Triton now Northwest Marine Industries?

Bob Austin, and others, thanks for the reply and the history lesson. I could probably express myself better if I could type. Tend to be short and direct.

The C-Dory is definitely a unique product, just read some of C-Nile's (I think) posts about his search for a new boat. I think the CD22 (and Marinaut 215) really hit the sweet spot for a lot of boaters regarding price, size, performance, features and versatility. I very much hope to see the CD survive and prosper. In a way it is a niche product appealing to the do it yourself, mechanically inclined individual, which I am not. Which is probably why I'd like to see more innovation, modern design, "frills" or whatever you want to call it. While many others would rather have it as simple as possible with everything out in the open and easily accessible. Just go to the Tugnuts and read about all the Ranger 25SC owners complain about how difficult it is to change the impeller.

Guess I'd just like to see CD have a nice website with current pictures and descriptions of their products and maybe even be on Facebook.
 
Others have said it but for us there were several key factors:
-lower expense/cost for use, especially in fuel
-we do not need to "go fast". The boat is plenty fast for us
-I love the simplicity of design. Some equate it to early air-cooled VW's and I'd agree
-the simplicity mentioned but at the same time they are functional and low maintenance (for boats). We are not frilly, fancy, carpeting and cloth etc kind of boaters
-the boats are solidly built
-they have a completely enclosed cabin w/ heat and a head (on the larger models)

They look "salty".


:wink:
 
Jake,
In the past there have been good C Dory web sites. Some may still be available, and it is possible that some are in the PDF archives, as the history is.

I did write Mark Wright a personal e-mail and he responded.

Yes, the changing of the impeller is exactly why I don't own a Tug--along with a few other reasons. They are great boats, but as localboy so well put they are simple and easy to care for.

As for the "fancy thrills" many make the boat far less useful and less seaworthy. Before the series of C Dorys I have owned in the last ten years was a 42 foot trawler with twin cats (talk about maintenance!), a 32 foot trawler, with single diesel (a bit less Maintenance), then moving to a shallow entrance bayou, and I had to go with an I/O or outboard. I tried a 28 foot (32 LOA) very modern express cruiser--it was terrible. You had to have electric power to open the engine room hatch. The water pump and starter were both inaccessible, the fuel tank was under the aft berth, there was less room in the cave of a cabin than a C Dory 22 (OK it did have a head and shower, but the galley was half the size), and it would not get on a plane (with 300 hp) unless you got the "crew" up in the front of the cockpit--oh yes--12 gallons an hour of gas!....
 
thataway":3tdbbew6 said:
...and it would not get on a plane (with 300 hp) unless you got the "crew" up in the front of the cockpit--oh yes--12 gallons an hour of gas!....
Click to expand...

There's your problem. With 300 hp you should have been burning about 30 gallons an hour. Your engine was only giving you about half power.
 
I agree with Jake that there ought to be a place on here with "showroom quality photos" of each of the models. Sort of like an on-line catalog. While I appreciate the albums, they don't always display the boats as well as say a new car catalog. For someone looking in here, on a curiosity basis, they want to see closeup what these boats look like and frankly they want to know what they cost. Sure they are expensive, but so are Cadillacs and Mercedes and they don't seem to hide their MSRP. Once you have gotten lured into the desire for that nice car or that nice boat the pleasure one derives from it becomes secondary. The look and quality of the product are what create the initial desire to purchase. This one simple step seems like it would go a long way towards marketing.
 
Thanks for the comments Bob and Stan. Okay, so I don't fish and probably would only have a 50/50 chance of properly identifying the starter and water pump on a boat. Which means a pro would be doing any repair work. But certainly nice to keep it simple to reduce costs of ownership even if you don't do your own maintenance.

Generally speaking, I see the CD as a fishing machine, hard core boat camper, SUV foul weather and seas boat. Well built at a reasonable price. I wouldn't be spending my time here if I didn't appreciate the product. Guess I'm just trying to say I think CD could expand their market at a fairly low cost just by adding some window dressing as an option.
 
C-Dory should do the virtual tour of some of their boats on their website (a la Ranger Tugs and others). Granted there is not as much to show off, but it will give a better idea of their boats (particularly the interior) and demonstrate that they are more in touch with the modern marketing techniques.

Creating the virtual tours should be fairly inexpensive to do these days.
 
Why did this very interesting thread "die" after 6 pages and 6 days.
With the new owners ramping up to speed and building new boats again there should be untold amounts of info flowing out to the distant C-brats.
I was in that area several weeks ago but did not have the time to stop by the factory. Will be back there this fall and will definitely stop by to see for myself.

Jack in Alaska...30 yr. C-Dory owner
 
Hard to answer why any thread dies. However, the current C Dory web site is fairly good. Yes, it could be better in some ways. But each model is treated fairly. We know that boats are being built as per photos which have been posted on the forum, in various threads over the last few months.

Maybe there should be a sticky which is added to when necessary for new owners.
 
The Downeast boat builders in Maine are having the same problems they build a great boat just a few a year and have never had to market there boats. people would come in, they would set down decide on the needs of there client and build a hand made boat that is a work of art what ever the buyer wanted or needed.

They never had to market there boats, but now times are different there having to learn how to market there boats or go out of business. Cdory needs someone to market there boats that has a love and passion for the boats like the cbrats do. its easy to sell something that you love, but if it's just another product to the builders they will have a hard time!
 
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