16' Angler or Cruiser, who has owned or used both?

M

MikeR

New member
Hi, new member here in the market for a used C-Dory 16 and open to either version but curious if anyone has owned both models and has a preference, or if anyone has regrets and wishes they got the Angler instead of Cruiser, or vise-versa?

My intended use will be primarily day cruising, with occasional crabbing, either by myself or with my wife. Any overnighters would likely be ashore in a tent or in a hotel room. Not sure if the v-berth of Cruiser is large enough for 2, or if the cockpit of the Angler is large enough for an air mattress (assuming we had a camper back)?

I am leaning towards the Angler due to lighter weight (for towing), and the forward seating seems like it may help with low speed planing over the Cruiser? I see lots of people here use permatrim or similar, and wonder if that is needed or beneficial on a 16' Angler? Is 40 hp enough for both models (my preference would be 50, but do see a lot of used with 40 hp).

Had a 16' Arima Sea Explorer for 10 years (which was chosen over the 16' C-Dory Cruiser due to the extra width and space), but the Arima ended up being too large and heavy in many ways...the original 50 hp was not enough so I repowered with 90, its wide beam made it difficult to get in/out of the garage, and it could not be easily towed with a small SUV as advertised so had to get a full-size pickup for towing. Not exactly the compact cruiser I originally wanted, but a good boat nonetheless. Sold the Arima last year and now hoping the 16' C-Dory will be more the boat I should have picked 10 years ago.
 
Hi Mike. Based on your intended use pattern I would recommend the Angler. Because it doesn't try to be an overnighter, it ends up being much more functional in terms of usable "day" space for many folks. You're correct in your assessment of planing characteristics as well; the Angler is well-balanced, nimble, and light afoot. My personal advice, based on hard experience, is to purchase one that's already been repowered with a 4-stroke. The Johnson 40 on the used Angler I purchased was plenty powerful and light - right up to the point when it melted down. $7K later I had a brand new Honda 50 EFI, bringing my total investment several thousand above what I could have gotten one for already rigged with a newer 4-stroke. When I sold it the buyer got a heck of a deal! Another thing to consider for functionality is the "open cuddy" modification that many Angler owners have done successfully. I did it on mine, and found it to be a huge functional improvement. All in all the 16 Angler is a great boat for day use or beaching. Best, Mike.
 
I have owned both and agree with Westwards comments. The differences are minor and the negatives are easily compensated for. For instance, on the angler you can reach the manual wiper handle easily from the seated position, not so on the cruiser, which translates into about a $750 premium for electric wipers on the cruiser. Even if you don't plan to sleep on the boat it is nice to be able to lay down and rest on the cruiser's bunk. Any kids will find this a real benefit after some hours out in the fresh air. Pets too find it a welcome space. The closed off bow compartment is nice to have on the angler. It accommodates a lot of stuff and the boat still looks neat. Additionally, it can be locked, for at least a small measure of security.
I do like the better balance of the angler and particularly like being closer to the front windows on it. Westward's comment about the older hull and the newer engine certainly informed our choice (we have a '93 hull and 2011 50 EFI engine.) I do have to note that some C-Brats who bought older boats with old 2 stroke motors have been surprised at how durable and bullet proof their old Johnson has been. We also minimized the chance of problems by getting a brand new trailer, which, at about $2500, is a relatively inexpensive investment where the rubber hits the road on our frequently trailered boat. There are some other but even less significant differences, in my opinion.
All in all either boat will work and can rather easily be made to meet you wants. We, Dotty and I, certainly have no regrets about owning either configuration.
 
Oh, about the Permatrim, I can say that it made a significant positive difference on the cruiser. It made such a difference that I suggested in a post that they should be routinely installed on all 16's at the factory. I put one on the angler when we bought it even before we put the boat in the water. However, some angler owners have said they don't think it's necessary on the angler. Still, the cost is minimal and even if it just can't hurt, I think it's a good investment. At the very least it provides a way to get back on the boat should you fall overboard! About the 40 or 50 hp, here too we have had both and the 40 is quite adequate. I think you might achieve a high speed at a little lower rpm with the 50 and you may have an easier time selling one with a 50 but in actual practice the 40 will do the job very well.
 
As a fisherman, I thought I would have been more attracted to the Angler yet I recently ordered a 16 Cruiser with a 40 HP Honda and permatrim. I too will probably spend more nights in hotels while traveling, than sleeping on board. Looking forward to the boats arrival in June.
 
Thanks guys, those are great points. I've had a few older/neglected boats in my life and definitely agree about wanting a newer outboard and/or trailer - I'm no mechanic and tend to worry too much about older gear breaking down at the worst possible time, the stress alone takes some fun out of boating, sometimes to the point where I just don't even go out as much as I'd like.

Apparently I just missed out on the '94 Angler with new Suzuki...drove up to Master Marine with cash in hand the other day only to find out it had just sold a short time earlier. Wonder if the new owner is a C-brat?

I'll keep watching for an Angler but won't hesitate to consider a Cruiser if it's priced right. I'll probably have tons more questions, but so far I've been able to find answers to most of them just by searching this site!
 
Stan - I hear ya, I'm definitely NOT a fisherman and yet for some reason am being slightly drawn towards the Angler model, even though the Cruiser is the one I've been thinking about for at least 15 years. I figure they are both great and have pros and cons and will be happy with either!
 
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