Back to sales. The depression of boat sales, often lasts much longer than the actual recession (which officially is "over"--tell that to folks who have lost their jobs). The 1982 recession in boat building, was a hang over from the mid to late 70's recession, which hit Calif. boat building perticularly hard. Also the stock market remained relitatively flat, and interest rates were very high. This current market was partly fueled by phantom wealth (houses inflated values, other investments and even income which was beyond the curve) The loose credit allowed many people to get into boats, who might not have even tried to buy a boat of that value in different times--and today. Many of these boats are on the auction block as repos, or being sold as short sales. Because of that, C Dory is probably positioned to do well. However, if there is really $5,000 to $15,000 price increase in each boat (translation to 10%) with stable oil prices (raw materials) and a relitatively open job market--that maybe beyond what people are willing to pay for the product.
As to problems with C Dories over the last 6 years (which covers the transition from the long time owners)--there have been far more serious problems that Don (Sneaks) notes. Some of those are chronicled in the forum; many are not, because owners had fear of de-valuing their boats. Problems included core replacement, bulkhead replacement, tabbing replacement, as well as the multiple issues with systems. True that the system components are waranteed, but take some of the problems with my Tom Cat 255 for example: The shower sump would not work--because someone had joined a #16 wire with # 10 wire, using a # 10/12 instead of a proper reducing crimp fitting. Some one disconnected the shower drain, so it drained into the bilge (maybe that was the "solution" for the non functioning shower sump). A number of the threaded fittings were put together with "Bostic"--a sealant not intended for this purpose, and thus leaked. Some threads were miss matched--again--workmanship issues--which should have been factory warantee--not a problem with a secondary manufacturers pump etc. Other areas which should have been properly sealed were not. The failure of the hyraulic steering--may have been due to air in the line--improper installation, or a defective pump--but the dealer sent out the technician to bleed the lines and install the new pump--I suspect that C Dory paid for that--and I know was instrumental in getting the repair done in a very timely manor. The leaking foreward hatch (too big a cutout, and improper sealant application, again was a workmanship defect--not a hatch problem. Since I fixed many of the problems of that boat myself, (due to the 30 mile voyage to a ramp, and then a 5 hour drive to the dealer each way)--that would not show up in the warantee claims--but how many of the owners have the skill sets to repair all of the problems which come along? I still have a problem with not being able to fill the stb fuel tank fully--I suspect that the vent tube is inserted too far into the tank. C Dory said to contact the tank builder--who denied that they had any liability with this issue. To remove the tank is major surgery, and I elect to live with the problem of somewhat reduced fuel capacity.
I don't know about the 2009 boats--and have not heard of any problems with them. But I know of at least one 2007 boat which had some very serious problems--and went back to the factory for many months--for major reconstruction--and it was not discussed on the forum.
How many boats had serious problems?--I know of at least several dozen in the last 6 years--and I am sure that there are more than that. It may well be normal for any builder to have these types of problems. I have several friends who purchased Nordhaven 47's--and had hundreds of hours of repairs done on 1.2 millon dollar boats. Maybe you can buy an extended warantee, like for a car RV or even a camera, but I suspect that it will not cover many of the problems which I have outlined.
It would go a long way for dealers selling the 2009 boats to step up and say that they will repair any problems which are found. If there aren't any problems, then there is no risk! I don't know how much leverage the dealers have with Sea Sport--but I suspect that it some, since the dealers must move the boats. If there is a badly defective boat--I would hope that the dealer and Sea Sport could at least work out a scheme for reasonable resolution of the problem.
I also understand that the dealers have a very considerable sum of money "invested" in the flooring of the boats and that they are at risk. Flooring has both dried up, and become more expensive, so the dealer faces a major problem. This is compounded by many almost new boats for sale at substantial reductions.
