Status Update- Kitsap Marina

M

Matt Gurnsey

New member
Good morning-

We have fielded a few calls in the last few days asking if we were going out of business, all generated by recent events with our association with C-Dory.

So I wanted to post that we are alive and well, with the same ownership since 1985 (and the same ownership as Kitsap Bait at this location for many years before that). The only change is that we couldn't come to an agreement with Triton concerning boats to stock, so they have dropped us as a dealer.

We will continue to offer used C-Dory's when we find them available for sale, and will continue to service and sell Evinrude, Suzuki and Yamaha outboards as well as King and EZ Loader trailers. We have the dealer agreements in place to assure our future association with these companies.

We will also be adding Lund boats, and will be placing our first order today for product to stock. We think that a high volume line may work better in this economy, and aluminum is where the sales are at right now.

As far as lack of participation on the C-Brats site recently, we have been told by the factory not to post on this site, and have refrained from doing so. But after the recent phone calls, felt it was important that we get the word out as to our continued existence and future plans.

We appreciate all the support we have received from C-Dory owners, and have enjoyed our association with you. We will continue to offer support to all our customers, and plan to do so for many years to come.

Our best to all of you, and we hope to see you on the water.
 
Thank you for being a resource. I don't see where Triton Marine has any right to ask you not to post on the C Brat site. They do not own it.

Many of us understand the economics of flooring boats at this time. Those who remain dealers have decided to take the risk and expense of stocking boats. This does help the brand and is a benefit to all of us who own C Dories.

There have been other dealers in the past who have been dropped from the C Dory line--and most have survived. This is a tough market.
 
thataway":13yuvsq7 said:
Thank you for being a resource. I don't see where Triton Marine has any right to ask you not to post on the C Brat site. They do not own it.
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I concur. I don't want to see Matt's commentary gone from here!

Warren
 
Matt,

I doubt that I would be the only one disappointed in your lack of participation with C-Brats. Certainly discussion of the problems and relationship between Kitsap Marina and Triton are private business matters that I think are best kept private. I would hope, however, that some accommodation can be made between the parties to enable you to share your C-Dory and general boating experience with the rest of us.

On edit: there are two posts already in the time it took me to type the above comment. It looks like I was right...
 
Matt Gurnsey":mwep9wzq said:
As far as lack of participation on the C-Brats site recently, we have been told by the factory not to post on this site, and have refrained from doing so. But after the recent phone calls, felt it was important that we get the word out as to our continued existence and future plans.
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At the risk of stating the obvious, neither Mike nor I have any problem with Matt making non-commercial posts here, regardless of his C-Dory dealer status.

I just got off the phone with Jeff Lindhout at Triton. I've obviously not been a party to any conversations that led Matt to post his comments above, but Jeff assured me such a request was not made.

I'm not taking sides here, and fortunately I don't need to - it's a moot point. Jeff assured me, he had no problem with Matt posting at the C-Brats. More to the point, Jeff brought up the fact he's aware that's not even his call to make. Mike and I alone, have the displeasure of the occasional need to stifle inappropriate content.

What Jeff did suggest - which has been echoed by others here already - is that certain conversations and arrangements are probably best handled between manufacturer and dealer, and aren't the best topics for wide open discussion on any Internet forum. To be clear, this is something both parties have been guilty of here - but it seemed clear to me, Jeff didn't wish to repeat such actions again on the Triton side of things.

Carry on...and behave yerselfs.
 
Matt,
Hang in there. I know times are tough but establishments that provide real customer service, like you guys, always seem to pull through. As a recent addition to the C-brat family and an owner of a used boat ('05) , I appreciated your help and assistance. You are head and shoulders above the local dealer (who no longer reps C-Dory) that gave me the typical, "you did not buy that here." And even the factory, "We did not build your boat." I doubt that this will be my last boat purchase, and you will get a call from me when I am ready to buy another.
Thanks again for all the help,
Dave Bjork
Anchorage, AK
 
"As far as lack of participation on the C-Brats site recently, we have been told by the factory not to post on this site, and have refrained from doing so. But after the recent phone calls, felt it was important that we get the word out as to our continued existence and future plans."
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Oh, OUCH. Yes they do run an ad on the site, (partial sponsor if you will) but:
#1. They do not own C-Brat.com
#2. They don't own you
#3. And apparently they have no respect for your Freedom of Speech, guaranteed under the constitution of the good old US of A.
#4. They are out of line

Your abiding by their wishes during a "term of settling" is only a sign of the gentleman you are.

I'm putting my vote on the pile that says I want your continued participation here Matt. You are a valued resource, and a good friend and it's nice to see you here.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

HH_Cal_09_07_Jul.thumb.jpg
 
I hope that reps from Triton will also continue to post here in the same spirit of open exchange of information.
 
tomherrick":1z4gss2t said:
I hope that reps from Triton will also continue to post here in the same spirit of open exchange of information.
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Tom I agree, too. It is to our advantage to have open honest communication here. It is also to their advantage to reap from the wealth of knowledge available here. Maybe there was a "mis" communication. Maybe we don't know and there are things that should be between the dealer and manufacture and don't need to be here, OK.

I think Matt has been an excellent resource, and a frequent participant here. I also think that there is more room for the manufacture to be heard here as well.

Time for me to step back and see what happens. Thanks

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Hardee,

A friend here used to do legal mediation. She said that in well over 90% of the cases she mediated it was a misunderstanding/miscommunication that involved money; very seldom did she see cases of people actively trying to take advantage of each other. I'm betting on that here...
 
As a C-Dory Fan, and not yet owner, I am also a fan of Matt and Kitsap Marina. Kitsap Marine taken very good care of my Arima Sea Ranger 19'. I am a constant admirer of the C-Dory's that I see at Kitsap Marina and it was handy having a dealer on my side of the Sound.

One day I will join the ranks..you have a great boat and a great group of owners.
 
Matt, I bought my boat from Kitsap Marina a year ago spring, although the sale was handled by Ryan, I didn't get to meet you. Living in Idaho there's few here to talk to about the boat, so I must go elsewhere for help. I've learned a lot on this site and two of my "aaa-Ha!" moments came from your posts. Please don't leave us.

Chuck
 
thataway":xotd7iz5 said:
Thank you for being a resource. I don't see where Triton Marine has any right to ask you not to post on the C Brat site. They do not own it.
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I agree - you are a consistent great resource - Triton Marine has not been. I'm not impressed with Triton - not that I need to be - just saying...

Hope all goes well with Lund.
 
I too am a fan of Kitsap Marine folks. I spent much of a morning there one day looking at boat and discussing them with Matt. He is very knowledgeable and indeed an asset to the C-Brat world. Thumbs up on his continued participation. I haven't dealt with Triton, but have to give them the benefit of a doubt also at this time. We need support from manufacturers, dealers, former dealers, and users of these boats. "just be nice" seems to be the operative word here, as always. Ron
 
The three dealers in Kitsap, Oak Harbor, and Apalachacola always have good input on the site. I would miss any one of them.
 
Actually, I am quite impressed with Triton, and with Scott and Jeff, and I have probably spent as much time at the factory as anybody. They are building boats - C-Dorys, Skagit Orkas and Ospreys - to the highest quality they have ever been, and Scott is constantly analyzing ways to make them better. I am hoping for a good showing by the factory at the 2012 SBS. Not sure what is up with whatever may be going on between Triton and Kitsap Marina...

BRAZO":1i6snojn said:
not impressed with Triton - not that I need to be - just saying...

Hope all goes well with Lund.
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I think Matt has always been honest and provided many of us insights that we might have never enjoyed. Those insights were gained through many good and bad years in the boat business. The recent information about what was to be included the Venture series boats seemed to be the tip of an iceberg. What went on with the dealer and the factory is none of my business. What I would like to make comment on is to question what comes standard with each model. Would someone like to publish list prices? If the website needs to be updated I would think that needs to be a priority. If none of the these facts are available in new brochures I wonder how a new buyer makes an intelligent decision. For me I hand out cards with the factory info listed all in an effort to help sell C-Dory's. If the standard equipment has turned into a shell game I don't want to play anymore. I pay for the cards out of my pocket I'll just use them for scratch paper. I wish Triton and the dealers all the best. Keeping the C-Brats informed was something Matt was pretty decent about. Getting info out of Triton has always been a little tough. As far as build quality goes they have only been building these boats for a couple of years. As usual time will tell. I'll probably never need to take my boat to it's new step daddy for service so no need for me to do much ass kissing.
D.D.
 
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