16 FOOT C-DORY

M

MIKE MANNELL

New member
I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING PURCHASING A NEW 16 FOOT CRUISER. FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH ONE...
WHAT WILL THEY SAFELY HANDLE IN TERMS OF WAVE HEIGHT....4-6FT SEAS? HAS ANYONE OUT THERE BEEN IN 8 FOOTERS IN A 16 C-DORY? IF SO, HOW DID THE BOAT HANDLE? I WOULD GET THE 19 FOOT, BUT ANOTHER 10K IN MY CASE IS TOO MUCH TO JUSTIFY. I WOULD HAVE TO SELL MY HARLEY TO PULL THAT OFF. I OFTEN SPEND TIME IN PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND, AK. WITH A FRIEND WHO HAS A 25FT GLAICER CRAFT ALUMINUM BOAT AND WE USUALLY STAY TUCKED INTO A COVE WHEN SEAS ARE 8 PLUS FEET. ANY OTHER INFO ON THE 16 FOOT WHOULD BE APPRECIATED...THE GOOD AND BAD POINTS. THANKS... :thup
 
Mike --

We have a 16 Cruiser and she's a competent sea boat, at least on the Great Lakes. We don't have the same wave conditions as you do on the oceans. Eight footers here on Lake Erie are not much than eight feet apart, crest to crest so I don't go out in them!

The boat itself is nicely sheltered and a good boat for two people, although we usually squeeze a third person on board. The berth provides overnight sleeping but more importantly a large amount of storage space during the day. With the cruse curtain buttoned across the back she's snug in wind and spray.

The cockpit is not self bailing although a scupper check valve can be used on the aft drain. One was listed as standard on the boat, along with a solid drain plug, but ours didn't come with one. We keep a bucket on board just in case, but there's rarely any water on board.

The factory has apparently never standardized windshield wiper placement. I've seen 'em in any of the 4 corners of each window panel. Ours are in the upper center corners and can't be reached without leaving the seats. You'll want electric wipers.

The seats on the Cruiser are 2 feet aft of those in the Angler. The same two feet gained in the cabin is lost in the cockpit. Good trade off for us but we've not yet fished off the boat. The 19 Angler has the missing 3 feet of cockpit as well as seating for four. I would like the 19 Angler, but like you didn't want to spend an extra $10K right now.

-- Chuck
 
Mike- I hope I don't step on any body's toes here, but since you said you were considering a New 16, 19, or a used 22, I'll suggest to you that you throughly consider the last option. Compare the prices and the features throughly. Here are some considerations:

Over 80% of the C-Dories sold have been the 22 Cruiser. Once you've owned one, it would be very hard to give up the advantages this boat has over the smaller models:

1. The enclosed cabin enables the boat to stay dry and warm in all kinds of weather, offering protection and over night sleeping capability far beyond that found in any open ended cabin design. This is a boat designed to accomodate cold weather.

2. The larger cabin affords a fully usable dinette that converts to a third, reasonabaly sized berth (6'3").

3. The larger cabin also affords a decent sized galley with a sink including ample space for a stove and a cabin heater and, when not is use as a galley, serves as another place to sort fishing gear or whatever, . Nice storage below and all around the cabin, too.

4. The overall efficient layout and appeal of this interior plan will appeal to your wife, and heaven knows what an ally one's spousal unit can be when spending part of the family bankroll on such a wonderful toy as a C-
Dory. Candidly, many of the sales of this wonderful model have been the result of this appeal to women. Most men like the
accomodating cabin deisgn just as much as women do. It becomes comfortable, like an old shoe(!)

5. The CD-22 hull is a larger, naturally balanced, and proven design which handles the waves, chop, wind, and slop better than a smaller hull, even though the smaller CD models have a similar hull configuration.

6. The larger cabin and boat in general provide more space to accommodate electronics, downriggers, kids, grandchildren, camping equipment, an inflatable tender, crab pot pullers, 1400 lbs of moose meat, or whatever suits your fancy at the time.

7. The CD-22 is large enough to use as a camper when traveling on the highway to other boating adventures.

8. The quality of construction of these boats is phenomenal. No need to worry about a fatigued hull or failing factory parts (vs Bayliner, for instance). C-Dory hulls are retired when they are crushed by 18-wheelers on the highway or are burned out by a disasterous fire.

9. The CD-22 is still very trailerable, requiring only a full sized (or close to it) tow vehicle. (See discussions under this topic.)

10. A good used CD-22 will maintain its resale value as well as any boat you can purchase because of its reputation and the resulting demand for pre-owned boats.

Hope I haven't overstated my case here, but it's hard not to be an avid salesman for a boat I've come to love and appreciate over the past six years of my 55 years in recreational boating and fishing. Joe.
 
Mike,

I will second the above post. We have owned our 22 cruiser since it was new in Oct 1990. We have towed up and down the Pacific Coast almost every year and driven the boat to Alaska(by water) from Seattle. Twice!!

:smile :smile :thup
 
MIKE MANNELL":x3g0exwq said:
I'M SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING PURCHASING A NEW 16 FOOT CRUISER. FOR THOSE OF YOU OUT THERE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCE WITH ONE...
WHAT WILL THEY SAFELY HANDLE IN TERMS OF WAVE HEIGHT....4-6FT SEAS? HAS ANYONE OUT THERE BEEN IN 8 FOOTERS IN A 16 C-DORY? IF SO, HOW DID THE BOAT HANDLE? . :thup
Click to expand...

Hi Mike,
In answer to the above question. We have the 16' Cruiser and on one occasion was "caught" out in what was estimated to be 6 foot waves. My daughter commented, "Dad, proportionally this is the Perfect Storm". At the same time Catman (Brock) on his 16' Angler "Bambina" was going through the same slop and according to Fred and Robbin who were accompanying him on their 22', ("Bambina" appeared to be vertical at times" in the waves).
We made it safely to port, but I would rather not repeat a voyage like that.
In the near future, Les at EQ Marine will begin outfitting our new 22' Cruiser, which was just built at the factory. With a family of three, the desire for more "living space", stove/heater, etc. We are certain that new boat will be better suited for us.
 
Hi Mike:
I bought a 16 ft cruiser last year. Think carefully about your uses, the water conditions you'll encounter, and your personality. With the C-Dory's flat bottom hull, you have to plan your travel around the ocean's typical water conditions. For me in Los Angeles, that means getting the boat to where I launch at Marina del Rey before dawn. I then drive it north along the Malibu coast on early morning flat seas so I can return south or "downhill" with the wind and chop going mostly my way in the afternoon. If I want to explore south of Los Angeles, then instead of piloting C-Pup south in the morning and returning north "up hill" against the waves in the afternoon, I will trailer it to a more southernly launch site in order to do my "uphill in the morning, downhill in the afternoon" routine. Your waters may be different. I discovered that I dislike boating in most SoCal lakes because they're crowded, so the "chop" (boat wakes) comes at me from all directions.

On ocean swells, I don't know their average heights but going "downhill" with the wind behind me is usually pretty easy because they're spread out. I guess if they get too large, then I'd slow down considerably to let each swell pass under my boat rather than down hill ski and risk pole vaulting or breaching in the trough. I personally haven't encountered such big swells yet. Since I pick conditions for boating carefully, I can usually just power over ocean swells with speed when going with the wind and waves to my back.

You can't make time with a C-Dory going "uphill" against chop and wind, even in lakes. In bad chop, you have to slow to a crawl and it's still a rough (pounding) ride (although you feel safe and stay dry with the dory hull). If early mornings and planning your cruises like I described just aren't your lifestyle or personality, then buy a deep-V hull that can plow
through oncoming waves without discomfort so you can go when and where you want any time. The trade off is that your gas bill will rise exponetially from what a C-Dory consumes because such v-hulled boats need emourmous power to go fast. I think many v-hulled boats over 20 feet with big oheavy outboards will probably sink if swamped. The
C-Dory with its balsa core and foam in the hull is suppose to make the boat stay afloat if swamped. (I still carry a survival raft when going far from shore. Even if it floats, there's no protection from hypothermia.)
Finally, if you take a wife, kids or guest, the porta-potty is a nice feature but there's no privacy from others inside the 16 foot boat. Maybe the 22 ft boat might rig a curtain for the v-berth when it's being used as a head. The 25 ft boats usually have an enclosed head. Porta-potty privacy may be important to you depending on your use of your boat.

Keith
 
Mike,...

I should have added that I tow my 16 ft cruser behind a Honda van (6 cyl) with no difficulty and have even been able to squeeze it into my standard car garage by having Pacific Trailer lower the bunks and use small wheels. While Chuck told you that he takes his daughter and wife on his 16 ft cruiser, I'd say that while three are possible, the 16 ft cruiser is really a two person boat for long cruises or rough water.

I'm curious if any C-Dory owners have pulled water skiiers behind their boat? The 16 ft's 50 hp can pull those tow rafts but probably not skiis, and if you want to tow anybody, you'll need that third person in the boat to perform look out.

Keith
 
Mike,...

And still another thought just occurred to me! I have the benefit of an abolutely fantastic marina with a "T" shaped break water exit to the sea far from the beach breakers. I never have to go against large breakers to exit my harbor for the sea. If you have to do so under even the best weather and sea conditions, then maybe a 16 ft boat is a little small. Again, choose a boat that matches your uses, water conditions and personality. If you're interested in v-hulled boats, then look at the links at the bottom of the C-Dory.com site to their other boat brands. Probably you'll need to consider buying used for v-hulls, simply because they're more expensive given that they need more power (unless you go into the putt-putt low power slow speed mini-trawlers).

Keith
 
Mike,...

Here's a trailer trawler alternative to the 22 ft C-Dory if you have more time then money. It's sold as a kit of precut marine aluminum. You have to weld it! Then you have to be patient getting to where you want to go! With boats, every boat is a compromise. You just have to think through all your needs, wants and limitations then prioritize and compromise!

Keith

http://www.kastenmarine.com/boojum22.htm
 
Keith,

I live near by L.A., and have been looking to buy a 16' C-D for some time. Which dealer did you buy your C-D from and how much did it cost you (whole set up)? Also, I'm planning to keep inside my garage as well. What's the height, from ground to the tallest point on the boat, when on a trailer? Thanks.

Chaz
 
No time to talk because I'm dashing off to the boat show. But let me say this about that: The 16' C-Dory is one awesome little craft. It does anything you ask of it, and when you're done, you just put it in your pocket until the next adventure.

:love
 
Mike,

I don't know too many people who enjoy messing around in small boat in 8' seas! I do know I'd rather do it in my C-Dory than my last boat, which was an "unsinkable" Boston Whaler. My family and I came back across Rosario Straight in 8' seas one morning shortly after we bought our 22' C-Dory. We had green water over the bow along with some interesting cross waves that seemed to come out of nowhere. My kids absolutely loved it, but it was the first really rough water my wife had been in so the kids had to quiet down with all their "yee-haws".

I was amazed at how well the boat handled it, usually in rough stuff I get a bit frazzled as it is difficult to relax but not that time. The boat seemed to enjoy showing us what it could do and I was able to focus on finding the right path through all the slop. For three times the money you might be able to find a boat in the 16' to 22' range that handles rough water better, but I'm guessing it will weight a whole lot more. In the 16' range, there is not much out there that comes with as strong a cabin or as well thought out floor plan. 8' seas in a open center console gets wet and cold in a hurry and the boat usually lasts longer than the Captain!

Good luck!

Chivita Dave
 
An 8 foot wave can be dangerous in any small boat. A lot depends on the peroid (time between crests) and steepness (ie current against wind) causing breaking. The C Dory is like a cork--and will take a lot of heavy weather at a slow speed.

Another way of looking at a boat purchase is what do you want to do with the boat? Fish, day cruise, overnight? What vehicle do you have to tow with? How many people will be using it?

The plus is that C Dories hold their value far better than Bayliners etc. If you get a 16 and then want a 22 or 25 in a few years you should be able to get a fair amount of your money back. Also look at any work or upgrades you want to do on the boat and what those will cost. The other beauty of the C Dory is that they are "timeless"--the design has changed little in 30 years and the boats are very solidly built. I choose a 22 Cruiser because it fit my needs, was easy to trailer (Honda Pilot and Dodge Van)yet was a boat I could "live" on for a few weeks at a time.
 
Mike,

If you are considering putting yourself in 8' waves I would suggest the 22' CD. We have a 16' angler which we use inside Oregon bays. It is outstanding for this application i.e. fast currents, tight chop and tight 3' wind waves.

8' seas!! Why risk it? If your putting yourself in that kind of situation they could easily be 10' or bigger couldn't they?

We know a guy here on the west coast that used to run an 18' sled, another 18' aluminum and 18' deep-v outside to fish salmon, and halibut.
I say he used to run these boats because he lost all three to the sea. He now has a 25' deep-v due to the fact that A) nobody would go out with him anymore. B) his wife was about to divorce him if he bought another 18 footer. C) The Coast Guard had had enough of him!!

Play it safe. If not for yourself, for those who care about you or may have to risk their lives to rescue you.
 
Chaz,

Our 16' angler is 68 inches to the top of the upper grab rails. You will have to modify your 7' garage door opening in order to get it in.

We bought our used 2002, 16' angler in Portland, OR for $16,750. She was on consignment at a dealership. It came with a 50hsp. Honda, bilge pump, bow rails. anchor guide, 2 electric wipers, no-slip deck mat, straight drop canvas, roller trailer w/spare and very low hours, (see photo album). Also has 1.5 year warranty on the motor & trailer and 2.5 years on the boat.

Shop around the C-dory owner sites, (like this one) and don't be afraid to drive a few States away to get a great deal on a great CD.
 
Hey, Jon, any chance you and Terrie might want to come north and join some Brats on a Puget Sound/San Juan cruise?
Up here, the 16' is an endangered species, with just three among us. All my little buddies have grown up.
 
Catman,

Sounds intriguing. Probably going to be a while for us as I just started this new job not to long ago, so leave time is non existent until after August :cry:. We do want to get up there though and learn the bigger water skills from fellow CDers. Until then I am working on outfitting the Denebola :star to be able to do trips like your talking about. Thanks for thinking of us. Keep prodding :wink.

If you ever feel like getting down Nehalem Bay OR. way for maybe a three day weekender, let me know. We have a little place there :cocktail :beer, and free moorage at a private marina/RV park, (free for you too :D ). The crabbing is good most of the time with the peak of the salmon run August through September. It's only a 20 minute drive to trailer down to Tillamook Bay from there too.

That goes for any other Brats as well. Jon
 
Hey there Jon
Just wanting to know how the crab davit mounts are coming along.
I like your Idea of using the plastic wood for the bottom mounting block.
Hope to see some pics soon....lol.....
 
Roger on the Sensei,

I hope to mount that next weekend. My plan is to take detailed pics. with step-by-step instructions. If Tyboo or Da Nag is watching this thread, maybe they can tell me how to set this up in a different tutorial for others to see instructions & pics. without having to bounce around the site :idea .

I found a composite material made by TREX which is used for decking & other outdoor applications which seems to be the best product. It's made of recycled wood fibers and plastic which is melted together and formed into various sizes and colors. Supposed to never rot, is not water soluble, resists mold other funguses and won't split or chip. You can learn more about this at: www.trex.com It is pretty expensive but less than teak. It looks like a good alternative which may be used for numerous applications where you won't want to, or can't :evil: replace the wood you used which is now rotted out :rose2. You can order it through your local lumber yard, although my dealer gave me one of his samples in the 1.5 inch thickness :wink.

More to come. Jon
 
I have used Trex on my dock--it is not really a substitute for wood. In dock use it has to be supported at 12 to 16"--will not work at 24 inches as 2x6 will. Starboard is a better choice for blocks under davits. I cannot think of a place where Trex would be substituted for teak on a boat--except maybe in a grating--but one which didn't take any bending or flexing...Great dock material however. It weathers to a gray color.
 
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