A confession and introduction.

[5monkeys]

Hi my name is Keith I live in Northern VA, and I'm admitting I have a problem.  I love boats.

I've got a wife and 5 kids (Kids ages 7-18). Two years ago, I bought a Coronado 15 because the price seemed right and I really wanted a sailboat. Since then I've spent quite a bit of time and energy, learning and working with my kids to fix the insides of this boat, bulkhead, stringers the core under the foot-well and now the transom!   Now I always anticipated that this boat would be either a gateway boat or a cure, and while I've spent a great deal more time fixing her up, than I have sailing her, I'm leaning more towards gateway.

I've also learned that this is a race boat and I want somewhat more of a cruiser. I dream not of racing around cans but taking trips and sleeping at anchor.  I'm not in a position to start paying storage/dock-age. The HOA doesn't want to look at my boat. So for now it has to fit in my 1 car garage. While I would probably be sailing mostly with my 7 and 10 year old, I also would like to enjoy sailing with my wife from time to time.  She's got an irreparable hole in her ear that makes even the idea of capsizing a nightmare.  So I had been reading about potter 15's and watching craigslist and ebay for a cheap boat that needs love. That's when I stumbled onto an ad for a com-pac 16 and started looking into them.   Now I'm pretty well convinced this is the pocket cruiser we need for the time.  Of course I have to finish the boat I have, and should probably spend some time actually sailing her.  Also before I go all in on a different boat, I want to be sure I've got the right boat for the time. It would probably even be a good idea to connect up with com-pac16 owner at some point to experience more than pic's and stories of this fine vessel.  Anyhow that's what brought me here. I'm not an owner but a wannabe, who probably needs therapy.

Fair Winds,

Keith (5monkeys)

[Bob23]

Welcome, Keith and the 5 monkeys! Not sure you'll find any help here...we're all kind of addicted! Looking forward to hearing more of your story.
Bob23 and "Koinonia", 1985 23/2 in the southlands of coastal NJ

[brackish]

I'm sorry Keith, this is not a support group for your problem but a group of enablers.  We can't see the problem.

[crazycarl]

i hear that.

a friend has offered me his sunfish with trailer for free.  no sails, but i just located some nearby with a mast, and rudder for $60.

then there is the 14' sailboat with trailer, all the sails and spars for $100.  also nearby.

also the 14' pintail sailboat with trailer for $500.

the $1200 compac 16 with trailer and ida rudder.

if that isn't bad enough, how about a 2001 compac 25 with cradle for $19900?

and i already own 15' and 19' sailboats!

but actually this helps me out a lot. you see, i also have a problem acquiring high end air rifles.  except for the 25, i could buy ALL the others for less than one rifle and scope.

so, you see, it's all how you perceive it.

[AislinGirlII]

Keith I too bought a Coronado 15 years ago thinking it would be a fun solo boat when we rented cabins on  camping trips to local state inland lakes. And it was, in light winds! Too big a handful for me alone when the wind got up. During Hurricane Gustav it got bounced around on its Harbor Freight trailer and holed by a trailer bunk. I repaired the 12" hole for practice, but the hull was too delam'd and beat up to trust after that.

(betting as part of your repairs you had to replace the bulkhead under the mast step.. I sure did...)

Oh, don't worry there's a 12 step program available, as authored by my wife..she administers it this way.."If you go within 12 steps of another boat I swear I'll beat you with a tiller". Since at that time there was a Chrysler C26, The Coronado 15, a Cal 21, and a freebie Rhodes Bantam, I couldn't deny my problem...now I have the ComPac 23 only..

[ddg23]

I would think a Compac 16 would be much to small for a seven person family.  I would suggest a Compac 19 or the Horizon Cat as the minimum size for a trailer able craft.  Good luck in your search.  Hard to go wrong with a Compac.

[5monkeys]

Thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

Ddg23,
Yes a 16 foot boat is def. too small for all of us at once.  I can't store a bigger boat at this point in life. So just doing things one step at a time.

AislingirlII, absolutely had to replace that bulkhead and the rotted compression post, pretty much everything in there.

[tmw]

I live in northern Virginia, and have a Compac 16 that I sail on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake.  However, I don't sail nearly as often as I wish as work and family demands occupy too much of my time.  Wish I could volunteer to be more help.

[Mas]

Truly this is not the place to help with avoiding boat purchases:

Hmmm...lets see:   1 Pacific Seacraft 31
                             1 Compac 16
                             1 Sailing/rowing dinghy
                             2 Canoes
                             2 Decked whitewater kayaks
                             2 Sit upon kayaks
                             1 very understanding wife

Good luck!

[Bob23]

Past:
  Too many Sunfish to count.
  Seapearl 21
  Annapolis Wherry
  Alden Ocean shell
  a small no-name dink
Present:
  Compac 23 "Koinonia"
  Walker Bay 8 "Follower"
  15' Adirondack Guideboat "Straggler"
  Precision 15 keel
  1 not very understanding wife

Future, looking for:
  Compac 16
  Flicka
  more time to sail!!

Yeah Keith: You and the monkeys came to the right place!!

[PasoSailor]

Hi Keith - one note on thinking about getting a Flicka...I knew the designers dad (Fred Bingham) who was also a designer (and author about boat carpentry). Fred and another fellow from Santa Barbara "upsized" the Flicka to come up with an Alegra (24'). Between the two, I think I'd look for an Alegra rather than the Flicka. At 20' it's a great boat, but at 24' the Alegra would be a bit more comfortable and a lot faster!