Arima vs. C-Dory

[Sea Wolf]

C-Brats-

Here's an interesting post on the Arima's owners web site comparing the Arima and CD-22 that was posted a while back and has received about 11 responses. I responded to it myself (below), then brought it over here so that we could give them a balanced perspective by adding our $0.02 in on the discussion:

From: stroz1  (Original Message)

Currently own a 2000 Thompson model 240 Fisherman Hardtop with a V-8 I/O.
Its a great boat but too large and heavy for me to trailer. I do most of my
boating on Lake Erie, 50% cruising and 50% fishing. I am seriously thinking
of purchasing a 21' Arima hardtop or a 22' C-dory. Have any of the members
compared these two boats? Also, would appreciate any comments regarding
boating on the Great Lakes with Arimas. Thanks, Ron.


From: brdman11

I can not be of much help on your comparison question.What I can tell you is that I am the new owner of a 21 HT.I fish alomost exclusively salt water.I have owned several boats and that included a 17 foot Whlaler.Prior to purchasing my Arima,I concidered a Grady White.I have seen the Sea Dory boats and to tell you the truth,Idont get turned on by them even thiough they very well may be decent boats.At the lauch ramps,when I trailer my 21 footer into the water,I always receive numerous compliments from other boat owners,I know my Arima is an envy to them all.More importantly,my Arima and I are very comfortable in all kinds of sea conditions.It is a boat that I completly trust and who can say if there is a better boat bargain anywhere for the money...IMO...ray

From: xjetgent

Stroz1,
I was in the C Dory factory about 3 years ago looking for a Honda motor.
By accident I was waited on by the owner of the place. Yes the original owner.
A character for sure, been in the boat business a long time.
In the conversation which went on for about an hour, I asked him if he had every had a product liability suit to defend. He said, " Not a one."
So for what it is worth I think you can say it is a well made boat.
He talked me out of the Honda I was looking at, and I owned then and still own an
Arima. For my use it is the only thing.
 
xjetgent.


From: David L

Both very solid boats and similar in that they are fairly flat bottom boats.  C-Dory is pretty spartin (designed to be customized by the owner), but Arima is not exactly luxurious either.  Both factories are not more than 1/2 hour apart here in the northwest.  For that kind of money, why don't you visit them both and make an informed decision.  Iooked at them both also.  It's your money!

From: johnnyrockfish

I'm comparing these same two boats and luckily I live in the Seattle Area so I can see them easily at dockside.  The biggest turn off for me on the C Dory is the need to buy accessory floorboards in order to keep your feet dry when it rains.  The deck on the C Dory is pretty much the bottom of the hull and there is no well for the water to drain into.  This leaves you with water sloshing around in the cockpit until you pump it out.  The C Dory is really flat bottomed and probably pounds more in a tight chop.  It has to be even more efficient than the Arima design in terms of powering it with a small outboard.  The C Dory strikes me as an ultimate trailerable, skinny water cabin Cruiser.  The Arima is not far behind in this category but would be heavier and need more power to do so.  The Arima is probably more comfortable in the chop as well.
 
Good luck.


From: Draggin' Bait

I've heard that in a chop a C-Dory will ride better than an Arima because of the narrower beam.  However, tall people will always be at risk of hitting their heads on the C-Dory. 


From: Motionmarine1

One thing for sure, C-dory owners put a lot more pics of their boats on the owners/c-brats site.  I am jealous, we need to add more pics of our boats, mods, and tips up on this site.  I for one will try to get some pics of my boat when I am out next.
 
I did look at C-dory boats as well before buying my Arima, but I found that they were prohibitively more expensive.  Also, I think they are built more for cruising while Arimas lean towards fishing, although both will fish.
 
 

From: baddawg

I have taken a ride in a C Dory and I own a 17 SR and I can tell you the C Dory does ok in the chop.  The narrow beam slices through the water pretty well and there isn't a whole lot of top end to get you really slamming.  I also can tell you that they don't fish as well in my opinion.  I found them to roll  with even the smallest waves and tip with even the minor movement by the passengers.   They are supposed to be pretty economical, but so are the Arimas. 

From: Humboldtfisher

In the mid-1980's worked as a fishing guide in SE AK and the lodge ran 22-foot C-Dories which were an adequate fishing platform, but were one of the worse boats to operate in any type of swell or chop - talk about a pounding ride!  In 1987 I was fortunate to operate the lodge managers' 26-foot C-Dory with a I/O, v-8 engine, and a proto-type deep-vee hull and this was a great boat .
 
Now, I own a 2000 17-foot Sea Chaser and am pretty pleased with it.  It was just given to me this year by my aging father, and truthfully, an Arima would probably not be my first choice in a boat if I could actually afford to buy one in the $25-30K range.  However; I am planning on installing trim tabs this winter to improve handling.
 
I'm curious if you posed this same question on a C-Dory owner's website because it seems you'll get a biased answer to which is the "better" boat depending on where you post this question.
 
Ross

From: mikexeter

Ride aside, the Arima is better lookin on a trailer and underway.

Mike Lambert

 

From: Grandpa

Ross, if you had $25-30K what kind of a boat would you buy?     Grandpa Bill  
 
 
From: C-Wolf1

A couple of very important differences between the two boats is that the Arima is a very open dedicated fishing boat, where alternately,
1) the C-Dory 22 has a completely enclosed cabin which allows you and your passengers to get out of cold, wet , rainy weather and boat spray (and which can be easily heated), and
2) the interior provides a full V-berth, convertible dinette & 3rd berth, a galley (sink, water supply, stove, storage, built in ice box), and considerable additional in-cabin storage.
This makes the C-Dory a much better bad weather boat, makes it a better overnight and cruising boat, and appeals to your female crew members (checkbook auditors) much more.
So far, we've received quite a few comments from Arima owners with a lot of valid points made, but, as pointed out above, undoubtably representing a biased overall comparison. Being a member of not only the Arima group and Both C-Dory sites, I'm going to post your original question on the C-
Brats site and see what responses you get there, just to get a more balanced counter-perspective.

Hope every one enjoys the fun and gentle rivalry! Joe


Here's the Arima Owners web site addressif you want to follow their end of the discussion:

http://groups.msn.com/ArimaBoatOwnersGroup/equipforsale.msnw?action=get_message&mview=0&ID_Message=6109&LastModified=46754

Please post your comments here on this thread. If you'd like to become a "ghost", lurking, or "outlaw" member to the Arima site, it's up to you. I enjoy their disccusions and occasionally post comments. Fun! Joe.

[caution]

My wife and I had a 17' Arima and loved it. They're extremely good and seaworthy boats. However, it was too small for anything but fishing, and I'm so cold-blooded, I was freezing to death during Chinook season out here in Puget Sound. We started looking for an "all-purpose" boat that was a little bigger, could be used for cruising, and had a decent cabin. Given those requirements, the C-Dory '25 was the hands-down winner -- it has the best cabin for its size and gets incredible gas mileage. It isn't quite as suited to fishing as it ships from the factory, but with some customizations, it can be an excellent fishing rig, and it's the best cruiser for its size. Besides, it's drop-dead beautiful!

Caution Horse