Cape Cruiser Boats

Leo Smith · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 12:34 am Post subject:

Hi C-Brats,
So what ever happened to EGNSTO?
Best Regards, Leo.

mike shotwell · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 4:15 pm Post subject:

The excitement builds....My new Cape Cruiser 23 should arrive here on June 10th. I have the Yamaha F-115 and electronics waiting. I'll post comparisons and photos once she's in service.

C-Hawk · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 5:02 pm Post subject:

It's my understanding that Three Rivers is no longer a C-DORY dealer.

Da Nag · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 5:11 pm Post subject:

flagold · Posted: Fri May 27, 2005 5:46 pm Post subject:

Bill:

It sure is a good boat, so good it has self correcting features! After several of us commented that we couldn't use a boat that drafted as much as it did, it all of a sudden has a new web-page and drafts an inch less than the CD 22!

Good luck with the Cruiser -- but whether you make it will be on the boat's merits, not on spamming the CD site with "errors" of omission.

Good luck with it.

mike shotwell · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 8:54 am Post subject:

Bill, you are correct that we are no longer a C-Dory dealer, it was no secret. I thought my profile listed me as a dealer. I had planned to drive out to see the new Dory factory long before finding out about the Cape Cruiser. While out there I drove it, liked it, had the opportunity to represent them in the S.E. thinking it would fill a niche. On Monday I went to the Dory factory and met with Scott and Jeff, toured the new facility. When asked what I thought of the Cape Cruiser I told them I liked it and had ordered them. Scott said cancel the order or no more C-Dory. I was shocked to say the least. It's still hard to believe. C-Dory has been a big part of my life over 10 years and will continue to be due to the number of them that we have sold and will continue to service and resale. We still have new inventory and use the 26 Angler to fish. Several friends bought C-Dorys that we store and maintain. Scott and Jeff have a great organization and hopefully our relationship will continue. I can't tell them how to run their business nor they mine. Anyway, great boats, people and owners group. Mike

Pete in NY · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 8:57 am Post subject: Do you want a C-Dory knock off ?

PLAGIARISM and INTEGRITY are two words that come to mind. If I had known that Three Rivers was about to go over to the other side, I definitely would not have bought my boat from them last summer. Now I know why Mike, Don and gang have been poor providers of aftersale service they had promised. Service, by the way that C-Dory via Jeff and Bret was quick to provide as soon as they knew about it.(minor things like a defective bilge pump, cabinet latches and new aft deck hatches that don't leak!) Three Rivers was long on hot air and promises but short on action. I guess they thought that the new east coast dealers would cut into their sales.

In my opinion this situation smells, kinda like when a good friend dumps his wife and family for a new floosy and then tries to push the new one on all his old buddies and family. No integrity. How can Three Rivers be trusted again?

How will this affect the resale of our boats if we have to compare our genuine C-Dory to this new one? Do you really want to help these guys get free marketing via this website with entertaining and informative discussioins and comparisons?

By the way, it seems the bunch that jumped ship at C-Dory factory are the same crew that may have been
responsible for some poor workmanship before they left. They were the ones that built Minnow's boat. I wouldn't touch this Cape Cruiser knock off line (a 26 is coming out shortly) with a ten foot pole. I don't like fiberglass sinks either.

Sorry about the gripe, I'd rather be boating the C-Dory way but just felt I had to say something since lots of potential C-Dory owners check this site and they should know the integrity of people they are dealing with if they go for the C-Dory knock off. Here today, maybe gone tomorrow. Better to stick with the real thing and get a real C-Dory.

All that glitters is not gold

Regards,
Pete in NY

flagold · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 9:54 am Post subject:

I'll go back to my original statement: wouldn't it be great if they had come up with something completely new, innovative, and creative, rather than a knockoff boat . . .

No doubt, they'll sell some to the same folks I've seen posting on this and the other forum over the years saying "I can't afford . . ." Well folks, as someone who has had the personal experience of 12 foot waves coming into the house at 5 am, and escaped via boat (Boston Whaler was floating itself, and the trailer strapped to it WITH THE PLUG OUT -- I simply clambered in, unstrapped the trailer straps, unhooked the bow cable, the trailer sank, put the plug in, fired up the engine and motored to safety while the bilge pump drained the boat), it might be time to ask, "What can I not afford to have on or near the water?" For me, those waves answered that question very early that day -- I want the best money can buy under me in whatever length I can afford, and if I can't afford the best in some given length (the length I can afford might not be the length I wanted) then I just can't afford to boat right now . . .

This original thread was titled "I saw the coolest thing" by some hack making one post and then disappearing simply to get this thing under our nose and talking (hopefully endlessly) about it. Well -- I've come to the conclusion that this boat is not the "coolest thing." I'm in the "coolest thing" a 22 C-Dory (with flotation) -- and a Boston Whaler (with flotation).

But thanks for sharing the knockoff -- at least people have been warned -- and can make up their own minds.

Work Release · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 10:00 am Post subject: Cape Crusier Boats

Pete,
I agree with everything you said on this issue. When a little restructuring take place in a business there will always be some temporary fallout. I believe in the end that the C-Dory product line, service, and sales will be better. Anyone that has purchased boats knows the importance of the service AFTER the sale, C-Dory has been tops in my book!
Cape Cruisers look to me like a dead ringer for a C-Dory. They have made enough changes to put a different name on them. They may be a good boat, which time will tell. All thou, I have always been a little suspicious of look a-likes.
Jim, Work Release

Da Nag · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 1:09 pm Post subject:

Da Nag · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 1:18 pm Post subject:

mike shotwell · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 3:27 pm Post subject:

I thought you were supposed to be nice on this site? You don't build a 15 year old business without integrity or service. You don't become a "best dealer" without these qualities either. In all fairness, you don't buy a boat from a dealer 1200 miles away when you have several "local dealers" in your area if they don't have the above. We have and will continue to service our C-Dory customers. There are exceptions sometimes, I'm sure Don told you why you needed to contact Jeff at the factory for your problems. I'm surprised that a similar product that most know nothing about other than missinformation can cause such a big deal. Cape Cruiser is an example of "Capitalism alive and well".

KenMcC · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 3:36 pm Post subject:

That's certainly your perogative, Bill. When I first heard about Cape Cruiser, I contacted them, invited them to participate on the C-DOG site, and started a discussion thread towards that end.

After hearing "the rest of the story" about how things were handled by Cape Cruiser folks, as well as my own very recent experience with Three Rivers Marine, I deleted the whole thread, because things turned out to be very different than they had first appeared.

Live and learn!

I don't think Scot & Jeff and crew have a whole lot to worry about, although having to lose a major dealer certainly has to hurt in the short term. I hated to see that happen, but they'll be the better for it in the long run.

Ken

mike shotwell · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 3:43 pm Post subject:

Hi Ken,
What was your most recent experience with Three Rivers Marine? Me wanting to list used C-Dorys on the Owners Group?

KenMcC · Posted: Sat May 28, 2005 4:22 pm Post subject:

No. I believe I explained my position in an e-mail to you. If I was unclear, or you did not receive my response to you, let me know at kgmccullough@comcast.net

Ken