My Com-Pac 16 would sail better upwind if it had a centerboard. I noticed on another post that the later models had such a thing. Has anyone modified one of the older ones (mine is a 1977 model) ? If so, I would appreciate any wisdom regarding this idea.
I don't think it's possible, DW. Yours, as well as my 23, have concrete keels so without some major modifications to the keel, I can't see how a centerboard, which needs a centerboard trunk, could be installed. Not that it's impossible. As a joke, you could add leeboards. Hmm... I wonder if anyone has ever thought of that?
Bob23
Someone mentioned adding lee boards before, but don't remember who.
Maybe you could add lee boards to the sides of the keel?
Leeboards would likely be the easiest to install or do something similar and put in slots on each side for daggerboards like on a Hobie. If it could be positioned in a good location you could maybe do a daggerboard beside the keel so that you wouldn't have to go through all the concrete. You would need clearance overhead to be able to install/remove the daggerboard and you would loose some space for its trunk which needs to extend well above the waterline but the trunk would be much smaller then a pivoting centerboards trunk.
An offcenter centerboard (like the Scamp) could be added but the centerboard trunk would be very difficult to add and take up room.
Shawn
Or...you could just enjoy the boat the way it is! My 23 and your 16 share the same designer and they inherently don't point al that high. But they do point and I can regularly tack through 95-100 degrees, sometimes 90. Not too shabby. Maybe there are other reasons you 16 is not pointing high enough. I have recently added new sails to my 23 and it made all the difference in the world. Adding a foiled rudder also helped a great deal. Before you go hacking at that keel, explore other reasons why she's not pointing high enough. You are flying a jib, right?
Bob23
I would agree with Bob. Keep her as level as possible to allow the stubby keel to bite. New sails and foiled rudder can improve things dramatically. All boats are a collection of compromises. For the benefit of a solid fixed keel that is shallow enough to trailer, requires no maintenance, and won't fall off, you lose a little pointing ability. It's a worthwhile trade-off to me.
There is a CP16CB for sale on sailingtexas if that's the way you want to go. Modifying is possible but that would be a major, major project. The lack of the centerboard though is the reason why the CP16 caught my interest while researching boats.
Agree with new sails, foil rudder, weight in bow/balanced waterline and keeping her level as possible. Also mast rake forward a few degrees and don't pinch too tight until you've picked up some speed. Something we don't talk about much, but a smooth bottom helps pickup a little speed too...and speed is needed to close haul on the CP16 so you'll need a good breeze too.
With all of this my old CP16 pointed just fine, and many others are too. Remember too it's not a racing design.
So have you had this boat for a while or just purchased??
think i remember reading somewhere that hutchins could modify the cp16. this would entail taking the boat to florida and spending what i think was about three grand. like you i would like better upwind performance buy at least a new mainsail and go the foiled rudder rout. those who have myself included have noted wonderful results
Not advisable since cutting into the keel is required.
Q~How far do you want to crab into the wind?
That's the most common mistake made on any Com-Pac according to Rich Hutchins.
Boat's performance..."It is what it is."
skip.