Com-Pac Yacht Owners Association

General Com-Pac and Sailing Related Discussions => Com-Pac Sailors Lounge => Topic started by: Joie De Vivre on July 17, 2012, 08:15:50 PM

Title: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 17, 2012, 08:15:50 PM
[img]Well I just bought my first sailboat (1985 Com-pac 23) and looking forward to taking her out and seeing what she will do. I might have a lot of stupid questions guy's and gals so don't go hatin on me please. Have been reading a lot of post the past few days on here, and learned a lot.
Any of you down in the Florida Keys?? Would not mind getting together and doing some sailing.
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: jthatcher on July 17, 2012, 08:17:53 PM
hey there..  good to have you on board!   where are you and where do you anticipate sailing?    i love our 23..  it has been a great boat so far..    still lots to learn for us, but the folks here have been very helpful.   jt
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 17, 2012, 08:52:09 PM
Thanks,

Im livinig in the Florida Keys (Summerland Key) and so most my sailing will be around here. I did not get a trailer with the boat so she stays in the water behind the house.

Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Bob23 on July 18, 2012, 04:21:08 AM
Howdy there Joie and welcome:
   I also sail a 1985 23... what's your hull number: Maybe we have sisters! I'm #321.
   There is no stupid question you can think of that I haven't already asked. But if you do come up with something original, please specify if you'd like a correct, incorrect or totally off the wall and equally stupid answer. They're all the same price!
   Bob23 in NJ and "Koinonia"
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 18, 2012, 07:11:50 AM
Not far off, she is #337. Thanks for the welcome.
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: brackish on July 18, 2012, 08:12:50 AM
Welcome!!

They Keys, like that, lived there for a while as a kid, have been back a couple of times as part of delivery crews.  I'm thinking that might be a good place to take my 23 for an extended cruise.  Not this year though, tied up with a quest to do the Camino de Santiago de Compostela

Both before I bought my 23 and after, I found it helpful to go back to the start of the 23 section and browse all the posts.  Got a lot of useful info about the boat, even found a number of posts about my boat by the previous owners.  Nice snow day ( or in your case rainy day) past time. You'll find a wealth of info, however, in the old posts that reference a picture in the gallery, they do not exist having been wiped out in some previous hacker war.

A fine forum name, are you a south Louisiana transplant or just have the attitude?

Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 18, 2012, 09:03:56 AM
Born and raised in Baton Rouge, and spent most my life there. But been here two years, and love it. How about you???
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: brackish on July 18, 2012, 09:57:15 AM
Lived up and down the eastern seaboard as a kid, but spent most of my adult life on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.  Currently in Tupelo, but anticipate a move back to the Coast next year.
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 18, 2012, 10:42:15 AM
heres one of those silly questions, but need a good answer. I have to pick her up tomorrow as no other time and I have a East wind, but have to go east to get her home. Will she sail good going back and forth say SE and NE? Or will I need to motor her all the way?? Never sailed a Compac 23
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: jthatcher on July 18, 2012, 01:11:00 PM
So just maybe, if you started right now..... Nah, guess you would not make it to the barnegat bay bash at the end of the month.   Too bad!  I am surprise that bob did not extend an invite, even if you are 1000+ miles away! Good luck with picking up the boat.  Sonds like you might get to use the motor!  Jt
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Bob23 on July 18, 2012, 04:32:20 PM
   She'll tack back and forth NE and SE. How far do you have to go? On your first post you said that this is your first sailboat. Have you sailed before? If not, can you get someone who has to go with you on this very first trip? Even if you motor, you need to know how to sail the boat in case the motor decides to quit. The 23's don't like to tack with just the mainsail. 
   If you find that youv'e gone too far north and end up in NJ, you have a standing invitation to the Barnegat Bay Bash on 7/28.
   Bob23
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 18, 2012, 07:57:16 PM
I wish I had someone that could go with me. I have sailed smaller boats before but this will be the largest, (but it's still small right ) Everyone has to work and I don't have any other day that I could do it. (CEO coming in next week for a visit at work) As long as she tacks NE and SE, I should be fine, I do have a 150% that came with her, so should I use that as well? Thanks for the invite, If I make it that way I will.
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 18, 2012, 07:58:11 PM
I only have to go 20 miles or so.
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Shawn on July 18, 2012, 08:23:51 PM
Congratulations on the new boat!

"I only have to go 20 miles or so. "

That is a long sail, is that all to wind? If so and if you end up fighting the tide that will take a long time. In the best of conditions the 23 will go just above 6 knots so you are looking at no a minimum of a little more than 3 hours for the trip. If you are sailing you could easily double or triple that time depending upon the wind, point of sail you will be on and tide.

What is the wind like where you are? A 150 is big and if you end up in a lot of wind it is going to be too big. Does your main have reef points? Do you know how to use them? You won't want to be on your first sail on a 23 with a 150% up and full main sail in more than 10 or 12 knots of wind. Trying to make real progress to wind with just the main is an exercise in frustration. You could easily end up at a knot or less of VMG.

Do you have a radio, anchor and all other safety equipment?

What kind of outboard? How does it run? How big is your tank?

I'm not trying to discourage you (honestly), just want to make sure you are setting yourself up for a successful trip. The last thing any new boat owner wants to have happen is getting discourage on their maiden voyage home.

Frankly, for your first sailboat on its maiden voyage if you have to go 20 miles to wind I would suggest motoring for the majority of the trip and sail the last bit home. Don't wear yourself out at the start of the trip.

Shawn





Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 18, 2012, 08:39:06 PM
Shawn
The wind tomorrow is looking like out the East at 10 mph, maybe to 13. I have a Yamaha 8 on back with a 6 gal tank. DO you think I will need to reef the sail at 10 mph? If so I might just need to always reef her on this boat as this will be a light wind day for around here.
I have a hand held VHF, and yes to all the rest. Also will be towing a kakak behind her.
I just don't know how far the tank would last, 6 gal??? I would not mind doing that but would hate to run out of gas and still need to get a good ways.
I can get my hands on a 110% as well, if you think it would work better.
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Shawn on July 18, 2012, 09:10:11 PM
If the wind is 13 knots and say you are doing 4 knots beating to wind the apparent wind speed is going to be higher probably 15 or 16 knots depending upon how well you are heading to wind. I would considering a reef at that speed and that is with a 110% jib. With my old main I'd definitely be reefed. If you are expecting to always be in double digit wind get the 110, it would be a better sail for your conditions. I have a 110 as my typical headsail but also have a 130 and a 170 drifter and what works out to about a 60% jib for high wind days when I am double reefed. Assuming good sail trim in that wind you may make 2 or 3 knots velocity made good to wind. That would make for a very long day trying to go 20 miles.

Is the Yamaha a four stroke or two stroke? My 6 hp four stroke tohatsu is rated for half a gallon an hour at wide open but you wouldn't run wide open for that length of time. My old Johnson 8hp two stroke was easily double that if not more. If your tank is really 6 gallons (mine is 3) and it is a four stroke that should get you there if you stay at crushing speed and don't have to fight the tide. If that is a two stroke I'd bring along a 5 gallon pail...just to be sure. Really I'd bring the extra even with the four stroke just for peace of mind. I keep a spare 2 gallons on board just in case and figure it would give me at least a 20 mile range.

Have you checked tide for tomorrow? It can make to trip lomger or shorter. Have charts and so on?

Bring lots of water and try to stay out of the sun.

Most importantly have fun and stay safe!

Shawn
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Ivo on July 18, 2012, 09:30:44 PM
Hi Joie...welcome.  I'm a literally in the same boat.  I have a 23 that I hope to be sailing relatively soon...haven't put in the water yet (work in progress).   I'm in Naples and hope to make it down your way sooner or later.

Ivo
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 18, 2012, 09:34:11 PM
Let me know when you do and we can hook up. Let me know how the work is going. Mine is in good shape just needs some cleaning, and I can't wait to get her home and do it. Thanks
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Bob23 on July 19, 2012, 05:02:25 AM
I'm gonna echo Shawns advice and add a bit:
   Start early. Make sure that Murphy guy is not aboard...he's messed with me before and it wasn't fun. If you are motoring into a headwind, based on my 23's performance under power, I go about 4 to 5 knots. I run my Nissan 8 at about 1/2 throttle and check the cooling water output from time to time. I think this trip could easily be 5 hours and depending on how strong the wind is, you'll take some spray over the bow. Bring some raingear unless you enjoy being that sort of thing. I do, especially when it's hot out. But 5 hours of it is another thing.
   Bring extra batteries for you VHF unless it's a stationary unit, in which case- does your 23 have a fully charged battery?
   Ok, that's it for me...you'll be fine. We're looking forward to hearing about your adventures and seeing photos of your 23. They are really fine little yachts!
bob23
(ps: Ivo gets Pun of the Month award- "Literally in the same boat.")
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 20, 2012, 07:27:26 AM
I ll share more later, but just wanted to say the trip went well. Had hard time getting her to tack SE, but NE was good. I can't wait to get more sailing time so I can learn a little more of what you can do. I ended up motoring 90% of the way and had a great time. Last minute a friend went with and with the two of us taking turns at the helm, made the 9 hour trip a little better. Thanks for all the help.
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Bob23 on July 20, 2012, 07:29:37 AM
Cheers! for your successful trip! The 23's are great boats, don't you think? Even while motoring, they are fine yachts.
bob23
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Shawn on July 20, 2012, 07:32:46 AM
Great, glad to hear it went well!

Congratulations!

Shawn
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: jthatcher on July 20, 2012, 09:28:38 AM
you were fortunate to have a friend come along..  9 hours  on the water can be pretty exhausting!    i typically end up taking a nap in the cockpit after 5 or 6 hours :)      With a longer trip in mind for next year,  i have been taking the boat out and trying to cover distances..     what i have found is that i can do about 20 nm  in 5-6 hours..       when i motor, i try to keep the pace at 4.5 - 4.8 nm..    hoping that is a good setting for engine efficiency.    the engine will push the boat at close to 6, but  i don't like that much noise, and  it is certain that the efficiency is terrible at that point.     looking forward to some pics and more stories!   jt
Title: Re: New to sailing, and just bought a 23
Post by: Joie De Vivre on July 20, 2012, 08:56:38 PM
Thanks guys your making me feel like fam. I am glad I found this site,
Whats a good price for a bottom paint job??