C-Dory 16 from Whaler 15

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Hello, brand new member here.

I currently have a whaler 15 as and here in the Pacific NW, we're coming to realize that it's always just a little cold to be on the ocean and we'd appreciate some protection.

I love the way c-dory look and their reputation. We are pretty size limited by what we can tow, but a 16 seems like it will work. We are a family of four, boys are 11 and 7. Feels like we could add a little seating via a cooler or something to an angler and be ok. We are not typically running more than an hour at a time, just dropping crab pots or running to close islands for beach time on a warm day. Maybe a little fishing in our future.

What kind of differences do you think I would experice coming from a whaler? Anyone experience both and have input? Thanks in advance!
 
At 7 and 11 years of age, the boys will probably be OK for now. As they grow, I suspect that the 16 will be a bit crowded. The ride will and stability will be different, depending on which 15' Boston Whaler you have owned. The C Dory are a low dead rise , with a relatively flat bottom. To handle chop, you sometimes have to put the bow down, and have some spray if going into chop.

What is the tow limit of your vehicle? I think that the 19 or one of the rare 18's might be a better boat for your purposes.
 
Thanks.

Mostly I'm limited by the storage space, which is a parking space, so a 16 is the limit. I I'd also like to be able to tow with either of my vehicles, the lesser of which is rated to 1750, which I think a 16 would fit I'm right under.

My whaler is a classic 15, low freeboard, but very dry. I have to slow down already with any kind of chop to keep the family happy. Dont mind some splash since there will be a cabin. Mostly concerned with how slow I'd have to go in a moderate wind chop (I'm not going out in nasty weather and pretty much always in protected waters of the San Juan islands). And how the flat bottom characteristics are going to impact handling.
 
You should be fine in the SJ Islands. Before we had any C Dorys, we used a 14' aluminum boat up there. The 16's certainly have held their value in the past, So, if you decide a few years down the line that you want a larger boat you will probably not "loose" money. On the other hand all of the C Dorys are getting big prices these days. Our 22 did fine in large standing waves in Cattle Pass during ebb against wind and seas. You should be able to do better speeds than the 15' whaler in the average chop.

Any flat bottom boat with a good sized superstructure will be subject to wind effect in maneuvering. Your Whaler would be better in that category. Fenders, boat hooks and spring lines are your friends in docking.

When you go to a sea trial on the 16 you buy, take the whole family and at least a couple of crab pots to see how the cockpit works out size wise. You might be able too put a couple of pots on the top of the boat's cabin, as long as it is not too heavy.
 
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