16 Angler or Cruiser?

H

hayb

New member
Folks,

I'd appreciate your insights and experiences please. I am looking at the 16 Angler and the 16 Cruiser and I am having a tough time making a decision. Do I trade a smaller cabin for more cockpit space (5 foot versus 3 on the cruiser) or do I sacrifice 2 feet of cockpit for a more open cabin and a small v-berth? I like aspects of each and am struggling with the call.

I know, some problem to have! We'll use the boat for a bit of fishing, crabbing and cruising.

Thoughts? Anybody with an Angler wish they'd gone with the Cruiser or vice versa? Thanks to all for any feedback. I love this site, the pics and all the info. Thanks all.

:D
 
If you plan on using the boat for fishing primarily you would probably like the extra cockpit space of the Angler. the main problem with the angler is that the v berth area ends up being storage space that is hard to get into.
 
I went for the Cruiser. I'm glad I did because I can sleep on it if need be.
I have twice now and will be sleeping on it more in the future. I don't think one can camp on the Angler unless you sleep on the deck. I fish allot and have no problem in the cock pit on the Cruiser. I've only had it for 1 1/2 months but it is everything I needed. Nice boat. I like the way it floats! Between now and the end of the year I'll be sleeping on it allot more.
 
Even though I am not a current C Dory owner I spent over a year coming to my decision. I wanted the cruiser.

My wants: Easily handle any water in puget sound.
-able to fish
-easily handle with one person
-excellent fuel mileage, realize I was coming from a evin 140 that cruised at 10GPH.
-dry area for storage.

And I came to this question. If it gets late and i'm out since I do night fish. Would I be better with more fishing room or a place to sleep. I chose that cruise and got a 16' Arima sea explorer. And it has come down to that question on 3 occaisions. Where I went out intending to be back that day but spent the night out on the water.

Unless you have absolutely no intention of ever overnighting i'd look at the cruiser.
 
The deciding factor for me was the overnighting. Having the v berth and porta potti seals the deal. With two people there's plenty of room for fishing.It's when the sturgeon/stripers get pulled aboard you tend to get a lil' cramped. But its something you learn to deal with :wink
 
My biased opinion would be to go for the cruiser. I have done several overnights with company this year and fished. It is suprisingly comfortable for the size of the boat. But if you got the fishing boat and the camper back it would make for some cabin space but you would have to improvise some kind of bed and the camper back would hinder casting somewhat unless it was a fold back type arrangement. Also you really need to find a very calm spot to overnight with either boat as even a small wake will rock the boat, even at the dock. The kind of boating you discribe would indicate the cruiser and your going to love it.
 
Angler. I've had mine for 17 years and I've slept in it for extended periods each year. One year I was out two months. Be advised, however, that I'm strictly a cruiser. But even if I fished I'd still go Angler.

It's all in the skipper, and what's important. After all that time I finally tried sleeping in the cuddy and got a surprise. It works better that I ever imagined. So far just for one person. But I place a Thermarest beneath me and a plastic tub with top between the seats, against the bulkhead, to more fully absorb my 5'11" unfurling. Works great. Really. Besides, so did sleeping on the carpet in my ample cockpit.

I wouldn't choose the Cruiser because it places captain and mate two feet aft, raising the bow and lowering the stern. I like a more level ship.
 
Thanks a bunch for the insights, can anyone address the balance issues with the cruiser? Is the seats being 2 feet aft a problem re high bow, low stern when the outboard, kicker, fuel and battery are aft?
 
hayb":mvq46msf said:
Thanks a bunch for the insights, can anyone address the balance issues with the cruiser? Is the seats being 2 feet aft a problem re high bow, low stern when the outboard, kicker, fuel and battery are aft?
Click to expand...
It is but I tend to store a lot of stuff under the V-Berth and that helps a great deal. I also added a hydrofoil (homemade copy of the Permatrim). With it there is absolutely no trouble keeping the bow down. I also moved my batteries under the port seat, again to help with the balance.
 
Hi Folks,

On our Erie Canal Trip, Nate Leonard had a used 16' Cruiser Model. She is a sweet looking and handling boat. Nate and his girl friend had no problem staying on the boat. They know they have to get a cockpit cover and do a few adjustments to make her work. My thoughts when I went aboard is as I get older and have more of a problem launching the 22', I will be able to extend my boating years by getting a 16' Cruiser model.

Fred
 
Back
Top