Great Pocket Cruiser

H

hakunamatata

New member
Thanks to a recent Boat U.S. magazine article, I was introduced to the C-Dory family and can I say was love at first sight. I presently own a 1998 36' Silverton Express, but was looking to add another boat to my toy box and was initially trying to find a Lil Hobo houseboat until I saw the C-Dory!!!

My question is if you had your choice between the 16 or 22, which would you choose? The boat will be utilized primarily for early and late season cruising when the Silverton is laid up, or being decomissioned for the season, as well as a boat for my wife to take out on occasion, as well as potentially trailer to other lakes across the U.S. for some exploring.

What engine/features would you want?

Any feedback would be great, and if I've hit a topic that's already been touched, feel free to direct me.

BTW, I've enjoyed purusing your member photo's!!
 
Welcome. glad you read about the C-Dory. Both the 16 and 22 are much loved by their owners (the 16 seems to generate true cultlove) If however you plan on cruising overnight, the 22 offers a great deal more. We have a 22 powered with twin 40s and have been on the boat for up to 5 weeks at at time. One has to have a great relationship for that to work though. The 16 is a great dayboat and some singlehanders do spend overnights on them but I think they are the exception rather than the rule. I cannot recall any couples commenting favorably about cruising overnight on the 16. As for power, most people put a single 40-50HP motor on the 16. I'm sure others will quickly chime in with more info agreeing or disagreeing with me.
 
I agree with the points made by Colobear. The main question, of course, is how you plan to use it. Fishing, day cruising, occasional overnights, extended cruising? How many passengers? And of course, what's your budget.

My wife and I did several very enjoyable 2-3 day trips in our 16. But we come from quite a bit of mountaineering experience, so even the relatively cramped 16 seemed spacious compared to a 2-person mountain tent. The boat had a lot more storage than a couple of backpacks, too. We enjoyed the heck out of the boat for 5 years. It was easy to trailer with our small truck and a piece of cake to launch and retrieve.

When we got serious about some longer range boating, however, it was time to get a bigger model. We have had our Venture 23 (roughly equivalent to a CD 22) for almost six years. It is definitely a better choice for the Inside Passage or other extended trips.

Good luck. It's hard to go wrong with one of these boats.
 
Hello from Guttenberg, Iowa.

I/we have had both a 22' and a 16' (at the same time), had a chance to sell the 22', which we did and kept the 16'.

Either boat did well for us, but we did have some reservations, wondering if the 16’ was big enough and would we miss the 22’.

The ease of loading and unloading the 16’ was a plus, however the 22’ was not at all difficult to load or unload.

The fuel economy in the 16 is amazing, we have a 40 HP Johnson.

However we only day cruise or out for a few hours and the 16' works fine for us, for overnight a 22' would be much more comfortable.

We did have a couple at this years Guttenberg Gathering that regularly traveled/camped in a 16’ cruiser and had it down to a science (too small for me/us)

If you would consider come over to Guttenberg, I'm there on Friday and Saturdays and we will take the 16' out for a first hand experience.

Let me know

Regards,

Ron Fisher

PS: Hopefully there are others around you that can offer a ride in a 22’.
 
We have had both and prefer the 22. Although the 16 is a great boat we found that the 22 gave us more options for space and ability to handle seas. We also found the 22 about as easy to handle.
 
The 22 is, by far, the historical best seller for C-Dory. The enclosed cabin, stand up height, a galley, dinette, etc, etc. I think the 16 may just be the cutest boat ever made, but unless you need to put it in a 16 foot spot, the 22 just offers SO much more.

It would be worth your while to take in a C-Brat get together so you can see these boats up close and personal. Good luck with your hunt.
 
We have owned a 22 and a 25 as second boats--(in our case to use on the West Coast--and inland lakes). There is no question in my mind, that I would get the 22 over the 16. One of my neighbors bought a 16 for "day cruising" in our local bays--and it was not satisfactory, because of the interior size, but also the ride.

I have never launched a 16, (I have owned a number of boats that size however)--and I had no problem launching the 22, (nor did my wife single handed).

The only advantage I could see for the 16 in your case, is it would be easier to tow behind the larger cruiser (and is possible).

Welcome aboard.
 
Thank you all for the input, and thanks Ron for the invite to actually ride on a C-Dory. I may just take you up on that when I get closer to actually making the purchase, or at least visit one of C-Dory gatherings!!

The boat will be used primarily as a day cruiser for the spring and fall when the big boat is in storage, as well as for my wife to take out and cruise when I'm not around. She knows how to handle/dock the Silverton, just isn't comfortable doing it by herself.

Given your feedback, sounds like the 22 will be the route to head. Thanks again for your feedback, and look forward to joining the ranks of C-Dory owner down the road!!

Erik Brandon
 
How about half a couple commenting favorably about overnighting on the 16? :lol:

Seriously, for the use described, no question, it is a 22...we have owned a 22, and now own a 25 Cruiser and a 16 Angler. I love them both, both are set up for overnighting, but overnighting on the 16 is really "boat camping." The 22 has the amenities and is definitely not "camping."

colobear":vnjcdun5 said:
I cannot recall any couples commenting favorably about cruising overnight on the 16.
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