Your first time in a C-Dory.

4

416rigby

New member
I think it would be interesting to hear of everyone's first experience with a CD. After over a year of admiration, I finally set foot in my first one yesterday. My wife and I had to fly over to Anchorage for a medical appointment, and while we were there we stopped in the dealer to check them out. After I walked and crawled all over the 22 Cruiser they had on the lot, we are even more impressed with the boat. I can hardly wait to go for a ride in one. The only CD's here in Kodiak are early 1980's Anglers...there are about 4 of them, but I've only ever seen one in the water once.

We're moving back to the 48 in spring '06 and we're going to be looking real hard at that time. We should be in a position to buy one by then. The wait is just killing me!

Anyone have any interesting "first experiences" to share? How did YOU learn of C-Dory?

Rick
 
Our first ride in a C-Dory was also in Alaska -- in Sitka. We were there for a few weeks over Christmas Holidays, and signed up for a bird-watching boat trip to find pelagic birds. It was toasty warm, comfy, and altogether a delightful cruise, so we looked them up when we decided to move onto a cruising boat. By the way, some five years later we were back again to Sitka, on our own C-Dory.
 
My first ride in a C-Dory was in 1990. My fishing buddy and I saw a used one advertised in the local Spokane paper; gave it a quick look-see; and bought it as a partnership boat without even a test ride. We launched it the next day and both had our first ride on a C-Dory. We bought it just because it looked so darned "nautical." We cruised and fished it for three years and decided to sell it. It was a 1983 angler; paid $10,000 for it with trailer and 70HP Johnson; sold it three years later for $10,500. Since then I have been through a 17 Whaler Montauk and a 19 Arima. Got the cruising bug aqain after I retired and bought another C-Dory last fall.
 
Well, there was this one time on Valentines day. We had the boat for over a year at this point and we were both feeling particularly good... OH sorry, different first time in a C-dory... :twisted: :lol: :love

Roger
 
First time was in PWS after pulling the boat up the highway from EQ Marine to Anchorage - it was a fine Maiden Voyage.

Sundog
 
Judy and I had been talking about and looking for a 16' C-dory. A friend said he had seen one in a driveway up north of us and that week-end we happened to drive by the area and Judy said "Hey there's a C-dory in that shed" and I replied it was the one Cleve told me about. We went back and pulled into the driveway and took a look. There was this really nasty grumpy grouchy guy that said "well climb aboard and take a look around". The guy was TyBoo Mike and I'm of course kidding about the nasty grumpy stuff. After we pulled out and were headed home Judy said "Ya know I don't think you'd ever be happy with a 16', maybe we should look for a 22'". I said "Well, ok" and the rest was history. That first time aboard started a relationship with both a boat and a man. I'm proud to say that both turned out to be gems. Can't ask for a better day than that but it did get better as I was also told about this other site for C-Dory folks called the "C-Brats". What a day indeed.

Tim
 
OK, bear with, a bit of an epistle here...the first time we were on a C-Dory (other than crawling all over the display model at the 2003 SBS, which was Laurna Jo) was when we first got her wet in Lake Washington. But that is towards the end of the story, not the beginning...we got our C-Dory because Patty ill-advisedly insisted on going crabbing in Birch Bay one day.

It all started in the fall of 2001, when we had a little 13' Featherlite, used for crabbing in Birch Bay, WA. Last day of the season, Patty wants to go out. I protest - "Too rough out there! Not worth it!" She says "Oh, please, its the last chance." I cannot say no, never have been able to. At the launch, we notice another little boat - swamped, with a bunch of guys working at getting her out of the water. I back down the primative ramp at Birch Bay, and as soon as the boat is in the water, the wave hits, and WE are swamped. Gas cans, life jackets, buckets, crab pots, the flotation stuff from under the seats - all floating all over the beach now. One of the guys in the other boat says "I thought you knew something I didn't, but now I see you don't!" They graciously helped us retrieve OUR swamped boat, which we half destroyed in the process (David from Anna Leigh restored it, but that is another story).

So in January 2002 we go to the Tacoma Boat Show to get another little boat - but end up buying a 16' Smokercraft with a 50 hp Yamaha. We loved that boat, we called 2002 our "summer of fun" - little did we know. I always looked out longingly at Patos Island, which is 15 miles across the Strait of Georgia from Birch Bay (LOOKS closer!). Every week I would say "Let's buzz over to Patos." Patty would say "Too rough" or "Too far" or "The boat's too small" or some other reason why we couldn't go. Last day of the crabbing season (again), out of the blue Patty says "OK, let's go over to Patos." So we head out.

Uneventful crossing of the Strait (thank goodness!), into Active Cove. We beach her, and Austin plays on the sandstone rocks, says "This is my happy place." We were absolutely taken with the place too. I always was trying to get Patty to go out and stay overnight, not sure how we would accomplish that on the Smokercraft, maybe take a tent and sleeping bags. Anyway, as we were leaving Active Cove, we noticed THIS BOAT on a mooring buoy. We circled it a few times, pulled alongside, had a good look-see (apparently nobody on board). Patty says "I could stay out overnight on THAT boat." The name on the side said "C-Dory." At THAT SECOND I knew there was no point in looking at or thinking about any other boat. Just didn't think we were going to get one any time soon, since we had this brand new Smokercraft...

So, fast forward to January 2003, Seattle Boat Show. No idea we are getting one, I at least did not go in with the idea of buying a new C-Dory. We go with David and Kate. Patty crawls all over Laurna Jo, sits at the dinette, sits at the helm, pokes and prods around every corner. She comes out and says "Well, lets just go over and see what the deal is..." The hook was set, and trust me, it was not hard to reel us in - and David and Kate made that sale a "two-fer" for C-Dory. Two pretty much identical cabernet trim 22s coming out of the factory. The secret is, it doesn't matter if the financing is 3 years (Smokercraft) or 15 (C-Dory) - the big question is "How much is the monthly payment?"

Two years of fabulous fun and new friends! 2005 Seattle Boat Show, its deja vu all over again! I will be 80 when the boat is paid for, but who cares!

All because Patty wanted to go crabbing one last time in 2001...






 
I first ran a C-Dory 22 in 1992 for a sea trial article when I was Midwest editor for Boating World magazine. I took the boat out on Lake Superior, courtesy of the dealer in Duluth.

It was equipped with twin 45 Hondas and I was tremendously impressed in all aspects. Even running into three footers the boat was stable and quiet, allowing Boomer, my 90 Airedale to sleep on the floor for the entire trial. The article is part of the C-Dory factory website under articles.

Now here I am thirteen years later, having sold my sailboat, eagerly awaiting the delivery our our new 22 in May.

Since that test on Superior, I knew that if I ever got into power, the CD 22 would be the boat for me.

Nick
"Valkyrie"
 
All I need to do is fill in a few blanks on Pats story and you have mine. As soon as Kate and I purchased our home on Guemes Is. I knew we needed a boat. Kate "Its an island for crying out loud" I said. That was about the time Pat and Patti submarined their Featherlight which was a 14 ft aluminum rowboat of 1962 vintage (same year I graduated from high school) and a Mercury 25 hp 2 cycle that I am sure weighed more than the boat. I re-built the seats and used that for about 6 months until my new neigbor around the corner was selling his 16 foot Starcraft with a 50 hp, bimini top and windshield. That lasted about six months before being replace. Except for the aircraft carrier I spent 2 years on and my grandfathers 40 ft.boat back in the early 50's this was the biggest boat I had ever owned. Could cruise a little farther out with this puppy. In the meantime Pat was talking about this C-Dory he had seen. He told you about the Seattle Boat Show. So, like he and Patti, the first time on one was the demo at the boat show which became the 22 ft Laurna Jo. Only seemed fitting that all three of us bought the 25 at the next boat show.
 
Great idea for a thread, Rick.

The first C-Dory I stepped aboard was Halcyon. Bill and El were at Smallwood State Park in MD and invited me to come over after I made contact with them through the C-DOG site. I already liked a lot about the boat from what I had read (including Nick's article in Mid-West Boating Magazine - great article, Nick - didn't know it was you that wrote it). But hearing a little about El and Bill's travels with and on the boat really captured my imagination.
 
Our first time on a C-Dory was the new 25 at the 2005 Seattle Boat Show. We thought that we were just having a good time looking at boats having bought our first boat last year (a 21' Trophy walk around). We were just scoping out the possibilities for our next step, but didn't intend to buy anything this soon. We thought this would be a great opportunity to compare all the boats side by side.

We were drawn to the C-Dory exhibit to see the Skagit Orca and in leaving decided to check out the C-Dory 25. We stepped on the boat and looked around, but something just didn't feel right. Hmm, where are the controls? That seems to be an important thing to have on a boat. Unfortunately when we were on the boat, there wasn't anyone available to explain to us that this boat was incomplete. So we left.

We spent the next two days looking at everything else and trying to decide what kind of boat we really wanted. We decided whatever we bought needed to be trailerable, enclosed, at least a bathroom and preferably a shower, sea worthy so we could go up to Alaska some day. We were considering two different boats for very different reasons (one cost and the other quality). Then Don suggested that we take one last look at the Sakgit Orca. We went over again and spent considerable time looking at all the boats over there. Then we again stepped onto the C-Dory 25. "Wasn't there something about this boat that we didn't like?" Then someone started talking to us about the boat and the light turned on for both of us.

"This is it!" It had everything we wanted and we knew this was the boat for us. "Rugged and Practical, Simple and Sensible." It was a perfect fit. We didn't even go back to the other boat dealers after that. We are now anxiously awaiting our new boat and feeling like expectant parents. There isn't a day that goes by that we aren't doing some kind of research on our new boat and gleaning all the information we can from all of you on the Web Site. We can't wait to be C-Brats.

Dee
 
I had not actually seen a C-Dory until late Jan. '05 at the Pleasonton, Ca.(bay area) boat show. Pictures, yes, a real boat, no.

We had sold our Sea Ray in San Diego, before coming back to Norcal in October. All we had left was our 12' Achilles. That had to be rectified.

I expected to buy a 20'-23' hard core walk-around fishing boat. That's until Mary saw the CD 25. It's all her fault.

OK, I admit, I was taken with it, also. :oops: :lol:

Two days ago it was in the final stages of completion, getting the cabinetry fitted. It should hit the highway South early next week. Shortly afterwards I should get my FIRST experience aboard a C-Dory in the water.


I can't wait.

Don
 
Our first time on a C-Dory was in 1991, on a test run with one of the owners of Coos Bay Marine (CD dealers at the time). First impression was how well the 22 cruiser handled the waves of the North Pacific in December.

Closer inspection revealed the many advantages of owning a C-Dory: economical to own; smooth riding at moderate speeds; very seaworthy; accommodating to a variety of uses; well constructed; beautiful dory design.

In short, we were sold and placed our order for a 92 cruiser which we kept for four years. Thanks to Les and Kathy at EQ Marine, we are now proud owners of an 04 25 cruiser.
 
I busted a gut when I read about your Valentine's experience...lol...I guess the title of this thread begs that kind of response, eh? The stories are great...keep 'em coming.
Rick
 
I like this topic, it brings back a lot of memories. The first time I saw a C-Dory was around 1988. We were vacationing on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I saw a red 16' C-Dory and followed it to the dock. Compared to my aluminum drift boat with a 7.5 hp Honda it looked like a real boat and very luxurious. At that time I couldn't have afforded the drain plug for a C-Dory, so it wasn't even really a dream. Besides that we live in Eastern Washington so it never seemed practical. However, I couldn't get C-Dorys out of my mind. I stopped at the factory sometime in the early 90's and picked up a brochure that I looked at for years. The summer of 2002, I decided I was going to look at boats with my brother in law while we were in Seattle. I set up with the factory to go out on a Saturday morning. We took a green 22' out for an hour. Shelley wasn't really interested, so I shelved the idea until January 2003. That January my doctor told me that I had symptoms of Parkinson's. Fortunately it was just a hereditary condition and not Parkinson's. However, the close call caused me to think about all the things that I hadn't done that required physical abilities. At the top of the list was the kind of boating that required a C-Dory.
In March of 2003 we went to EQ and went out with Les in a 22. Shelley didn't like sitting sideways (a situation that Mike solved with the Barber chair) and thought the boat was a little tight for 2-3 week cruises. When we got back to EQ there was a blue 25' sitting there. It had the convertible seat and the enclosed head. Shelley said "this boat has a bathroom, why aren't we buying this one". At that point I wasn't going to disagree. So, even though we don't get enough time aboard the boat because of living in E. Washington and running a small business, we love the time we do get on Bess-C and enjoy the C-Dory people we've met because of her.
Lyle
 
We were camping at Camano Island state park in Washington State and at the next campsite from ours was a 16’ Angler named Quasiboato. I was so taken by the boat that by the end of the day I was trying to buy the boat from the couple. I then was on a quest to own a Cdory. We finally found a 1982 22 Angler owned by Don and Deb Pacini who now own the 27’ Haileghs Comet. We went out for the first ride on it on Christmas eve 2000 and bought it a few days later. We have never looked back and are now on the brink of owning our third Cdory.
Like Mike says, owning these boats has change a part of our life and brought many great people into our lives.

Fred
 
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