Hi and thanks from a new member with some questions

[Reighnman]

Welcome aboard Glenn! Bob is the resident enforcer I mean expert for Barnegat Bay. Finbar Beagle is the man in the know for the northern sections of Barnegat Bay, who happens to sail a CP19. I sail two bays south, Great Bay but the conditions are rather similar. This area has the Pine Barrens running along the shoreline which creates some strong afternoon winds in the summer. It was explained to me that the pines get rather hot, which create that strong on shore south/southeast breeze every afternoon due to the much cooler ocean temps. Winds on Great Bay average a good 15mph and some days into the 20's. That said there are 2 16's on Great Bay and they seem to be fine. I've never sailed a 16 but did own a 19 and like the others have said is a much bigger and different sailing boat. I think a 19 may be a bit big and not as lively given it weighs some 2,000lbs which is also double the 16. Also keep in mind that you might get bitten by the -itis to go beyond the 19 after having the 16 for the shore.  Best of Luck!

[Gfish]

Does anyone have thoughts on the Precision 18 and how it compares to the CP16?

Mas - Thank you for the link and the thoughts on the CP16 variants.

Reighnman - I think I will get bitten by the -itis and want to go bigger once my son gets added to the crew in several years. My primary mission now is a boat with which to learn and get my 5 year old introduced to sailing/overnighting and explore the local sailing areas.

Thanks, Glenn

[kickingbug1]

 when i decided to move up from my 16 i had a cp 19 in mind. problem was i couldnt find one that was in good shape that i could afford 5000 or less}. anyway i expanded my search to include the percision 18, oday 19 and capri 18. i eliminated the percision since they seem to be kind of lightly constucted well built but not :overbuilt". odays were hard to find. i did however find a catalins capri 18 in michigan, a 1987 in perfect shape. long story short bought the boat and couldnt be happier. shes a bit faster than a cp 19 and points a little higher. 7'7" beam with a large cockpit and room below. we have sailed her for 6 years or so and have nothing but smiles on our faces. i have towed her with a chevy s 10 2wd with a v6 without issue, like the cp19 the catalina has a shallow draft keel with a 2 ft draft and no centerboard problems. the cp 19 is a great boat however and you wont regret buying one. the 16 and legacy or a bit small for overnighting in my opinion, 

[Gfish]

I will add the Capri 18 to my spreadsheet. Can you expand on lightly built for the Precision 18? I've read that Com-Pacs are considered very seaworthy and strongly built. Is the lightness of the P18 something that would impact a novice on lakes or Barnegat Bay? Or is this difference in strength only a factor in conditions outside of my flight envelope as a beginner anyway? The P18 appears to be more readily available than the CP19 and closer in weight to the CP16. Thanks for all the input.

Glenn

[kickingbug1]

   i looked at a couple of precisions on line before buying the capri and i didnt like the way the chainplates were backed with plywood. the catalina was much more robust. another good thing about the catalina is that it doesnt have a compression post making access forward much easier. i would be perfectly confident taking my 18 off shore. there was a guy sailed one from san francisco to hawaii

[Andre]

I think you guys are overthinking this a bit. I think any of the popular small cabin boats - CPs, Precisions, Catalinas, Hunters, O'Day, Potters, etc can all handle bay and lake sailing easily. Just have a way to reef and know how to do it, have a jib furler or a jib downhaul if you need it to get the jib down in a hurry, a decent anchor and rode, and reliable motor and you'll be fine. Any of these and similar boats will handle most any conditions you'll encounter just fine if your standing rigging is in decent shape.   Just don't push it and prepare or run  for cover if the weather shows signs of turning bad. Use caution.  Even Raritan Bay and western LI Sound are fine sailing waters for all these boats.

Don't overthink it, it'll probably just be a starter boat anyway for you and your kids, so go and have safe(!) fun with it.

Andre

[Reighnman]

There is a 1988 mk2 16 on a Facebook page Sailboat For sale by Owner Only. Seems to be in your area.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/945743318865601/permalink/4461070493999515/?sale_post_id=4461070493999515

[Gfish]

Thanks for the thoughts gentleman. Reighnman, I'll try to go see that CP16 this week, it's only an hour 45 away.

Glenn

[kickingbug1]

andre is right on the money

[Jim in TC]

I think you guys are overthinking this a bit. I think any of the popular small cabin boats - CPs, Precisions, Catalinas, Hunters, O'Day, Potters, etc can all handle bay and lake sailing easily. Just have a way to reef and know how to do it, have a jib furler or a jib downhaul if you need it to get the jib down in a hurry, a decent anchor and rode, and reliable motor and you'll be fine. Any of these and similar boats will handle most any conditions you'll encounter just fine if your standing rigging is in decent shape.   Just don't push it and prepare or run  for cover if the weather shows signs of turning bad. Use caution.  Even Raritan Bay and western LI Sound are fine sailing waters for all these boats.

Don't overthink it, it'll probably just be a starter boat anyway for you and your kids, so go and have safe(!) fun with it.

Andre

I would tend to agree with this sentiment. Our first "cabin" boat was a Potter 15 (cabin about equal to a small, hard pup tent, in truth). We didn't spend any nights out in that wee thing, but we did dock on a small lake with a channel to Lake Michigan. The small lake was literally too small and shallow to sail, so all of our outings were on the big lake, and almost all were in rolling waves up to probably 5 footers. The first mate, who has little bravery or patience on big water, dubbed the little craft (with a blue hull) True Blue since we bobbed around so safely, or at least so it seemed. Our  17' Sun Cat is far more boat, far more spacious (though we still don't overnight) and probably safer in every way, but I that little Potter was a fine stable craft. I suspect this is true of many of the well designed and stoutly constructed small boats.