new member but not owner....yet

[onausable]

Wow this is a great forum. Let's see where do I begin. I learned to sail in the late 70's but haven't owned a sail boat for some time. Marriage, kids, college, weddings. A sailboat was an expense I couldn't afford. The last one was a 15' day sailer w/dagger board and main sail only. My interest started at a very young age due to my relationship with an elementary school classmate who's father had a 13'6" Old Towne. Yes they did make a sailboat. He sailed solo from Falmouth, MA to Falmouth England in 1965. His name was Bob Manry and boat was Tinkerbelle. 3200 miles in 78 days. I just finished re-reading his book of the voyage. It has brought back a flood of memories and I've decided the time is right to return to sailing. Since it was introduced, I have always coveted a Com-pac 16 which is what brought me to this forum. I'm considering a 1979 model which is listed in the classifieds on this site. I'd appreciate any insites you all can provide.

[Ralph Erickson]

Greetings, and welcome to the list!  You'll find a wealth of knowledge in the many seasoned Com Pac owners who belong to this list!  I've benefited from their expertise during the past few years that I've owned a CP 16.

You will absolutely love the CP 16.  I chose it due to it's stablility, ease of trailering and sailing, great looks, and reputation of being a solidly built boat.  I especially like the fact that it has a fixed keel, as I did not want to deal with the potential complications of a centerboard.  The CP 16  is very easy to maintain, and with the proper maintenance, will last for years and years.  I was initially hesitant to buy an older boat, but my fears were needless.  The boat is built so well!  So, if the 1979 model you are considering has been well maintained, you won't be disappointed.  I presently own a 1985 model, but will be selling it soon to move up to a CP 19, an equally wonderful boat, from what the experts here say!

So, jump in and feel free ask questions. You'll find the gang here very receptive and helpful!

Ralph

[onausable]

Thanks Ralph, I'm anxiously awaiting more response. So far I have responded to two listings for 16's within driving distance. One in Michigan the other in Ft Wayne. I'm am trying to remain patient but once I decide to do something it's hard to hold back. One of the boats is a 1979 model while the other is a 1987. Both appear to be in good condition. Any advice?

[fafnir]

Hi,

The 1987 model will have a bow sprit and more then likely a swing keel.  The 79 more then likely will not. Also the interior may have teak trim and a molded headliner which generally looks nicer.  Looking at both ads, the newer boat has a trolling motor,  I would probably chuck that and pick up a regular outboard but those are not too expensive or too hard to find. 

[OKIsailer]

HI   I am new to this forum also. (Dec '06 )I Bought a 1978 CP16 in Aug last year.I learned to sail with my Dad in the '70s on a O'day 14 ft Javlin. He and I fell in love with with the CP 16 when it came out.He never bought one , and neither did I regretfully.My Dad died a year and a half ago,and I had waited too long.Buy any year that looks good,they are all great in my opinion.They are well built,stable and very forgiving.With lines and beauty that ....well,span the decades.  Geoff

[Ralph Erickson]

Onausable, when looking at boats, and comparing the '79 and '87, of course the best thing to do is to inspect them in person if possible.  Look for any blisters below the waterline, cracking or crazing in the gelcoat, signs of leaks in the cabin and the bilge, make sure the rigging is in good shape (no frays or bends), check out the sails, make sure the mast and boom are in good shape, etc.  Compare things like whether or not each comes with motors &/or trailers, and accessories the boats may or may not come with (anchors, etc.). 

Now if you can't inspect them in person, the next best thing is to have someone inspect the boat for you (a friend or relative in the area the boat is located), or you can even ask on this list if someone nearby is willing to take a look at the boat.  My guess is that if anyone is near, they'd be more than willing.  If none of those options were available, you will need to ask the seller LOTS, and I mean LOTS or questions, and have him/her send you LOTS, and I mean LOTS of pictures!  Make the sale contingent on your final inspection of the boat when you pick it up.  I think any reasonable seller would agree to this.

I bought my CP 16 site unseen, just from pictures and questions and conversations with the seller.  I ended up with a boat in top notch condition.  But there is no doubt you are taking a chance buying a boat site unseen.

For further discussion on this topic, you might check out the "Good deal or not" thread under the CP 19 section of this board, where I received great advice about my search for a 19. 

Good luck
Ralph

[Craig Weis]

Onausable,
Glad you mentioned Bob Manry as I too have enjoyed his book and yes at the Door County Maritime Museum and Light House Preservation Society Wooden and Classic Boat Show a few years back someone brought an Old Town 13'-6" sailboat on a trailer and she was for sale!

I toyed with the idea of buying it then cutting this boat in half for a 'walk-through display' showing just how Bob made modifications and then packed her for the trip across the Alantic.

This would have been a 'drive to' destination for the DCMMLPS, after making it into a replica of Bob Manry's Tinkerbelle.

The real Tinkerbelle rests in the Maritime Museum in Cleavland, Ohio.

That would have been way cool!  Well in about 20 minutes we get picked up and off the group goes to the All Sailboat Show at Navy Pier, Chicago for a few days. skip.

[idouglas]

Onausable:

Welcome to the wonderful world of Com-pacs.  I bought my 1994 CP-16 last summer, having moved down from an Irwin 27.  I love the boat.  As my wife says: "It has all the fun and comfort of a big boat without the big boat hassle and cost." 

My 1994 has a keel and not a center-board.  It is technically a CP-16XL (final version of the CP-16 with a keel, as far as I can tell, complete with life-lines all around.)

My guess is that both the 1979 and the 1987 you are looking at will have a keel, as I do not think the center-board version was produced until after1987.  I might be wrong though.  I suspect that the 1979 model would be the CP-16I, with no bow sprit and a 3/4 rig.  The 1987 is probably a CP-16II with a bow sprit and a 7/8th rig.   I like the looks of the bow sprit (more salty) and folk on this forum say that the 7/8th rig helps the boat to point a little better. 

Either way, they are both great boats.  Welcome aboard.

idouglas

[B.Hart]

Good luck with the hunt. I have always loved the look of the com-pac16 and can rember looking at them at boat shows in the early 80's. During a buisness trip to the keys with my wife in 2004 I told her I wanted to rent a small sailboat whyle we were there, But days of bad weather stoped that. On the way home I told my wife that I was going to buy a sailboat so we could start sailing again! About a week after I was home in the local paper was my soon to be new boat. This was the 2'nd owner in 10 years who was going to restore her but never did. I bought my NUM1GIN for $1000.00 it came with a crappy but fixable trailer and a never used 1996 2 hp evenrude. Two months and $500.00 later she was back on the water sailing proud.NUM1GIN forever has a place in my heart and my barn.

[onausable]

If I'd have been at that boat show and seen the Old Towne White Cap for sale I would have grabbed it without hesitation. I believe the Manry boat rests at the Western Reserve Historical Society in Cleveland. They have a website with a picture if any one is interested.

Since my last post the 1987 boat has been taken off the market. The owner said his wife doesn't want him to sell. I've received photos of the 1979 and she appears to have been re-worked and well taken care of. I waiting on answers to some additional questions before making a decision on a personal inspection. My thanks to everyone for their input.

[Craig Weis]

Your right! That is where the boat [Tinkerbelle] is in Cleveland. Additionally the fleet WWII submarine USS Silversides is tied up very near there too in Cleavland, Ohio. skip. The Silversides use to be in Chicago for a while and I think she was welded up and launched in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. skip

[onausable]

I'm not familiar with the sub you mention but USS Cod another WWII vintage sub has been docked in Cleveland for years and available for tours. I can remember going thru it as a kid when I was in the cub scouts.