C-Dory, the Perfect Utility Boat – Bites of Life on the Kitsap Peninsula
April 29th, 2007 by Rich Jacobson
When we first moved to the Kitsap Peninsula, it became quickly evident, being surrounded by the waterways of the Puget Sound and Hood Canal, that our family was going to need a boat.
At first, we were in denial, and attempted to circumvent the process by taking the “Wally-Mart 2-Man Inflatable” route. First let me say that the term “2-Man” is clearly misrepresented, and should really be a ”2-Small-Child” raft. Can you picture me and my 6′-tall teenage son, packed to the hilt with crabbing gear, paddling out into the swift currents of Hood Canal? Have you ever been utterly terrified and yet laughing uncontrollably at the same time?
Needless to say, we quickly admitted our stupidity (a very hard thing for guys to do!) and began our boat search in earnest.
One summer weekend, while camping at Seal Rock Campground on the Olympic Peninsula, we found Pleasant Harbor, a really cool marina, nestled in a protected cove near Brinnon. We parked the car and walked along the pier, admiring the various motor and sail boats.
And then suddenly, it was “Love at First Sight!”
We learned that this was a 16 ft. C-Dory, manufactured right here in Washington State. While over in the Kent area, I toured their plant and got more information. I came to the conclusion that a new model was way over my budget, so I turned to the internet and found the C-Dory Owner’s website. They had a classified section, so I posted an ad for a used C-Dory. A couple days later, I got a call from a retired Navy guy who lived just a few miles from our house! We drove over and found a 1985 C-Dory 16 ft. Angler Model in his driveway. It was in mint condition, with less than 70 hours on the 40hp Johnson, and a 9hp kicker!
Since then, we’ve discovered the joyous financial Black Hole that boat ownership brings. However, the C-Dory truly is the perfect sportsman’s utility boat for the Pacific Northwest. It’s great for a relaxing day out crabbin’ or pulling up to a secluded beach to dig clams or oysters. It’s not fast or flashy, but I guarantee that it’ll turn heads at the public boat launch, where your fellow fishermen will nod with envy and give you the traditional Tim Allen “Tool Time” grunt!
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Wow, that was lucky that you found one so soon after you started looking. It looks like a cool little boat and by the sounds of it they are great fun to own.
Hey, I missed this one, a chance to talk about boats and I missed it.
I agree with you on the C-Dory. It’s a great little boat. I think you ought to use it for more than crabbing though. Can’t you do other types of fishing in Puget Sound? And what about just running around to explore. How about he San Juan Islands…
Load up with fuel and head north. I’ll help you haul out in Whittier.