SeaSport Out of Business

On a different thread Scott Boysen wrote

"There are a lot of thoughts being posted and I always find that refreshing, as this site allows for honest and open discussions."

Scott: We love these boats.

Please tell us that you have printed out Jim's e-mail and made it compulsory reading for every employee.
 
matt_unique":3alk0zoi said:
tpbrady":3alk0zoi said:
Tyboo

Should we start a list of improvements we would want to see in construction as a easy reference for the factory?

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A great idea but would fall on deaf ears in my opinion.
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Matt – don’t assume your statement is accurate. C-Dory/Sea Sport is not the only manufacturer advertising/monitoring this site. I know we do not build all the models you people want, but we have to start somewhere.

The Marinaut evolved from comments and ideas from the members of this site with a some of my own. Like a butterfly, it is just hatching from its cocoon and ready to sprout wings. There are planned changes/improvements in subsequent boats and there will be improvements made based on suggestions from the people that buy a Marinaut or C-Brats that have tested the boat as well as their scrutiny of the boat.

I know there is no such thing as a perfect boat but there is no reason it should have so many boo-boos.

Some of you old people might remember this. I know those under 40 will have no idea what I am talking about. Back in the 70’s there was a commercial on TV about a truck. In the foreground was a Chevy and a Ford truck speeding along a dusty country road. Occasionally the camera would pan back and way in the background was a cloud of dust from a vehicle following. Ford and Chevy kept saying who is that following us and each backward pan of the camera showed the dust cloud getting closer. The Ford and Chevrolet trucks were arrogant and thought they were too big and powerful and nothing could catch them but eventually the dust cloud in the background overtook them and it was an International pickup truck.

I know this never happened but Chevrolet and Ford improved their designs and started listening to their customers. This is where Sea Sport is right now and unless they listen to their customer base, someone will overtake them in this niche market for boats like the C-Dory. There will be somebody that will fill this niche even if it is not the Marinaut.


Dave dlt.gif
www.tolandmarine.com
 
What a great series of posts! (Russians--maybe they are finding there new wealth and wanting to emulate what we have in the US--with C Dory type of boats!).

Dave, I would love to see the 30 foot Tom Cat molds picked up--made a little deeper and then a good cruising cabin put on them--I think there is a great market for this boat.

Jim, made a very good point which I missed in our new RV. There are 3 switches (actually accentuate a relay) for the water pump--one in the galley, one in the head, and one by the shower outside at the dump area.
The RV comes with a 2000 sine wave inverter, plus a 100 amp battery charger and 4 Golf Cart batteries--along with separate sophisticated monitering systems etc.

I just finised viewing 3 hours worth of videos discussing our lack of savings, abuse of credit (personal and government), hight government debt, peak, scarcity and increasing cost of oil (and other energy forms)
This made me think that the only kind of boat anyone could afford would be a C Dory!

I also have had the frustration of non respondant companies recently, so I don't have any problem going on line, finding out who is the CEO or President and giving them a personal call. Didn't always get right through, but I always got someone's attention--sure makes a difference in some cases!
 
Actually I would say that BP is pretty involved. Not sure about your area, but they have lots of representatives in Pensacola, and Mobile. So far they seem pretty standup about what has happened.

Yes, BP owned the lease, and were renting the rig at about 1.5 million a day (including operating costs, from TransOceanic), but Cameron and Halliburton are also very much involved.....Some thing about life one mile under the surface of the water being not to receptive for human work.

We know that it is coming, but we are all surprised that there is no oil here yet. I pray that the spill never gets to Apalachicola!
 
Crazy idea, but before we make a list of things to be improved on the boat, don't you think we ought to see a Sea Sport manufactured C-Dory? It's quite likely that many of the things on the "list" are practices that Sea Sport does not engage in.
 
rogerbum":j87t7y55 said:
... It's quite likely that many of the things on the "list" are practices that Sea Sport does not engage in.
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You make a fair point to be sure Roger. Though one would think they would have a vested interest in communicating such things! :o

Well it's their company...I'm just a consumer, and like many others stopped and asked about my vessel on a regular basis.

(5 more views to reach 5000 on this thread).
 
Thank you to all who have shown your obvious support for the C-Dory products. I like the idea of a thread on the C-Brats site of possible improvements that could be made, who is the person to set that up?

Jim, I appreciate your enthusiasm and actually enjoyed reading your post, long as it was, and I agree with you. Since the purchase of Fluid Marine, we have done our best to listen to customers input and try to implement idea changes all the while also trying to navigate an ever dwindling marketplace. As we transition into a smaller more manageable factory, you will start to see and read the ideas that we have listened too and agree with.

We have always had the mindset that if you are static you are going backwards, so the thought that we don't listen, or don't try to improve is truly naive, and misleading. This site as I have stated many times, is without a doubt other than our employees, the most critical tool that we have, and as such it needs to have free thinking, and the ability to post at will. This is why we don't need to post often, it is definitely more important to read your thoughts that aren't biased by factory input, that is how this site maintains its value.

Rest assured all, the C-dory name and brand is NOT going away on our watch. There are plenty of manufacturers that think that they can build a quality product, WE HAVE PROVEN that we can and will build products that are second to none, and we say to all bring on the competition, as it makes everybody stronger. This products niche is strong and we will make it stronger, there will always be those that choose to hop on this site and shoot pee's at us, or comment without having all the facts, however we take the good with the bad and digest all threads written.

Now, please sit back C-Brats, and let us finish our move. Once it is done, you will see us start to cultivate this site with our own input and as we grow with your knowledge, you will truly be able to say that you were instrumental in the growth of the C-Dory lines.

Thanks again to all who posted and don't hesitate to contact me direct with questions or comments.

Scott Boysen
 
Scott Glad to see you here . Communication is all important !
Bob , glad to hear that BP is responding locally , and thanks for the oil free prayers .
Back to work now ,
Marc
 
sjboysen":aw7ylold said:
Thank you to all who have shown your obvious support for the C-Dory products. --- Stuff clipped---. This is why we don't need to post often, it is definitely more important to read your thoughts that aren't biased by factory input --- Stuff clipped ----
Scott Boysen
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Scott,

First, thanks for letting us know what is going on with your team!!! We are all wishing you the best!!!!!!

I do not agree with your comment about not needing to post often. Active listening (providing feedback to input or comments) is a practice that will go a long way towards building confidence in any relationship, whether personal or business. This particular thread is five pages long with all kinds of speculation about Sea Sport and C Dory. The comment that you just provided would have eliminated most if not all the chatter if it had come early on. I know that you are up to your ears in alligators, but I do believe that the communication portion is just as important as the fight with the reptiles.

Thanks for listening!

Steve
 
Scot: Thanks! Good to see from you and understand just how busy you, Jeff and others are now.

Bob & Marc: As I swam out to our docks the past couple of days I thought...this flood is bad, the water is REAL, did I day REAL cold (particuarly on some parts as you wade out to the "jump off part" and have to swim :mrgreen: ) and I thougt.... WOW...at least we do not have oil issues, just mud, docks, boats, homes, trees and general good old river stuff....

Prayers are with those on the Gulf. Hope fully the underwater out house idea/deployment will work.

Byrdman...back to the waters..
 
Thanks Scott for your reply. It was clear, concise, to the point with a clear message.

Scott Boysen":1gvoh6sa said:
Now, please sit back C-Brats, and let us finish our move. Once it is done, you will see us start to cultivate this site with our own input and as we grow with your knowledge, you will truly be able to say that you were instrumental in the growth of the C-Dory lines.
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In fact, I think I'll do just that. I will sit back and let you finish your move.

Peter
 
Wefings":19kjr9p8 said:
Scott Glad to see you here . Communication is all important !
Bob , glad to hear that BP is responding locally , and thanks for the oil free prayers .
Back to work now ,
Marc
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It's too bad that we dealers have to hear about what the factory is doing on the C-Brats site, and not directly. Because as much speculation as goes on by the C-Brats, those of us selling the boats are doing some of the same speculating, and worse, about the future.
 
To Jim B-

An interesting post. But there is one problem with your argument.

For many C-Dory owners customization is part of the joy of ownership. And each owner has a different idea of what the "perfect" boat is.

We had a line of boats we carried that was more of a dedicated fishing boat with a pilothouse design. We had a package that we set up with trailer, kicker, electronics and fishing gear that made a very nice package.

The majority of buyers took this "Kitsap Edition" package, as it was a good fit for our area. But Wefings, which sold the same line, would have a completely different package for their area, so the ability for the dealer to "fine tune" the boat for their area is really nice. Plus, it keeps the price of the boat down for those who don't want some of the extras.

I have tried to come up with a "Kitsap Edition" package for the C-Dory's but have found that each buyer has very definate ideas of what they want on their boats, including specific brands of electronics, so that having a "one size fits all" package just hasn't worked for us.
 
I get that, Matt. No doubt that you dealers know your market. All those things I mentioned I would have paid extra for when we ordered our boat. We have certainly made Wild Blue more comfortable and efficient for the type of cruising we do, but there's something to be said for "turn key." And why I suggested it be offered as an additional package.

Today, we are at the factory where our 5th wheel was made. In a dismal RV market, this place is a flurry of activity: new coaches being made, workers scurrying around. Display coaches to walk through... and all of them loaded with great options.

A better seating option, allowing more storage, and more electric outlets would be easy changes to do before the boat is built... and more $$ for the dealer and factory. It's pretty obvious that these boats are going to be built on an "as ordered" basis. Some of us would pay for these options, IF they were offered. Sometimes customers need to be helped and encouraged to get the boat of their dreams.

I sure never meant to imply that a "basic" model shouldn't be offered. There are ways to improve the bottom line: sell more boats or offer more stuff for the boats you do sell. Options. Just like the C-Dory isn't for every boater, an upgraded C-Dory may not appeal to every C-Dory buyer. Or, the C-Dory buyer looking for a more complete option list may choose to look at other boats. I think there's more to buying the right boat than just the size.

Yes, I have my boat and I like it! And I bought it new. I love the smell of fresh fiberglass in the morning! :D Oh, and fresh apple-cinnamon muffins right out of the toaster oven. On the boat.

I really intend to take a step back on this thread, but since your post was directly to me, it seemed rude to not respond. As always, I appreciate the dealer response and participation here. :thup

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
The original post regarding Sea Sport going out of business was the best example of a delayed April Fools joke yet to be posted on this web site. A perfect example of someone not doing their home work before going to print/press. The post was even better than an article written in a prominent boating magazine a year or two ago. It was an April Fools story about the draining of Lake Powell. The author of the article informed his readers that the article was a joke at the end of his story, but many readers were so infuriated about the story they didn't finish the article and wrote very hot letters to the magazine. I'll look to many more April Fools jokes on this web site. It's always a great read.

Ken aka: Wood Duck
 
Naw, Ken, it was posted in good faith and good taste. Peter even qualified it with an admission that he was simply sharing an unverified message. The replies were just like the group - all over the place, sometimes loud, but always harmless. That's why we call ourselves C-Brats and not C-IndustryAnalysts. Inasmuch as the value of boats owned by our members is in the high millions - even by conservative math - I think the factory folks will cut us plenty of slack.
 
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