Would You Cruise San Juan Islands in 16' C-Dory?

R

rickw

New member
Interested in your thoughts/recommendations about the safety of cruising the San Juan Islands for a few days this summer in our 16' C-Dory cruiser....starting in Anacortes and going to Friday and Roche Harbors, and Orcas. Have done this comfortably in a 22' Bayliner before, and well realize weather, wind, tides, and large boat wakes can be an issue. But overall...is this boat too small to be considered safe going across wide bodies like Rosario Straits etc? Appreciate your thoughts and previous experiences etc.[/img]
 
It seems like you know that it just depends on the weather.

You could do that trip in a rowboat or a kayak in the right weather.

There are also days I wouldn't want to be out there in any C-Dory.
 
Before we cruised various C Dorys and the Cal 46, we used a 14 aluminum skiff to visit all of these areas. I friend has a home on Obstruction Island, and has owned the same 17 foot Boston Whaler since the 1960's and had a tent platform on it when his children were little, so they could Erect a tent and sleep on it. His explorations included the Gulf Islands of Canada.

Would and Could may differ in your respective seamanship. I would not take a 16 from Sequim across and thru Cattle Pass on a blistery day, with wind against current--(Which I have done in a 22 and 25--but it was a wet ride.

What you propose should be safe as long as you use precautions and know the winds, currents tides etc.

I believe one 16 did at least part of the Inland passage, and if my memory is correct several of them got to AK.
 
If it's encouraging, people come to the Friday Harbor annual gathering in May each year in CD 16's. Good seamanship is the key as Bob and WCF refer to. Watch the weather and hourly noaa buoy ocean condition reports. A CD 16 is a very capable vessel and will probably handle ocean conditions better than the occupants. :)
 
I just watched the video in your photo album and saw Bill and El on the Halcyon laying hands on your Cara Na Mara. The photos are well taken and special. Thank you for having this in your photo album. Tears are forming in my eyes as I write this message. If the weather is good, come out and see us all at the FH gathering next month. Gary and Colleen
 
If a 16 was all I had, then yeah I sure would. You will have to be more selective on the days you go, but it is amazing what a 16 foot will do in the right hands.
 
Yes, just always have a pre-agreed "go no-go" weather risk you are willing to take. Without radar or at least an AIS receive radio and an Airhorn, I wouldn't go during any fog and anything over 15kn of wind. Have a good backup plan of what to do so you don't feel cheated. I remember cancelling a boat trip 8 years ago with our 18-footer and going exploring in the mountains.
 
The only issue that I see is "cruising the San Juan Islands for a few days this summer." There are lots of days every summer when I wouldn't worry at all about crossing from Anacortes to Friday Harbor. In fact, most days. Just over an hour in relatively protected water. Maybe 3 hours max in choppy conditions. Now, Port Angeles to Friday Harbor has more limited windows and less likely to do that entirely on plane. To cross the Strait, I've had to wait a day or two for the weather.

The Windy cell phone app is your friend. Between wind and current, it could be that the most comfortable route isn't the quickest.
 
Check out the C Dory Facebook page, there are a couple of 16’s that cruise the San Juan’s. I know one will be at the Friday Harbor rendezvous. They are a capable little boat.
 
we day fish in a 16 alum boat all the time in the san juans. Its just knowing the weather and tides. People kayak and even canoe all the way to Alaska. 16 ft Cdory is a caddy compared to that.
 
rickw, all the above comments are very useful and come from skippers who know of what they speak.

I can't say enough good stuff about about the 16' C-Dory. It's a delightful little boat. I owned my 1989 Angler until 2018, when I bought a bigger C-Dory. I routinely cruised from Seattle to the San Juans, Gulf Islands, South Sound, and spent two months gunkholing around Desolation Sound in '96.

As guys have said, be aware of weather patterns--like you would on any boat. But that little critter is a tough SOB with attitude. My preference was for the Angler version, because it puts the skipper two feet forward and offers better balance.
But the Cruiser model offers features the Angler misses.

I never regretted for a minute buying that boat. And get this: my buddy MikeR, who bought my beloved 16', is taking me for a Lake Washington cruise-about tomorrow!
 
Really appreciate all the great comments, especially that the C-Dory 16 "will probably handle ocean conditions better than the occupants." And that some days, a person could cruise the San Juans in a rowboat or kayak! The biggest issue we've had is large wakes from other boats.

Yes.....when we first launched our C-Dory in Anacortes, C-Dory legends Bill and El and 22' Halcyon were coincidentally at the same dock. They were excited to check out our boat, and we had wine that evening aboard the Halcyon, and breakfast next morning at the Farmhouse Restaurant (now O'Donnells). Just like for many of you, meeting them was a memorable experience.

We will be taking our C-Dory out of Anacortes again this summer. And if the conditions are right, we may even go over to Friday Harbor!
 
Back
Top