Considering a C-dory as my first boat

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Hello all, Im in the process of researching my first boat purchase and the c-dory 16 angler through 19 foot have really caught my eye. Could some one tell me how many people can safely cruise on a c-dory 16 foot angler, 16 foot cruiser and 19 foot angler? Somewhere on this wonderful forum I came across a picture of what looked like a 16 foot c-dory with a removable bench seat built across the stearn/transum area. This configuration made it look as though four people could safely cruise on the little 16 foot c-dory, is that possible on such a small boat? I have plenty more questions but I will start small with the passenger capacity of these awesome little boats.

Thank you in advance to all that can give me advise.

Thank you,
Ed
Long island, NY
 
Welcome! I'm sure the 16 footer gang will weigh in shortly and answer your questions. I guess it depends on what your intended use of the boat will be.

Rick
 
Having just purchased (yesterday) my C dory, I can't really answer your question, but I know they state 700lb limit for people and gear. Given that, I'd say safely 3 people and a cooler!
Todd
 
16 Cruiser, Honda 50 with permatrim, 11.1x13 prop, fuel, fishing gear, cooler, 2 adults (combined weight-300 lbs), 2 kids (combined weight-100 lbs), 45 lbs of ground tackle (in bow), battery and fuel in stern. 4500 rpm to plane, and will then stay on plane down to 4000-4100 rpm in calm water. Space requires a certain amount of coperation with three people fishing. I have never had 4 adults on board but I'm sure I would notice a difference. The 16 Angler, I believe would have an advantage in weight distribution but you may lose that if you have two adults seated in the back.
 
416rigby":11e07a2y said:
Welcome! I'm sure the 16 footer gang will weigh in shortly and answer your questions. I guess it depends on what your intended use of the boat will be.

Rick
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Thank you much Rick, I appreciate your response.

Ed
 
Stardust":cr7blrs9 said:
Having just purchased (yesterday) my C dory, I can't really answer your question, but I know they state 700lb limit for people and gear. Given that, I'd say safely 3 people and a cooler!
Todd
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Todd, are you aware of a website or post that list the 16 and 19's weight capacity-passenger capacity? I didnt come across that on c-dory.com.

Thanks,

Ed
 
Comfortably Numb":currnvzw said:
If you're looking for that picture of the 16 with the bench seat, it's at http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?...ame=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php.

I would think 4 people, all the time and with gear for the same (for just day trips), might get a bit close for an extended time. But, I have not experienced it myself, so what do I really know?

Good luck...these are are great boats!
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Mark,

Is the person who owned the bench seat 16 still a c-brat member? From the pics looks like he sold it. Do you know his user name or way to contact him via this forum?

Thank you for the link.

Thank you,
ED
 
lloyds":3omcibeg said:
My 16 would never get on plane with 2 people sitting back there. I have to have them up around the table to plane.
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Does that mean you have cruised around with 4 people, just all up front?

Thanks,

Ed
 
ramos":1v0xb5co said:
16 Cruiser, Honda 50 with permatrim, 11.1x13 prop, fuel, fishing gear, cooler, 2 adults (combined weight-300 lbs), 2 kids (combined weight-100 lbs), 45 lbs of ground tackle (in bow), battery and fuel in stern. 4500 rpm to plane, and will then stay on plane down to 4000-4100 rpm in calm water. Space requires a certain amount of coperation with three people fishing. I have never had 4 adults on board but I'm sure I would notice a difference. The 16 Angler, I believe would have an advantage in weight distribution but you may lose that if you have two adults seated in the back.
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Do you think you could cruise around with 4 adults on your 16 safely? How does it go with your family and load as described above? I would probably only fish with two people but would like to cruise my local bay with my wife and 3 kids all under 5yrs old. All 3 kids dont weigh 100lbs yet.

Thank you,
Ed
 
I would recommend against a 16 to cruise with your wife and three kids. Remember you'll have a cooler, towels, bbq etc. also. I have a 21 Arima Sea Ranger Hardtop and still find it tight for day cruising with my wife and 4 kids...

Go bigger than you think you need then you may be able to skip one two-foot-itus uptrade. The kids grow fast.

A 22 would probably be good for cruising with the kids.
 
The boat can handle it with adequate horsepower. I believe the problem will simply be available space. The 19' Angler seems to fit your' needs better. A used 22' A/C may be a better buy, and easier to find. Our boat is perfect for us right now, I suspect we will have to make a change in the next five years. That is with 2 kids, not 3.
 
foggydew":1rqrs9q0 said:
I would recommend against a 16 to cruise with your wife and three kids. Remember you'll have a cooler, towels, bbq etc. also. I have a 21 Arima Sea Ranger Hardtop and still find it tight for day cruising with my wife and 4 kids...

Go bigger than you think you need then you may be able to skip one two-foot-itus uptrade. The kids grow fast.

A 22 would probably be good for cruising with the kids.
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Thank you much for your input. My other dilemna is towing capacity. My current vehicle only tows about 3500lbs and I think that would limit me to a 19 footer, although the 22 sounds great. Do you think a 19 would be safe to cruise in? Im sure it would be tight space wise but Im more concerned on how the 19 would cruise with 2 adults and 3 small children and how the 19 handles 4 adults?

Thanks again,
Ed
 
ramos":2zyhgsb1 said:
The boat can handle it with adequate horsepower. I believe the problem will simply be available space. The 19' Angler seems to fit your' needs better. A used 22' A/C may be a better buy, and easier to find. Our boat is perfect for us right now, I suspect we will have to make a change in the next five years. That is with 2 kids, not 3.
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Thank you Jon. Im thinking the 19 is probably at better fit for me. The 22 sounds really nice but I can only tow up to 3500lbs right now and the 22 is close to 4000 plus I think.

Have you ever taken your 16 in the ocean? How do these boats fair in rough seas and the wakes from large vessels? I live on long island and would mostly use my future 16 or 19 on the local bay, but I do have the itch to occasionaly (on a calm day) cruise out of the inlet into the ocean for some larger fluke or stripers when they are running. Have you encountered rough seas with your 16?

Ed
 
Considering a 16 or 19? We have a 22 Cruiser, twin 40's and on many occasions, have gone out with 4 adults on board. there is room for 3 to sit comfortably, (inside the cabin with the door closed) and adding 2 adults in the cockpit does eat into the fuel consumption if you are up at planning speed. Often with 4 on board we will spend most of the time at hull speed, door open and we can converse back and forth that way.

I would think that 4 adults on a 16 would be over crowding, and 4 on a 19 would be a full house.

Harvey
SleepyC
 
I would say 4 would make a very crowded boat in a 16. Doable? Maybe, but I think performance would suffer - that is if you could even get on step at all.
 
Hi Ed, the issues that are being discussed about the 16 are my topic. I've had a 16 three years now. When you look at the boat it looks like everyone would fit in which they can. The issue I think you dont understand is weight. If you alone step on to a 16 cruiser from the dock you will feel the side you step on sink down, meaning just your weight will change the trim. with three other people the trim will be difficult to keep and with the light weight of the 16 the trim is a major issue. If you have never owned a boat this may be difficult to understand.
Heres one more peice of advice, I've had my boat out in the Atlantic enough times to say if you want to go alone and you have a weater radar and you look closely at your tide table you can do it carefully. Dont consider taking your family out in the big water its just too risky in my book. I went out of St Augustine inlet in 2015, I felt safe because the seas were reported 2 to 3 ft. Well if you try to enter or exit a narrow inlet when the tide is not nutral the wave size increases considerably. I got the prop out of the water on the way out even though the report said 2 to 3 foot waves. The 16 is really a solo boat for extended travel, two people for a day no problem. Children crawling around constantly changing your trim creates problems that are not worth dealing with. A fresh water lake is doable but on the outside is just asking for it. If I have made you uncomfortable it is not my intention, I just use my 16 more than most people. I have had my 16 out in 20 to 25 mph winds in a shallow lake meaning 8ft deep and the boat will take it, I've had the bow deck take water over the front and roll up to the wind shield, the weater caught me by totaly by surprise, I would not have wanted any extra weight on board. Again the issue is the 16 is a light boat that looks like a large boat but it is not. A center console boat with a bimini that covers the entire boat is what I would look at. Good luck on your search. By the way the 22 would be perfect.
 
I wouldn't let my current tow vehicle limit my boat choice. At one time, I bought a used F-250 for around $4-5k. I used that truck only for towing and for occasionally hauling weeds and junk. I had that truck for about 8 years and sold it still running. I never put a $ into it other than oil changes and tires. So you might consider getting a "beater truck" just for towing. A 22CD is really a better option for 3 kids, you and your wife. The 16 would be too crowded with that many.
 
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