HOW DID YOUR COMPAC FIND YOU?

[Bob23]

Cap'ts:
  These are all great stories! I can't tell you how much I've enjoyed reading these- and with no political references! This is what we are all about. Let's keep 'em coming. I may email Gerry and Rich Hutchins and refer them to this thread. I think they would truly enjoy it...unless they are watching back there in the shadows!
Bob23..waiting for the blizzard!

[Glenn Basore]

Skip,

Ive seen your car a few times, very nice.

I do miss my Model A. but The Eclipse fills the void very nicely when I'm on board.

There is just something about being in open waters of the Pacific with my Eclipse, nothing else matters !

[bmiller]

Great topic, good stories, some of you got pretty spectacular deals on your boats. My story:

I got into sailing later on in life, in my fourties. But my wife and I are making up for lost time with a vengence! We purchased our first boat from a very interesting fellow in the Albuquerque NM area. It was a 1986 Hunter 23, great starter boat. Easy to tow, rig, launch and sail. We kept the boat on Lake Dillon, about an hour from our home. We sailed it as much as possible that first couple years. Then we took the boat to a couple large lake in AZ and spent several days aboard. The next year we took the H23 to San Carlos Mexico and did some easy bay and coastal sailing. We stayed on the boat for a week or so. That trip convinced us we needed a larger trailerable boat.

So we went on the hunt, not with any particular boat in mind, just a general idea. We wanted something like a Catalina 27, Cal27 or similar. Really didn't know anything about ComPacs, yet. We missed a Catalina 27 by a few hours, had money in hand, lucky for us.

Then all of a sudden there she was. A random search of CL in the Denver area found her. The picture in the ad was not much but it got the wheels turning. So a day or so of on-line research and we had to go take a look. When we arrived to view the boat she was sitting fully rigged in the owners side yard. It looked massive, a little intimidating at first. We walked around the outside quite a bit first, then inside. As soon as we stepped inside my wife looked at me with a "This is it" look on her face. That look was very relieving as I was feeling the same thing at that moment. Best part was the owner was very proud of his boat, and it showed. He built a davit system that was designed to mount a solar panel. He built it with a certain panel in mind, which I bought and it fit perfectly. He replaced the Origo stove with a two burner LPG. The boat sat on a custom built triple axle trailer, that would prove to be the only flaw in the system.  We did not want to appear too eager so we thanked the owner and said we would think about it. That afternoon we called and offered 22K, their asking was 27K. They agreed without a counter, we dropped off a deposit and set up a day to pick her up. In the meantime I had an exhaust brake installed on my truck, this new boat is considerably heavier then the little H23.

Since then we have kept Pooka on Lake Dillon during the summers, trailered to Southern California, the Sea of Cortez and the PNW. She has always preformed and kept us safe. This is our fourth year with her, I can't think of another boat that could replace her. Although the trailer will be getting a complete refit with new axles before we venture out too far in the future.

That's it in a nutshell, there is lots more to it but that is better discussed in the cockpit with a cold beer in hand.

Bill

[Salty19]

Great stories, everyone.  Interesting how a lot of us--myself included had somewhat impulsive purchases while considering the CP. Conversely, kicknbug knew what he wanted for 27 years!!

Interesting too how a lot of moved up quickly.  Going from a 14' racing design to a CP16 is a HUGE luxury!   Like a lot of other hobbies, one quickly learns what they DO NOT want but struggle to find exactly what we DO want.  In the sailing arena, the sheer amount of choices does make "newbie" sailboat shopping a challenge.  So we take leaps of faith.   I'm just glad I didn't buy a lemming Hunter or Catalina "because everyone else has one". 

Of the 147 slips in my marina, I'm the only com-pac.  Next year there will be two--my old 16 that is now my brothers and my 19.
Would be real surprised to see 3.

[Glenn Basore]

Skip,

It was a 1930 closed cab pick up.......95% restore to factory when I sold it.

Straw yellow over black fenders.

[daryl81]

I had been looking for a smaller boat to trailer sail to different lakes. My Seaward 24 is in a slip 15 minutes from the house, but I do have some gypsy blood that longs to explore new water. I had seen a post on the trailer sailor forums about a1981com pac 16 on Rogers, AR. craigslist for $250. I got hold of the owner and he told me his father was the sailor but had to move from his cabin on Beaver lake to a care home and they were selling his 16 and a cape dory 25. I looked at the picture of the boat and trailer and called my sister that lives an hour north of there and convinced her and her husband to drive down and buy it. By the time they got there, some one had offered $275. I upped that to $300 and my sister paid the people and pulled it to her house. I went to their place the next weekend and pulled it home to begin a 5 month renovation of a badly neglected boat. It was full of oak leaves and pine needles. It had enough water setting in the cockpit due to plugged scuppers that there were blisters on the cockpit seats and the coamings. It had been changed to a hardware store cutter rig that all had to be removed and returned to the fractional rig. The original sails were with it and a bag full of various odd sized sails. The original sails were bedsheet soft but the  extra sails were crisp so I cut them both down to fit and used them all last summer. The whole boat was painted and new interior cushions and hardwood flooring was installed over the keel and on the shelf in front of the berths. It is a great boat to trailer sail as it sets up in 15-20 minutes, sails like a dream and is stable in most conditions. I have built a NACA 14 foam rudder over the original aluminum that really makes the boat point well and eliminated most of the weather helm. I still can't believe how well the boat turned out or how much I enjoy my traveling sailboat!!!!




As it appeared in the craigs list ad


ready to go

[Greene]

Wow, what a great transformation.   You said that you built a Naca-0014 foil using foam over your original rudder.  Any input from your experience building it would be greatly appreciated.  There are a couple in process right now and others are waiting to see how it works out.  There is a topic open on the subject right now.  Please add to it.

Mike

[daryl81]

Thanks Mike, I will try to get the pictures of the rudder build over on the other post. I have been reading and really admire the the wood leading edge that I saw.

[Bob23]

  Ok, guys. I'm trying to reviv this thread. I know there are more of you out there who have tales of how your Compac found you. I think that Gerry and Richard would enjoy reading this.
  A few notes on my hunt for the right boat. My friend Bud would call me periodically to turn me on to a number of boats for sale. I'd look at each one and turn it down for one reason or another. After this happend a number of times, Bud was bewildered as to why I was passing up on these good deals and some of them were, indeed, good deals. I was looking for the right boat and the best I could explain it was like this: "Bud, she just has to stir my soul." He understood.
  When I saw my 23 for the first time, she stirred my soul. I knew I'd found the right woman!   
Bob23

[jamato323]

Thanks to you all for sharing your love stories. Sanura is my lucky 13th boat which has owned me during the past 45 years. I've always loved the salty look that Hutchins builds into its boats. When we decided to downsize from a Morgan 323 several years ago I bought an almost new SunCat Hull #55 to do some water camping here along the Gulf in SW FL. After a couple of years the size itch bit me and I moved on to a bigger motor sailor and then lost my mind (and wallet) completely and jumped to a power cabin cruiser.
But I could never get that SunCat out of my alleged mind and when ever I saw a boat under sail out in the Gulf, I thought again of Gatito (my first SunCat). Over the years I kept all my boating expenses on Quicken according to the individual craft. One day I created a spread sheet (how romantic) and obtained the monthly cost of each boat I owned since 1984. When it turned out the most economical boat I've owned also happened to be the one with the best memories, the decision was easy.
Last Spring I put an order in for a new SunCat and equipped it the way I wanted. She is now out in the garage. Hurricane preparation is hitting the down button on the electric door. To paraphrase Scarlet O'Hara: "I'll never be Compacless again."

[Greene]

With all the new names on this site it would be great if you would add your stories.  Keep filling this topic out - it is great reading and a nice way to get to know something about each sailor(s).

Mike and Brenda

[Mas]

Just got back into sailing after a long time. (See: No Mas has a new home)

We had started on a CP16 and loved the feel of her for her size. Many fond memories of being tucked up a creek and being rocked to sleep. We thought if we ever got back into it we would love a large, more live aboard capable boat, but everything told me to keep it small yet a proper little yacht. That led us right back to Compac, this time a 23.

Our home cruising ground is The Bay, Rappahanock, in particular. The memories of being able to tuck up almost anywhere and have lots of bottom for cruising was a big factor. The general quality and must admit, appearance of the Compacs fill out the reasons we believe we now have the perfect yacht for us now.

What are your reasons for your Compac, especially when there are many less expensive boats out there?

[Mas]

so...you guys aren't sure why you have a Compac? Let's hear why and what led you to these craft. It would be fun to see how many reasons are shared by many and some that may be as unique as the boats!

[brackish]

Here's a start from some folks that have been here a long time.

http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=3119.0

[Tim Gardner]

After re-reading this thread , I'm bumping it and sticky-ing it.

TG