# of adults?

[abousall]

Whats peoples experience with having 3 or even 4 average adults on a 16?  it would seem to me that this is really a boat for solo, up to 3 people, but that 4 would be pretty cramped.  Anyone experience otherwise?

[Salty19]

I see you're new here, welcome to the forum.

Well, the cockpit is rather long for her size but the beam is fairly narrow. You'll bang knees before elbows.

Another issue beyond crew comfort is the amount of weight aft you'll carry with a full load. She'll sail poorly with too much weight aft, so don't make it worse by using a big outboard and do load dense weight in the forepeak to offset. Maybe put the lightweight crew aft too.

I've done 3 adults and 3 adults with 4-6 yr old girl several times when I owned a 16.  Nothing serious, just a small lake with no performance expectations and good conditions.  We were fine for the 2-3 hours, but sure it's going to feel tight much beyond a short sail.  I suppose it depends on the size of crew and tolerance of each other. Safety wise I'm not sure I would want 3 or more crew aboard in anything too challenging unless all are good sailors.

[ameysails]

we're with Salty
3 adults tops and less than 600lb
unless you have installed an ankle strap
for hiking out
distribution of adults is important for
helm balance

our 3 cents

[abousall]

thank you both!  I am new indeed to the forum, about to buy a 1978 16 for bay sailing in cape cod.  Your answers confirm my expectations, and thanks again

[Salty19]

Ah, Cape Cod.

I imagine a well setup 16 would do great on those waters.  Be sure to factor in getting a new foiled rudder in your purchase, and maybe new sails if they are old.  They will make a huge difference in performance. 

Also don't forget about the $5,000 new membership fee to Bob23. Read other posts for ideas how to avoid this fee.

[Bilgemaster]

Most I ever had aboard my "Foundling" was during her shakedown cruise in April.  That was three lumbering galoots for those keeping score: Danny, then owner of the local sailing school (who was always interested in the whole "rescue" of this poor abandoned gal), his buddy a tugboat captain, who just happened to be around, and myself.  None of us is exactly petite. The worn out scupper valves on the stern, since replaced, leaked merrily into the cockpit, but we were just fine for a few hours in what were some unusually fresh winds for that typically mellow stretch of the Potomac--with maybe 35 mph gusts.  Danny had some students out in a couple of his Catalinas testing for their ASA certifications, so we just lumbered elegantly around thither and yon observing their progress.  A splendid time was had by all, and was wholly unplanned.  My original plan was just to dunk her to see if she'd sink right there at the boat ramp.  Here she is having just come back:



They may not be speed demons, but those CP 16s are astonishingly stable and surefooted, and offer a remarkably commodious cockpit for their size.  We could have easily taken on a fourth if we'd liked and been perfectly comfy.  If memory serves, I believe the CP-16s may be rated for 6 passengers maximum, but that would be a bit of a crowd--like in some sort of rescue scenario.  I'd do 4 folks without a second thought though for a normal little day sail on the river.  Your mileage off the rollicking Cape may vary.

[greg988]

Bilge, love the lifelines on your CP, did you install them yourself?  Looking for advice.  I have three kids I like to take with me and mine does not have lifelines and I would feel better with them.

[Bilgemaster]

Bilge, love the lifelines on your CP, did you install them yourself?  Looking for advice.  I have three kids I like to take with me and mine does not have lifelines and I would feel better with them.

Greg,

Sorry for the delay in response, but to answer your question, those lifelines were already on the boat when I got her.  My hunch is that the good folks at Com-Pac/Hutchins Yachts might be able to square you away with a set.  Might be a challenging installation.

[ameysails]

we replaced the cockpit lines with 7/8" SS tubing (defender $$)
covered with 1/8" cording wrapping (SS gets hot in the sun), which is much sturdier/safer for young hands; although we kept the lines forward.
The 7/8" tubing now makes a complete SS railing around the cockpit
since we also moved the mainsheet to a 7/8" SS tube traveler
connecting the aft port/starboard pulpits.

[bob lamb]

Ahoy Captain;
  Would ye have any pics of your SS mods?  I'd sure like to do something like that on my new-to-me 16.

Thanks!

[CayugaSailor]

     I've had good luck with 3 adults: 2 in the cockpit and 1 in the cabin. Yes the cabin. Experiment with various seating. A padded board athwart ship works best for me.
     Roller furling helps a lot.
     For ballast I carry several plastic coated 10 pound weights repurposed from a weight lifting set. (Why anyone would "lift weights" is beyond me.) Experiment with moving the weights around, depending on the conditions and your personal preference. Even 30 pounds in the bow will make a difference.
     Smooth sailing!

[Tim]

abousall, one of the challenges with the CP16 is the scupper placement, as mentioned by a few others.
I've been sailing my CP16 between NY and ME for the last few years and whenever I have more than two adults in the cockpit water is coming in (especially if you are sailing in anything more than a moderate sea) and swashing around. This is fine south of us, but in New England the water is cold, as you know, until August so you end up having to sail in rubber boots if you load the boat down.

There're scupper values as Bildgemaster mentioned, but I have never found a great working and long-lasting design. Rerouting the scuppers to a through hull type design is probably the best solution IMO.

Good luck buying the boat and getting her ready for CC waters.

Tim

[Jasmid53]

If water is just coming in through the scuppers and not from over the rails couldn't a couple of corks be used to keep the water out. Pull them out in the rain, at mooring or if the water is coming over the rails. My friend Sam Adams and I just thought this up.

[Tim Gardner]

Corks are wonderful things.  Best to be used when necessary and not all the time.  That way, one doesn't forget they are in and get swamped, possibly.

TG

[Mas]

Corks are wonderful things.  Best to be used when necessary and not all the time.  That way, one doesn't forget they are in and get swamped, possibly.

TG

True that! Just make sure that the two corks you use did not come from the two bottles of wine consumed while out! Good chance there might be other issues besides just a little water coming through scuppers!   

We have had 4 fully grown (can't call any of us adults!) folks in a 16 navigating the tricky waters (read current, waves and shoals) between Ocracoke and Portsmouth with no problems, well a few bugs once we got there!