Influence of C-Brats

tom&shan · Joined: 21 Sep 2006 Posts: 316 Photos: Dakota

I "discovered" the C-Dory before I ever heard of C-Brats. Saw the boat, knew it was what I was looking for and then found the C-Dory Company Site. I was thinking with the new direction the factory is taking, what influence did the C-Brats play on my buying a C-Dory. Well, even without the C-Brats I may of eventually bought one. But this site made a significant difference in my decision, timing, and everything else. I would not be at this point in time already on my second boat, a brand new one, without the guidance, misdirection, confusion and clarity that the folks who dwell here provide. It was a C-Brat (Marty with Lizzie) who gave us (Shan) our first ride on a C-Dory. Not the factory, not a dealer, it was the C-Brats that sold us on these boats. The only reason we are buying a new boat this month, is because of C-Brats. From C-Brats I get information that is valid, timely, and helpful (sometimes more than I want). It is you guys (and gals - dont want to forget Sally), that have made me a C-Dory owner.
Thanks
Tom

thataway · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:42 am Post subject:

Tom,
Nicely said!

I had decided to buy a CD 22 before I knew about C Brats or C Dogs. I pruchased the 22 sight unseen from a C Dog member and sold the C D22 thru C Brats. I got a ride on a TC 24 from a C brat and saw the first photos of the TC 255 in construction on C Brat. The first TC 255 ride was arranged 2100 miles from my home by a C Brat member!

I don't think that the current factory realizes the power and effect of the C Brat group--Thanks!

Doryman · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:15 am Post subject:

DaveS · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:52 am Post subject:

oldgrowth · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:15 am Post subject:

thataway · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:44 am Post subject:

The C Dogs (C Dory owners group) was on Yahoo, and was a parallel group--I had the feeling that C Brats was mostly PNW and C Dogs was elsewhere--but both had some features. The "owner" of C Dogs retired from C Dorying and the list was closed about a year ago. I believe that most of the technical material has been preserved on this site.

JamesTXSD · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 7:24 am Post subject:

Tom, you hit that nail right on the head! We flew to Seattle to see one of these boats in person... after considering many options, but finding the C-Brats to be the most influential in our decision-making. When I asked about a demo ride at the SBS, C-Brat Tom (of Susan E) tapped me on the shoulder and asked if we'd like to go for a ride on their boat. When I have had questions regarding the boat, the C-Brats have been more helpful (as in: saving the factory the hassel of dealing with a "retail" customer). I am saddened by the factory's new position of being too big or too busy. However, it doesn't change how I feel about our boat and all the truly wonderful people we've met through the C-Brats.

The "words" may be a misunderstanding, but I think we get the intent. I bought a second American Coach (not an inexpensive traveling machine) because the factory took such good care of us on the first... and gave great support to the owners association. I can relate story after story of wonderful factory support with that product. And even though the factory did not sell direct, they made a great effort to stay in direct contact with their owners. Creates loyality and return business. From a marketing standpoint, a good business plan.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

Da Nag · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 12:21 pm Post subject:

Alyssa Jean · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:22 pm Post subject:

What Bill said!!

journey on · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 1:36 pm Post subject:

Well, I don't know how C-Dory is structured, but I owned a bunch of Catalina sailboats, which claimed to be the biggest sailboat manufacturer in the world. If you had a problem, you talked to Frank Butler, the owner, or Sharon the VP of sales. Frank wasn't a smooth person, but he loved sailboats and appreciated that you'd bought one and was always at various Catalina get-to-gethers. Catalina also sponsored the various owner groups, from the 15' day sailer to the 42' cruiser. Taking care of existing owners was a priority for Catalina. They also had a factory parts store where you could go buy parts, when the dealer slow rolled you.

The C-Brats site is the owners group for C-Dory, de-facto, and it behooves C-Dory, Ink to support that. Either that or they will lose their biggest selling point: C-Dory character.

By the way, The Catalina factory really knew how to build GOOD boats, and a tour of their factory (which they run every Thursday,) was impressive. C-dory could take that tour and learn a lot (more, they're not dumb.) If one is in Van Nuys, Ca, on Thursday stop by and take the tour.

The Southern Boris

Anita Marie · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 2:45 pm Post subject:

Bill, well said. I am sure that you echo the thoughts of many on this site.
We had some spirted threads on this site. One of those threads was about the Cape Cruiser. Many things were said but most of it was negative. They were well thought out and understandable.
I guess what I am asking is, as soon as Cape Cruiser is taken out of the picture CDory takes a new direction. Changes in production and design, distancing themselves from the customer by getting out of direct sales, personnel changes at the top and the new COO basically saying he is too busy to even monitor what is said about his product.
I for one bought my CDory before I knew about the CDogs, the CBrats did not exist at the time. I love the boat for its looks and function. Robbin and I were at the first ever CDory gathering in Langley in 01 and have made some great friends over the years.
I think we were better off when Cape Cruiser was still in business. I still love my boats but I do not see the changes at CDory to be a good thing for the consumer and that means us.

Fred

jimcinfra · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:18 pm Post subject:

Living in Mississippi I would never have been exposed to C-Dory except thru this website. C-Brats made the boat become a real option for us. Y'all were so enthusiastic that we just had to see one, so we travelled several hundred miles just so that we could test drive it. Turns out that we were so impressed that we bought the boat!
I don't care how much advertising hype you put out, the real truth comes thru what said by owners of the product.

Helen O · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:24 pm Post subject:

That sound you just heard was C-Dory shooting themselves in the foot. Angry

jimandlaurie · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject:

Echo... Right on!, Bill and Fred. I started reading this thread with thoughts of posting that the influence of the C-Dogs and C-Bats can be seen clearly in C-Dory's need to move to a much larger maufacturing facility.

Jeff understood the the power here,hopefully Tom, and the rest of the "new" crew can figure it out, and not ruin the relationship with the one big thing ,the C-Brats, that got C-Dory and him(Tom) where they are now. That may sound a little high-hat ,but I firmly feel that if it wasn't for the C-Brat enthusiasm,that they would still be building a few boats a month on Highway 99.

Now saying that, maybe we Brats and Dogs were too much of a good thing for C-Dory.

Jim

patrick and linda · Posted: Tue Feb 27, 2007 3:41 pm Post subject:

hi tom and congratulations!
since no one has step up to the plate, i guess i will,
on behalf on the c-brat family, please make the commission check out to:
pat, you can further electronically send this amount to my account at:
513-752-7722.
thank you and by all means enjoy both this site and your new vessel.
best regards
pat