I thought I wanted to get a bigger boat

[BruceW]

So, a Windrider 17 became available, and I bought that instead.

With my old Explorer (bumper hitch only) and not quite up to par yet trailer, I have not been planning on taking my CP 23 anywhere via road. I do miss going certain places though, so the Windrider will allow me that. Heck, it's a good single or double person boat just about anywhere.

So, on days when I don't feel like driving to BSC, I can take the WR out to local lakes near Raleigh, meet my friend Joe up at Gaston, etc.

Back to Com-pac 23. I plan on cruising around with it still; however, now I might concentrate on the possibilities of a boat with standing headroom real cruiaing capability for my next boat. Pressure is off though. Haha, I haven't even come close to the limits of the CP 23 for cruising; just my limits as a sailor of it so far. I'll keep on keeping on.

For those of you who want to see a WR 17, go here: www.windrider.com.

Bruce

[Bob23]

Ya know: I almost hate to admit this but the O'Day 25 is a great boat, standing headroom, trailerable, and sails just fine. I was aboard Mike and Brenda Greene's this past CLR and was impressed with the room. I do like my CP 23 better but it's nice to be able to stand like a normal human being.
Bob23

[wordnut]

I had an ODay 25 for years. GREAT sailing boat, very stable. I recommend them. Headroom is only about 5'-6", though, a head-knocking height for me, but full clearance for my wife. The whole time I owned it I felt that I either just needed to go smaller or go a bit bigger. Eventually I had a Tartan 28 but by then the wife decided she didn't like sailing much. So now I'm looking to go small, 16-18 feet for single-handling or daysailing with a pal.

Randy

[HeaveToo]

I had a Catalina 30 for 8 years.  I absolutely loved that boat.  Standing head room, plenty of storage, nice sized berths, hot and cold pressurized water, 2 burner stove with an oven, and inboard diesel.  It was very comfortable to sail and I single handed that boat all over the Chesapeake Bay.

Then, as things do, it began to age.  I knew that new sails and canvas were going to be in order sooner instead of later.  The bills were getting ugly with it and the economy wasn't pretty.  I did what I had to do and I sold her.  It was really hard to do and I still miss that boat.  I wish things were different and I could have kept her.

That being said, I love my Compac 23.  Having a trailer cuts costs of haul outs etc.  The V berth is good for one.  She is a good sailor and I am making her a capable cruiser. 

Standing head room is nice though.  So is a separate head with a shower. 

What sucks about bigger boats is the budget.  Flat out, the budget can get really painful.  If you have the money to deal with this then go for it but there are hidden bills that really get you too.  Really consider your boat budget and remember the yearly maintenance costs.  Consider the cost of paint, haul outs, slips, storage, upgrades, replacing old equipments, and other things.  Ask other owners of similar boats what they spend a year. 

[Bob23]

I do need to remind myself that I have standing headroom on my 23- in the cockpit! In decent weather, I even prefer to sleep out there. Nothing like watching the stars go by as you doze off to sleep.
Bob23

[NateD]

Ask other owners of similar boats what they spend a year. 

My advise is to not keep track.....it gets painful to add up. I figured with my CP23 it was about $1,500/year for maintenance (sails, canvas, cushions, rigging (standing and running), motor, plumbing, bottom paint, etc.), divided by expected service life. Then add the cost of slip and any upgrades on top of that. I'm guessing the maintenance costs would more than double for a 30 footer.

[Shawn]

"My advise is to not keep track.....it gets painful to add up."

Very!

But there are reasons to do it....



The trick is to remember them when the bills are adding up....

Shawn

[TedStrat]

Shawn,

Priceless........

[Bob23]

It really is all about the people we love. We're just very blessed to have these great boats as a platform for some of the experiences. Nice Tilley, girl!
Bob23

[Shawn]

Bob,

Yes on both counts! That picture was from their first sail on Chouchou. She had been broken down at the dock for five weeks after I bought her home. The kids were thrilled to *finally* get out on her as they were both upset about moving on from Serenity. I think my daughter was at the helm most of that sail.

Hoping we get through all this snow to finally get back out on the water.

Shawn

PS, Nice eye on the TH3.

[HideAway]

I do need to remind myself that I have standing headroom on my 23- in the cockpit! In decent weather, I even prefer to sleep out there. Nothing like watching the stars go by as you doze off to sleep.
Bob23

Actually there is only a couple of feet or so down below that you cannot stand tall- just under the mast.   Otherwise we dress in the companion way and I particularly like the front hatch.  Our cockpit seldom has standing head room because we leave the Bimini up all year.  We too sleep in the cockpit during the summer - The bimini gives us a few moments to get below when it rains - which it often does in these parts.  M

[brackish]

Yep, Shawn, I remember and miss those days when I had my Columbia 8.7.  But they are all grown and scattered around the country now, so smaller makes sense.  If I could ever get them all on the same vacation schedule, I would do a bareboat charter with them, which is a lot less than owning the boat.  But attempting that is like herding cats.

[Shawn]

Brackish,

I hear you. A big part of what motivated me to move up was to take advantage of the time with them while they still want to go on adventures with dad. We might even get mom to sleep out on the hook this year. That is something we were never able to do in Serenity.

I still need to excise some of the demons in the Volvo though.....

Shawn

[MacGyver]

As much as my wife and I wanted to move up to a 23 I am really glad we didn't now that some things have started to occur for us. The 19, all snug under a tarp is looking quite well out there, waiting for spring. We haven't told her yet that she might not be at a slip, and might have to be converted for trailer sailing to accommodate the next few years.
Working at the marina and using my bosses slip was nice. Now that I am the boss for now, and the possibly takeover looming, I might not be able to have the same vices we once did. We have decided that once we can afford it, we will keep her at another spot, or just trailer sail her dependent on what happens with the marina. The good thing is we own her outright and she fits perfectly in the driveway. We have decided if she has to sit there this year................, well, lets not think about that just yet. We are really glad it costs us nothing to keep her near......

Mac

[kickingbug1]

    mac, let me say this, i have never done anything but trailer sail. never had a slip , no mooring, not even rigged on the trailer. i know a lot of people think rigging and launching everytime is a pain in the posterior, but im here to tell you it is worth it. my little cp 16 was almost too easy to rig and launch and of course would easily fit in almost any garage. when we moved up to the catalina i was concerned that i had made a mistake given its heavier more complicated rig. well i figure it takes me about 15 minutes longer to rig than the cp 16 and she still fits in the garage----just. for the extra room, comfort and speed it is well worth the time. at 62 i can still step the mast myself and sail her solo. i made the right move and i look forward to taking my 8 year old grandaughter sailing this spring and maybe a few overnighters with sarah. my point, trailersailing is not a pain just what we do to get on the water under sail-----every sailors dream