C-Dory Factory Cutting Corners?

Rabbit's Hutch (Gary), I believe most members on this site took your comment as it was meant.
It is the following quote of Godfry Paul’s post that got people riled up on this site.
I hate to say it but I've heard the same thing on a number of ocassions now. Everything from poor fit and finish to leaking boats.

The word on the street is that the company's financial situation is causing them to ship out boats as fast as possible which is never a good idea with a boat that has developed an excellent reputation over the years for quality.
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I just came back from the factory and I can assure everyone, they are still producing a top quality product and are just as helpful as they have always been, even when you ask dumb questions.
 
Personally, I love the C-Dory experience. From those who own and build this product to our band of brothers, the C-Brats. We, you and I... all share this passion. Shame I'm still a few weeks off from taking delivery of my 2nd C-Dory.

If there are knuckleheads amongst us... perhaps we can chip in and get them a rubber duckie and wading pool until they are ready to "be nice."

It is only through the guidance and assistance found on this site that expands the experience for my family and I.

I'll chip in the first few dollars towards the wading pool.... he he
 
The word on the street is that the company's financial situation is causing them to ship out boats as fast as possible which is never a good idea with a boat that has developed an excellent reputation over the years for quality.

Yeah, that's the part I had a problem with too. What "street"? What "word". Let's have some specifics, if they are available. I've been to the factory, they have a very healty backlog, sold lots of boats at the SBS this year. They just expanded. Wish they'd go public, I'd be there at the IPO with a good slug of venture capital. They are shipping as fast as they can and I believe, not compromising quality. I'm sure there's a reason for the problem that Rabbits Hutch had, and it's probably not Factory QA. Gary, your comments were well meant and well taken. The others maybe not so. We'll see.

Charlie
 
There is no question C-Dory practices best-of-class customer service. It's one good reason to own one of these boats. The factory is not infallible however. It's important to let folks share their observations, no matter how critical they may seem. If nothing else this serves as important feedback for the factory. Let them make the calls as to usefulness of the info. Sharing this info is is invaluable. I don't want people just to complain to the factory; I want to hear about it here too.

After last weekend, here are my (very specific) observations for my 2004 22':

1) Washdown pump - a must have factory-installed option, but the pump cannot be mounted upside down (motor down) - it rusts out and siezes; dying long before its time. The fact it was a Flo-Jet (made by ITT Industries - which also makes Jabscos) did not help. The Practical Sailor (http://www.practical-sailor.com/) did a nice, recent review on wash down pumps and I replaced my rust heap with their recommendation - a Johnson 3.4. I placed this ignition protected unit between the starboard fuel tank and the bottom of the starboard hatch/battery well. Tucks up nicely out of the way and away from too much overspray. I also replaced the factory installed plain rubber 3/4' i.d. in/out lines (which kinked over on hard radii lowering pump output) with Trident marine sanitation hose - a great improvement for only a few bucks more. Also replaced the stripped out nylon barb fitting with pure brass.

2) Battery selector switches - Guest brand, no; Blue Seas Systems (replacement), yes. Again a few bucks more and you have a component that will last the life of the boat. I vote for Blue Seas (and/or BEP) electrical components on every C-Dory. Yes, I would have paid a bit more for these to begin with.

3) Fuel tank cleats - 'nuf said. I think the new boats have got it right.

4) Screws vs. bolts. Screws just don't work in a lot of marine applications. I through-bolted the hardware on my cabinet doors - no more loose doors. Other suspicious screws: battery tie downs.

5) RV hardware - I imagine the old style, fold up dinette legs are all that are/were available, but the chrome finish clashes mightily with 19 months of salt water (or is it the other way round?). Nothing a bit of Rust-O-Leum can't handle, though.

I love my boat. She is as solid now as the day she was made. BTW, just after I got her, a guy came up to me in a store parking lot and ran his hand over her, smiling. He told me he was a fiberglasser at C-Dory. His pride still means a lot to me. The factory is good - and will stay that way the more info we collect and exchange here. Some will be first hand, some will be hearsay, but I think it's all good and worth sharing.
 
Yes - they are clearly cutting corners. I just ran outside and took a look at my boat and noticed that the front end is much pointier than the back which has a nice, almost rectangular finish. I've noticed this same problem on almost all the boats ('ceptin the cats)! Now I'm not much for conspiracy theories here, but I think that the factory must be cutting the corners off the front end and using 'em to make smaller boats (where do you think Bambina came from?). They might also be in cahoots with those people who market v-shaped sheets and sleeping bags. :lol:
 
Hi Norma,

I honestly didnt want to bug the factory about this yet. Taking Scott away from the sales floor or Jeff from ownership responsibilities seemed silly if I could have received a simple answer here of "yes, it's the new thing for the 22' for safety reasons as folks were getting poked."

Seems I would rather chit chat here amongst the Brats then call the factory.

However, since I had to move from Fort Lewis and the Puget Sound, I do miss showing up at the factory and wandering around. It used to be a 30 minute drive away...
 
Not really a problem Charlie, just more of a question...

I would have done so with my very first posting... but I cant figure out how to copy/paste or cut and paste a picture into this posting....

I do have a pic to share if someone can explain how I can do so...
 
The CD-25 at the SBS definitely had the cut-corners on the table. I can sure understand if this is a safety/convenience issue, but it looks bad. I don't understand why a bit of teak on the raw white edges couldn't be used? Make it lower than the rest of the wood for table cleaning, but the way it is, it just looks unfinished (like they cut the corner and didn't put anything on to trim out the cut).

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Captains Choice":1v6o90jv said:
Gary, can you post a picture of what your problem is?
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Charlie, have you gone nuts?? This is the World Wide Web, for crying out loud. You know, one of the internets!?! Inviting everyone to post pictures of their problems could could be devastating. I mean, what if someone had an old war wound that was causing problems as they got older? Like shrapnel in the butt or something? Would you really like some old guy posting snaps of his butt? Think, Charlie, think. Man I hope Dusty doesn't see this...

Gary - Are you ready for a photo album? Should we set it so Charlie and Dusty can add pictures to it, too?

Speaking of a pain in the butt - my table has some raised plastic trim all around the three open sides. It does a good job of keeping stuff from sliding off, but it is a problem for wiping off stuff I want off. Open corners are good. Maybe you can just find some stick-on laminate that matches the wood rail and dress the exposed edges up a little. Eighty-nine cents, tops.
 
Charlie, have you gone nuts??

Been there, done that, still there!! Nothing like a 1000 pictures that are worth a word..... or is that backwards.... :shock: I promise I won't post a thousand pictures....

Just not sure what the problem is.... :lol: Of

course, I'm not too sure about much of anything either.... :smilep

I am sure however that, having never seen Dusty's butt, I never want to.... :crook

My only war wound consists of falling down a hill near the Subic Bay Officers Club in about 1965 and skinning my ........... fortunately I was somwhat sedated at the time and felt no pain.... Until the next morning... :thdown :thdown :thdown :thdown

charlie
 
I question the intend and validity of the "word on the street" person.

I have had many occasions (having purchased two boats upto now) to interact with the factory and ALWAYS have had favorable responses and actions taken. They go out of their way to make a problem go away.

I would buy another boat from C-Dory in a heart beat. (If I needed one).
 
Having just returned from Seattle (a conference), I spent a few hours in the C-dory factory picking up some retrofit items: cockpit floor levelers, 25 gallon tanks, hoses, cockpit tank covers, etc., for my 1999 cruiser.The new factory is an impressive workplace, and the workers and sales people accommodating just like the old factory. Regarding "cutting corners", the only change that I felt was superior in 22' cruisers pre-2000 was the full lids covering the starboard and port lazarettes. But the latest modifications are indeed superior, viz., a flat, self draining cockpit floor moulded in, (the bilge pump is aft) a new elongated inside step with that world class non-skid moulded in, and other standard features, viz., center opening window, electric windshield wipers, hydraulic steering, and moulded in chocks to keep the tanks from sliding (no screws in the sole). This is simply a better product. And yes, the wiring has a snap cover instead of the fiberglass cover which always rattled loose. New purchasers can rest easy. Us old timers just like our older boats. C-Dory, in my opinion, never made a bad boat.

Yellowstone
 
Charlie - this is what I mean. Dusty wrote this on another thread, but it won't surprise me if he posts some pictures. Thanks a lot!

Dusty":2l4tt0h7 said:
If you have a butt carcass (I keep mine in the freezer) it usually helps to drop one in the bottom of the pot.
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Yellowstone":18hjlbem said:
Having just returned from Seattle (a conference), I spent a few hours in the C-dory factory . . . are indeed superior, viz., a flat, self draining cockpit floor moulded in, (the bilge pump is aft)

Yellowstone
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It's my understanding there are apparently issues with the new cockpit floor -- we were given the option on the new boat 1) old style floor and get the boat as scheduled or 2) get the new style floor and wait months. I have no idea what the issues are, but we opted to settle for the old style cockpit floor....we've been boatless (but continue to pay ar ar ar) for months now.
 
Rabbit's Hutch":28weqion said:
Not really a problem Charlie, just more of a question...

I would have done so with my very first posting... but I cant figure out how to copy/paste or cut and paste a picture into this posting....

I do have a pic to share if someone can explain how I can do so...
Click to expand...

How's 'bout an album for this C-Brat! :lol:
 
I've more than once pondered cutting the corners off that table, they hurt.

As far as "the word on the street" goes, I did a quick survey the other day in old town Portland to get to the bottom of this and they all had about the same response, " got any spare change" so I guess I'll keep my C-Dory :)
 
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