angler vs cruiser (16')

W

Wood Zeppelin

New member
Hello,

I'm new here but I'm completely in love with C-dory's and I'm on a mission to have one. I primarily would use it for fishing in the Puget Sound area. However, I definitely want to be able to use it for some multi-day cruising / boat-camping adventures. So, if I was to get a 16', which model would be better? Of course, only 3' of open space in the back of the Cruiser seems small for fishing (1-3 people), however it offer the berth that apparently sleeps two. On the other hand, the Angler with 5' of open space in the rear would have more space for fishing, and could be fitted with a soft-top to extend the cabin and sleeping may be possible?

Which would you recommend for my desired uses? Is the Cruiser sleeping area really worth giving up the open fishing space, or is it cramped and uncomfortable? Has anyone ever extended the cabin of an Angler with a soft-top and used it for sleeping?

Thanks!
 
If you haven't looked at the 16 up close, I would before getting too much farther down this road. As far as 16' boats go, the c-dory is pretty small. I've owned a number of 16' boats that were much larger and more appropriate for those parameters.

Multi day cruising/camping, and 3 people fishing in the cockpit isn't the 16's specialty, but it could be done. I think there are other boats that would be a better choice... C-dory and otherwise.

I like the 16, but for me its a day boat with a partner and maybe a small child/dog, and that's about it.

The roofline is pretty low on the 16, so I think personally I'd prefer an open cockpit to more cabin space with the low roof.

Now everyone that loves their 16 can really let me have it!
 
Wood Zeppelin":3ump1rhy said:
Hello,

I'm new here but I'm completely in love with C-dory's and I'm on a mission to have one. I primarily would use it for fishing in the Puget Sound area. However, I definitely want to be able to use it for some multi-day cruising / boat-camping adventures. So, if I was to get a 16', which model would be better? Of course, only 3' of open space in the back of the Cruiser seems small for fishing (1-3 people), however it offer the berth that apparently sleeps two. On the other hand, the Angler with 5' of open space in the rear would have more space for fishing, and could be fitted with a soft-top to extend the cabin and sleeping may be possible?

Which would you recommend for my desired uses? Is the Cruiser sleeping area really worth giving up the open fishing space, or is it cramped and uncomfortable? Has anyone ever extended the cabin of an Angler with a soft-top and used it for sleeping?

Thanks!
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If you really want to do multi-day cruising, I'd recommend a 22. The 16 is really tight for sleeping 2 in the berth (but it can and has been done). Some have increased the sleeping space with a canvas cover as you describe, others have reconfigured things by removing the seat boxes and installing removable seating to open the floor space up. Look at the Crabby Lou photo album for the latter. For fishing, it's mostly a 2 person boat. You can fish 3 but it's pretty challenging to do so.
 
rogerbum":2qik6vuw said:
If you really want to do multi-day cruising, I'd recommend a 22.
Click to expand...

I was surprised when I went aboard the CD 22 at the Boat Show. The V berth was surprisingly similar to the berth on my 16. Tight, but doable. The helm area was surprisingly similar. There was a little table and a sink behind the helm, which the 16 doesn't have. And the cockpit was larger. The 22 is a two-person boat by my standards, with room for a day guest. It definitely has more places to store "stuff," but could only be called "spacious" when compared to the CD 16.

As to cruising, the CD 16 has enough room for 10 days if you are in the "backpacking" mode. The CD 22 has enough room for 10 days if you are in the "car camping" mode. If you are in "car camping" mode on a 16, you won't be happy for more than an overnight, if that.

I see the CD 16 as a one-person boat with the ability to have a guest aboard. Even an overnight guest under some adventurous circumstances. Three people aboard a 16 is possible, as is 7 people in a car, but too many people sucks the fun out of an adventure IMHO, unless the adventure is to see how many people you can pack in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=034yoXoC-wM

I'm always surprised to hear that the advantage of the 16 Angler is the larger cockpit for fishing (12 inches longer!). I must be doing something wrong. I don't need to run around when I catch a fish. Most of the fish that I catch can fit in the CD 16 Cruiser cockpit and I now release the ones that won't fit. I would release them even if my cockpit was a foot longer. I just don't get the need for a larger cockpit.

Mark
 
PaulNBriannaLynn":2jk4490d said:
If you haven't looked at the 16 up close, I would before getting too much farther down this road. As far as 16' boats go, the c-dory is pretty small. I've owned a number of 16' boats that were much larger and more appropriate for those parameters.

Multi day cruising/camping, and 3 people fishing in the cockpit isn't the 16's specialty, but it could be done. I think there are other boats that would be a better choice... C-dory and otherwise.

I like the 16, but for me its a day boat with a partner and maybe a small child/dog, and that's about it.

The roofline is pretty low on the 16, so I think personally I'd prefer an open cockpit to more cabin space with the low roof.

Now everyone that loves their 16 can really let me have it!
Click to expand...

OK - I own the 16' Angler which has draw backs and assets of course. Paul has defined the draw backs and invites a response. So lets look at the assets missed here. 1-tow vehicle can be any one of a number of smaller SUVs - mine is a Jeep Liberty diesel. 2- trailer for this 16' does not require brakes as the boat weights 946 lbs and total kit including trailer comes in around 15-1600 lbs--piece of cake to tow. So drop the cost of brakes and brakes maintenance here. 3--Launching and reloading - quick an easy with one or 2 people. 4- Cost less to buy and insure. 5- one, 40-50hp engine, cheaper to run and maintain.6 - easier to wash - wax and maintain the finish. 7 - recreational budget is kept to a lower cost for those attempting to live on a retirement income. 8- minimalist love the boat-- others who like longer coastal cruises-- that maybe within there budget--not mine. 9- fits nicely on my lot without complaints from the neighbours 10- Size will not dictate the number of fish you will catch-- that's all for now=--LOL
 
Good points by all. Blueback, you really highlighted the awesome attributes and pros of the 16. There is no denying any of that. I liked my 16 for all of those very same reasons.

Wood Zeppelin: The smaller size of the boat for me wasn't a detracting feature at all. I loved the size and thought the design was great. I did lots of solo cruising and only had passengers 5 or 6 times last year (this year I'll probably do more because the 19 is a little bigger). I don't have a dog either!

What I DON'T like with the 16 is the way it rolls in certain seas and the fact that it just can't handle bigger seas as well as bigger boats (obviously!). Where I do my boating is notorious for big waves and unpredictable conditions. There were a few times when I genuinely felt scared and wondered "am I gonna flip this boat?" I've been out in sustained 4-5 foot waves on the 16 ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. Now, granted I was several miles offshore and the days forecast was for heavy winds so I'm partially to blame as well. BUT there's no denying the fact that the 16 is very light and ultra sensitive to big wake and dynamic conditions.

Now, having said that.....It all depends where you do your boating! If I was boating on a bay or fresh water then I'd still have my 16. I only sold it because I wanted a better suited boat for Buzzards Bay (Cape Cod) and The Boston Harbor (also very unforgiving terrain up there, the close proximity of all the islands can create a interesting phenomena when coupled with wind and tides).

I hope my post comes across as just an honest account from a former 16 owners thoughts. The 16 is a great boat! Every guy has their own unique set of wants, wishes and parameters in a boat. There's no one perfect boat for everyone. Keep doing your research on this forum. I would also suggest that you do a few searches for "16 or 19 comparison" or "16 motor" or whatever! There's tons of great, informative archives on here. Everyday I look at the older threads and learn something new, it's turning out to be an obsession of mine actually.....LOL

Are there any C Brats that can show their 16 to Wood Zeppelin? I think that would be the best thing to do, maybe even a short sea trial! There's no substitute for actually sitting on the boat. I know there's LOTS of Brats in WA. This group is a great bunch of folks.

Feel free to call/text or email me anytime if you have any questions about the 16's. Good luck! I'm sure you'll find something soon. You live in a C Dory rich environment! I live in a barren wasteland that is deprived of C Dory's! Most people in New England have never heard of them and the ones that claim to know about them think that they are sailboats. :)

JASON 617.817.1136
 
JASON 617.817.1136[/quote]0
Are there any C Brats that can show their 16 to Wood Zeppelin? I think that would be the best thing to do, maybe even a short sea trial! There's no substitute for actually sitting on the boat. I know there's LOTS of Brats in WA. This group is a great bunch of folks.

Feel free to call/text or email me anytime if you have any questions about the 16's. Good luck! I'm sure you'll find something soon. You live in a C Dory rich environment! I live in a barren wasteland that is deprived of C Dory's! Most people in New England have never heard of them and the ones that claim to know about them think that they are sailboats. :)


All good points Jason I agree with you completely - to me the 19' is the sweet spot because of the cuddy.
Geoff

JASON 617.817.1136[/quote]0
 
I own a 2008 16 ft Cruiser, love every inch of it use it mostly on bigger inland lakes up here in Northern British Columbia. Like Francois Lake, a deep and cold lake with excellent Rainbow and Char

Don & Irene Terrace BC Canada
 
Well, I've owned both and still can't tell you which one I liked more. While I, just one person, could not sleep comfortably in the cruiser, I know a guy who sleeps in the forward compartment of an angler! On the angler the driver and person in the left seat can easily reach the manual wipers, while on the cruiser electric wipers ( a considerable expense) are necessary unless you don't mind jumping up and down with each wiper swipe. Yet on the cruiser you can easily reach out the window to set a bumper, which is much harder with the angler's slant window. I found them both to be great boats for Lakes Washington/Union and out in the Sound from Seattle to Bellingham. The relatively low cost to purchase and run, coupled with the ease of launch/retrieval, towing with a 4 cyl, and storing on a small plot next to the garage, prolonged our boating life several happy years. You really should look at each one. Which ever you decide, you can modify it up or down to meet your wants and needs. Good luck in your search. I do envy you.
 
Wow, I am so glad to get all of your responses! This really is a great community. I think it's so cool that people I have never met will take a few minutes and write me a valuable message, sharing their experiences!

A little more background:

I have a 14.5' Drift boat (which are modified Dory's), made of wood skinned with fiberglass. The "Wood Zeppelin". It has a 6hp Evinrude, and has been out in Puget Sound more than I've had it in rivers, which is what it's designed for. I've outfitted it with downriggers and a depth finder, a rear seat by the motor, etc. I love this boat, but I'm outgrowing it. Last year in the Straight of Juan de Fuca, a storm came in and made it clear I need a boat with a V in the front that can go faster than 5 knots!

My tow vehicle is a 1983 Jeep Scrambler that I've restored to nearly new condition. They are rated to tow only 2000#. I'm sure it how the power to tow more, it's braking and stability that are the limitation. No problem towing my driftboat. However a 19' C-dry is 3000#. I'd go for a 19' if I thought it was safe to tow. Right now I'm thinking not. Anyone got input on this?

With regards to all your helpful comments:

I am a backpacker / camper type guy. I'm relatively ok with "roughing it" a bit. The decision between the Angler and Cruiser comes down to this: When I'm outdoors I'd prefer to really feel like I'm "Outdoors" in my boat. So I'm not looking for a cabin to be inside of the whole time. So, I like the 5' of open space in the back of the Angler. But I do want to be able to be relatively warm and dry on a somewhat rainy day, and have a bit more comfort and stability when a little bit of wind picks up. I like to go on multi-day camping trips where I trailer my boat along with me. At most, I want to be able to do a 2-3 day "cruise" around Puget sound. I want to be able to sleep on the boat as an option, and I'm also likely to stop at places like Blake Island, and camp ashore. I'd love to be able to have 2 of us on the boat, and room for a third person or dog, and some gear. So the boat itself will either be primarily for fishing, or like a "run-about" getting me from place to place. The ability to sleep two on the boat is important, but can be minimalist accommodations. Like the equivalent of a floating "2-3 man tent". For a night or two.

With all that said, I'd love to hear whether those of you with 16' experience would lean towards the Cruiser or "Angler-with-soft top so I can sleep in the stern".

Thanks!
 
And Yes! I agree that climbing aboard is really the only way to know. I called both C-dory Dealers in my area, as well as the Manufacturer up in Bellingham (I'm nearby in Seattle). None of them have any 16's to look at! I was a bit disappointed when talking to the manufacturer and learning they don't really make many 16's (instead they focus more on the 22's these days it seems).

So, I would LOVE the opportunity to actually climb aboard and/or ride in one. If anyone in my area (say within a few hours of Seattle, and willing to go to Portland or BC) would be willing to host me either or land or water, I would greatly appreciate it! Please let me know. And would be happy to bring with me a gift, a few bottles or a bite to share, etc. I can even bring my drift boat along and swap experience with anyone interested learning more about floating rivers!

Thanks in Advance!
 
If you looked at the photos in the link Rogerbum posted to the Crabby Lou album, you will get a sense of what "boat camping" can be like on an Angler. It would be difficult to do with the post seats left in, so we took them out. A cooler, water jug, a little butane stove, a bin with a teapot, plates and silverware, some kind of pad or mattress, a sleeping bag, and you are in business! The canvas camperback is what makes boat camping possible on this boat. Take it down when you want to fish or crab. We have had it is some pretty rough water, and although we did not handle it well, the boat actually did OK. That said, Patty and I definitely prefer the comfort of our CD25 for cruising, and we would also choose a CD22 over the CD16 if it were going to be our only boat. I got the CD16 so I could single hand in Birch Bay, which I have yet to do...
 
I posted the exact question a couple of years back when on a similar mission of finding a 16'. They are great boats! Having now had the Angler for 3 years I can echo all of the benefits previously cited by Marty, Geoff, and Jason, and will add a couple of additional differences with the Angler over the Cruiser:

- The Angler roof is lower than the Cruiser, and that meant I was able to shoe-horn mine into the garage, which would be impossible with the Cruiser. Obviously the lower roof means less headroom, but for me the benefits of keeping the boat inside far outweigh that downside - the boat is ready-to-go at all times, never needs to be winterized, and I worry less about theft or damage of the boat / electronics / outboards.

- The more forward placement of the seats in the Angler compared to the Cruiser make it plane easier (or so I've read). I have no permatrim or other planing device, and it planes easily at low speeds even when fully loaded.

- You didn't specifically mention it but since you are from Seattle, crabbing is a popular activity that might benefit from the larger deck space of an Angler, both for carrying the pots / ice box / water buckets, as well as for 2 people emptying the pots on the deck. Crabbing with myself and one guest in the Angler is the perfect amount of space, and would probably be fine in the Cruiser too.

On the flip side, I primarily use my Angler for camping in the San Juans. I frequently go out on overnighters, sometimes 3 days. No problem doing this solo, but I can't imagine doing it with 2 people the way my boat is configured. For sleeping, I put down mats across the floor just in front of the seat pedestals, so that I lay across the boat left to right, and I'm fully protected by the cabin from dew and rain (I don't have a camper canvas, otherwise I'd sleep on the back deck). It's tight, but it works fine for just me.

Because I mainly enjoy camping and cruising, I keep looking at 22 footers and have been extremely tempted to upgrade, but all those benefits of the 16's mentioned previously make it difficult to part with (for me it's primarily being able to store the boat inside and to tow it with a 4cyl SUV). In hindsight the 16' Cruiser would probably have been a better fit for my style of boat camping, but I REALLY like being able to keep the boat in the garage, so am very happy to have wound up with the Angler (ultimately my decision was dictated by market availability at the time and my eagerness / impatience to get a C-dory!).

I'm only 30 min north of Seattle (in good traffic) if you ever want to check out an Angler. (And if you like it, I might even entertain offers and finally make that upgrade to the 22, LOL!).

So you really can't go wrong - 16' Angler, 16' Cruiser, 19', 22', they are all great boats, and as the saying goes, "every boat is a compromise"! Good luck in your search, boat shopping is the funnest part!

-Mike
 
There are a couple folks who've cruised extensively with the 16 Angler, Brock on Bambina and the other one is Seasaw. Fitting a full camperback makes the boat plenty big enough to put a bunk in the cockpit, camp style
The people who run 16's love 'em
George
 
Canvas is good but also a pain to put up and take down regularly. For that reason alone and your need for both sleeping and fishing, I would lean toward the cruiser without cockpit canvas to keep the space it does have for fishing most usable. Then your bed does not need to reinvented each night and you can live with the standard canvas wall. I think turning a wet fishy floor into a bed each night would have most people quickly considering one, and not both activities, or a bigger boat.

Adding to Georges comments, Seasaw is a Cruiser model and housed two plus a small dog for extended trips while Bambina is an Angler model with canvas and houses just Brock who I am guessing doesn't, at least obviously, fish.
Greg
 
Hi Zepplin, I'll send you a PM later tonight w/ my # and email, you are more than welcome to come up this weekend to see it in the garage, and/or a water test ride as soon as weather permits the first spring shakedown cruise, maybe an Ivars fish n chips cruise on lake WA / lk Union. Any other C-brats want to join?
 
MikeR":cxzno9ey said:
Hi Zepplin, I'll send you a PM later tonight w/ my # and email, you are more than welcome to come up this weekend to see it in the garage, and/or a water test ride as soon as weather permits the first spring shakedown cruise, maybe an Ivars fish n chips cruise on lake WA / lk Union. Any other C-brats want to join?
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Mike, I'm jealous that you guys are hitting the water! LOL! I'm counting the days til early Spring (VERY early spring)..

Have fun out there guys.
 
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