First look at C Dorys

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Old Jim

New member
I had to make a two day business trip to St. Louis this week and after I finished up today at noon I took a swing by Stateamind Water Sports in Hazelwood, MO to see both a 22 and 25.

I had made arrangements to meet and speak with Joel Rauch beforehand and I told him that I was very familiar with the boats from having followed the C Brats site for several months. The only thing I really needed to do was to board the boats to get a feel for the size and space on each. All the great photos you owners have posted have been a tremendous help in learning about the boats but one can only fully appreciate physical size and space by being onboard.

Joel couldn't have been more helpful. He answered the questions I had but he knew that he didn't have to do a selling job so he just let me wander around until I had a question. I spent about an hour and a half with him and came away feeling very confident that, when the time to purchase a boat finally rolls around, Stateamind will be a pleasure to deal with.

As for the boats themselves, I was thoroughly impressed. The first thing I noticed on the new 2007 22 was that the cockpit floor is now part of the hull liner. Joel said the factory made that change on the basis of comments from the C Brats.

All in all, my time was well spent and my high opinion of C Dorys was cemented. They're great boats and that is in no small part due to the phenomenal group of owners who stay so involved with the boats, the factory and the rest of the Brats. Kudos to you all.

Jim
 
Welcome aboard, Jim. In some parts of the country it is tough to come across one of these boats, just to get a feel for the size. You can go to the PNW and hardly a day will go by that you don't see one of these cool boats. And yes, this forum is a great resource; the good folks here are so willing to share their vast experience with C-Dorys and anything related. It makes it much easier to move from the "discovery" stage to owner.

On that note, you are hooked. You joined this forum almost 3 months ago, you've made 21 posts. Now, you've seen a C-Dory up close and personal... time to cash in some CDs, tell the kids they're on their own for college, sell your stamp collection, and start working on the wife: "Honey, just imagine how much fun we'll have vacationing with a C-Dory. Think of all the money we'll save on renting waterfront condos? I'll never ask for anything else ever again. I'll do all the work on it, even the cooking and cleaning. I'll name it after you. All the other guys have one. Hey, have I ever told you about this couple named Bill and El..." :wink Yeah, hooked.

And now that you've seen a shiney new example, try to get anything else accomplished. Oh, sure, you'll go to work, but as you look around, every color will make you consider that color for your trim. You'll see a traffic jam and be thinking to yourself, " Wouldn't have this mess if I was out on the water in my new C-Dory. Heck, we could even sell the car." Someone will say, "Good morning, Jim; how's it going?" You'll respond, "I'm trying to decide - a single or twins." Your wife will say, "I need to dust the furniture," and you will say, "Did I tell you what Dusty said about these boats today?" She'll say, "Gather up the laundry," and you'll come back with, "These C-Dory owners have gatherings... all over the country... did I show you the photos from the C-Brats site?"

Did I mention: hooked? Some of the great owners we met since buying our boat have related life stories of their quest for their C-Dory. You can see the passion in their eyes and their breathing quickens. Hooked. Ask around to see how long this discovery stage lasts... some have gone years. Do yourself a favor and get the boat now... enjoying the actual boat is even better than the anticipation.

There is no 12-step program... you either buy the boat and start enjoying it or you pine away. There are some people who can be exposed to these boats and not get hooked; they are know by various names: landlubber, fuddy-duddy, lawn-cutters, boring. You are not one of these people.

Good luck.

Best wishes,
Jim B (young Jim... young in spirit and passion :mrgreen: )

PS - You've even picked out the name: "Business Trip" Your former co-workers will ask, "Where's Jim?"

"Oh, he's out on a Business Trip, said he didn't know when he'd be back." :smiled
 
excellent post James. I might also point out that since purchasing a C-Dory I have a fuller, richer head of hair, I've lost weight, the blood psi has gone down.

ask your doctor if a C-Dory is right for you
 
My Dear James,

Do you realize that if you were as hooked on cocaine as you are on your shiny new boat that, being from Texas especially, you would probably be in prison for, oh say, the next 800 years?

And judging from your many posts about the process you went through before buying Wild Blue I don't think that the arguments you say I should use with the better half would have been very effective with "The Blonde". She seems to be much to smart to fall for such typically male arguments. My guess is that she truly loves you and just got tired of listening to all the whining and wimpering that is so much a part of a man's pathetic pleas to buy his newest toy. I'm also guessing that you were lucky enough to marry a gal who loves boats more than most. So I'm taking your "words of wisdom and experience" with a huge chunk of salt.

All that said, I must admit that I, too, am completely hooked on the CD. Your response had me laughing out loud because some of those very same thoughts have gone through my feeble old mind. All except for the name, that is.

It's a foregone conclusion that any boat we own will be named "Mary Flower" as was our sailboat. That name is her first name and the pet name I call her: My little flower. When I first met her, I described the effect she had on me as that of having been wandering through the desert for years and then one day coming upon a bright, beautiful little flower that, in its purity, simplicity and beauty, gave me hope for a new and better future. So, it's not going to be "Business Trip", although I must admit that is a cute idea. Nope, it's going to be Mary Flower for sure.

I have so thoroughly enjoyed reading literally thousands of posts on this website that I almost feel like a member of the family. You CD owners are without parallel. I told Joel Rauch at Stateamind that the C Brats were a huge part of my desire to own a CD. I've researched several other boats but not a single one of them has such a devoted and helpful group of owners as a support group. The idea of attending a C Brat gathering at some point is very exciting.

But, back to reality for a moment. Because of circumstances and present committments, the boat purchase really does have to wait. Now that I've narrowed my choices down to one, the hardest part is over. The other stuff will be taken care of in time and one day, I too, will join you rabid C Dory owners in your particular - and quite attractive - brand of insanity.

Woo hoo! I just love it when the inmates all leave the asylum.

By the way, being a former rag sailor, following your progress and thought patterns as you pursued your C Dory dream have really resonated with me. Thank you for sharing your experience. It's been both enjoyable and helpful.

And thanks again for your great response to my post.

Old Jim
(Not so old as some here, though)
 
Jim B: :lol: LOL! Very funny!

Old Jim: I hope you don't have to wait too long before you can purchase a CD. It took us about 6 months from the time I saw my first C-Dory at the factory until the Seattle Boat Show to purchase C-Dancer. Yeah, I was definitely hooked but I had to sell my house first. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do. My only regret is I hadn't discovered this site during that time, only the old C-Dogs site or I might have been tempted to buy earlier if I had discovered the C-Brats with all the great "Pre-owned" boats for sale. Good luck!

Peter
 
Yes, Old Jim, I am very fortunate: the Blonde is a boat person (or as I prefer, the more politically correct term - Boat Babe). She is the one who said, "Let's go to Seattle. If you think this is the right boat, we better go see it so we can get one ordered." I didn't have to whine, beg or even plead... I was thinking the 22, she's the one who said she preferred the 25. I've learned when it's in my best interests to keep my mouth shut.

It is understood how life and circumstances can get in the way of boat buying. When the time is right, the proper C-Dory will present itself. In the meantime, I've found this forum to be beneficial beyond information... and much less expensive than therapy; the inmates I've come in contact with in this asylum have all been first class.

Got to run for now - we are taking some friends on a sunset cruise/dolphin watch. Keep us posted on your journey towards "Mary Flower."

Best wishes,
Jim B. (not particularly young, but refusing to grow up)
 
Thanks, Jim. And by all means continue to refuse to grow up. I tried it once. Not much to recommend it. People always wanting you to do stuff. How boring is that.
 
This reads as if someone bugged our living room.
Pictures from the 2006 SBS, and the recent Boats Afloat are screen savers on every computer. Pictures posted on my cube to remind me why I come to work. Separate accounts set up named "C-Dory".

Boat names narrowed down:
C-Denis
Labradory
Saintly (stolen from Mom and Dad's Catalina)
Anti-C-pated
C-Not Old

Discussons on "what a nice day to be out on a boat"
Visits to the Everett Marina for moorage.
Constant bothering of those of you that have one :D
Soon to cause a dealer nothing but trouble.

Oh man. One of the few positive addictions to have.
Good summarization of those of us jonesing!
 
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