angler vs cruiser (16')

[MikeR]

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.

Thanks, I didn't necessarily mean a spring shake-down cruise this weekend, it's still too windy and rainy around here. But I'm hoping for a calm weekend any day now!

 

[hardee]

Here is a pix of Brock's Angler, "Bambina" leaving Sequim Bay after a week long cruise up into the Gulf Islands. A lady beside me asked why he was flying a Canadian flag. I told her he had been up in Canada and was just on his way home to Seattle. She Asked "Why would he do that?" The obvious answer, "Because he can"

The boat can do it, if the skipper knows what he is doing, and Catman does.



Harvey
SleepyC :moon

 

[Da Nag]

I'm surprised nobody has chimed in yet on the most important reason to get a 16 Angler.

It's beyond any serious debate; the 16 Angler is the best looking C-Dory ever made.

 

[Marco Flamingo]

It's beyond any serious debate; the 16 Angler is the best looking C-Dory ever made.

Yes, if you have never seen a 16 Cruiser.

One of the benefits of the Cruiser model is the fact that the helm is closer to the boat's center of gravity and closer to the stern, both of which give a slightly more comfortable ride. As the boat bobs around, the closer you are to the center of gravity/bouyancy, the less relative motion. When on a plane, the further the helm is from the bouncing bow, the smoother the ride. Not that the Cruiser doesn't bounce and slap. It's relative.

Mark

 

[Wood Zeppelin]

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

Good point, Aurelia. After reading your post, I realized (a) I don't think I'd ever combine a fishing trip with a cruising trip. So I could clean up real good and prepare an Angler for a cruise. And, (b) since I can't just go out and get either one of these boats at will, I'd probably take either one when the opportunity arises. And I'd probably love either one. I am leaning toward an Angler, but until I get aboard both of them, I won't know.. The factory even told me they currently don't build them unless a dealer orders a few of them at time. The local dealers I've talked to aren't doing that..

 

[Wood Zeppelin]

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

Cast-a-way, thanks for chiming in. How often do you use the berth for sleeping/cruising vs how often do you use the stern for fishing?

If you mostly use the open stern area, does the berth at all seem like a waste of space?

 

[Wood Zeppelin]

- 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.

Interesting! The specs sheets I have say they both have a 7'-8" height on trailer, even though the cruiser has 4" of additional headroom. Maybe the floor is lower in the cruiser? Or maybe the spec sheets are wrong?

Anyone know?

 

[hardee]

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

Good point, Aurelia. After reading your post, I realized (a) I don't think I'd ever combine a fishing trip with a cruising trip. So I could clean up real good and prepare an Angler for a cruise. And, (b) since I can't just go out and get either one of these boats at will, I'd probably take either one when the opportunity arises. And I'd probably love either one. I am leaning toward an Angler, but until I get aboard both of them, I won't know.. The factory even told me they currently don't build them unless a dealer orders a few of them at time. The local dealers I've talked to aren't doing that..

I hate to bring this up but with the 16 being a (sort of) dying breed, as far as the mfg goes, the silver lining there for those of you who have one of these little treasures is that the value is going Up. SO, take good care of them and by the time I'm ready to graduate from the 22 Cruiser to the 16, I might be able to trade straight across.

Here we have a bunch of folks looking for a 16 and the Wright's are not interested. OK, I'll "just be nice" and say keep your 16 shiny and you might get a new price for a coveted treasure.

As to their being the cutest boat in the line, Ah, the beauty is in the eye of the "beer" holder. You bet, they are really up on the list, and the symmetry is near legendary.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

 

[MikeR]

- 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.

Interesting! The specs sheets I have say they both have a 7'-8" height on trailer, even though the cruiser has 4" of additional headroom. Maybe the floor is lower in the cruiser? Or maybe the spec sheets are wrong?

Anyone know?

My guess would be the spec sheet is not very accurate for "height on trailer". Which trailer did they measure, and how was the trailer configured? Since there are so many variables they probably didn't put a lot of effort into establishing an accurate height between the cruiser or the angler, but clearly the Cruiser has a raised cabin roof in the center which the Angler doesn't.

When I bought my boat it was still on its original 1990 trailer, and sat about 1 foot higher than it does now on it's current 2013 trailer. The new trailer is a wider model that allows the boat to sit down between the fenders. On the original trailer the boat sat above the fenders a few inches.

So, a Cruiser could easily have the same "height on trailer" as an Angler depending on trailer design and setup, but I feel that my trailer configuration is about as low as you can possibly go, at least for a roller trailer, which is why a Cruiser wouldn't fit in my small garage.

-Mike

 

[Marco Flamingo]

I got curious and just measured my 16 Cruiser. It is 7 foot 3 inches on the trailer (within 1/4 inch). That means that it probably would fit in to a "regular" garage. The standard now is a 7"6" garage door. That is the rough opening, and often the garage door trim makes it a few inches less. I put an 8" door on my shop (7'10" with trim) just in case I wanted a big toy, but not too big.

My trailer is an EZLoader 2000# bunk with 185/75R13. The bunk might be able to come down another inch and I could let air out of the tires for an additional inch. That's as low as it goes with 13" trailer tires. Street tires might get you another inch less. I just sold a 1943 house that had a 7' garage door, so whether a CD 16 fits in a garage depends on a few things.

My bimini has standing headroom and has to be lowered before the boat goes in the shop.

Mark

 

[Wood Zeppelin]

I hate to bring this up but with the 16 being a (sort of) dying breed, as far as the mfg goes, the silver lining there for those of you who have one of these little treasures is that the value is going Up. SO, take good care of them and by the time I'm ready to graduate from the 22 Cruiser to the 16, I might be able to trade straight across.

Here we have a bunch of folks looking for a 16 and the Wright's are not interested. OK, I'll "just be nice" and say keep your 16 shiny and you might get a new price for a coveted treasure.

As to their being the cutest boat in the line, Ah, the beauty is in the eye of the "beer" holder. You bet, they are really up on the list, and the symmetry is near legendary.

Harvey
SleepyC:moon

Well to clarify, the mfg said they prefer to build them in small batches, as opposed to building just one at a time. The dealer I talked to said they would order one, and didn't say anything about a lead time. As supply and demand goes, it would seem if more people wanted them, they would make more and things would balance out.

 

[Jackie]

I have to say that I think you'd really be most happy with the angler; I'm certain of it. But only because I called 'dibs' on the next available 16Cruiser in the PNW :wink: That's allowed, right?

 

[Jackie]

I'm curious; did they give you an idea of price for a new 16 Cruiser? I have zero idea of what a new one goes for since they don't seem to be around. There seems to be quite a difference in price on the 22s between new and a few years older. I'd love to know the difference in price on a new versus used 16.

Any guesses out there? I'd be happy with a rough estimate...for a boat WITH an engine, since that is how you find the used ones.

Thanks,
Jackie

 

[Jackie]

Never mind! I googled the price and found a C-Brats thread from 2012 which addressed the topic. Back then the answer was in the 28-30K range. I'm sure it's only gone up. Guess I shall practice patience. It's a lesson I'm always working on. Sigh.....

 

[MikeR]

Just measured my garage door and it is 6'11.5" tall. To shoe-horn my Angler in, I have to un hitch from the car, lower the tongue all the way down, and push it in by hand.

I'm curious; did they give you an idea of price for a new 16 Cruiser? I have zero idea of what a new one goes for since they don't seem to be around. There seems to be quite a difference in price on the 22s between new and a few years older. I'd love to know the difference in price on a new versus used 16.

Any guesses out there? I'd be happy with a rough estimate...for a boat WITH an engine, since that is how you find the used ones.

Thanks,
Jackie

When I was shopping for 16' about 3-4 years ago they were in the Mid-to High 20's with engine and trailer and nothing else. I want to say around $28 with a 50hp at the dealership in Mt Vernon (not sure if they are still C-dory dealer?). I could be off by a couple of $, I might be including the tax in that figure. Nobody had them in-stock at that time either, they were built-to-order with several months lead time, and I didn't have the patience so I bought a used one, replaced the floor, and installed new engine from Les, and trailer, and saved quite a bit over a new one.

-Mike

 

[South of Heaven]

JACKIE: You'll get a 16 cruiser.

 

[Wood Zeppelin]

I have to say that I think you'd really be most happy with the angler; I'm certain of it. But only because I called 'dibs' on the next available 16Cruiser in the PNW :wink: That's allowed, right?

I just had a dream about someday owing my future C-Dory, and woke up, and couldn't help checking this site!

Nice one, Jackie! ;-).. How about this, I'll find you a Cruiser if you find me an Anger!

On another note, if a couple people here all wanted a new 16' and we ordered them together I bet they'd make us a batch sooner than later!

 

[Marco Flamingo]

Yowser! I had no idea new 16s were that expensive. I need to print out the new price and show it to the wife. I can spend a lot more money on mine and still be way ahead. Maybe I'll get mag wheels for my trailer.

If I keep upgrading everything, I may have to change my boat name to fanCpants.

Mark

 

[Da Nag]

One of the benefits of the Cruiser model is the fact that the helm is closer to the boat's center of gravity and closer to the stern, both of which give a slightly more comfortable ride

I've been on both, and actually prefer the ride quality in the Angler.

The very difference you point out - helm closer to stern on the Cruiser - has led many to conclude the natural balance is better on a 16 Angler. This is especially true when rigged with more weight aft, as is common when adding a kicker, extra/larger batteries, etc. Humans farther forward offset this common additional weight on the Angler.

Further illustrating this difference - I don't have hard numbers, but it seems like many more Cruiser owners have installed and/or inquired about Permatrims and/or trim tabs than Anglers. I've not been on an Angler that didn't trim out well with nothing more than motor tilt, regardless of weight aft.

Chocolate and vanilla...good to have choices.

 

[ldraker]

We saw our boat mentioned on this thread, in the discussion of what's best for camping and cruising. Yes, we think the 16' cruiser is great for that. We have done 2 weeks on the Erie Canal, 4 nights on the Carolina Loop, 4 nights at Friday Harbor, 3 nights on the Lower Mississippi, 2 weeks on Lake Powell twice, 10 nights on the Upper Mississippi (Minneapolis to Guttenberg), 8 nights in the Thousand Islands between New York State and Ontario, Canada, and many nights on the little "piddly" lakes in Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Arkansas, Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina, New York, and perhaps others we've forgotten.

Fairly early on, we got canvas for the back end. We sleep in the berth, and the canvas in the back is primarily to house the porta-potti for night-time visits and to keep the stern end dry during rain storms. We usually take the canvas down when motoring, just leaving up the bimini, if that. The past 4 years we've had our small dog (19 pounds), Lindy, with us. We don't fish, so we can't address that issue. We carry a JetBoil and use freeze-dried camping food. Yes, we do think boaters who are in back-packer mode are well-suited to this boat. We are often called "the minimalists."

As for handling, we've had some major wind storms and big waves (8' in the lower Mississippi at flood stage) and an encounter with a reckless tour boat in Lake Powell, and we've always stayed upright! We have loved cruising and camping with our 16' cruiser, See-Saw.

Janda and Lyle