Final preparations just about complete. Day trips on Lake Murray have been a blast, the addition of a Cocoon skeeter net draped over the bimini gives us plenty of room above and below deck. Pair of 12 volt fans fore and aft move air nicely, Coleman stove and cooler stow away easily. We've nicknamed her "Little Big Boat".
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Very nice transition! That should keep the skeeters out of range!
Thanks, Dale. Once we drop the hook, keeping the skeeters out of range is a priority around here!
very sweet set up indeed. i did notice that your trailer has no fenders and has 12 " wheels. when i changed over to 12 inchers all i had to do was drill two new holes in the fender brackets to move them up. it might be just me but i wouldnt trailer her without fenders (pretty hard on the hull and it might be illegal as well ). again a fine anti-skeeter idea
Looks good, I enjoy overnights on my '83 Cp-16 as well. I can't see in your picture but if you have that 3"cowl vent on the foredeck add a piece of screening to that too. You would be surprised how those buggers will find an opening like that.
Mike
Good eye on the trailer...and the lack of fenders. The trailer is another priority and the reminder to address the missing fenders is appreciated. We trailer a short distance, so I've relegated it's upgrades to a lower rank on the list, but the dang thing needs attention. Good point about it being hard on the hull. Hadn't thought of that Nd it makes sense. Mike, the PO removed the cowl vent, covered the hole with plexiglass and installed a hatch. You can see it in the pic. It really helps with ventilation and has enough lip that we can leave it cracked open in rain. Tho, the forward bulkhead fan cools us better in that case. We're used to camping in the converted bed/cap setup of my Tacoma (off-topic but check out the Bajataco website to see how he did it - I copied his design), so the 16 feels like a luxury suite. Wellll...I say that with the disclaimer that we haven't actually overnighted on it yet. Will post when we do. I sold an O'Day 31 when I moved inland, and this ain't that, but I have no doubt we'll be plenty comfortable. And I've already saiiled our 16 more than I sailed the 31...it's just so easy to rig it and go!
The Cozy Compac Camper is ready for her shakedown cruise this weekend. The admiral and I are gonna launch Saturday morning, return Sunday afternoon. Took some effort to clean the faded, mildewed Compac storage bags that came with the boat, but we love 'em and they're a great addition to the cabin. Along with the gear hammock and footwell storage bins, we should have ample storage compartments.
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Another great idea with the folding chairs. Well, we will expect a trip journal with pics! Have a great sail and take no prisoners.
I notice that you have a car battery in a case up forward just like my setup. I am considering replacing that with one of those jump starter, compressor, inverter, trouble light portable units. I have not used the electrical system enough to warrant such a large source dedicated to only lighting. Also, wrestling that heavy thing in and out of the forward compartment is almost not worth the effort. The jump starter has a handle on it and weighs a good bit less than the car battery, so removing it would be much easier. Further, if it is easier to take out, it would be a simple matter to take it home and recharge it if it gets heavy use.
My weekender goes on multi day cruises as well as acts as a RV, and the only lighting in it uses AA batteries: roughly one set a year. I suppose if someone is using depth finders and water pumps plus electronic gadgets non-stop, then a larger source of juice would be necessary.
I haven't tried it yet, but I expect that for the convenience and versatility, it should be the way to go, at least on a 16.
Al
Will do, Dale! Looks like a clear, breezy weekend ahead. Al, that's a deep cycle battery in a Minn Kota Power Center. I like the Power Center because it has a couple of 12v sockets, a 60 A fuse and battery tester. I have a big setup because the motor is a 55# thrust trolling motor. The battery is a beast, so I bring the charger to the battery and it stays aboad. The extension cord is short and it sure saves my back. I have a 100 watt HQST flexible solar panel on the way, should deliver about 5 amps per hour in sunny conditions. The panel only weighs about 4.5 lbs so it can rest on the bimini or attach to the stern rails. Ordered a solar controller for dual batteries so I can run the lights and fans on a smaller house battery if needed. I'm gonna take a spare truck battery this weekend (my wife won't need it...) just to make sure we get home, but there should be plenty of wind so we won't need much motor.
Ah, I see. That makes sense. I didn't notice that you use a trolling motor.
Al
I was just looking at the jump starter you mentioned, Al. Looks like a great option if you don't have to feed a trolling motor, and possibly as a backup in my case. Thanks for the suggestion!
Keep those battery terminals clean and tight. My boats previous owner just missed having a fire on board based on the melted condition of the insulation at a wing nut connection.
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Great first overnighter! Hunkered down in a cove, while the wind gusted to 25 knots. Herons, ospey, bald eagle, great food, great voew. Swung all night but never dragged and sailed all day today. Need new sails with main cut to accommodate the bimini, foiled rudder and a gas motor. Powering into a 20 mph headwind to leave the dock is possible with 55#s of thrust, barely, but it demolishes the battery.
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We packed enough to feed a small army, but didn't want for a thing. Amazingly, all this gear was easy to stow and we had plenty of room to eat and sleep. These little boats are remarkable.
Nice looking set up dub. Mind telling me (us) where you put in? Interested in sailing in the lake this Fall in my CP 16 II.
It has been my experience that I have to carry at least twice the amount of water that I think I should have. On my first cruises, I always ran out of water within a couple days. Quicker if it was hot out. Packing that much water has had its challenges. I like to keep it in the pointy end for trim balance, but then it is inconvenient to reach. I would be interested in how people pack their water and how much they use cruising a 16.
Al
Nice looking setup! I can't tell for sure but it looks like your rigging doesn't have cotter pins/rings in it. Always a good idea to have those to help prevent accidentally demasting.
Shawn
It is so good to see someone modifying to suit, and actually using a sailboat. So many marinas are loaded with monster boat dying on their trailers or rotting at their berths. Dreams gone sorry.
The ComPac 16 is what sailing is all about; small, stable, practical, loved, and used.
I have "solved" some of the CP 16 storage problems by using water tight long and low plastic storage bins that commercial fish are shipped in. They can be stacked. With lines attached to the bottom bins I slide them down the births during the day to create cabin space to be pulled out as needed. I put them in the foot well of the cockpit during the night beneath my queen sized cockpit bed. If it should rain during the night, I can retire below decks without having to move and repack anything except the deck bridge plywood pieces, mattresses, and the central throw cushion fillers. Water stores best in square quart plastic milk jugs. At Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia, we usually have no bugs.
Dave
Very nice photo journal of your trip and sailboat.
I'm inspired to order a skeeter net and try this too.
Continued success in all you do.
Been a very busy summer and I've neglected the forum...shame on me. Palmetto, I put in at Jake's Landing on the Lexington side of the dam. Lots of choices, but it's close, the double ramp is steep and there's a nice little store with clean bathrooms. I can launch and retrieve solo pretty easily there, that counts for a lot. Let me know when you get ready to head fhis way, it's be great to see another 16 II.
Shawn, good advice, but the cotter rings just don't show in the pics. They're there...along with extras in the toolbox when Murphy's Law kicks in.
Al, I think Dave's advice about storing water in gallon jugs is spot-on, and Dave, the square jug idea is genius (the storage bins, too). We mostly sail on fresh water, so I also carry a pump-style water filter that I re-purposed from my camping gear. Takes a few extra minutes to fill the coffee pot or water bottle, but the water supply is endless and I don't have to store much.
Dale, glad you enjoyed the photos of our first overnighter. The skeeter net was a cheap and easy solution and I've also hung it over our camping hammock and my daughter's sandbox, so it does triple duty. Highly recommended.
Clint