16 Angler and the Pacific Ocean

[Captain Casey]

Hi all,

Man have I done a lot of reading lately. The internet and friends have no shortage of opinions that must be dug through to find facts. I'm new to C Dorys but not new to boats or the water. I've located a like new 16 angler that I'm about ready to pull the trigger on. It would be enjoyed by me, my girlfriend and our young son. On lakes, Bays and some trips to open ocean to fish rock cod (no more then 5 miles off shore). I love the looks of the C Dorys as well as the construction and how economical they are. I've narrowed it down to what I think is my one and only question...how is this boat going to handle swells? I'm getting mixed opinions from friends about the boat being a Dory hull and want to hear opinions from those who actually run C Dorys. I know it's 16 feet, I don't want a 19 or a 22. The simplicity of owning, running and maintaining the 16 has me very attracted to it. I know I will have to pick and choose my days depending on the weather. My other half wouldn't want to be out in the ocean in bad swell regardless of the boat she was on. We have a local bay and lakes to fish on the weekends the swells are up. I just want to be sure if I go out on a day with 4 foot swells at 15 seconds I won't be upset. Thank you all for the wealth of knowledge that is this forum and any information you have on this topic.

Casey

[T.R. Bauer]

It wouldn't work for my usage as I go places that probably should not go in a 22-foot boat. With that said, a 16-foot boat is very seaworthy in the right hands. I am always surprised at how well my 16-foot jet-john does in class II/III rapids, hydraulics, chop in the lake, and such. It can be a very wet ride and nobody is comfy. The CD 16 will be much better and 4 foot swells with far spacing won't be a problem. The big problem, as you are well aware of with the 16, is how few days you will be able to go out in the Pacific with a margin of safety. Also, the difference in towing, one person handling, and everything else isn't that much different than the 22. I get it though, you want what you want

[rbfconstruction]

I came very VERY close to a 16 and was led to a 19. (I know you are not interested in a 19) I can tell you that at 16 , you will be a cork bobbing in the water, at the swell you mentioned. That being said, pick your days... slow down when its rough, and the 16 will get you to land. White knuckles of course. I personally am soooo glad I went with the 19 as I fish inshore and off with no lake options and the bay is fairly limited to the catch.


Richard

16 s are the coolest looking vessel I have ever seen

[hardee]

[South of Heaven]

Captain: I guess if the swells are spaced out at a 15 second interval as you mentioned then you'd probably be fine. BUT 4 foot waves are still big for a 16' with a narrow beam.

I had a 16 and they are definitely seaworthy but as T.R Bauer said it also depends on the operator. I had a few scary moments on my 16 when I almost got swamped by the wake from a big sportfisher on the beam...I thought I was gonna broach.

Good luck in your search. Welcome to the group too!

[CC Rider]

I have never owned a 16, but I really like the looks of these little C-Dorys and meeting the people who own them is always a pleasure. I'm amazed at the distances their owners travel in them to get to the CBGT's. I remembered this post from the Powell River CBGT and I hope that Geoff & Aline won't mind me quoting it here.

[chromer]

Ah yes, the Blueback 16 trek home is a classic tale. Fortunately I left 1 day prior to Blueback

[C-Hawk]

If the 16 is what you want-- go for it.
I now have a 22, but we used to go out of Port San Luis in an Arima 17, 35+ miles for albacore. We spent a lot of time on Cachuma for trout and around the Islands out of Santa Barbara in the Arima.
As noted before--- pick your days on the big water.

[jer2]

Casey-

My 16CD Cruiser w/50HP Honda OB experience in 3-4 Potomac river swells often gives you a 'rough' ride. Issue is all swells are not all at consistent time or size intervals and your piloting skills have to adjust to different situations/conditions (cross swells; shifting winds; depths; etc.).

Seaworthyness is not so much the issue as piloting agility (speed and direction adjustment; observation acuity; throttle control, etc.).

John Roark
2008 16 CD-C
R&R
Upper Potomac River (VA)

[journey on]

You know, one can take an inflatable out on the Pacific when it's calm.

When the winds blow in the afternoon or it's rough weather, you need a bigger boat and a lot of prayer. We've done the Pacific in a 22', 25' and 36' sailboats and a 25' C-Dory. Bigger is better.

That's the Pacific Ocean you're talking about, not some inland waterway. We've come back from Santa Cruz island at noon, going downwind in Journey On, a 25, and it was a rough ride. You need to show that open ocean some respect, especially since your home is Guadalupe, along a rough strip of the California coast.

Boris

[Marco Flamingo]

[lloyds]

I fished my 16 two seasons off the Oregon coast, sometimes twenty miles out and never felt threatened. Getting back across the bar in the afternoon requires some attention and slowing down but it was never a problem. July to October in the pacific is usually pretty decent.

[westward]