Finding a C-Dory

hank schneider

New member
Hello Folks
I will be retiring in a few months and think a Norfork to Key West cruise would be a great way to celebrate. The C-Dory looks like the ticket, based on my web research - had no Idea there would be a C cult out there!
I'm trying to find a 22' cruiser and there don't seem to be many for sale and very few by owners (guess that is a good thing). Any suggestions about where - how to find a boat? I'm up in the mountains of NC and have not owned a boat since 1968.
Looking at what is offered from the dealers (mostly in the 30K range for a 2000 or newer boat) there is a sizable discrepancy in the NADA estimates. I know that the add-ons and extras can really influence the price.
Is there a down side to the Dory? If I look at style, space, layout,
and MPG, it seems hard to beat.
Any advice ideas or suggestions appreaciated.
THanks

Hank
 
Howdy hank!...welcome to C-Brats!
First, these boats hold their value much better than NADA indicates. The listed values were all but usless when we were looking. The C Dories are difficult to find used, in this area (we're in Asheville). We drove to Baltimore to get our deal.
We haven't found a real down side to these boats yet. They do pound a bit in rough water, but we simply slow down. We've owned several boats over the years, and our C Dory is by far our favorite!
Good luck in your search!



hank schneider":2qecmpay said:
Hello Folks
I will be retiring in a few months and think a Norfork to Key West cruise would be a great way to celebrate. The C-Dory looks like the ticket, based on my web research - had no Idea there would be a C cult out there!
I'm trying to find a 22' cruiser and there don't seem to be many for sale and very few by owners (guess that is a good thing). Any suggestions about where - how to find a boat? I'm up in the mountains of NC and have not owned a boat since 1968.
Looking at what is offered from the dealers (mostly in the 30K range for a 2000 or newer boat) there is a sizable discrepancy in the NADA estimates. I know that the add-ons and extras can really influence the price.
Is there a down side to the Dory? If I look at style, space, layout,
and MPG, it seems hard to beat.
Any advice ideas or suggestions appreaciated.
THanks

Hank
 
Hank,
I'm in a similar situation. I think going to a C-Brays / C-Dory gathering would provide a wealth of info. There is one on June 6th thru the 8th on the Chesapeake Bay area mentioned in the recent posts. There might be boats there for sale. One thing about the newer boats as far as I'm concerned are the motors. The newer fuel injected motors do better on fuel and are in some cases considerably lighter in weight. For myself I can't see putting a new motor on an older boat. They say the newer four stroke motors are good for thousands of hours. Scroll down on the C-Bray site and there are a number of east coast used options. Wefrings Marine has posted a leftover 07 22'er for I believe 45K. I will probably buy new because I am stupid with good credit. I hope this helps.
DD
 
You might check the "C-Dorys for sale" section on the home page. It is way down to the lower right. It is not unusual for people to travel hundreds of miles to find and buy a C-Dory so if you can find one within a day or two's drive that might be your best bet. Going to a get-together is really a smart thing to do. Patti and I did that before we got our boat, got a ride, met some Brats and it made our decision for us.

Good luck and welcome to the site.
 
For that price range, I suggest that you look at the used boats for sale by owners. This is the way that most C Dories are sold. We drove half way across the country to buy our 22--and then trailered it the rest of the way across. The older boats hold up very well, and they hold their value.

NADA is inaccurate, since very few of the CD 22 come to the open market. It is based more on projected values of boats in general of that size.

The value will be both in the hull, and also in what engine is on the boat. For example a 1990 boat with a 2005 4 stroke might sell for more than a 2000 with a 2000 2 stroke engine. Also the electroncis. Some boats are fully tricked out, with windlass, Wallas stove, kicker, modern electronics, and other boats are very basic. Usually a good boat sells quickly on the forum. For new boats, there are deals to be made at the dealers, since there is pressure from the factory to sell boats--and there is very little difference between years on the boats.

The only major change to the CD 22 was done in 1987. Prior to that the hulls had a flatter bottom and less deadrise foreward. The newest boats have a molded interior and cockpit level floor--but some prefer the deeper cockpit in the slightly older boats.
 
snal said:
Howdy hank!...welcome to C-Brats!
First, these boats hold their value much better than NADA indicates. The listed values were all but usless when we were looking. The C Dories are difficult to find used, in this area (we're in Asheville). We drove to Baltimore to get our deal.
We haven't found a real down side to these boats yet. They do pound a bit in rough water, but we simply slow down. We've owned several boats over the years, and our C Dory is by far our favorite!
Good luck in your search!


Thanks for your reply - where is your boat?
Hank
 
dave deem":1v65ijyw said:
Hank,
I'm in a similar situation. I think going to a C-Brays / C-Dory gathering would provide a wealth of info. There is one on June 6th thru the 8th on the Chesapeake Bay area mentioned in the recent posts. There might be boats there for sale. One thing about the newer boats as far as I'm concerned are the motors. The newer fuel injected motors do better on fuel and are in some cases considerably lighter in weight. For myself I can't see putting a new motor on an older boat. They say the newer four stroke motors are good for thousands of hours. Scroll down on the C-Bray site and there are a number of east coast used options. Wefrings Marine has posted a leftover 07 22'er for I believe 45K. I will probably buy new because I am stupid with good credit. I hope this helps.

Thanks - How much do new ones sell for??
Hank DD
 
Welcome you newbies! You make the best Brats, cause you're the most enthusiastic!

Use the search function at the top. Search on the term NADA and "posts", not topics. You'll fine 122 of them, or probably 123, now that I've used it. Then look at the C-Dory factory site on the lower left hand corner and the dealers. New boats are on their websites. Lots of them. Used boats are in the "Boats for Sale by Owner" forum, lots of them again. Come to the CBGTs, (CBrat Get Togethers), you'll see lots of boats and meet lots of great folks!

Good luck and keep us posted. I bought my '94 22 Cruiser in 2002 for $16K (a great deal) and sold it in 2007 for $22K. Try that with a car or a Bayliner! :shock:

Charlie
 
Nice investment transaction Charlie! I plan to do all I can to protect my new investment too.

Someone a few posts above mentioned Wefings. Although I have not purchased through them, I have spoken with Marc Grove several times for technical advice about my (New England) Tomcat purchase. I greatly appreciate someone who takes the time to provide advice even with no vested interest. If you are looking to buy new I would definitely recommend them.
 
Captains Cat":2if0wgdk said:
I bought my '94 22 Cruiser in 2002 for $16K (a great deal) and sold it in 2007 for $22K.
Charlie

Better than the stock market and a much smoother and more enjoyable ride! :wink
 
Hank,
Depending on how a new 22' Cruiser was equipped you could go from 45k to 70k easily. Contact Charlie Holtom <charlie@wefings.com>,he can speak to a left over 2007 22' Cruiser that had a 90 hp Suzuki on a trailer for 45k or there bouts. If you add air conditioning, Wallas, windless,generator,canvas,dingy,electronics,( stereo,satradio,gps, marine radio , microwave, coffee pot etc) I bet you could hit 70K no problem considering sales tax, rigging, ropes ,bumpers insurance and it goes on plus the real meaning of the noun "boat" (break out another thousand) with inflation break out another ten thousand and get radar a motor for the dink and some cabin lights, new fish finder, fishing gear, slip fees, gas money etc.
 
Welcome Hank,
You asked if there was a down side to a C-Dory. Yes there is, and if these other owners will stop and admit it they would tell you this same thing:
It is worthless and nearly impossible to get anyplace in at C-Dory in a hurry. Everywhere you go, even in my own driveway, people are always stopping me to ask questions about such a ___________, (fill in the blank with cute, salty, classic, seaworthy, stout, or any number of other adjectives), and count on anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour of delay per episode.

On another subject, How far would you go for a C-Dory, (Do a search for that line), but I found ours about 10 minutes from home. It would still have been worth every penny if we had driven across the country like some others have done.

I love My C-Dory :thup :love :thup

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
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