooden c-dory with are name on it that kathy had made her self on a jig saw. Now thats the type of crafty thing my wife just loves.

Les spent the next hour showing and explaining to me how every thing worked. we have the c-80 system with auto pilot and radar so there was a lot to cover. after reading the manual last night i can really appreciate all the time spent by les just setting up the basic functions so that i can just get in and go. I can never really see having to up date the electronic package in this boat. The intergraded c-80 system (and others like it) are at a level that there is little room for more . its a complete system. Like computers that have risen to a level that they can out preform our needs, the c-80 does more then i will need for as long as i own this boat. the only thing i would like to see is the system that bottom line and cannon downriggers have can up with . You can run your cannon ( and only cannon) downriggers from the bottom line depth finder. so if you have your balls set at 5 ft off the bottom and the bottom shoots up to 5o ft from 120ft , so do you balls. if it drops so do your balls. its a great system for die hard trollers, but has none of the features of the c-80 system. I don't think other companies can use the technology due to copy rights.

After the bottom and switch pushing marathon we were handed over to kathy for the paper work. I have to say that kathy is getting the short end of the stick in this deal. Paper work and dealing with the fiance companies, not to mention the dmv, is not my idea of a rewarding job. Kathy made the prosses very easy and almost enjoyable. All the i's and t's were in good order and meet with my wifes approval. My wife reads every word when it comes to paper work. I mean all the disclaimers and warranty cards. she was very happy with the fine job kathy did. we even had a last minute insurance snafu that kathy and my insurance guy were able to take care of while les filled the boat with gas. Agin these are great people.

Now it was time for the test drive. we launched just down the street and headed out in to the wind and rain that was pounding most of the area yesterday. les must think we are a bunch of hicks. we could not stop giggling and smiling about this boat. Our old boat was a good boat but it was a test of stamina and endurance of the body in bad weather. in comparison the c-dory is a cadillac on the water. We do not come from larger boats or 20,000 lbs displacement sail boats. the c-dory is just fine to us in bad weather. I caught my self ducking the spray that was magically stopped by the window and then flung aside by the wipers. folks we are in heaven, just like the beverly hillbillys. We drove around the area and even poked out past the bar at deception bridge. I saw a dolphin as we crossed the bar. Now that has to be a good sign for the new boat. All in all the E.q. crew was just great about the whole thing. I have never been treated so good about buying something. from the C-dory company to les to all of you at this site. I have only owned three new things. Two motorbikes when i was a marine and this boat. everything else has been second owner if not fifth owner. Thank you all for the information on this site and all the advice i have received for everyone, thank you to roger for the ride in his boat and thank you to les and kathy and (i forgot his name) the rigger at E.Q. for a wonderful boat.

rogerbum · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:05 pm Post subject:

Tom,

Congrats on the new boat. The C-80 system sounds awesome.. I'd like to see it some time. Have fun and maybe we'll see you at a C-brat meeting. BTW - I'll probably be out in the sound fishing this Sun. Will go out of either Edmonds or Everett. Will be on CH 69 - SeaDNA.

Roger on the SeaDNA.

DaveS · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:19 pm Post subject:

Congratulations on your new vessel, Tom and Susan!

Hope to see you at the Everett Launch Ramp in the near future!

Byrdman · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:24 pm Post subject:

Tom.... FANTASTIC ONLY BETTER & CONGRATS..... I too can relate to that ducking the spray... let'm laugh at us man... we are grinning and DRY!! It was great to meet Ya'll in Seattle as well as all the others. Enjoy..but get us some digital photos on the site.... Byrdman in Bama on FreeByrd

Byrdman · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:32 pm Post subject:

got interrupted...at work... Yes, Les and Kathy are on top of the world and great to deal with. They took time last year between Christmas and New Years to help me and Sherryl take delivery. I wish I had brought my digital cam corder in when Les was briefing me. A lot of stuff on the previous "C-Salt"...and I added some more to include a 1800 inverter, hot water heater... satellite radio (which I have yet to get working.."bad antenna message??"), hot-n-cold shower on the back swim platform.. and you should have seen me crawling around the floors opening all the cabinets/floor covers to show the Marine Police the exact flow of the head.... and he wanted to SEE the holding tanks prior to giving me my sticker.??? Well... I got my sticker..and thankfully had read about putting a lock on the "dumper" switch to prevent it from shooting into the lake rather than out the top.. Looking forward to more of your post...and the pics of your family hard at work fishing...and staying out of the spray..
Byrdman

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:34 pm Post subject:

thanks everyone. rogerbum, I will be picking up my wife for lunch in the next couple of days on lake union. she works for zymo.. I believe thats down the street from you. so keep a look out. as for sunday we will be out there two. I have to see whats open.

roger and dave < i will be off work until tuesday so if you want to stop by feel free. right now iam having trouble with the trailer lights and have to go fix them before susan will let me go play.. I really love this boat. I live in marysville at 5401 60th pl ne. just go east of 3rd until you see apple vista. a n turn right. I am the first house.

Jeff and Julie · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 2:38 pm Post subject:

Congratulations Tom and Susan!! I bet you are excited to get out there and do some cruising and now, you don't even have to wait until it isn't raining!!

Jeff and Julie

B~C · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:07 pm Post subject:

Congrats T & S, it sounds like an exciting time for ya's. You know one of the real neat things about these boats (and is one of the reasons for the amount of participation in this web site I do believe) is that, that maiden voyage feeling never really goes away.

I've never heard of balls changing elevation with regards to water depth...now temperature...that's a different issue

Byrdman · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:11 pm Post subject:

That was COLD Ken... pun intended. Embarrased

starcrafttom · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:15 pm Post subject:

I am haveing problems with my trailer lights. ford rangers have the brake and reverse light on the same damm wire so when i hit my brakes the brakes on the trailer think iam in reverse and disingage the brakes , so no brakes, most cars have the brakes wired to the turn signals. any ideas.

Byrdman · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:32 pm Post subject:

Talking with my mechanic... IF you have a 5 prong plug.... one of the 2 white wires will be the ground. On the trailer plug, the "covered" or female prong (1 female and 4 male prongs) will be the ground. Possibly, on the plug on the tow vehicle, you may have switched the two white wires...?? PM me your phone number or email me and I can give you his shop number. He is also a boat loving fool...

B~C · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 3:43 pm Post subject:

Ifn the brake and back up lights are sharing the same juice, I would think you'll need another pin dedicated to your lock out solenoid. To feed that solenoid, you'll need to tap into the back up light with a conductor and a diode. I'll bet a call to the local Ford garrage or RV store would net you and adapter that would square things away. Trailer brakes would be real handy towing with a Ranger. Sounds like untill you get that fixed you'll be doing like the rest of us when we need a boat fix....bouncing up and down in the seat and making motor noises Smile

Jeff and Julie · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:38 pm Post subject: Official name of boat?

Tom,

Did you decide on the official name for your new boat?

Julie

Byrdman · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:40 pm Post subject:

at this time...I was kinda wondering what he has named his trailer.... Angry

More than likely something simple..just difficult to find.

B~C · Posted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 4:42 pm Post subject:

The trailer probably has one of those descriptive, four letter names