New vs Used

T

tom&shan

New member
Having purchased both a used C-Dory and a new C-Dory I've decided that the next boat I purchase will be used. Thought I'd document some of the reasons here.

With our first C-Dory - 1990, we had a lot of maintance issues. Replaced the steering cable, major work on the engine ($COST$), the Loran and depth sounder were no longer working, replaced the depth sounder, Gas tank gummed up, filter gummed up, been sitting for a few years. So it took a while to get it ready for going out on the water and with my lack of experience, it was a bit stressful with the wife and I. So we sold it and went looking for new (i.e. reliable).

With my new C-Dory - 2007, I ran into the following issues that I think may be common to any new boat purchase. Electrical issues - after several weeks of use - while out on the water, my radio started getting large amounts of static - adjusted squelch, but no luck. At times the static was non-stop. Based on comments/suggestion from this site I replaced the battery switch - problem resolved. Next my depth sounder started ticking loudly when I went out and shut the engine off to drift. It also started going out at speeds above 10 knots. Send the unit into Standard Horizon - they fixed it and sent it back - now resolved. 100 hours on the engine and it started sputtering - had to have the plugs replaced - they had carboned up. Biggest Erk (but the most minor problem) ... First day I had the boat - stepped in to the cockpit, a 1 inch chip of gelcoat came off the corner of the step, must of been a bubble. So here I was with a brand new boat and a silver dollar size chip on the step. The dealer couldn't fix it, I didnt have a trailer to drive it around to have places look at it and besides, who wants to have your new boat sitting somewhere for a couple of weeks for something so minor. I ended up for now covering it with duct tape. Still ended up taking the boat back to the dealer to get items that had been left off when I picked it up put on and to also replace a defective compass.

So, point being, new boats take some time to get the bugs worked out. And if your still looking for your "perfect boat" you take a bigger hit selling the new boat. I think the ideal choice is a well taken care of, slightly used boat, 2 to 5 years old.

So, my next boat will be used. Not too old, and who knows, maybe the next one will be the one.

Cheers,
Tom

Still looking for the "perfect boat" .
 
Sorry to hear about your experience. From my experience and research, thorough QC simply does not exist with C-Dory or any manufacturer for brand new boats at any price level. It was frustrating for me to learn this. While a good dealer can make all the difference in the world, the burden is ultimately placed on the consumer to be as prepared and informed as possible. When something breaks, the consumer will be the one inconvenienced.

I think someone would have to be crazy to go to a dealership, look around for a while, and buy a boat without having done weeks of research. Participants of owners clubs such as ours are FAR better off compared to the average consumer when it comes to access to known QC issues and fixes. This research will certainly not prevent all problems but it will at least reduce them.

I will say one advantage with a new boat is that you can properly seal things like transducers and electronics to prevent core water damage. If the previous owner was meticulous with this I agree used would probably be the best bet. I would take a 1 year old boat owned by Bob Austin for example over a brand-spanking new boat any day.
 
This arguement even goes for $1.5 million dollar boats. I have several friends who own a certain popular brand of long distance cruisers--which go from $1 to 1.5 million new (probably more now)--Every one of these has declared that they will never buy a new one of these again...They probably will, and the factory does step up and fix the problems. But they occur even in very expensive boat.

The other issue is that there are some better built older boats than the newer ones. The assumption is that the older boat has been well cared for and that there is no serious water intrustion into decks or cores.

As most of you know, it took me months to get the Tom Cat 255 to a standard where I was happy with it. The CD 25 also took months--but that was a rebuild of the cocpit--plus the usual sealing and fixing...

Hopefully at some point there will be boats which have good quality control. But I think that quality control starts with each person who works on the boat. I found that many items on the TC were just places where some-one took a short cut or was not careful.

On the other hand, boats are built to a price--and the market is competative. Some builders will not spend a few extra dollars to make it "right"...thinking that they can sell the boat for a few dollars cheaper and that is worth the shortcut....
 
My motto is "Never buy anything new that will last longer than five years."

On the don't buy new side there would be vehicles, houses, boats, and machinery. (We'll leave spouses for another thread). For example: I bought two used 1950 DeWalt radial arms saws, a 1954 Ford tractor, a 1999 Suburban (65K on the OD) a 1998 Chevy pickup (37k on the OD), 1997 Olds Cutlas Supreme (61K on the OD) and my house was built in 1937.

I challenge anybody to find a saw that will out perform my DeWalts. The tractor will out live all of us all ( I've logged 600 hrs on her) and my house has original dimension lumber. (That's 2 X 4 not 1 5/8 by 3 1/2 for you youngsters out there). I own lots of other old stuff too. Oh....My 2006 C-Dory had 60hrs on her.

On the buy new side would be electronics which which tend to be obsolete after the cash register door closes and a .... a... a... Oh yeah tires. They don't recap radials.
 
A very wise mentor told me one time when I was first looking for a boat, that the best boat to buy was a 3-D boat. That was because it was not one that sat idle for a long time because it was loved to much to sell but used too little to keep up.

Oh, the 3-D boat, is a boat for sale due to circumstances beyond the owners control. Divorce, disease, or death. These boats are boats that have been used steady and kept up, then the bomb drops, and there it is and it needs to go. It is often in excellent shape, and not abandened, but not going to be used and needs to move to a new and interested, active, owner.

This purchase will not allow ordering the latest and greatest option thingy, and it may not be the first choice in color or other options, but by looking it over carefully, it may be the right boat for you. It also, may not carry over the warranty, but you have to accept that it is a used vessel, and accept some responsibility for your purchase decisions.

Good luck,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
I have a 1981 Angler that I have really enjoyed and I bought it used for 8K about 4 years ago...I love it. If I could afford a new one,,,wow, I would love that too.

Kind of neat that you got to experience both ...me? I am all excited about my new bigger Thetford this year... ahhhh!!!!

.
 
Hi Folks,

About five or six years ago I purchased a 1983 C-Dory for $9,000.00. It had a working engine and a trailer. It needed work and slowly I have up dated and fixed things. A cockpit cover, a new engine (4-stroke 75 HP Yamaha), and rebuilt stern, shelves, etc, etc, etc. I now have about $22,000.00 in the boat and trailer, and I can not see me buying any other boat in my lifetime, unless somebody runs into it.

I am planning on purchasing a vancamper when I sell the Inn. It will be used and will be able to pull the C-dory. They say you loose 25 to 35% of the value on any new car, boat etc the day after you buy it. I believe it.

Fred
 
I'm in the used boat arena. I have bought 4 boats, 2 new, 2 used. Used way better value, but I enjoy, redoing, tinkering, installing stuff, etc. Love to find a 10-15 year old 22 Angler, the more stripped, the better. Would be a fun 6 months to get it where I'd want it.

The hit on a new boat is huge, I sold both used boats at a profit. Not at all true on the new ones.
 
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