As a former C-dory owner I kept up with this forum (still do) and all the mechanical and structural problems that we have experienced and overcome. That's just it, with everyone's help we overcame. Things work out. I worried too much about inherent C-dory weaknesses and it affected my enjoyment. Now it's been two years since I stopped boating but I still read stuff on here and think if I still had "Minnie" I'd be worried about that now. So if you are like me just stop it. Enjoy your boat, it's probably gonna out live you.
Don't worry, be happy!
- Thread starter Fairbro
- Start date
The current sermon series at our church is: FEAR. A week ago was: the fear of failure. I am the champion when it comes to the fear of failure. It does kind of dominate one's life sadly. Great to be prepared, great to avoid failures, but not good when the fear of failure starts to control your life such that you can't really enjoy life.
Jim, Thanks for the "really good point".
I remember being overseas in the service and whenever we got a chance to see the military newspaper "Stars and Stripes" the first place everyone checked to see if there name was in the paper was the .......... obituary column.
Glad we got past that.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
I remember being overseas in the service and whenever we got a chance to see the military newspaper "Stars and Stripes" the first place everyone checked to see if there name was in the paper was the .......... obituary column.
Glad we got past that.
Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Larry Patrick
New member
Learning that motto,things are going to happen,they will get fixed,so enjoy the boat and dealing with the headaches is part of it.
I once met an old crusty Frenchman, living on his boat, down island in Admiralty Bay. He'd been around and had some tales to tell. Once he was off the coast of Carolina and was hit by a hurricane. (It's hard to imagine in this day and age, how one could be surprised by a hurricane, but ... it's his story.) Things finally got so bad, that, on deck fighting the storm, he was thrown across the boat and impaled on a stanchion, that penetrated his abdomen, breaking a rib. His boat was eventually blown ashore and he was taken to a hospital by passersby, where he spent weeks healing. This he said had happened some 50 years ago.
I asked how, after such a narrow escape, he ever decided to return to the sea. "I would rather die, on my boat, with a pipe through my gut, than in a hospital bed, with a tube up my $%*."
I always admired that man. What a rich life he had had, and he was still living it at his age.
I asked how, after such a narrow escape, he ever decided to return to the sea. "I would rather die, on my boat, with a pipe through my gut, than in a hospital bed, with a tube up my $%*."
I always admired that man. What a rich life he had had, and he was still living it at his age.
ssobol":8uf8fyms said:
Not to answer for Fairbro, but to my mind, like any production boat, the C-Dory has some potential issues. Whether or not to call them weaknesses is open to interpretation.
I'd think of things like core that's not closed out potentially soaking up water, water potentially getting to the transom through the various openings, possible leaks/wet core around the forehatch, possible leaks through bow strip or anchor locker. Rubrail rivet failure, fuel tank issues, vents that can admit water, etc.
None of these are going to sink the boat, but some owners might worry if they haven't checked these areas, and if they are the type to think about these things (and especially if they cannot effect a repair themselves). While these are C-Dory specific things, similar issues are common to the vast majority of production boats (be they higher or lower end - Hinckleys are not without their "things" either).
Maybe this is the type of thing Fairbro was referring to.
Salmon Fisher
Member
I would like to add:
USE YOUR BOAT!
It likes to get tossed around or get drenched in salt. The engine, she likes to be worked, kind of like the old adage,"If you don't use it, you lose it."
All of the systems need to be used or else they fail to work or become balky. There were quite a few sub systems on our 25 that just were not up to snuff simply because the prior owner didn't use the boat enough. Within the first 6 months, I tracked down items such as lose hose clamps, helm panel going out because the connections on the main bus bar were corroded and loose. Hard starting kicker motor, stiff thru hull valve for wash down pump and the list went on.
Don't worry, Be Happy, Use Your Boat!
USE YOUR BOAT!
It likes to get tossed around or get drenched in salt. The engine, she likes to be worked, kind of like the old adage,"If you don't use it, you lose it."
All of the systems need to be used or else they fail to work or become balky. There were quite a few sub systems on our 25 that just were not up to snuff simply because the prior owner didn't use the boat enough. Within the first 6 months, I tracked down items such as lose hose clamps, helm panel going out because the connections on the main bus bar were corroded and loose. Hard starting kicker motor, stiff thru hull valve for wash down pump and the list went on.
Don't worry, Be Happy, Use Your Boat!
Sunbeam":1fadco4a said:
IMO none of the things mentioned are limited to C-Dory boats. These faults are found in all (most?) boats to one degree or another and are a failure of quality control (or simply "we don't really care" on the part of the manufacturer).
There is a video online of some guy who bought a big Azimut and spent the next two years getting all the problems fixed which included water coming through the roof into the saloon when it rained.
The only inherent weakness of the C-Dory line that occurs to me is that they tend to be stern heavy when typically outfitted and loaded and usually require trim tabs/permatrim to be added to mitigate this.
ssobol":2er906eq said:
That's what I was trying to say, although it sounds as though I perhaps could have written it more clearly (?). My guess is that Fairbro would have said the same thing if he'd owned most any other boat. I think his point was just that in retrospect, he would worry about it less because it's a life philosophy. Not because it was a C-Dory.
We have often found ourselves saying, "It's a boat."
Things are going to get wet. Even the most economical operating power boat gets lousy mileage compared to a car. If Mother Nature decides to toss nasty stuff your way, you are going to get rocked 'n rolled. Even while tied to a dock. It is going to be colder than your house when it's cold outside. Or hotter when it's hot outside. You have to be careful as you move around a boat. When you need maintenance or parts, it is going to be more expensive because those parts say "Marine." A schedule is a dangerous thing on a boat.
I could go on and on. There are plenty of logical reasons why most people don't own a boat. I don't mean this to be derogatory, but most boaters have a different sense of logic: we don't go on the water because we have to, we get out there because we need to. All those things about a boat are what make the experience an adventure. When it gets to be an ordeal, it is time to sell the boat.
I love boats. I like being around boaters. I need to have some time on the water. And, I think most folks here can understand that.
Get out there and enjoy all that boat ownership offers. Don't fear it - learn about it and embrace it.
Before anyone says, "But, you sold your boat..." Yep. We are boatless right now. Well, except for kayaks and a paddleboard. Some of you are aware that our "fun summer jobs" have turned into a bit of a second career for us. Driving someone else's boat for hire changes your perspective on recreational boating. I have no doubt we'll have another boat. Right now, it doesn't fit into our short range plans. But, that doesn't change how I feel about boats and being on the water. As my buddy Patrick put it earlier: it is not good for a boat to just sit.
One never knows how many days you'll get on this side of the grass. Embrace the experiences that bring you joy.
Best wishes,
Jim
Things are going to get wet. Even the most economical operating power boat gets lousy mileage compared to a car. If Mother Nature decides to toss nasty stuff your way, you are going to get rocked 'n rolled. Even while tied to a dock. It is going to be colder than your house when it's cold outside. Or hotter when it's hot outside. You have to be careful as you move around a boat. When you need maintenance or parts, it is going to be more expensive because those parts say "Marine." A schedule is a dangerous thing on a boat.
I could go on and on. There are plenty of logical reasons why most people don't own a boat. I don't mean this to be derogatory, but most boaters have a different sense of logic: we don't go on the water because we have to, we get out there because we need to. All those things about a boat are what make the experience an adventure. When it gets to be an ordeal, it is time to sell the boat.
I love boats. I like being around boaters. I need to have some time on the water. And, I think most folks here can understand that.
Get out there and enjoy all that boat ownership offers. Don't fear it - learn about it and embrace it.
Before anyone says, "But, you sold your boat..." Yep. We are boatless right now. Well, except for kayaks and a paddleboard. Some of you are aware that our "fun summer jobs" have turned into a bit of a second career for us. Driving someone else's boat for hire changes your perspective on recreational boating. I have no doubt we'll have another boat. Right now, it doesn't fit into our short range plans. But, that doesn't change how I feel about boats and being on the water. As my buddy Patrick put it earlier: it is not good for a boat to just sit.
One never knows how many days you'll get on this side of the grass. Embrace the experiences that bring you joy.
Best wishes,
Jim
I've been away for a while and was surprised see the thread take a turn or two. Thank you Sunbeam for an accurate appraisal of my intent. I love C-dorys but I let myself be haunted by some of the awful repairs described and documented here. Photos showing rot and cracks for one thing. Questions about performance issues and such. Some would say that a Wallas stove is an inherent weakness but I loved mine and it never failed me once. I always worried it might though, based on numerous posts about reliability. Because the boats featured are nearly always C-dorys and this is a C-dory site, I mistakenly described these problems as C-dory "inherent weaknesses". I Should have written "a boat's inherent weaknesses". I stand corrected and I'm not going to "worry" about it. Best to all Brats, Gary
Fairbro,
Heading down river last summer from Minneapolis we tied up at the Prescott town dock and walked to town for lunch. We needed your advice and I didn't seen anyone watching from a deck for our C-dory. Oh Well.
I’ve been ruminating about fear since the first post a week or so ago. If we survive to middle age or later it’s because we’ve been able to find a balance between caution and exposure to risk. Remember the cliché about “old or bold, but no “old-bold.” But as we get comfortable with our world life becomes easy, routine & in a word: boring. So we set out to find something to stir things up and be a little more challenging. And, surprise, sometimes it can get a little too exciting.
Sometimes we are not fully aware of what is giving us fear. Last spring, I had installed two new batteries in Two Bears, but over the late spring and summer I had a number of events that pulled the house battery down flat. Each time there was a logical reason for the dead battery and they were all “stand alone” events and not likely to reoccur, but I felt there was something more basic wrong, but I could not identify the problem and marked It up to “irrational” fear that should be ignored. In mid-August when we departed Minneapolis on the Mississippi River and headed down river I found one reason after another not to anchor out. After the Meet in the Middle Gathering we moved to the Cumberland River and headed up stream for about three weeks on that river. We anchored out the first night and the battery was flat in the morning. OK, that’s why you have the 2nd battery. I stopped at a marina and had them check the battery and it was OK by their tester, but again that night I did not anchor out but found a marina. Their tester put the battery at “marginal” which was enough to push me over the line and buy a new battery. In the process of making the change the marina owner commented about “checking new equipment” or gear new since the boat last worked right. The proverbial little bell went off: I had installed an auto pilot that spring and there was no switch to cut off the power to the auto pilot. It still drew power waiting to be “activated.” DUH! Of course then! I remembered a post by Dr Bob pointing the need to have a cut off switch for all power drains.
I disconnected the auto pilot and never had another battery problem. It wasn’t until a weeks later I realized just how much my “nagging fear” of the electrical problem had affected my behavior. We did lots of anchors outs while boating on the Cumberland.
I suspect that each of us has our own level of “tolerance” of these kinds of fears. I’ve yet to find a formula for making them go away. Getting the perfect boat and perfect weather is not possible, so you are always taking some risk. It’s the level of risk that is subjective and open to interpretation to each of us. So we make choices and for each of us that choice will be in a different place.
Chuck
Heading down river last summer from Minneapolis we tied up at the Prescott town dock and walked to town for lunch. We needed your advice and I didn't seen anyone watching from a deck for our C-dory. Oh Well.
I’ve been ruminating about fear since the first post a week or so ago. If we survive to middle age or later it’s because we’ve been able to find a balance between caution and exposure to risk. Remember the cliché about “old or bold, but no “old-bold.” But as we get comfortable with our world life becomes easy, routine & in a word: boring. So we set out to find something to stir things up and be a little more challenging. And, surprise, sometimes it can get a little too exciting.
Sometimes we are not fully aware of what is giving us fear. Last spring, I had installed two new batteries in Two Bears, but over the late spring and summer I had a number of events that pulled the house battery down flat. Each time there was a logical reason for the dead battery and they were all “stand alone” events and not likely to reoccur, but I felt there was something more basic wrong, but I could not identify the problem and marked It up to “irrational” fear that should be ignored. In mid-August when we departed Minneapolis on the Mississippi River and headed down river I found one reason after another not to anchor out. After the Meet in the Middle Gathering we moved to the Cumberland River and headed up stream for about three weeks on that river. We anchored out the first night and the battery was flat in the morning. OK, that’s why you have the 2nd battery. I stopped at a marina and had them check the battery and it was OK by their tester, but again that night I did not anchor out but found a marina. Their tester put the battery at “marginal” which was enough to push me over the line and buy a new battery. In the process of making the change the marina owner commented about “checking new equipment” or gear new since the boat last worked right. The proverbial little bell went off: I had installed an auto pilot that spring and there was no switch to cut off the power to the auto pilot. It still drew power waiting to be “activated.” DUH! Of course then! I remembered a post by Dr Bob pointing the need to have a cut off switch for all power drains.
I disconnected the auto pilot and never had another battery problem. It wasn’t until a weeks later I realized just how much my “nagging fear” of the electrical problem had affected my behavior. We did lots of anchors outs while boating on the Cumberland.
I suspect that each of us has our own level of “tolerance” of these kinds of fears. I’ve yet to find a formula for making them go away. Getting the perfect boat and perfect weather is not possible, so you are always taking some risk. It’s the level of risk that is subjective and open to interpretation to each of us. So we make choices and for each of us that choice will be in a different place.
Chuck