Buying used custom boat

M

maxwell

New member
I have been searching for a C-Dory 22/23 and have been browsing this great forum for information.

I recently came across a second hand 23 foot custom boat built in 2013, that has a similar design as a C-Dory 22/23. Since this will be my first boat purchase, I am a bit concerned about the custom one-off nature of the design. I think the biggest difference compared to a C-Dory is notably more deadrise angle (12deg at transom) which can better handle choppy waters, and different materials used in its composite hull, and external appearance is a little different.

It seems like the materials used for the hull construction are top notch. The hull is a composite construction with layers of fiberglass and hydrotek marine-grade plywood. The boat was built by a shop that was owned by the owner of the boat, and he has since retired. The boat was supposedly designed by a well known naval architect.

The price of this boat would be lower (by around 15%) than a C-Dory 22/23 with comparable age and condition. Would it be a good idea to buy such a boat? Or will I have a hard tell reselling the boat? Or should I just take the safe route and go with a C-Dory?

I would be a first time boat owner, so any advice would be greatly appreciated!
 
I have only owned boats that were made by manufacturers.
My take on your question however.
Since you are new to boating I think it would be hard for you to evaluate this custom boat. Even with a sea trial. Just 2 many unknowns for both how it handles conditions to how it was really made. You have no way to really make a comparison.
I would stick to known manufactures where you can read reviews of both the boat and the company that makes the boat, at least for your first adventure.
Remember any boat is really a hole in the water that you dump money into.
You could also weigh the safety concerns. Is this one off boat really safe. You don't want to find the answer to that question later.
Also for any used boat you buy you should get a reliable surveyor to go over the boat. Make that a clause in the purchase agreement. Try to get someone with good seamanship to go with you on the sea trial.
For the resale value no question that the known boat manufactured boat will not only sell for more but will sell quicker.
Hope this helps
 
We would have to know more about the custom boat--who designed it, and exactly how was the construction done: ie plank on frame, with glass out side? In a mold, or cold molded or stitch and glue? Built over a strong back and then the supports removed. Load bearing bulkheads stringers, transom knees? There are multiple ways to build a boat in a one off construction

You are leaving out the details which will tell us if the boat is well built, well designed, and adequate. Is it a home made "Tolman skiff?" ?

The 12* deadrise at the transom, might make it ride better in chop--or it might not depending on the rest of the hull design. I had an 18* dead rise boat which didn't ride any better than a C Dory 22. You would have to run the boat in various conditions to see how the boat handles. Occasionally a boat is designed and does not run well...

"Hydrotech" marine ply is water resistant Meranti (A luan, or in-expensive type of Philippine Mahogany, which works easily because of its straight grain, and fairly pores wood structure). This is often found in "door skins" except apparently this is advertised as water resistant.

It would be unusual to use layers of thin plywood, then glass and then ply. Polyester is not a good material to use for this type of structure--Epoxy is. The Meranti ply does not bend as well, and is heavier than the more expensive okoume. Having said that, there are plenty of boats built of Meranti ply.

If I were to build this boat (and I have built similar) I would be using Okoume plywood and one of the good epoxies. Never polyester. I would only put glass on the outside.

A few years back just before I was ready to go to Lake Powell, with my first 25, I saw a boat similar to the C Dory but in plywood. It was $12,000 with a 150 Honda, which only had 50 hours on it. If I had more time, I would have bought the boat, shaped out the engines, and sold the semi dory for about what I had paid for it--getting an almost brand new motor out of the deal.

For its good and its not so good features the c Dory is well known--and thus has held its value very well over time.

2013 Custom Cruiser
2013 Custom Built 23' Cruiser powered by 175hp Suzuki outboard.

Designed by naval architect, Ken Hankenson. Composite construction: Douglas fir frames, Hydrotek marine plywood covered with fiberglass cloth, WEST epoxy resin, Alexseal primer, and linear polyester polyurethane topcoat. Bronze structural fasteners. Professional subcontractors used for wiring installation, metal fabrication, and painting.
Click to expand...

Is this the boat you are looking at? (Price is $59,000). Ken Henkenson worked for Glen L Witt for about 25 years as a boat designer, and then in went out on his own. He stopped selling the plans, and his company was acquired by Glen L in 2005. Ken died in 2018. He may have taken correspondence courses from WestLawn school.
Both Glen L and Ken Henkenson sold plans, supplies to build boats and kits including most of the prebuilt parts and materials to build one of there boats.

If this is the boat, the price of $59,900 seems a bit steep of this boat. The almost new boat I described above was $12,000. It was also a Glen L /Henderson design, and well done. They are good boats, but I would be pressed to say that they were more rugged or rode better than a C Dory. If this was a scaled up version (available up to 27 feet I believe--and had the layout of a 25, I would still say the price is a little steep..

I lived not far from the Glen L shop, bought supplies and visited with Glen and Ken back in the 70's. and easy 80's. the biggest boat I have seen from their plans was a 42' Argosy Trawler. It was built in Iowa and trucked to Clear Lake Tx.
 
You will have a hard time selling it but at least in Alaska and PNW custom wood boats have a following. Check out Tolemans and Fishy fishy forum.

If you have a big garage to store it and plan to keep it I’d go for it for 5-10 years. I would suggest finding a 20 foot Bayliner striper with an outboard as your first boat or be patient and wait for C-dory. very tough to find a nice clean boat right now but my buddy just got an angler 22 off Facebook marketplace. They will come up
 
This is your first boat and you're buying a custom boat? Not even I would do a thing like that. Oops, I have and regretted it; sounds like one of my marriages, looking back and thinking "why did I ever do that?" Or you know more about boats than you let on.

Buy a cheap 20-24' Bayliner and find out what is good and bad in a boat. Or you can buy a C-Dory and enjoy that boat. Depends what you want to do: fish or cruise. You can fish out of a Bayliner or do both in a C-Dory. Your choice, but you can have an idea what you're getting.

Boris
 
Thanks everyone for the feedback!

Yes it is the boat for $59,900
https://www.insidepassageyachtsales.com ... n-7914605/

After my exploration, I decided to not buy this boat. I tried to buy insurance for it, and the major companies such as Geico and Progressive did not want to insure it. I'm sure there are others that will insure it but that already limits the market for a unique boat such as this one. As a first time boat buyer, I think I'll play it safe and go for a C-Dory.
 
Looks like a C-Dory knock off. From the pictures it appears to be pretty well made. The deeper V of the hull probably gives a better ride in choppy water (at the expense of more HP req'd).

Wonder how much it weighs.
 
I suspect that is going to be a really nice boat for the right someone. It looks like the builder put a lot of thought into the build, paid careful attention to most of the finishing details, and it probably does fine out on the water. I certainly wouldn't be ashamed of pulling that little gem into my slip.
 
Or you could make them an offer based on a Sea trial and Survey.
Offer what you would feel good about paying for it.. And if they agree you would have a nice boat. 35 to 40 grand would make that boat pretty interesting.
 
If you purchase this boat, at some point in the future you will sell it, whether to purchase another boat, a motor home, or due to age issues. Being a one-off boat, it's a big unknown as far as the construction methods and details go. This boat will be more difficult to sell then an known brand, be it Bayliner, Boston Whaler, or C-Dory.

This boat looks great from the photos and appears to be well-designed and well-constructed. It would be interesting to find out what this boat actually sells for.
 
It is not a C-Dory, and the bow would give a fine entry in small chop, but once the wave get higher than that fine point V, you would have good buoyancy and a very splashy, (wet) windshield, or more. That would mean slower speeds in bigger chop.

And yes, Insurance is not going to be easy for this boat at any age.

Oh, and it will never be a "twins" boat either.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

9_Sept_Seq_2019_Cal.thumb.jpg
 
Interesting boat and appears to be well made. A friend in our local Power Squadron has built a number of boats and I would trust any of them before some of the big names.

2 things that would concern me with this boat are the square corners on the motor well and the relatively limited tankage for size/ power - 40g for a 175hp? Appears light for cruising or any fishing offshore.

Rob
 
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