A Question

[HideAway]

I was reading our club mag today and noticed two boats for sale at the same price.  I know the owners and boats well and would not have the slightest hesitation of owning either of them.  I should point out neither a Compacs -  I was struck by the differing philosophy  of each owner.

My question is without regards to price is which type of boat would you choose and why?

I apologize in advance for the mag - I can't isolate the ads so just page through until you find them.

http://www.sailbcyc.org/PDF%20Files/windword_2011_04.pdf

[capt_nemo]

The Precision 23, of course. (Not the Islander 32)

Primarily because the Draft is 1' 11" BOARD UP,  5' 4" BOARD DOWN, and here on the Southwest Coast of Florida we have a lot of "Skinny" water! So designed she is also Trailerable!

The Islander, although a nice boat, has a fixed 4' keel which alone makes her out of the question.

[brackish]

At this stage of my life the Precision 23, for the same reasons mentioned by Capt_Nemo.  I was actually looking for a Precision 23 when I found my Compac 23.

[Billy]

thats a tough one....
I hate moving parts (swing keels) under water. But 4' is pretty deep, but VERY shallow for a 32' boat

I like Islanders ALOT! but like Com-Pacs, they are built for comfort not for speed. Is almost 10' longer and much more roomy but it is also 20 years older,

It's apples and oranges, but if I were to buy one today......I'd buy the 23 cause I can't afford the slip fees, and I like to trailer to different places to sail (can't get off work for months at a time)! But I think the Islander is a better boat.

[HideAway]

Yeah me too -- Ms Breezy was on the our Boca Grande cruise and literally sailed over the horizon from us -- really fast boat.  We sit side by side in the dry slips -- she is too modern for my tastes.

I think big boat people come from different stock.   They largely come from small boats and when they see my videos and hear our stories most of them long for their old small boat but have become accustomed to the comfort of the bigger ones.

I have had the opportunity to sail on these larger boats but each time I long for HideAway.  They don t make sense to me -- I never feel the wind and the wheel steering is just wrong.  I do like the comfort but it comes at a steep price called Channel Fever -- most never leave the channel and boats with more than 4 feet draft are very limited in these waters.

Besides the smaller the boat the bigger the experience -   Small Boats Rock -Matt

[skip1930]

Precision 23

For all the right reasons.
If I could not have a Com-Pac.

skip.

[crazycarl]

Yes, I too would choose the Precision.  After owning a Starwind 19, also designed by Jim Taylor, I found it to be responsive and fast for her size.  She trailered easily and launching and retrieving were simple.  I spent 30 Days on her last year sailing through the Keys and she brought me through some nasty weather.

They may not have the same salty look as the Compacs, but they are roomier inside.  The hulls are strong and the decking, while not solid like the Compacs, are built with a foam core that doesn't absorb water.  I also liked the self draining anchor well on the bow.

I never had a problem with the centerboard.  In fact, while sailing in Florida, I dropped it very few times.