16' Cruiser / angler options

S

Spike

New member
A buddy of mine at work has decided that there is going to be a 16' C-Dory in his life in the near future. So every day at lunch he tracks me down to talk about our boats. We got to talking about what factory options to consider. I said definitly a second battery and electric wipers. My question to all 16' owners is, if you were to do it all over again what options would you get? Keep in mind that money is a factor.

Chuck
Bootleg Hooch
 
I'd buy GIZMO for less than a new C-Dory 16. Gizmo has all options and canvas. Two batteries, fuel water separator 14 gal. tank. Trailer has spare and side rails, 50 horse yamaha and permatrim.
 
Assuming Gizmo was sold, I'd get
1) Permatrim
2) second battery
3) mooring cover
4) drop-down canvas
5) winter cover
6) stainless bowrail
7) swimstep
8) VHF & GPS
9) kicker
 
I would seriously think about the added cost of hydraulic steering. I have had a 22 without and my 16 is without. I really appreciate the ease of the hydraulic on the 25.
 
I like martys' list. I haven't added the second battery yet. I keep debating the camper canvas but think I will not do it. I have the stern cover and it works for nighttime on the boat. Can't imagine not having port and starboard electric wipers, an absolute must.
 
Wipers for sure

Second Battery you'll probably have to do this yourself or get the dealer to do it. I as many others did put both my batteries under the port seat to lesson the weight in the stern.

I didn't have a camper cover but it would have been really nice in that the cabin in the 16 is open to the elements

Swim Step is nice

For me with health restrictions a windlass is a must. Don't think the factory offers it on the 16 but Oldgrowth did a nice job of putting and anchor locker in his 16 he has detail photos of the install in his album

VHF and GPS are a must have also

I'd look at a used one already rigged. Wefings has my old one for sale.
 
My wife & I just acquired a 16' Cruiser with a complete Raymarine GPS, sounder, radar, chart plotter, Standard Horizon VHF, dual wipers etc. It also has dual bilge pumps but only one battery. Dual batteries may be desirable, but with a kicker, gas & a 50hp engine on the transom, weight and balance becomes an issue.

If we lost battery power, we could still use the kicker with a handheld GPS & VHF to get back to port. Not elegant, but functional. Our Cruiser had a 12 gal tank permanently installed tank and has room for a three gal portable for the kicker.

If I had a choice on electronics for the 16' Angler/Cruiser, I'd probably suggest the Standard Horizon CPV-350 fishfinder/GPS/VHF package. The Raymarine SeaTalk & radar cables are a bit cluttered behind the helm. If you desire radar, I'd suggest the Furuno 1623 package.

As others have noted, there's lots of options :)
 
I won't bore you with the logic I used with my wife to have her agree to allowing the purchase of a 16' Cruiser sister to my TomCat; however, I am looking for some engine advice. My options are:

1.0 Honda 50
2.0 Mercury 50, 4 stroke EFI
3.0 Mercury as above but with "big foot" lower end.

Finally, any kicker (needed or not) advice would be appreciated
 
boodalu":1xamzszo said:
I won't bore you with the logic I used with my wife to have her agree to allowing the purchase of a 16' Cruiser sister to my TomCat; however, I am looking for some engine advice. My options are:

1.0 Honda 50
2.0 Mercury 50, 4 stroke EFI
3.0 Mercury as above but with "big foot" lower end.

Finally, any kicker (needed or not) advice would be appreciated
Click to expand...

Personally, I'd go with the Honda. I KNOW we'd all like to know the logic too. If it would work for a 16, it might work for a new tractor!
:wink:

BTW, if you've got her tied up, go and let her go!! :disgust
Charlie
 
re kicker- I have a 5 hp honda. It moves the boat a little over 5mph. If doing over I would probably get a little more hp, but, maybe not.
re wipers- a must in a 16. I have electric on starboard and manual on port. Not ideal, but cheaper.
 
boodalu":slbunk3v said:
I won't bore you with the logic I used with my wife to have her agree to allowing the purchase of a 16' Cruiser sister to my TomCat; however, I am looking for some engine advice. My options are:

1.0 Honda 50
2.0 Mercury 50, 4 stroke EFI
3.0 Mercury as above but with "big foot" lower end.

Finally, any kicker (needed or not) advice would be appreciated
Click to expand...

boodalu-

I don't think you can go wrong with any of the engines above.

The Honda's reliability is legendary.

The EFI Merc. 4-Stroke 50 may be a Yamaha powerhead with a Merc. foot, or a Mercury itself, if they've ever built a manufacturing and assembly line to make motors in that size themselves. We have a Merc/Yamaha on our pontoon boat and it runs just like all the good new four strokes.

At first I really didn't see any need up for a bigfoot motor, but since the hydrofoil and especially the Permatrim makes such a BIG difference on the performance of a 16, I'd get the Bigfoot and put an oversized Permatrim on that big anti-ventilation plate! Whatta cure for a boat that handles like it's too short!

Why's this work this way?

Small boats with heavy loads wallow around draggin' their tail alot before they get on plane. The Permatrim adds a lot of extra planing surface and helps the boat jump up out of the hole and onto its bow wake and away. Planes earlier, easier, and even at lower speeds as well! The last feature is very useful when slowing down in heavy weather so you don't fall off plane so easily!

Likewise, the extra surface area and leverage of the Permatrim behind makes the boat act like it's longer, smoothing out the ride and holding the bow wherever it's trimmed better to cut through the waves and chop.

Maybe some more thinking might change my mind, but for now, I'm going with recommending the Bigfoot until I or someone else can make me put the BIGFOOT IN MY MOUTH! Ha! :lol:

How much do you need a trolling motor? For Lake Michigan or ??? The 16 is weight sensitive. A heavy kicker makes the two problems above all the more difficult and would demand the Bigfoot and big Permatrim even more, IMHO.

I'd go with a smaller, lighter, kicker if I could, even opting for an electric trolling motor if using the boat mostly on small lakes.

You can move the batteries up front to help with the weight distribution problem.

HTH!

Cheers!

Joe.:teeth
 
P.S.:

The Bigfoot should also have a lower gear ratio and turn a bigger prop, both advantageous!

The bigger prop is more efficient in energy transfer* and is also a lot less prone to cavitation/ventilation problems, especially in chop!

Just another thought rambling on, ...........................???

Joe.:thup

* Just like having bigger, longer oars on a rowboat instead some smal,l stubby wave top wackers!
 
Oh...........

And if you anticipate running into rocks, gravel, or anything else on the bottom, the Bigfoot is a more sturdy customer and more likely to survive!

.......Still thinkin'.................???

Joe.
 
boodalu":1nxb2gy8 said:
I won't bore you with the logic I used with my wife to have her agree to allowing the purchase of a 16' Cruiser sister to my TomCat; however, I am looking for some engine advice. My options are:

1.0 Honda 50
2.0 Mercury 50, 4 stroke EFI
3.0 Mercury as above but with "big foot" lower end.

Finally, any kicker (needed or not) advice would be appreciated
Click to expand...
I don’t know how heavy that BigFoot Merc is, but the biggest enemy to a 16 Cruiser is weight. When my 16 footer was 16 feet, I took off the kicker (8hp Honda) that came with the boat because it was too stern heavy and almost always overloaded as we used it.

Moving the batteries under the port seat will help some with weight balance. Also shift as much weight under the V-berth or on top of it that you can. A permatrim is a necessity.

If my 16 was still 16 feet, I would choose the lightest 50 HP I could find and not put a kicker on the boat.
________
Dave dlt.gif
 
Interestingly, the Merc 50 and 50 Bigfoot have the same weight at 247 lbs and gear ratio at 1.83:1!

In fact, looking at the specifications table linked below and clicking back and forth on the 50 and Bigfoot 50 models, I can't see any difference at all!

Usually, the Bigfoot models have a lower end from a larger outboard mounted on them to take heavier punishment and work more efficiently on larger boat applications. This is also usually done on the "Commercial" model outboards.


Mercury Specs

I'd go right to my dealer and find out what the difference was in features and cost!

Joe.
 
I've got it all on C-Pup... check the photos. If there was just one thing I could buy after a VHF radio & compass, it would be electric wipers. I put a breaker board under the helm wheel which lets me turn the wipers on and off with the breaker switch. Easy to reach.

Remember there is a low weight limit on the 16 ft C-Dory that creates a sudden drop-off-of-plane tipping point. Toss the heavy accessories you'd rarely use (kicker) and keep the boat light. That said, I have two batteries, one under each seat.
 
Sea Wolf":3i6jx9gc said:
Interestingly, the Merc 50 and 50 Bigfoot have the same weight at 247 lbs and gear ratio at 1.83:1!

In fact, looking at the specifications table linked below and clicking back and forth on the 50 and Bigfoot 50 models, I can't see any difference at all!

Usually, the Bigfoot models have a lower end from a larger outboard mounted on them to take heavier punishment and work more efficiently on larger boat applications. This is also usually done on the "Commercial" model outboards.


Mercury Specs

I'd go right to my dealer and find out what the difference was in features and cost!

Joe.
Click to expand...
Joe - the 40, 50 & 60 hp Bigfoot Mercury's weigh 260 lbs.
________
Dave dlt.gif
 
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