CP-16 River Cruiser

[mikew]

Well as winter drones on my thoughts turn to good times on the water. The last two seasons I have turned my
1983 Cp-16 into a river cruiser. Why ? My location now is NY and I have the Erie canal, Champlain canal and Hudson
river nearby. Because of fixed bridges and locks I decided to try out the Compac. I removed the mast and rigging, bought a cockpit size bimini and use my 4 hp 4 stroke Yamaha outboard with tiller steering. I added an electrical system with nav. lights, VHF radio and depth sounder. The compac hull works great powered to hull speed and I still enjoy overnights in the cabin. You could say why not get a power boat, but I still don't want to give up this fine vessel.  Anybody else try this?
Some interesting links :  
Duckworks magazine http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/09/howto/terminal/index.htm

My sailing hat off to this man who is doing the great loop from Peoria and is now in Fla. on a WW 15' Potter powered by
2 HP Hondas: http://www.wwpotterowners.com/SailingStories49.html
His Blog: http://greatloop.thedalamar.com

Mike
 

[botelerr]

Daily Blog http://www.portagetoportage.com/blog.html

Website..  http://www.portagetoportage.com/


Just when you think a 30 footed is small for the great loop, you find a guy like this.. I'm starting to think the 19 may be just right -- Rob

[John J]

Hey Mike,  I like the idea of a river cruiser/fishing boat with a trusty outboard.  How does the Yahama perform and is the standard bracket sturdy enough for the 48lbs. of weight?  I have taken the mast off of my 16 before and mounted a seat on the maststep for fishing.  Without mast, shrouds and boom in your way, you can cast 360 and not get hung-up.  Makes a nice sturdy boat to take to the lake.

[Bob23]

All:
   In a somewhat recent issue of Small Craft Advisor, there was an article about a guy who converted a 16 to a mini trawler. He built a small cabintop, removed the mast and rigging, and installed a 25 hp motor with wheel steering inside. Did a beautiful job and noted that the ballasted hull of the 16 was very stable.
   If I find the issue, I'll repost here.
Bob23

[botelerr]

I've been looking at a Dyer 29 sedan,, thinking great loop thoughts.  Then wifey speaks.... "sail the Mississippi with your 19 ,, have another chilled adult beverage."
Ordering the roller furling tomorrow....Rob pray for spring

[sedover]

Mike, thanks for the Dalamar info. I'll have to look for him as he passes through my home waters.

Did a glance at the Yamaha's specs and noted it was not alternator capable. Are you using a solar panel for battery charging? I have stayed with the Mercury/Tohatsu 4/5hp 2T engine family because they are alternator capable. Though I haven't checked I would expect the 4T's are as well.

I too really like the CP16. I enjoy motoring because I like (prefer) to stand. Depending on what's going on or where I am at, I usually have a shortwave (HF) antenna on the topping lift so I would have to give some thought about going mastless. But sometimes weather conditions are such that I do drop the mast when anchored or motoring. The CP 16 fits extremely well into my scheme of things. Even though I have given some thought at times to changing boats I strongly suspect I would regret the sale. So I'm always looking to enhance my activities with the 16. I'll have to ponder adding a bimini. Thanks.

Steve

[B.Hart]

   After a day of sailing my wife enjoys riding the shore line, the 16 makes a great shallow water cruiser. The pictures of the 16 trawler is on the trailer sailor web site.(i think)  HAPPY CRUISEING   BILL

[mrb]

Concerning the 16 trawler I saw a site for a company in one of the Carolinas that is set up to make that modification.  A little internet searching should fine the site.  Looks good but I think I'll stick to sailing untill I get old, maybe late 80's or 90's.  Have to wait till then then make that decision.

I also like cruising the shore line to look for wildlife.

Why are the boarder guards letting all this cold weather in from our nothern neighbors.  Or is this part of the lets terrorize America scheme.

Cold in Arkansas,
Melvin

[Tim Gardner]

The NC site including the trawler conversion is http://www.ipass.net/sailboat/

TG

[mikew]

Thanks for the feedback on the river cruiser- sorry I haven't been on in awhile. Some answers to your questions:

John J.- The 4 hp 4 cy. Yamaha works well. Plenty of power, quiet, with a full F/N/R shift. Also has internal and external fuel tank.  At 48 lbs. the stock mount works fine. I did remove the small flat washers inside the boat for the mount and installed larger SS fender washers, but the Cp-16 has plywood glassed inside the transom anyway.

Seadover- I use a smaller U-1 battery, which is good for a 2 day cruise. No solar panel yet, but I do have a trickle charger if needed for an overnight dockside charge.

For the Compac trawler site in N.C. try the link Tim mentions above.  Then on the left side of the page click on "What's New" and scroll down. You can catch some pictures of the 16' Trawler also a modified Sun Cat with small diesel.

Mike
   

[John J]

Hey, Mike.  I purchased a new Yahama 4 long shaft this past winter.  It does run great and it pushes the boat to 6.1 mph and cruises nicely at 4 to 5.  I haven't tried it on a river yet; still breaking it in but looks like it will work out fine.  Thanks for the tip.  John J