What to inspect on potential older CP16 for possible purchase.

[chrismccas]

Excuse my ignorance but I am looking to buy a used cp16 to learn how to sail and putter around the Great South Bay on long island. As a complete novice what is the basic  minimum points of inspecting and possibly testing on water with seller a used cp16. I am enthralled with these boats based on what I have read on this website. I have a lot to learn and hope you can help.

[Steve Ullrich]

Welcome to the CYOA web site.  Lots of useful information here.  I just posted this CP-16 links in another thread but I'll post them here as well:

http://www.tays.com/compac/reviews/compac16.html
http://www.c-2.com/reviews/revread.tpl?fno=499.18&id=11387742572077680
http://www.sailingtexas.com/cboats99compac16.html
http://www.msog.org/models/m15/sbj1.cfm
http://www.photoboto.com/psyched_up.htm - This guy might be nuts...

Articles and reviews related to Com-Pac 16's...  These boats are well built and if they have been reasonably well maintained they will last a very long time.  I wouldn't hesitate to buy one from the 70's if it was clean and sound.  There are obvious things to check when looking at any sailboat... Here are a few, I'm sure some of the other members of the site will also be able to give you some great advice:

1.   Signs of leaks above or below the water level? Water damage to the wooden structure inside of the boat?  Rotten wood is bad...
2.   Check the keel for cracks and damage that may have let water into the concrete ballast area...
3.   If the fiberglass above the keel is delaminated that may mean that there has been water in the keel and the concrete may be broken up.  Cutting all of that out and repairing it is a huge job.
4.   There are a lot of beautiful 16's out there that don't have major cracks or gouges in the hull or deck.
5.   Are the mast and boom straight?
6.   Is the stern sound?
7.   Are the rudder and tiller serviceable? The tiller is easy to refinish.
8.   Are the shrouds all there? Free of damage?
9.   Don't worry about the lines being worn, they are easy to replace.
10.   Sails? Also an item that wears out over time but if it has a serviceable set while you are learning to sail that's a plus.
11.   An engine is nice for getting away from the docks or returning to them nice and slow.
12.   Bottom paint is easy to redo.
13.   Hulls are relatively easy to rub out and polish though that can be a big job. Oxidation isn't a big deal.
14.   Does it come with a roadworthy trailer?  Good tires, free of checks in the side walls? Bearing buddies? Working lights? Trailers need maintenance too so bearings and tires may be necessary.  Wiring seems to rot away over the years but it isn't hard to replace either

Have the seller show you how to set up the mast, mount the boom, rig the sails, that will make it easy to tell if anything is missing.  Ask the seller to take you for a sail to show you how everything works.  When I sold my last sailboat, last fall, I actually had a lot of fun taking potential buyers for sails.  Launching and retrieving one is more of a hassle but if the seller is motivated they may be willing to show you the whole process.  Again, that will make it obvious if something is missing or faulty.

Excuse my ignorance but I am looking to buy a used cp16 to learn how to sail and putter around the Great South Bay on long island. As a complete novice what is the basic  minimum points of inspecting and possibly testing on water with seller a used cp16. I am enthralled with these boats based on what I have read on this website. I have a lot to learn and hope you can help.

[federalist]

Steve's list is great.  The advantages that the CP 16 has over similar sized boats include a ballasted (450 lb of concrete) shoal draft fixed keel - no cables like you would have with a swing keel or iron keel or dagger board, etc.  This ballast also gives it the feel of a much larger boat.  There are no through hulls.  Best of all, the cockpit compares to that of much larger boats at 6"11" long!  No real downside other than finding a boat that was not properly maintained.