Would you buy a C-Dory on sale?

M

Matt Gurnsey

New member
We were talking the other day, and have realized that we have sold no new C-Dory's this year, not counting any left over that might have been in stock.

In fact, the number of people looking at C-Dory's has been way below average, with an increase only in the last few weeks.

The factory would like us to order some boats, as they need to build boats to stay in business. We would like to sell some boats, as that helps us stay in business.

So with that in mind-We'll make the following offer:

From now through September 15, 2011, we will be offering a "Kitsap Edition" of some of C-Dory's most popular models. These boats will be outfitted with electronics, engine, trailer and popular factory options.

These will be offered at significant reduction of price. We will be taking a much lower margin on these boats than we would usually do, and this discount is coming from us- the factory is offering no incentives to us. This is our attempt to "jump-start" C-Dory sales.

The packages will be set- the only option will be boat color. In exchange savings will be significant. Prices are for cash out purchase- we will be unable to take any trades at these prices. We would offer discounted brokerage rates on lsting a boat for sale to anyone buying a boat from us.

Models available will be:

  • 16 Angler
    19 Angler
    22 Angler
    22 Cruiser
    25 Cruiser

I will not be posting prices on line, nor will they be given over the phone. To avoid competing with the other dealers out there, we will only be sending the package information out via mail, and only to interested parties in our market area.

Send your address to me via PM or e-mail, which model you are interested in, and I will send the packet to you.

Time is of the essence, as these prices are based on current pricing, before any 2012 price increases, and will be below any boat show pricing come January.

Plan on 90 to 120 days for delivery. 10% down payment due at time of order.

If you are considering a new C-Dory, this will be the best opportunity to purchase one at significant savings.
 
All of us know what a great boat the C Dory is, but the rest of the world does not.
Part of the success of the Ranger Tugs is their advertising. I realize that advertising is expensive, and may not give returns immediately. However, on top of the wonderful article about Bill and El, it seems to me that creative advertising would help boat sales.

Good luck--I am not in your "area"--maybe Marc would do a similar promotion...
 
Bob , in a sense we do it every day . The C Brats already have boats for the most part. You are right that we need advertising to increase the brand's presence . If you're not makin deals in today's economic climate , you aint sellin .
I understand Matt's trepidation on stocking boats . Very few on this site promote buying new [but we love you anyways] . Its a dilemma all dealers have to face .
I just ordered 2 stock boats for the first time in years .
There has been a big upsurge in interest lately [probably the "Bill and El Bump"] but Triton is stable,building great boats ,trying to keeping the small dealer network healthy, and once again has floorplan available [for well qualified dealers YMMV] .
Also aint none of us getting younger and if you don't live your dreams ,they will slip away .
Marc
 
I applaud the efforts of Kitsap, and I believe Marc Grove at Wefings has also considered adding a couple of new C-Dory models to his inventory. (I recently purchased a "new" 2009 TomCat from Marc....the last of his unused inventory.) But as a marketing consultant for the marine industry (as well as a boating journalist), I also see a need for the factory to support its dealers with a modest advertising and PR campaign. I know money is tight, but the present C-Dory website and brochures are outdated and provide very little useful information. (The C-Brat website, however, was very instrumental in my purchase decision.) As a journalist and as a happy C-Dory owner, I have and will be writing a number of articles about downsizing which will give the C-Dory brand valuable media exposure, but the factory needs to participate in all these efforts. I've reached out to them but have received little response. Maybe the dealers like Kitsap and Wefings can collectively put some pressure on to create a modest marketing program. These are great boats, perfect for today's times, but today's buyers are simply not that aware of the brand.
 
Sasscom":25jkw9qw said:
I applaud the efforts of Kitsap, and I believe Marc Grove at Wefings has also considered adding a couple of new C-Dory models to his inventory. (I recently purchased a "new" 2009 TomCat from Marc....the last of his unused inventory.) But as a marketing consultant for the marine industry (as well as a boating journalist), I also see a need for the factory to support its dealers with a modest advertising and PR campaign. I know money is tight, but the present C-Dory website and brochures are outdated and provide very little useful information. (The C-Brat website, however, was very instrumental in my purchase decision.) As a journalist and as a happy C-Dory owner, I have and will be writing a number of articles about downsizing which will give the C-Dory brand valuable media exposure, but the factory needs to participate in all these efforts. I've reached out to them but have received little response. Maybe the dealers like Kitsap and Wefings can collectively put some pressure on to create a modest marketing program. These are great boats, perfect for today's times, but today's buyers are simply not that aware of the brand.
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I absolutely agree!
btw I would definitely buy it on sale!
 
Matt,

I'm curious why the 23' Venture isn't part of the deal? If I were to buy one a C-Dory, that would be the model I'd choose.

-Greg
 
Dene":gwg6h2ml said:
I'm curious why the 23' Venture isn't part of the deal? If I were to buy one a C-Dory, that would be the model I'd choose.
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I was chatting with Marc at Wefings the other day, and had an interesting discussion about this. I don't recall if he said he had one on order, or if it was just an option he'd been chatting with C-Dory about - but he mentioned a 23 Venture being built, without all the "fancy" accouterments of the Venture line. Basically, the hull of a Venture 23, with the more spartan/utilitarian interior of the 22. None of that fancy-pants head liner, and even built up (instead of molded) cabinets if my recollection is accurate. Marc will no doubt correct me, if I my crappy memory is making things up again.

Anyway - to me, the above sounds like a great boat.
 
Interesting concept. I like the hull of the 23 Venture, but do not like the molded cabinets. I assume the hull would still be cored, just the inside without the frills. Sounds like a good match to me. Now if I could only convince the wife we need a new boat!
 
Matt Gurnsey":12trphtg said:
We left the Venture series out because I am uncomfortable recommending them at this time.
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Dude...you can't leave that comment dangling. :mrgreen:

Details - we can handle it.
 
As usual, there are no easy answers.

We used to have a fair amount of new boat inventory around here between Arima, C-Dory, and Rosborough. That all changed with the economy falling off a cliff. For awhile money wasn't even really available. Then the one major player in the marine flooring business started offering it again, after almost doubling the interest rates. So while you could finance a home in the low 4% range our flooring source wants 14%. As a dealer I just can't afford to have new inventory sitting in stock with interest payments like that. It's the customer that pays for that, if they don't we close our doors.

Now we see some of the market coming back with regard to new boat sales and still the interest rate on flooring is outlandish. Some manufacturers are starting to recover and offer interest-free flooring for a period of time to entice dealers to buy but that's not free and it absolutely affects the price of the boat (if not immediately then eventually).

It's also not the always the case that the manufacturer has deeper pockets than a dealer. Small builders are hard put to maintain profitability and often there's not enough left in the kitty to budget for extensive advertising. Just a show like the Seattle Boat Show is enough to give a budget heart failure.

I'm afraid if you don't come into the business with a fat wallet that it's the old chicken-and-the-egg dilemma; you need sales to generate enough income to afford advertising and you need the advertising to generate the sales. And the surest way to achieve a small fortune in the boat business is to start with a large one.

The margins that builders and dealers (dealers especially) are having to live with these days is just crazy. I can't tell you how many times folks have walked into our store with bids from other dealers that are 10% over cost. That's just not enough to keep a dealership going in the long run (our fixed, can't-get-out-of expenses run about 5%). But you know, everyone wants a deal, and these days everyone expects one. I don't blame them, I'm a consumer too but somewhere, sometime, it's gotta give. Until then we'll just be hanging on hoping for better times (and too stupid to quit! :) ).

Edit: Wow! Folks posted a lot in the time I was typing this out!
 
Da Nag":x0no94e6 said:
Matt Gurnsey":x0no94e6 said:
We left the Venture series out because I am uncomfortable recommending them at this time.
Click to expand...

Dude...you can't leave that comment dangling. :mrgreen:

Details - we can handle it.
Click to expand...

My personal bias- I loved the Venture 23. I think the hull is a great riding design, and the feature rich interior I thought made a great alternative to the more spartan classic 22.

The molded interior gave a nice finsh, the extra drawers and details in the cabinets gave the boat warm and inviting feel, and the upholstered interior deadened sound and inceased insulation to prevent condenstion. All good things in my book.

I liked the thinking behind battery placement, and the storage of the lazarette and the steps.

All of which made the Venture between $8000 and $10,000 more than a comperable equipped 22 Cruiser. For my money, it was a good upgrade. In fact for the 2010 boat show we ordered a 23 Venture with a teak and holly deck in the cabin to take advantage of the rich feel of the interior. That boat was never delivered to us.

The boys from Triton saw their first Venture model at the 2010 Seattle Boat Show, and commented that what was on display was not what they were building. They hadn't seen a Venture, and had no one from the "old" Fluid days to guide them on what should be, or had been, in the boat.

So what they are building now is a 23 footer with the interior finish and detailing of the 22 Cruiser, with battereis in the Lazarette, no drawers in the galley, no upholstered interior. The Refer and Hot Water are standard, but the things that set it apart from the 22 Cruiser are gone.

Yet the latest price list that they have available for us on the 23 Venture still has the $8000 or more price difference. To compound the problem, the C-Dory website still menations all the interior features of the Fluid built boats as standard equipment, even though I have been told by the factory those features have been removed.

Based on that, I can't recommend the boat, because I don't think it's a good value for the dollar. The list price for a loaded 22 Cruiser (with almost all options, motor, trailer and camper canvas, electrinics, etc) is pushing $75,000. I just can't ask over $80,000 for the Venture because I don't see the value there anymore. The hull shape alone isn't worth $8000.

To be clear, I have no problem with the quality of the workmanship or materials used to construct the boat. I just think that based on what it is now, it is not a good value.

So until I can actually see a Venture that Triton has built, and get a better feel for what they are producing, I can't recommend the Venture models.
 
I have my C-Dory now but I would of considered buying a new at a discount at the time. It was about this time last year I found my C-Dory almost new. I found it on this site. I had not noticed any advertising but was not looking for it. I guess what I am trying to say is you have to find a way to hit me with a 2X4 to get me to look. Internet is good but needs to have a lot of links. When on the Site I did go to the C-Dory sales site. I did not see any thing there to compel me to buy new. The Brat site is one of the best I have seen If not the best but a bit overwhelming until you get use to it. Thinking back I Googled C-Dory then went to the C-Brat site. A discounted boat on the Sales site may of caught me.

Guy
 
Matt, I think that the improvements of the 23 that you are missing is the hull itself and the cockpit. I drove the first one sold a long time ago and I still believe its a better handling and performing boat then the 22 what I owned at the time. And I am not trying to restart that grueling argument again either. Just stating the the interior of the 23 was not the only or best upgrade about the 23. the hull and layout of the 23 is , IMHO (humble that's funny) is worth the extra money. have you driven one? you should. Also the new mairnout that E.Q.and Dave are selling is a better handling boat in a lot of ways then the 22. so look past the interior and look more at the hull and the room.
 
Matt,
Thanks for the lucid explanation. If I get C Dorysitis badly, the 23 is what I would be looking at--but not at $80,000 or more! I would not be looking at the 23 for the fancy "stuff", but for the slight improvements. On the other hand, dealers have the front line experience, and should be able to give feedback to the factory as to what will sell.

We have a different market down on the Gulf--and Marc knows it well. But there is a great place for the pilot house boat--as referenced by the guy who tried to run me off the road to just look at the Tom Cat..... Some boats are selling down here. There are a group of people who have solid jobs, and see that life is going by rapidly--and they want to play before it is too late.

You could take the same argument on advertising for any product--but it does work. My son in law just left as advertising director for Hyundai, and has started a new firm for a high end luxary car. I like to think that some of Hyundai's success is due to their advertising, as well as a good product.
 
Tom-
I've run both boats, and as I said, I love the 23 Venture, and agree that for me, in my opinion, it's the better hull design, for my use, if I were buying one.

However-

I don't think it's worth $8K more just for the ride. A couple grand more- sure, but not 8. At least not for me, and my use, considering my needs, and the way the economy is going, because, hey, I want good value for my investment. :wink:
 
Matt,

Great to hear Kitsap Marine has changed their mind in regards to being a stocking dealer for the C-Dory boat line. We were dissapointed after last weeks converstation that you had decided to go in a differrent direction so this is good news for all parties involved. I will have Jeff contact you when he gets back in the office to discuss your build orders. Nice to have you guys back in the family!

Jon Lindhout
 
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