Well I finally took the plunge this weekend and purchased a brand new Horizon Cat at Strictly Sail Chicago this past weekend. I have been looking at, reading about and following discussion boards for 5 years on this boat so it feels as if I already know the boat from stem to stern. I previously owned a Catalina 34 and sailed on Lake Michigan. Sold that boat 3 summers ago and went over to the Dark Side with a Carver 36 MY. Still have that "floating condo" but really looking forward to being under sail again. Just wanted to share my joy!!!! Now, if this darn winter would just go away!!
NICE!
I think those are the best looking of all the Com-Pacs.
But my 19 is pretty sweet too though.
Congrats! and I hope you have many wonderful days sailing such a beautiful yacht.
Congrats and welcome to the forum. Wow, I think you won the "longest lurking on an internet forum before joining" award!
I feel kinda bad for you though. Bob23 has a new member fee schedule especially for lurkers. Don't quote me on this, but the formula of the fee he'll collect is something like years of lurking times the square of Koinonia's waterline times the beam of the new boat. Before you say anything, I agree, his fees are astronomical.
On a more serious note, I too love the Horizon Cats and hope to own one someday. The folks here with the Horizon cats have never uttered a negative peep about them..a tribute to the fine vessel she is.
We would love to see pictures of a brand new Compac! Post 'em!!
Again, congrats!
Hey Sub and welcome!
I love the Horizon Cats although have never sailed aboard one. We look forward to hearing about your adventures. Did you actually take possession of the boat in Chicago or is it being built for you?
It's true that your particular fees are going to be high. When someone lurks as long as you have, well, they could be considered as spies. Not good. If my calculations are correct, the membership fees for this site are a tad more than the cost of your boat. Tell you what- you send me the boat and we'll call it even- such a deal!
Now I must ask: What color is your HC? For some reason, every time I picture those boats, they have a dark green hull, in my minds eye. Maybe it's because I secretly want to own a green hulled boat...strange.
Of course, photos are welcomed here. Best to you and your new baby!
bob23 in NJ...we have winter here, too!
Bob -
The dark red is a good color too. There's one not too far from you if you want a ride on it - I usually sail it in Barnegat Bay or the Manasquan Reservoir (see below). Welcome to the group Sub - you'll like the boat. It's just about the easiest 20 footer around to launch and retrieve.
(http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq88/CaptRon400/Compac%20Horizon/P8240545small_zps914c003a.jpg)
Thanks to all for the welcome! It is truly an honor to finally come out of the shadows and "officially" join such an outstanding group of gentlemen/women and first rate sailors such as yourselves. Whatever the admission fee is I will gladly pay if you will just forward your bank routing and account numbers to me. In answer to some of your questions: I purchased the show boat but the dealer (in Madison, Wi) is going to store it until spring launch. Rich Hutchins was there and was very accommodating on some minor changes/additions I wanted to make. Donny Anderson from The BoatHouse in Waunakee, Wi is the broker and I can't say enough about the pleasant nature of the negotiations. The hull is Navy Blue which is exactly what "The Admiral" my wife and "The Commodore" my daughter wanted. Madison is about 4 hours away from where I live so won't have any pictures until launch. Will post some then
Perhaps this little beauty in the back?
(http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt211/greene2108/Strictly%20Sail%20Chicago/7ba14bf1e0cf434ce838597930f7241a.jpg)
Mike and B
That's the one. By the way the two silver haired gentlemen on the right are Rich Hutchins (left) and Donny Anderson (right)
By the way, I did like that pilot house on the right, but as I stated earlier I've had my I on the Horizon Cat for several years. For anyone interested, you can probably get a good deal on the pilothouse as I believe it's a 2012 (never titled or in the water).
Well, apparently I can't tell my starboard from my port.... That would be the pilothouse on the LEFT
i think sub should have to come to the clr---even though its blue i would be green with envy. fantastic boat to be sure
They really look good in any color, don't they? Thanks for posting the photo. First time I've seen a shot of the pilothouse. My, they are large aren't they? In lieu of sending you my account and routing numbers and because it's Horizon Cat tuesday, your fees are hereby waived. But don't let it get around or everyone and his brother will want freebees!
Again, welcome. Very nice yacht!
Bob23
(ps: Ron: I hope to take you up on your offer.)
Sub, You really HAVE been lurking in order to have said "which is exactly what "The Admiral" my wife and "The Commodore" my daughter wanted"
That is exactly what all O'us would have said!
rgds, TG
Congrats on the new HC! We took delivery of our HC,Kailani,in August and really love her. Great sailing boats! Easy handling and surprisingly weatherly. Did you get the diesel version? Welcome to the catboat fraternity and the forum!
Craig, I did get the diesel. I had considered a used boat with outboard but in the end Several factors (including conversations with Rich Hutchins) convinced me the diesel was the way to go. The only used boat I could find with diesel had been in salt water. Glad to hear you are enjoying your HC
Good choice! Rich wouldn't steer you wrong. We love the diesel. Had an ob on our previous boat (Suncat). Prefer the inboard.The blue hull is beautiful! Keep us posted on your adventures. Catboats rock! ;D
Hi and welcome to the forum. I too lurked for a year or so and purchased my 2005 Eclipse late last summer. We managed to get in the water 4 times before the weather turned. The story of our adventure is located in the Eclipse forum so I won't rehash it here.
We trailer sail out of Williams Bay on Lake Geneva. Where are you planning to sail your beautiful new boat?
I had thought about going to strictly sail on Sunday but the weather was not great and I didn't want to get stuck with a 3 hour slog back to the northwest burbs in an ice storm.
I can't wait for spring either, but I bet you are more anxious than I am!
Vectordirector
Vector director, we plan on sailing on the Illinois River down in Peoria Il. I have a Carver 36 Aft Cabin that we home port in Kenosha Wi. so we go past Lake Geneva on our way up there. Prior to getting the Carver we had a Catalina 34 tall rig. I love to sail and have done it for most of my life but my wife was never too keen on it (doesn't swim we'll so always fearful when healing). Prior to moving (back) to Illinois I did a lot of sailing on Huron out of Rogers City with a buddy. Great trips to the North Channel, Gov. Bay and Hessel, Mackinaw Island, etc. Wfe says she will try the river (not as intimidating as the big lake) but I suspect I will do a lot of single hand days. That's one of the prime reasons for getting the HC; no headsail to worry about and ease of setup when I do want to trailer it somewhere. Not to mention it IS a great looking little boat (along with the whole history of American catboats). Too bad you missed the show. Although I have to say the amount of boats on display was rather disappointing. I can't speak for last year as I didn't attend, but compared to the 3 previous shows boat count had to be down 20 to 25%. So contrary to what the gov wants everyone to believe, the economy ain't back yet!
welcome!
i hope you enjoy your horizon cat as much as i enjoy mine - MISS LEAH.
i am still learning just what to do and when to do it to sail and live aboard her for extended periods.
before i ever launched her, i practiced setting up and taking down the mast on the trailer on a no-wind day. for me, putting up and taking down the mast can be done just by lifting and walking it up or unhooking the fore stay and walking it down, after making sure the cabin top was closed and the area clear for walking in good shoes etc.. if the mast got loose and fell on someone in the cockpit, this could be deadly. i am 6'3" and a shorter person might have more trouble.
i found that practice and care were helpful in getting the gaff to go up properly in the mast track. if i just hauled on it it might not do well . the same was true for adjusting the level of the boom re the mast joint.
like you i got mine for effortless sailing without having to manage head sails, and MISS LEAH does well on that regard. i have not reefed my sail yet and need to practice that at the dock.
i found the boat not over crowded sleeping 2 grandchildren in the cabin and me in the cockpit where the benches are just long enough. there is room for enough kitchen stuff inside if you keep it simple. i found a bucket toilet easier to sit on than the porta potti in the forward position, given my height but shorter people might feel different
write me directly at bshamblin2012@yahoo.com if you want. 8-)
shamblin, thanks for the info. I should have the luxury of testing everything on the hard as I intend to have the boat delivered to the yard at the marina I will be using. The broker will have everything rigged and ready for launch (in fact contract calls for him launching) but after I thought about it, I want it left on the trailer when he delivers it since I want to get a couple of coats of wax on the hull before she goes in the water. It will be good to raise and lower the mast a few times as well just to get used to that system. it's always easier to adjust things and check thru hulls etc before launch. I don't intend to sleep aboard for the forseable future since the boat will be 15 minutes from my home (9 from the office!). We've got a 36 Aft Cabin for that up on Lake Michigan. Where are you home ported?
home port = Lake James NC near Morganton.
Have a good time! Stop in if you are down this way. Bill
You guys might want to take a look at a couple of items I added to Kailani which really make sailing the HC even easier. The first is a Boomkicker which supports the boom when raising and lowering sail, eliminating the need for a topping lift. The second is a Mack Pack from Mack Sails which combines integrated lazy jacks with a zip up sail cover. It allows you to lower the sail into the sail cover and zip it shut without the need for sail ties to furl the sail. The integrated lazy jacks contain the sail and drop the gaff and sail into the cover. The combo works like a charm!
Forgot to mention a couple of other items re the HC. A downhaul attached to the gaff gooseneck is a big help in dropping and securing the sail. Easy to install. Attach line to gaff gooseneck and run to a small swivel block attached to the base of the mast and back to the cockpit. There is a great set of "how to" pix on Tom Ray's "Tropical Boating"website. Also, keeping the gaff parallel to the deck when raising and lowering sail makes it much easier. Fair winds!
Craig, thanks for the tips! I did see an HC with a boom kicker once so I was going to look into that. Do you have any pictures of the modifications you've made that you could post?
Have a number of pics if I ever figure out how to post them here. There is a pic of HC with a Boomkicker on the Boomkicker site. The Boomkicker has an additional unexpected plus in that in light air it stabilizes the boom and reduces slatting in drifting conditions. Let me do some reading and I will try to post some pix. Now that I think of it Tom Ray has some pix of the install of the Boomkicker on my Suncat we did last year as well as the downhaul installation and an improved reeing system which should work on the HC as well as the Suncat. Go to : www.tropicalboating.com A really great site! Look in the sailing section.
Thanks Craig. I followed the link you provided and found the installation on your Suncat.