Lack of Dealers

[teflonmom]

We were away most of the winter and did not keep up with all the C-Brat news. Today I clicked on the factory web site and was shocked to learn that there are "0" dealers in Maryland.

We purchased our C-Dory from Cutter Marine and were unhappy when C-Dory pulled the dealership and gave it to Annapolis Sail. Now yet another dealer gone.

What's up? Not that I am in the market or looking to buy, but it looks like NC is my closest dealer.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Grey(the cat)

[Lucky Day]

I dealt with Ruthie and Gary at Cutter Marine too. If anyone from the factory is watching this thread - please do what you can to bring Cutter back as a dealer. They are great people to deal with and they know these boats inside and out. It's a hardship for those of us in the Cheasapeake area not to have Cutter on the team.

[thataway]

Look around and you will see less dealers all over. Dealers have to keep boats in stock. Keeping boats in stock means often borrowing money or "flooring". Sometimes factories supply the flooring--and sometimes GE credit supplied the flooring. Factories are pressed by the reception--Credit is tight. There are other reasons, I'll not go into.

These are tough times for the marine industry--there are also a number of builders who are out of business. Recently on another forum, there was a complaint that a C Dory Tom cat dealer didn't seem to care--and wouldn't "deal"--the buyer was also looking at a Glacier Bay (out of business and molds purchased by TP, and Twin Vee--out of business and molds may be purchased by World Cat...This person was bragging about the great deal he got on a 29 foot express Twin Vee--on the internet. No dealer support. Had to ship the boat to AK, and no warantee...Was it a bargin? Don't know...

[Matt Gurnsey]

It is indeed tough times.

Bob makes a good point about the "deals" out there. I am glad we don't deal in a line of sunbridge express boats, because the local Bayliner dealer went out of business, and left hundreds of new, left over 2007 and 2008 boats that have been dumped on the market.

Boats that were selling for $100,000 in January 2008 as new 2008 models are being dumped at $65K as new left over 2008's. A failed C-Dory dealer had a 25 Cruiser that the factory had to buy back, and the gentleman who bought that boat probably saved close to $20,000 over the price of a new 2009.

So buyers can find some good deals right now, but as noted, some of this product is from builders who are no longer in business. How good a buy is that product? Maybe very good, but the buyer is taking the chance that there will be no major problems with the boat.

[Will-C]

Hello,
Given the current economic climate I wonder if Cutter Marine is even remotely interested in becoming a C-Dory dealer. I wouldn't think given the dealer hole in the mid atlantic Fluid Marine would have a problem selling to them.
D.D.

[Captains Cat]

I recall Cuttter coming to some of our CBGTs at Langford. Their complaint at the time was that the old management wouldn't give them enough boats. They dropped the line, I believe, not the other way around.

Charlie

[Jeanie P]

I was told by Ruthie that Cutter Marine dropped C-Dory because the old management was slow paying on warranty work, etc. and that they were being forced to take on models that did not sell well for the area.

They are good people and were a pleasure to deal with. Any boat maker would be lucky to have them represent their boats.

I bought the Jeanie P from them, had all service done by them and stored it over the winter with them.

Allan
Jeanie P

[Lucky Day]

I don't know anything specific about the issues between Cutter and C-Dory. But I do know this:

1. Cutter was a great dealer to work with from a customer perspective. They were thoroughly knowledgable about the boats and they matched customers with the right boat - they didn't push people to buy unsuitable equipment. They were/are authorized Honda sales and service. And they knew how to rig the boats.

And . . .

2. C-Dorys are great boats for this area - and Fluid seems to be doing things right.

It would be great to have the two matched up again.

[SEA3PO]

I kinda think this may evolve into the Mobile Dealer arrangement where you buy your new boat from a Broker who oversee's the delivery, the custom rigging and the warrantee.... kinda like what Birdman is doing with his Canadian boats.... I don't see any problems with a Mobile Dealer arrangement as long as you have someone quality (like Birdman) as the broker.

Joel
SEA3PO

[Byrdman]

Times change even with fine niche boats like our C-Dory boats. I can recall part of the fun of finding my first C-Dory, was the fact that there were so few of them, they were built slowly, few at a time, and just reflecting for a minute...thinking back into the mid to late 90s... I can think of the folks at Cutter, where I saw my first CD22 on a raining, foggy day on the way up to Ft. Monroe, VA, Kathy & Les....then called the Honda Guy or something like that,...out up in the Oak Harbor, WA area, and Mike Shotwell and his team down in the Crystal River, FL area.

I had a Sergeant Major who told me one day, from a cell phone...about the size of a small brick-o-block.... "Byrdman...ya gotta come back down to FL with me next weekend to help me pick up this awesome damn tuff little boat....called a C-Dory"... He was on Shotwells lot...and towed home a CD-16. Wonderful. Simple. Tuff. and not the clorox blow and go boats that are so plentiful and pumped out (or use to be) like some company named Carter or something pumped out liver pills.

Days gone bye...but fun to reflect on. Driving about 350-500 miles was the norm for folks in my area to see one of these neat boats. I made it a point after meeting a few of the owners to travel America to meet as many of them as I could. Again...some of the best days...and nights...and trips....and travels of my life.

Thanks to the Toland Family...for kicking off such a wonderful hull. Look what has been created from that....

and of course...those were the days prior to GE credit wanting 14% for floor planing... Now, just how many dealerships in America regardless of type of boats and/or size can hold up to that for very long.

Byrdman

[marvin4239]

We lost the dealer in Palatka Florida "Big Boys Play Toys." It's a real shame as they were a great dealership and really good people. For some reason the C-Dory's just didn't catch on there as they concentrate more on smaller fishing skiffs. The owner once told me he could put together a 16' skiff for $13,000 and the 16's C-Dory was nearly twice that. They are still in business just not selling C-Dory.

[teflonmom]

Interesting comments. There sure is a large hole in coverage on the East coast. I has a conversation with Gary at Cutter after C-Dory pulled the dealership. I think C-Dory's reason was that Gary would not stock the entire line. He told me he really did not have any calls for sixteen footers.

I was sorry to see them loose the C-Dorys they were a good dealer and really took care in fitting out our boat and making sure we understood exactly how to trim work the tabs.

Fred, Pat, and Mr. Grey(the cat)

[El and Bill]

It's a new world out there, economically. Any discussions about whys or wherefores with dealers, several years ago, may be totally different today in this environment.

[dave]

[Fishhawk]

Ya,

I don't have all the details but we lost our dealer up here as well.

The long time C-dory dealership, Northwest Outlet in Superior WI no longer sells or services C-dorys.

I don't even know where I'll have to go now.

Not a good thing!

CD