Seattle Boat Show - Such a sparse showing

"Post-purchase rationalization, also known as Buyer’s Stockholm Syndrome, is a cognitive bias whereby someone who has purchased an expensive product or service overlooks any faults or defects in order to justify their purchase. It is a special case of choice-supportive bias. "

Well that would explain the twin vs single , ford vs chevy, 1911 vs glock, blond vs red head, Cdory vs Venture. etc etc etc

I think the main point that I was making a few pages back is that the current dealers and the builder do not understand their buyer and are not marketing to that buyer. As Paul asked " when have there ever been more then 2 or three cdorys at the show?" Well when Jeff from ranger tugs was sales man for cdory and had 6 plus boats at the boat show . All of them decked out and decorated just as he does the ranger tugs today. And it worked. they would sell 22 and 25s by the marine full. How many on this site up dated from a 22 to a 25 at that time?? I cant think of at least 4 off the top of my head. How many updated to a 225 tomcat during that time? DR bob?

Its not the lack of quality. That is higher now then before IMHO. Its a lack of marketing and innovation to the line. There are changes that could be made to the line with out changing the molds that I believe would sell more boats. Storage/fish box for the 22 would be one.

But hey its not my company and it fits their market of " if you cant afford a sea sport ? here you go"
 
Yes, Tom, I did buy a Tom Cat during the Reynolds / Jeff Messinger era. It was not because of marketing, or a boat show--and I looked at other, and sea trailed other cats at the time. I had ordered a new boat because of several custom options I could order; but during the build I was informed that C Dory was making all of the boats the same, and no ability for options...Not happy at that point! There was not there, nor is there now, a cat in this size which offers the livability of the Tom Cat 255.

I was influenced by the fact I already owned a C Dory 22, which I kept on the West Coast, and that my neighbor had a Tom Cat 24.

Here's a way for someone to .... loose a million dollars. Make accessories/upgrades to the current boats... I say this in jest because there may be a market there, but one would have to have other lines to make it a viable business.
 
Unfortunately, there has been a decade or so, and 3 factory entities during that time that have done little to no promotion of the entire C-Dory line. There are still people buying boats. Contrary to what has been said, there are plenty of folks here who bought their C-Dory new. That fell off rapidly in the last ten years.

During that same time, Ranger Tugs has grown from a one boat company (R-21EC) to two very popular lines of boats from 23 to 31 feet. Not coincidentally, at the same time Jeff left C-Dory to make the move to Ranger Tugs. Plenty of C-Dory owners have moved to Rangers. I am aware of only one couple (Joe and Ruth) who moved from a C-Dory to a Ranger Tug, and back to another C-Dory... that is more about Joe and Ruth's good taste. :wink:

This is NOT meant to be a C-Dory vs Ranger in regards to who makes the best boats. It is not about C-Dory buyers being "frugal"... rather it is about one company understanding who buys boats and WHY vs the other company that has done nothing to promote or advance their line. As I have said many times: selling a boat vs selling a dream/lifestyle. One company gets it, the other doesn't. And not a darn thing any of us here can say that will open their eyes. C-Dorys are great boats. But, just like any other expensive purchase: they don't sell themselves.

Even now, the factory puts an occasional image on Facebook (just started this only a couple months ago)... with little to no writing/explanation to induce a viewer to want to know more about these great boats. Seriously, is any successful business this indifferent about their product? It costs nothing to make a post on FB. There is a huge difference between marketing and paid advertising - a savvy business owner will understand that, and if they are not capable of generating interest on social media, they would be wise to PAY someone to do that for them.

I used to think they were "missing the boat" (pun intended)... I can't help but think they are plenty smart enough, but just feel the line isn't worth the free effort. It makes me sad for these great boats.

If the Seattle Boat Show is a "dealer show," the factory could get behind a dealer or two and make sure they have something to show. Ranger does that with their dealers for the big Florida boat shows.

C-Dory was a "niche boat" when they were selling hundreds of boats per year in the 2005 to 2007 time frame. I have no dog in this fight, and I am getting a flat spot on my forehead from banging it into the wall.

I think it was in 2008, while at Brent and Dixie's house, I got a call from Tom Latham (the guy who was running that particular entity of the factory... into the ground). I said to him, "You need to hire someone like Joan and me - Joan to be out on the line to make sure the details are all taken care of before any boat leaves the factory; me to be out promoting these boats." No, we were not looking for the job - just driving home the point that the boats need to have someone promoting them who loves the line.

Ten years later, I hear this entity of the factory is building great boats. Too bad there are so few people (as in: 25 buyers in a year) who know that.

Damn, I thought I burned this soapbox a long time ago. I guess when discussion of the Seattle Boat Show comes up, I get those feelings of missed opportunity again. My apologies if any of that wasn't "nice."
 
With NWI only making 25 boats last year I think that is good for the people that bought boats in 2017 as they will hold their value.
 
Ken, your 25 is gorgeous and the photos tell the tale that NMI is putting out a quality product now. I do think that Marc at Wefing's made a serious attempt at marketing a VERY nice Tomcat, with a "Ranger Blue" hull and many nice upgrades, and he could not get his money out of it in over a year's time. We absolutely loved that boat, and Wefing's is where we would buy, but the reality is that I can get essentially the same experience at half the cost buying used, and for my financials that simply cannot be ignored.
 
"My apologies if any of that wasn't "nice."

Jim, You always are "nice" and you are very right again.

I understand your frustration, and I'm sure you and Joan could have made a huge difference. You are right, there is a big difference between "marketing" and "paid advertising" and they really don't get it. I have just seen on 3 different TV stations news programs a blurb about Starbucks new "Valentines Coffee" touting its sweetheart flavors, mocha and whipped cream with valentines sprinkles. Each spot was about 20 - 30 seconds, including some appealing visuals. These were not paid commercials but "news announcements" resulting from a news release coming from the Starbucks marketing team, --> FREE ADVERTISING done by some savvy marketers not a coffee roaster or paper cup designer. What a concept :shock:

I guess the good thing about only a few new boats, my older, well experienced, tuned up and fully ready to travel 22 Cruiser will be worth more than if there were 250 new boats each year since mine was built.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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At one point whenever "trailerable" trawlers or cruisers came up, C Dory was the quintessential type...Recently I read an article in one of the boating rags, and C Dory was not even mentioned...Ranger Tug, and some of those fancy European built boats got the "free publicity"....er not. The other brands all had placed ads in the magazines.
 
A whole bunch of what you think of as "local news" is product placement or pay for play stories. Particularly when the local stations are part of a large conglomerate like Sinclair Broadcast Group (there are others) who own a very large number of "local" stations around the country.
 
The Wright family (current builders of C-Dory) have been producing fiberglass boats locally since the 1950s. Originally the Wright Sportsman, then SeaSport in the late 1980s, both probably relatively unknown outside the PNW at first. Now in addition to thier original SeaSport line, they have (thankfully) added the C-Dory, Skagit Orca, and Osprey lines, with several dealers across the country. So things seem to be going pretty well for them. Prices are up, but that's true of most things. A new C-Dory 22' Cruiser still costs about the same as a new, well-appointed Chevy Suburban, just as it has through the decades.

However, not every new boat buyer wants a "me-too" Bayliner, Sea Ray, or even a Ranger, and not every boat builder wants to become a Brunswick or a Fluid Motion (Ranger) factory in terms of size and production numbers. Some folks are happy running a sustainable and profitable small shop and building a quality product, and some of us buyers are extremely happy these "niche" options still exist! And BTW, no offense is intended by comparing Ranger to those those other boat brands - I was raised on Bayliners and appreciate them perhaps more than most. I've just heard many people compare the two brands in recent years due to how ubiquitous Rangers have become in the San Juans, similar to the number of Bayliners seen cruising here in the late 70s and 80s. Some might not know that Bayliner also originated as another local boat brand in Washington State, its founder Orin Edson born in very same town as current C-dory factory, which also happens to be my hometown.

Like everyone else I wish NMI continued success (selfishly, there are still some warranty years remaining on my boat!). However, I keep wondering if the bigger threat is not from the high-volume marketing of other cruising boats like Ranger tugs, but the fact that NMI primarily builds fiberglass Fishing Boats, and in the Fishing boat market the hot trend around here is Aluminum fishing boats!

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You made a lot of good points Mike. But what with the condition of sport fishing, especially here in the PNW, NMI might be better off to look down the boating road regarding the manufacturing and marketing of their makes and models. And I believe the manufacturers of aluminum fishing boats are going to take an especially hard hit in the near future. Fishing style boats are a hot seller now, but I really can’t see it lasting. Not unless the fishing improves around here.
 
There have been a lot of very good comments, about why the C-dorys are not being sold in greater numbers.
I do honestly believe there are " new young buyers " coming into the market every day.
I believe a lot can be said for a dealership that has there heart behind the product. That enthusiasm can have a positive impact on potential buyers.

Take for instance Les Lampton ( EQ Harbor Marine ) former owner. He had great love for his C-dory similar line of Marinauts. I believe the C-dory line needs a Les behind it. Not the Wrights. The Wrights love is the SeaSport line, that was there child.
 
Just for kicks, did anyone notice if there was a display by Sportcraft at the Portland Boat Show? I believe I read that there were no C-Dorys there but missed if Sportcraft was or not. They seem to be the most "C-Dory Style" folks around the PNW as far as new boat dealers go. Unfortuante that they don't show up here on the site (except for that top right corner paid add they do occasionally.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

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ken35216":16mmguu9 said:
And here we go. This is what everyone wanted!

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=26129

Tampa boat show "Hello C-BRATS! Three Rivers Marine is excited to announce that all models of C-Dory boats, with the exception of the 16' & 19' Anglers, will be on display at the Tampa Boat Show March 2-4 at the Florida State Fairgrounds. We hope to see you there!"

https://www.threeriversmarineinc.com/c-dory
Click to expand...

I thought that 3 Rivers was going to have some boats at the Hontoon gathering? That is the 6th thru the 8th. Might be tight getting boats up there.

I wonder how many of the gaggle of boats 3 rivers ordered, have been sold yet?

I remember Marc from Wefings, lugging C Dorys to a multiple of boat shows all of the way from Mobile AL to the S. Florida shows...
 
forrest":1hs1uk4i said:
Ordutch1975":1hs1uk4i said:
In our local market (PDX) Aluminum boats are where its at if you are in the business of sales.
Click to expand...

That's fine if you keep your boat only in fresh water but ALL aluminum boats used in salt water will eventually corrode. It's just a matter of time before people realize that and go back to glass.
Click to expand...

People have been using aluminum boats in saltwater for years and seems to me up in the PNW it is material of choice from what I've read but could be wrong. I own a glass boat now (19' Angler) but next boat will be aluminum (Raider Voyager 2484). Eventually is your key word but how long is eventually. Metal corrodes in saltwater if not taken care of and that includes metal on glass boats. With a proper flush and wash of a aluminum boat just as I do with my current glass boat it will probably outlast me and I am 52.
 
thataway":2fmo6227 said:
ken35216":2fmo6227 said:
And here we go. This is what everyone wanted!

http://www.c-brats.com/viewtopic.php?t=26129

Tampa boat show "Hello C-BRATS! Three Rivers Marine is excited to announce that all models of C-Dory boats, with the exception of the 16' & 19' Anglers, will be on display at the Tampa Boat Show March 2-4 at the Florida State Fairgrounds. We hope to see you there!"

https://www.threeriversmarineinc.com/c-dory
Click to expand...

I thought that 3 Rivers was going to have some boats at the Hontoon gathering? That is the 6th thru the 8th. Might be tight getting boats up there.

I wonder how many of the gaggle of boats 3 rivers ordered, have been sold yet?

I remember Marc from Wefings, lugging C Dorys to a multiple of boat shows all of the way from Mobile AL to the S. Florida shows...
Click to expand...


Hello Dr. Bob, We plan to have the TomCat and 23' and 26' Ventures at Hontoon. Alternates could be a 22' Cruiser and/or Angler. We also plan to have some "Special Guests" attend as well. We look forward to seeing you there!
 
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