Another new Com-pac 16 owner and forum member: Dunedin, Florida

[lstandish]

Hi Everyone, I lurked around here reading about the Com-pac 16 for quite a while before I finally purchased one about a week ago!  I'm in the Dunedin area, which I understand is near the place these boats were built.  Mine is a 1977 model.

I'm very pleased and excited to finally have a sailboat again, and I'm in love with the Com-pac 16's lines, although I haven't sailed her yet. First I have to repair the trailer, then install a compression post (missing, replaced by a 1-1/8" plastic pipe!)

There's some water inside, presumably from rain getting in. I don't see any cracks or defects in the hull.  I don't know how to check for leakage around the the keel.

Another immediate problem is removing barnacle bases from the hull. (The main body of the barnacles were scraped off, leaving the rough bases.) The bottom was painted (but not with bottom paint) so they're not directly on the gel coat.

There're 6 sails, and 4 of them (2 sets of main + jib) look pretty good.  There's no mainsheet, and I'm not sure how the sheet is rigged.  Looks like it's boom-end. 

There are some cam cleats on both sides, very near the stern, that we don't know what could be for.

I'd appreciate any advice. In my next post I can include a photo.  Also, I understand there are several other Com-pac 16 owners in the Dunedin area.  If so, and you're on this forum, do you meet and sail together?

[Bramble]

Welcome aboard!
The c-16 does have boom end sheeting.
To check for keel leaks you first have to get the interior dry.  Then go sailing & check for water below.
mike

[AirborneJarhead]

Congrats and welcome aboard! If she has cam cleats way back by the stern, my guess would be maybe a previous owner flew a spinnaker. Is there any evidence of a jib track or spring blocks? If not, they could have been for a tiller tamer type of set up. I've got an old spinnie from a previous boat I owned and I'm contemplating cutting it down to work on my 16. The current sail plan isn't that great for light wind days. She likes 10-15 much better than the 3-7 we normally see up here at Lake Norman in NC.

[Gerry]

Welcome to the land of Com-pac.  You have got to visit Hutchins boat works in Clearwater where Com-Pacs are built.  You will get a royal treatment.  The cam cleats on the aft sides are probably to hold the genoa lines.  We go to Dunedin most every winter.  Nice water and scenic Clearwater Beach...have fun.

[Mas]

Welcome indeed! Your 16 is one of the first, a Mark 1. There will be no headsail tracks unless added by a PO. The cleats in the back are more than likely for the stern lines. The only headsail handling hardware are a couple jam cleats to set the sheets for the jib. Should also be a couple cleats on the coach roof to secure the two halyards. More than likely you have boom roller reefing. If it ever breaks replace it with jiffy reefing. Hutchins discontinued the roller type early on as it would frequently jam. Def. need to unload the sail before attempting such.

As far as leaks below, the companionway slider and drop boards leave a couple gaps in the corners than can let in rain. The teak pieces on coach roof may need rebedding, also check the rub rail, hull/deck joint. A hose and a friend works wonders for finding them as does sitting below with a cold beverage in the rain dreaming of future sailing trips! Because you are in Fla. prob don't have to worry about freezing of any water in the cement keel but might be wise to check it's status. A tarp to cover to keep moisture out and opening it up in nice weather and a fan will speed its drying. An indoors scenario is the best if ya can pull that off.

A couple links for ya:

http://www.sailboatrichlands.com      Keith will forget more about a 16 than I will ever learn
https://www.com-pacyachts.com       scroll to bottom for parts lists
https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Trailer-Sailing-Robert-Burgess/dp/0070089817     a must have for a 16 owner

These are wonderful little boats. Enjoy!  Obtw....expect Bob23 to mention the $5000 initiation fee....all bark no bite, and a great guy!

[lstandish]

Thanks very much to everyone for the warm welcome and the advice!  This just confirms my belief that people who sail are the friendliest.

I tried to use a domestic lime/scale cleaning compound to remove the barnacle bases on the bottom.  Didn't work well.  I see I will have to sand and repaint.  Since I will be trailering for the foreseeable future, I bought Rustoleum topside marine paint (OK for a trailered hull as advised by Rustoleum support), and a friend will me lend her sander.  This is the least expensive paint, but the paint and caulk and stuff still set me back over a hundred more!  As a Facebook friend commented,
B ring
O ut
A nother
T housand

Since I figured the trailer repair would cost several hundred dollars, and I have welding experience (but no tools here), I bought a small welder, tools, and scrap steel to fix it myself. That's the first job, then I'll turn to the bottom.

There's definitely no boom roller reefing.

Here a photo is the stern, showing the cam cleat I'm wondering about (click the link, then double click the image file.)
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1jbX7-nrI1h1m0qfTUw27U4VtzU2ROEsB?usp=sharing

[AirborneJarhead]

Your picture is making me feel more confident I was right about the spinnaker. You still have your original jib sheet cam cleats a bit forward, right?

[Mas]

Your picture is making me feel more confident I was right about the spinnaker. You still have your original jib sheet cam cleats a bit forward, right?

I clearly need to read more carefully! Was thinking read just "cleats" which truly are for stern lines. Missed the 'jam" part of that! Also would tend to agree it is for a large headsail/spinnaker or the like. Might prove useful to consider installing a headsail track like those found on the Mk2&3's if you do have multiple headsails. You can then start on the second thousand$$$!

[lstandish]

Actually, these are CAM cleats, not jam cleats.  And (AirborneJarhead), yes, the original jam cleats for the jib sheets are forward. I think you are right that the rear cam cleats must be for a spinnaker.  But one didn't come with the boat.

I tried out the new flux welding machine today and had a bad experience because the auto-darkening helmet is too blurry to see clearly.  So my practice welds didn't turn out very well. However I had better results with an old-fashioned welding lens.

[lstandish]

Is there a way to receive an emailed notification when someone posts a reply to a post one has "subscribed" to?

Today I made some good solid welds of new steel to the trailer axle, which will bolt to the springs. Tomorrow I should finish up all the rest of the welding.

I read Keith's page (http://www.sailboatrichlands.com) on the CP16 (thanks, Mas).  I didn't realize the CP16  loses, apparently, all lateral resistance at only 45 degrees heel angle.  Aw gee, I love heavy air and wild sailing of small light sailboats!  I have fond memories of racing Sunfish, as a teenager, with whitecaps conditions. 

But, after all, that was a long time ago, and I did get this lovely boat primarily, for now, to take my 94 year old father sailing in his beloved Tampa Bay, where he used to sail as a boy.  And someday I hope to explore the Gulf coast of Florida, all the way down to the Keys.  For that I'll need a seaworthy boat, so I think I'm on the right track after all.

[Tim Gardner]

Dish,
go to your profile, click on account settings and follow the instructions.  You can get notified of posts you replied to, and posts to specific boards.

HTH,

TG

[lstandish]

Thanks TG, and sorry I didn't see the notifications settings in the profile.

As I suspected, new forum accounts have notifications to posts one has started or commented on turned on.  So I should have received notifications every time someone posted to the (my) thread.  However I haven't received any such notification.  I just changed my email address, as a test. If someone will post something here, it should create a notification.

[Floridagent]

Just went to the Fenway in Dunedin last weekend.  We love your little charming town!
Bob J

[lstandish]

Please, which member should I email or PM about a possible technical issue with the forum?

[Tim Gardner]

Me