Chuckpacific
New member
What he (C-ness) said.
Nordic Tug furloughs workforce
- Thread starter Doryman
- Start date
Yes, I'm an addicted user too! (You can see the track marks on my arm length posting record.)
10 years here, and several more before that, too, on the predecessor sites.
I do think the nature of the C-Dory and it's related cousins, does make for a certain type of practical and thoughtful group of participants (C-Brats) that keep level headed discussions going that are very cheerful, useful, and rewarding.
This group is made up of some wonderful folks with great ideas and friendship to offer.
Our "Just Be Nice" guideline no doubt help set the tone, also.
Sometimes I get bored and post some off-the-wall humor, or at least, attempts at it, but I hope it's at least harmless.
Cheers! Joe. :teeth :thup
10 years here, and several more before that, too, on the predecessor sites.
I do think the nature of the C-Dory and it's related cousins, does make for a certain type of practical and thoughtful group of participants (C-Brats) that keep level headed discussions going that are very cheerful, useful, and rewarding.
This group is made up of some wonderful folks with great ideas and friendship to offer.
Our "Just Be Nice" guideline no doubt help set the tone, also.
Sometimes I get bored and post some off-the-wall humor, or at least, attempts at it, but I hope it's at least harmless.
Cheers! Joe. :teeth :thup
It would seem to me that companies with a good product like Nordic Tugs should just improve the sizes they started with 26 and 37 and keep prices reasonable with the quality increasing with each boat built. Just my thoughts. However our MONK trawler was never changed very much and the prices got out of reach. They are not in production at this time as far as I know.
A problem that I see with most quality boats is that they last for a good long time. Unlike cars which tend to wear out after 5-10 years and require replacement.
Granted that some C-Brats have bought 4 or 5 C-Dory's (but how many of those were new from the factory), but I think I will only need the 1. If I decide that I want another boat it will be because the C-Dory no longer suits my needs, not because I've worn it out and it needs to be replaced. If my boating needs or tastes don't change, I won't have any reason to get another boat (C-Dory or otherwise). There are C-Dorys close to 30 years old still going strong. You don't see any clapped out C-Dorys for $500 on CL like you do with some other manufacturers boats.
This is a problem for the manufacturer. Since a used C-Dory is as good as a new one for the most part, a fair number of people will by used ones vs. new ones to save some money (shown by the sometimes very fast sales of used boats). Since these boats last a long time, people who sell theirs either are giving up boating or moving to something else because the C-Dory doesn't work for them any more. Either of these cases is not a sale for the factory.
The only ways for the C-Dory manufacturer to grow or stabilize their business is to increase their marketing to get more new buyers and/or continuously add must have features to the existing line so that existing owners will want to replace their current boat with the latest and greatest thing (similar to what car manufacturers do). However, not being a boat designer, I can't really think of anything you could do to a CD-22 that would make me want to get rid of the one I have and go buy a brand new one.
Before I kick it, I'll probably be buying 4-5 cars/vans/trucks. I certainly won't need that many boats.
Granted that some C-Brats have bought 4 or 5 C-Dory's (but how many of those were new from the factory), but I think I will only need the 1. If I decide that I want another boat it will be because the C-Dory no longer suits my needs, not because I've worn it out and it needs to be replaced. If my boating needs or tastes don't change, I won't have any reason to get another boat (C-Dory or otherwise). There are C-Dorys close to 30 years old still going strong. You don't see any clapped out C-Dorys for $500 on CL like you do with some other manufacturers boats.
This is a problem for the manufacturer. Since a used C-Dory is as good as a new one for the most part, a fair number of people will by used ones vs. new ones to save some money (shown by the sometimes very fast sales of used boats). Since these boats last a long time, people who sell theirs either are giving up boating or moving to something else because the C-Dory doesn't work for them any more. Either of these cases is not a sale for the factory.
The only ways for the C-Dory manufacturer to grow or stabilize their business is to increase their marketing to get more new buyers and/or continuously add must have features to the existing line so that existing owners will want to replace their current boat with the latest and greatest thing (similar to what car manufacturers do). However, not being a boat designer, I can't really think of anything you could do to a CD-22 that would make me want to get rid of the one I have and go buy a brand new one.
Before I kick it, I'll probably be buying 4-5 cars/vans/trucks. I certainly won't need that many boats.
Jack in Alaska
New member
Thanks Slotrot and Ssobol for very well thought out and well presented ideas on why C-Dory is in trouble.
Hopefully the conditions will improve and folks will be buying new boats again. We can only hope.
My old 22' Classic turned 30 yrs. old this season and still looks great and performs as new.
My present 26' ProAngler is 8 yrs. old and will be my last boat.
Obviously I am not helping C-Dory at all other than being a hell of a salesman for them at every pullout or fuel stop.
Hopefully the conditions will improve and folks will be buying new boats again. We can only hope.
My old 22' Classic turned 30 yrs. old this season and still looks great and performs as new.
My present 26' ProAngler is 8 yrs. old and will be my last boat.
Obviously I am not helping C-Dory at all other than being a hell of a salesman for them at every pullout or fuel stop.
Wandering Sagebrush
Free Range Human
Just an observation.
A couple of years ago, when I started thinking about, and researching a pop up truck camper, I stumbled on Wander the West, and Expedition Portal, both of which have forums for pop ups, and in some cases specific brands. The members of these forums are very much like the CBrats, in that they are passionate about their campers, and very willing to share information (both good and bad) about how to do things, and about the product and customer service they receive.
Of note, is the involvement from the factories that make Four wheel (FWC) and All Terrain (ATC) campers. Those folks are on the forums giving advice on how to do things, where to find gear, and who to contact. FWC, like CDory has been in business for around 40 years. They provide parts for owners to repair or modify their campers, and they will completely refurbish campers for folks who don't have the skills or time themselves. There are campers from the '70s that are still going strong. Sounds a lot like the CDory crowd, but with strong factory involvement.
I'm of the belief that there is a business opportunity that is here for the taking. All it would take is the will to do it, and the right person to be the interface between the owners/potential owners and the builders. A good start would simply to be a strong and regular presence here with the CBrats.
The sales manager at FWC is frequently on the forums and interacting with the members. He provides praise for interesting modifications (and takes them back to the factory as improvement ideas), suggestions on how to best do things, and is simply there as a good guy, good resource. CDory, you should look at this as an opportunity.
A couple of years ago, when I started thinking about, and researching a pop up truck camper, I stumbled on Wander the West, and Expedition Portal, both of which have forums for pop ups, and in some cases specific brands. The members of these forums are very much like the CBrats, in that they are passionate about their campers, and very willing to share information (both good and bad) about how to do things, and about the product and customer service they receive.
Of note, is the involvement from the factories that make Four wheel (FWC) and All Terrain (ATC) campers. Those folks are on the forums giving advice on how to do things, where to find gear, and who to contact. FWC, like CDory has been in business for around 40 years. They provide parts for owners to repair or modify their campers, and they will completely refurbish campers for folks who don't have the skills or time themselves. There are campers from the '70s that are still going strong. Sounds a lot like the CDory crowd, but with strong factory involvement.
I'm of the belief that there is a business opportunity that is here for the taking. All it would take is the will to do it, and the right person to be the interface between the owners/potential owners and the builders. A good start would simply to be a strong and regular presence here with the CBrats.
The sales manager at FWC is frequently on the forums and interacting with the members. He provides praise for interesting modifications (and takes them back to the factory as improvement ideas), suggestions on how to best do things, and is simply there as a good guy, good resource. CDory, you should look at this as an opportunity.
Pat Anderson
New member
Steve, you are of course right - you omitted one necessary item, which is capital. The Wrights may have it but the vision. They see themselves as boat builders, nothing more. It is a crying shame.
Wandering Sagebrush
Free Range Human
Pat Anderson":11gdqast said:
Pat, I don't think capital is required for someone to sit down at their computer in the evening to review forums and provide feedback. The omission seems to be motivation. That motivation has been missing since about 2005.
Hey, are you officially retired? I'm looking forward to seeing you and your bride at Lake Powell this year.
ssobol":y25oam68 said:
Well, you're right. Another reason people sell is because the owner died. I found this out when I purchased our present C-Dory (our third one). It couldn't be registered until I had some form signed by the executor of the owner's estate. Turns out the last two owners, both C-Brats, passed away. So today this wonderful 20 year old boat has two new motors and sits on a brand new trailer. Apparently these boat will out live us all.
People have to play to their strengths. We don't know that the current C-Dory factory entity wishes to be any busier than they are; we are not privy to their business plan. Even if I didn't want to be any busier (and we were in that fortunate position before we retired), I continued to market my product. Ignore the customer and they will eventually stop beating that path to your door. From my perspective, I would like to know that there will be business to be had ahead.
One of the BIG pluses of being a business owner is having that interaction with the customer: knowing that you are doing the job to their satisfaction, or handling any issues before they become a source of irritation for the customer, and learning what the customers real wants are.
You don't have to invest in capital expansion to create a more desirable product; you don't have to build more boats to make people want to buy new boats... you just need the controllable, steady stream of customers lining up with their wallets out. Maybe they have that? We don't know. We just see the absence of marketing. We see current and past C-Dory owners buying other boats (how many Ranger owners used to have a C-Dory?). We see other manufacturers marketing AND selling new boats.
Not to be cold, but I have my boat. It is a great boat. If/when I get the itch for another boat (bigger, smaller, or the same size), C-Dory hasn't shown me any reason that I should buy from them again (I bought my boat new, btw). I used to get upset that they don't "get it." Four different factory entities in the last 6 or 7 years who thought they were boat builders and didn't see the need for customer interaction. What can we learn from this?
Owning and running a business takes a certain sense of confidence - confidence that you are making the right decisions or being smart enough to surround yourself with a team that knows how to steer the business in the direction desired. I wish them good luck and good fortune as they move ahead... I don't understand their decisions not to market in ways that work, but it most certainly is their choice.
Jim B.
(last post from me on this subject)
One of the BIG pluses of being a business owner is having that interaction with the customer: knowing that you are doing the job to their satisfaction, or handling any issues before they become a source of irritation for the customer, and learning what the customers real wants are.
You don't have to invest in capital expansion to create a more desirable product; you don't have to build more boats to make people want to buy new boats... you just need the controllable, steady stream of customers lining up with their wallets out. Maybe they have that? We don't know. We just see the absence of marketing. We see current and past C-Dory owners buying other boats (how many Ranger owners used to have a C-Dory?). We see other manufacturers marketing AND selling new boats.
Not to be cold, but I have my boat. It is a great boat. If/when I get the itch for another boat (bigger, smaller, or the same size), C-Dory hasn't shown me any reason that I should buy from them again (I bought my boat new, btw). I used to get upset that they don't "get it." Four different factory entities in the last 6 or 7 years who thought they were boat builders and didn't see the need for customer interaction. What can we learn from this?
Owning and running a business takes a certain sense of confidence - confidence that you are making the right decisions or being smart enough to surround yourself with a team that knows how to steer the business in the direction desired. I wish them good luck and good fortune as they move ahead... I don't understand their decisions not to market in ways that work, but it most certainly is their choice.
Jim B.
(last post from me on this subject)
I agree with Jim B. in that "we don't know their business plan" and "it's their choice".
My hope is that we can embrace the high standard of build quality in the Wright built boats and that we encourage potential new buyers to contact a dealer who will help them configure a C-Dory order to meets their needs.
My hope is that we can embrace the high standard of build quality in the Wright built boats and that we encourage potential new buyers to contact a dealer who will help them configure a C-Dory order to meets their needs.