New ComPac Horizon Cat owner

[Craig]

Good choice! Rich wouldn't steer you  wrong. We love the diesel. Had an ob on our previous  boat (Suncat). Prefer the inboard.The blue hull is beautiful! Keep us posted on your adventures. Catboats rock!

[Vectordirector]

Hi and welcome to the forum.  I too lurked for a year or so and purchased my 2005 Eclipse late last summer.  We managed to get in the water 4 times before the weather turned.  The story of our adventure is located in the Eclipse forum so I won't rehash it here.

We trailer sail out of Williams Bay on Lake Geneva.  Where are you planning to sail your beautiful new boat? 

I had thought about going to strictly sail on Sunday but the weather was not great and I didn't want to get stuck with a 3 hour slog back to the northwest burbs in an ice storm. 

I can't wait for spring either, but I bet you are more anxious than I am!

Vectordirector

[Subsailor637]

Vector director,  we plan on sailing on the Illinois River down in Peoria Il.  I have a Carver 36 Aft Cabin that we home port in Kenosha Wi. so we go past Lake Geneva on our way up there.  Prior to getting the Carver we had a Catalina 34 tall rig.  I love to sail and have done it for most of my life but my wife was never too keen on it (doesn't swim we'll so always fearful when healing).  Prior to moving (back) to Illinois I did a lot of sailing on Huron out of Rogers City with a buddy. Great trips to the North Channel, Gov. Bay and Hessel, Mackinaw Island, etc.  Wfe says she will try the river (not as intimidating as the big lake) but I suspect I will do a lot of single hand days.  That's one of the prime reasons for getting the HC; no headsail to worry about and ease of setup when I do want to trailer it somewhere.  Not to mention it IS a great looking little boat (along with the whole history of American catboats).  Too bad you missed the show. Although I have to say the amount of boats on display was rather disappointing.  I can't speak for last year as I didn't attend, but compared to the 3 previous shows boat count had to be down 20 to 25%.  So contrary to what the gov wants everyone to believe,  the economy ain't back yet!

[shamblin]

welcome!

i hope you enjoy your horizon cat as much as i enjoy mine - MISS LEAH.

i am still learning just what to do and when to do it to sail and live aboard her for extended periods.

before i ever launched her, i practiced setting up and taking down the mast on the trailer on a no-wind day.  for me,  putting up and taking down the mast can be done just by lifting and walking it up or unhooking the fore stay and walking it down, after making sure the cabin top was closed and the area clear for walking in good shoes etc..  if the mast got loose and fell on someone in the cockpit, this could be deadly.  i am 6'3" and a shorter person might have more trouble.

i found that practice and care were helpful in getting the gaff to go up properly in the mast track.   if i just hauled on it it might not do well .  the same was true for adjusting the level of the boom re the mast joint.

like you i got mine for effortless sailing without having to manage head sails, and MISS LEAH does well on that regard.  i have not reefed my sail yet and need to practice that at the dock.   

i found the boat not over crowded sleeping 2 grandchildren in the cabin and me in the cockpit where the benches are just long enough.  there is room for enough kitchen stuff inside if you keep it simple.   i found a bucket toilet easier to sit on than the porta potti in the forward position, given my height but shorter people might feel different

write me directly at bshamblin2012@yahoo.com if you want.   8-)

     

[Subsailor637]

shamblin, thanks for the info.  I should have the luxury of testing everything on the hard as I intend to have the boat delivered to the yard at the marina I will be using.  The broker will have everything rigged and ready for launch (in fact contract calls for him launching) but after I thought about it, I want it left on the trailer when he delivers it since I want to get a couple of coats of wax on the hull before she goes in the water.  It will be good to raise and lower the mast a few times as well just to get used to that system.  it's always easier to adjust things and check thru hulls etc before launch.  I don't intend to sleep aboard for the forseable future since the boat will be 15 minutes from my home (9 from the office!).  We've got a 36 Aft Cabin for that up on Lake Michigan.  Where are you home ported?

[shamblin]

home port = Lake James NC near Morganton. 

Have a good time!  Stop in if you are down this way.  Bill

[Craig]

You guys might want to take a look at a couple of items I added to Kailani which really make sailing the HC even easier. The first is a Boomkicker which supports the boom when raising and lowering sail, eliminating the need for a topping lift. The second is a  Mack Pack from Mack Sails which combines integrated lazy jacks with a zip up sail cover. It allows you to lower the sail into the sail cover and zip it shut without the need for sail ties to furl the sail. The integrated lazy jacks contain the sail and drop the gaff and sail into the cover. The combo works like a charm!

[Craig]

Forgot to mention a couple of other items re the HC. A downhaul attached to the gaff  gooseneck is a big help in dropping and securing the sail. Easy to install. Attach line to gaff gooseneck and run to a small swivel block attached to the base of the mast and back to the cockpit. There is a great set of "how to" pix on Tom Ray's "Tropical Boating"website. Also, keeping the gaff parallel  to the deck when raising and lowering sail makes it much easier. Fair winds!

[Subsailor637]

Craig,  thanks for the tips!  I did see an HC with a boom kicker once so I was going to look into that.  Do you have any pictures of the modifications you've made that you could post?

[Craig]

Have a number of pics if I ever figure out how to post them here. There is a pic of HC with a Boomkicker on the Boomkicker site. The Boomkicker has an additional unexpected plus in that in light air it stabilizes the boom and reduces slatting in drifting conditions. Let me do some reading and I will try to post some pix. Now that I think of it Tom Ray has some pix of the install of the Boomkicker on my Suncat we did last year as well as the downhaul installation and an improved reeing system which should work on the HC as well as the Suncat. Go to :  www.tropicalboating.com  A really great site! Look in the sailing section.

[Subsailor637]

Thanks Craig.  I followed the link you provided and found the installation on your Suncat.