CP16 or CP19?

[K3v1n]

I've been searching around for all the articles I can find concerning both these boats, the pluses and the minuses. I was thinking about a 16 for the ease of trailering plus it is my first sailboat, I would most likely keep it on the trailer to keep costs down the first year or so. I'm thinking with a 19 I would probably go for a slip, so the costs of keeping the boat would be increased but the added room of the cabin would be nice.

Decisions... decisions?  :?

Any input would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

[mhrivnak]

If it's your first boat, I'd go with the 16, this coming from the owner of a 19.  I love the 19, and I don't think it presents too much more difficulty trailering than the 16, but something a little simpler and more manageable might be better to learn on.  Since there is a very healthy demand for these boats, you could easily trade up to a 19 or 23 in a couple years if you wanted.

Honestly though, you can't go wrong either way.

[K3v1n]

Thanks mhrivnak,
My brother passed me along his copy of the Trailer Sailing Handbook so I'm in the midst of reading through it. He is strongly suggesting the CP19, feeling that once I have the boat I'll need and want the extra room.

I was at Borders today and picked up some reading material on sailing basics and knot tying...Let the reading begin...yee ha!

[K3v1n]

Wow!  :shock:

I'm surprised how dead this board is; now I know everyone can't be out sailing.  :?

At any rate...

I think I've made a decision to go with a CP 16, so I'm now tracking down different boats and comparing prices. I do believe the wife is coming around to the idea of me purchasing a sailboat, of course I have to sell my Carolina Skiff, we'll see.  :wink:

[Craig]

Yep!  We're out here.  As a CP 16 owner I can tell you that you will appreciate the ease of rigging, launching, retrieving and sailing a 16.  I've never been on a 19, so I can't compare.  I have sailed a 23.  Sails like a bigger 16 (which means it sails very nicely), but takes at least 4 times as long to rig, and is not particularly easy to launch and retrieve.  If like me you are going to launch everytime you sail then the 16 is great.  I have have done a few overnights on mine, and with proper planning I could easily spend a week cruising somewhere.

Let us know what you buy.

Craig

[multimedia_smith]

I have to start with the fact that I don't have any personal experience with the 19... I only know what I've read and seen.  One thing that has always kinda seemed awkward is the way they run the jib/genoa sheet through the shrouds.  Inboard of the upper and outboard of the lower.
The 16 seems simpler to rig a whisker pole or to do more variety of angles with the foresail.  Again I really don't know what I'm talking about but I've read other folks reviews on the less rounded hull shape being more stiff with regard to heeling and rougher with regard to "pounding" through waves.  There ARE people on the site who own both... and seem to be more inclined to the ease of use of the 16.  It depends on what kind of sail you want to do I guess.
Dale :roll:

[bro t]

Hi k3v1n,
I guess the answer could depend on a couple of things.  How much do you want to spend?  How much do you want to tow?  How many crew do you expect to carry?  Do you plan to only daysail or to overnight a bit?  We have had a cp16 for four seasons, and I find that we get days that six or even seven (including the young'ns) want to go, and it's doable on mellow days.  I have done several overnights with one or another of my kids, and find it very easy sail-camping.  Four adults is a realistic limit for comfort, I've had ~950 pounds of crew and she rides funny no matter where you put 'em!  I am actually looking for either a 19 or a 23, but waiting for spring when $ migrates to the frozen north again.  If you're new to sailing, want to hit a bunch of different places, and aren't taking twelve cousins and a dog, you should find the 16 very much fun.

[spaul]

Kevin,  Buy the biggest boat you can afford or think you can afford next year. My first sailboat was  a 19, then a 22, then a 26. Trailering any of these is the same, rigging them is the same if little difference. You and your wife and your friends will find more room needed the first time you're out on the water. Go for it, you can do it. If I can do it, anyone can.
Steve Paul            
cp27/2
Nashville, IN

[CaptK]

Hi Kevin -

Just thought I'd make a book suggestion for you. Check out Steve Colgate's "Basic Sailing Theory", it has all that you need to know to get started, and is presented in an easy-to-understand format.

BTW, my brother is getting a Carolina Skiff J16 for Xmas. I'm stoked, since that means I will get to play on it a lot. They're cool boats. If yours is paid for, and you can do it, keep it long enough for the wife to realize that sometimes its fun to go fast, and sometimes its fun to just be going, so that way you will be able to do either, on demand. :mrgreen:

[K3v1n]

Thanks guys for the response.  
I'll keep ya's posted as to how this whole boat buying thing turns out.

Keep your fingers crossed!  

[K3v1n]

Well looks like no Com-Pac for this summer but I haven't given up hope.

I'll still be lurkin' about grabbing all the info I can on these great boats.

[Craig Weis]

skip here, sailing a Com-Pac 19.
In N.J. so that means what? That sailing will take place in salt water? Off shore a wee bit?

How about a 19? Yea it's harder to rig on land. Takes two people just to be safe. The safety guy just takes up the slack on the head stay line run through the loop on the masthead ring as the mast is raised.  [I use the same line to haul up the spinnaker]. Three years of putting the mast up and down and I have yet to un-do any standing rigging except for the head stay/furler thingy and put the Harken pin in.

It is easy to  sail by one person. You and the wife have room down below deck for storage for a cooler, one burner stove, water, food, lines, fenders, PFD's, battery, a head, better cabin lighting books, and a whole bunch more. I have cut a 16"/16" hole in front of the compression post in the vee birth just for more life jacket storage for guests and access to the Raymarine BI-Data 40 insturments. Additionally both births have hatches installed by me for manuals, ship's papers, CD's and a few spare parts.

With two foot draft it is hard to run out of water to sail in. In the pics below, are two shots of all the stuff in my 19. Actually I don't need half of the stuff, but which half? :lol:  And we don't sail with the forward head sail's sheet between the standing rigging. That is all on the outside of the rigging. She is just a fun boat.

[mgoller]

Hi K3v1n,
My two cents.  I have both a 16 and 19.  The 16 is a beautiful boat.  It is very tippy.  It is designed to heel and take a set.  It is smooth in chop and is an absolute delight.  The cuddy cabin is great for storage.  And, yes you could camp in there, but the minute you do you will say to yourself, "man I should have gotten a bigger boat".  The 16 is easy to launch and rig.  It is easy to sail.  
The 19 is a big sister to the 16.  It is still a trailer sailor.  There are two big differences.  The handling and the size of the cabin.  I prefer the handling because it doesn't scare passengers.  I can sail it like the racer cruiser it is, or sail it like an excursion boat.  I can singlehand or load it up.  It is a great platform for fishing, sunning, or beaching.  However with any fixed keel boat you can only get so close to the beach.  I have a favorite drop-off sandbar where I can get in real close and anchor.
The size of the cabin is hugely different.  In the 16 I have to contort to move.  In the 19 you can sit, grab stuff, do stuff, lay down comfortably.  Moving on deck is a breeze, and the boat is so stable my 220 lbs doesn't upset balance.  On the 19 I can be sailing by myself at a couple of knots, go up on deck to free a line or set the spinnaker and not worry about the boat tipping.
I agree with all the advice in this thread.  But if forced to pick it would be the 19 unless my over-riding concern was smoothness in chop.   I am not even tempted to get a 23 because my lake isn't big enough and I wouldn't want to trailer and launch as often as I like to go sailing.
I typically will look outside and announce, "I'm going sailing", which means I will sail for an hour or two or until the family waves me in.  Usually no-one wants to go with me.  I may sail four or five times a week this way.  There is no way the 23 would work for me.  
Luckily I have friends with big boats that sit at marinas.  This summer I will  take the family to spend five days on a Farr 40 fit out as a party boat/racer.

[K3v1n]

Well hello everyone,
I'm thinking about selling my Carolina Skiff, again, and use that to help fund the sailboat dream. So my search begins once more and I think a CP 19 is in order. From what I've found, the cost over a CP 16 isn't that much compared to the room and comfort you get.

Stay tuned....

[K3v1n]

One more thought,
My main reason for going with the CP 16 at first was because I was comparing it to the Potter 15.