the sail is down

[sailingdaze]

Well, the boat came out of the water last Sunday.
It was a beautiful day in Michigan. The temp was 75, the wind was blowing, and I was one of the few boats on the water. It hurt to put her on the trailer.
I really wanted to leave her in the water for a couple more weeks. The fall colors are a great time to sail.
This week was nasty. The wind was vicious. It has SNOWED the past three days,and when it wasn't snowing it was sleeting and raining.
I guess it was time for the sail to come down for the season.
Rick

[Gil Weiss]

I can relate to that . . .we took Steppin'Up out of the water last Sunday on a beautiful day here too in SE PA. Between family commitments, work travel, etc. I didn't want to keep her in the water for nothing only to be stressed out later as the weather gets worse to haul her out. I need a few days to clean, wax and wrap her up for winter storage.

We had 5+ months in the water and great sailing literally every weekend so no complaints.

Haulout went smooth except for a flat tire after pulling the boat up the ramp. I changed the tire and refilled it at home to watch it hold air fine??? It is a very new load range C tire for the Hutch trailer. I'm having a local tire place check it out. Could be a valve or rim issue?

Literally no scum or growth on the bottom after 5+ months in the water! A great thing and good recommendation for Aquagard bottom paint.

I also worked out an easy way to lower the mast. I tie a line to the forestay (roller furler) and have my wife up in the bed of my truck slowly letting out the line as I steady the mast from in the boat. Very easy to do that way. I also put two 2x4's across the bunks and put a step stool on them. This allowed my to position myself, with one foot on the bridge deck and one foot on the step stool, very close to the mast when I start the lowering process.

I try to make things as easy as possible. With the exception of the flat it went easy.

[Ralph Erickson]

Gil, glad all went well ('cept for the flat tire) taking her out of the water.  My haul out will have to wait a couple of weeks, as we finally sold our house and will be moving over the next couple of weeks.  Looks like haul out will occur mid November.  Hope it doesn't get too cold!!!!!

Ralph

[mgoller]

Still sailing here in Michigan.  I'l  go out today to just tool around.  Probably get the family out with hot chocolate for the fall colors in the next weeks.  I usually pull out before Thanksgiving, but it has been unsually cold this fall so we'll see.

[Gil Weiss]

Well guys, as much as I hated to end the season it was more pleasurable to do so in comfortable wether. Yesterday I polished and waxed the hull and put on the winter A frame and heavy duty cover.

Ralph, great to hear you sold the house as that must feel good. Good luck !

Somewhere in the next week I will take Stepping'Up to the local marina where I store her over the winter.

My next dilema will come when I get a call from  the Nockamixon Marina that a larger slip is available. On one hand a larger boat would be a nice thing, but on the other hand we know and love our CP 16 as it does everything we need it too along with being very user friendly in all ways . . . ah, the problems we face . . .

[Ralph Erickson]

I know what you mean, Gil.  We are toying with the idea of a larger boat as well. Thinking seriously of the 19.  The wife says she'll go out on it more often if it's larger, and I'd like that!  If you moved up, what size would you go? (And, would you stick with a CP?) 

By the way, how much do the larger slips go for at Nockamixon?

Ralph

[Gil Weiss]

Hi Ralph,

The 24' slips go for around 456/year. (I think we are paying 19/foot)

We keep saying how much we like our current boat as it is in great shape and I know how to maintain it, sail it, etc.

On the other hand we have always had an eye on a Precision 21 with the corner seats.

I like ComPac 19's but I don't want a fixer upper. I like 23 footers too but the polishing and waxing gets much more substantial. Mast raising and lowering become more of a challenge too.

At this point we are happy with what we have. I would seriously consider keeping Steppin'Up if I got a larger boat. Maybe lend it to my older son but not immediately get rid of it. I am thinking ahead to when dealing with a larger boat becomes a challenge.

Regards, Gil

[multimedia_smith]

Hi Gil,
There is an old Chinese saying... something to the effect that..
"it is a truly rich man... who knows what he has..."

Interestingly some of the people on the 16 forum used to have 23s (my favorite fantasy boat)... whenever I get the increased foot itis.. I do a reality check and it goes away...
Whats the truism?
.... "the fun you have on your boat is INVERSLY proportional to its size..."

or this one..." a boat should either be large enough to live on or small enough to bring home"...


Here are a couple of comments from (coincidentally) today's Yahoo ComPac forum made by former big boat owners.


I'm a new CP 16 (1994 #2834) owner having moved down from a 1967 27" Irwin.
We changed boats because we were primarily day sailing and wanted something
that was simpler and cheaper to maintain. We had August '06 on the new boat
and loved it. My wife says: "The CP has all the fun of a big boat and none
of the hassle." We never had as many positive comments on the Irwin in 15
years as I have had already on the CP 16.


--- In com-pac@yahoogroups .com, "iantdouglas" <iantdouglas@ ...> wrote:
I am also a new CP 16 owner and I have been thinking of installing a
rectangular hatch on the foredeck or perhaps a small one on the forward
facing section of the house - haven't done it yet, but strength might be an
issure if you're going to sit there.... ( I had a Cataline 27) Pam

Sorry Gil, I hope this hasn't burst your bubble... it's fun to fantasize though...
I do love the 16!  Ironically our sailing season is just beginning...  At least you get real seasons up there.... we get Hot and humid or cold and humid as our two seasons with a few great days in the fall and again in the spring.
I'm so glad the summer is over!
Dale

[Ralph Erickson]

Hauled the boat out of the water on Friday, and it reminded me of why I love the 16 so much!  It was just so easy!  She seated herself on the trailer so easily, didn't need any adjustments, and I had the mast tied down and was ready to go within 45 minutes.  Many people were taking their boats out the same day, and many were struggling, even with one or two people helping them!  I was able to do it solo. 

Gil, I know I've thanked you before, but one of the best recommendations you ever gave me was for the aquaguard bottom paint.  That stuff is amazing!  There was only a small amount of gunk in a few places along the waterline - the rest of the bottom was perfectly clean!  And the gunk hosed right off!  Wonderful stuff, Aquaguard. 

So, I now have the winter to ponder whether or not to move up to a 19...........

[Gil Weiss]

Hi Ralph,

I'm glad to see you got Patricia Lee out for the season with no problems. I am not sure how you deal with the mast alone? It seems much easier with a second person. The simplicity of dealing with the CP16 is a major reason for not moving up!

My flat tire was due to a poor valve installation, not the tire itself!

Yes, the Aquagard is amazing stuff. I took my boat to Neshaminy Marina a week ago to store for the winter. The very knowledgable guy who runs the place commented on the condition of the bottom too. I told him it was literally that clean when I hauled it and he was amazed. He has noticed that Aquagard is getting more popular.

Plan to go to the Sailboat show in Philly this January. It will help to get you through the winter!

[Ralph Erickson]

Hey, Gil.  I do plan to go to the show in Philly in January.  Wanted to go to the show in Annapolis in October, but was too busy!

To lower the mast alone, I've devised a pretty simple system.  Before anything else, I connect a couple of bungee cords from the bow pulpit to the mast to hold it up.  I then disconnect the headstay at the bowspit.  Then I go behind the mast, standing in the cockpit, hold the mast with one hand & unhook the bungees with the other hand.  I then slowly lower the mast.  Works great. 

[multimedia_smith]

Hey Gil,

I realized another thing that I really appreciate about the 16 the other day when I was doing some routine maintenance...

I can wax an entire side of the hull in minutes... I can apply rubber restorant to the entire guardrail in minutes... wash and wipe down... minutes...
just less square feet of surface area... less is definitely more in this case.

and for some of us... maybe, just maybe, the sail isn't really down for the entire season... we can actually take it to another climate fairly easily...

Economy of Scale

Dale

[Gil Weiss]

Hi Dale,

Each year the advantages of a smaller boat like the CP16 relative to waxing, bottom painting, etc. seems to become more important. The ease of launching, etc. plus the easy maintenance issues make my wife and I uneasy about acquiring a larger craft.

[hazelscamp]

I really sympathize with you guys pulling the boats out for the season.

  It is due to drop to 39F tonight here in North Florida,  which means that I will have to curtail my night sailing  and stick with daytime sailing for the remainder of our short winter.    I may have to head south later in January.

[Paul]

Some have it so rough. 

Glad someone's up to it.  Happy sailing everyone, wherever you may sail!!