Just for fun a hypothetical question.

[lostsailor101]

If our beloved Com-Pacs were never made, what boat do you think  you would be sailing?

I'll go first.

For me living in eastern North Carolina, I have access to a wide variety of water conditions along with beautiful sunsets, miles of white sand, and the sounds of waves rolling down the beach. There is plenty of opportunities to explore the barrier islands that are separated from the mainland by calm creeks and shallow bays, it is a rich transition zone where the land ends and the Atlantic Ocean begins, this is a place where fish breed and shore birds fly an anglers paradise and a challenge for sailors to navigate.

I think an O'day mariner would be my boat of choice, swing keel for the skinny water and the ability to beach her. Drop the board down when your skirting the coast on the outside, for some ocean sailing. There is a small cabin that provides shelter from the elements, or lodging for an over night trip, The boat is small enough to load up on the trailer and hit the highway in the search of new adventures in distant lands.

But like I stated before it's a hypothetical question...I have owned 3 Com-Pac's and have enjoyed them all.

[Glenn Basore]

I like the Precision 21, basic same design as the Com Pac 19 but a faster boat I believe.

Glenn B.

[brackish]

Hypothetical...just for fun...OK

A Hinckley SW 42

[Billy]

I feel ashamed even reading this more or less commenting on this. But I say it's toss up b/w a Precision 21 and a Catilina Capri 21 instead of my 19. While they have the deeper draft (I think they both come w/ a swing keel) they are both much faster, but not nearly as pretty!
But since we're talking "hypothetical" I lile Brackish's responce and I'd go with a BRAND new Beneteau 1st 50'!

http://www.beneteau.com/en/sailboats/produit.aspx?GAM_CODE=6&PRO_CODE=25

[Bob23]

I'd go along with Brack on this one with one minor exception: Hinckley Bermuda 40. Or the Maltese Falcon with paid female bikini-clad crew. Or maybe a Corsair Tri-maran. Actually, I can't imagine life without Compac. Not that I'm addicted or anything.
Bob23

[crazycarl]

Easy question only because I "settled" for an '83 Starwind 19 when I couldn't find a Compac 19 in my area.

The Starwinds were designed by Jim Taylor of Precision fame.  They were built by Welcraft and as I found out, quite well.
The deck and cabin has a foam core that doesn't absorb water and the trunk keel  houses a 37lb. centerboard.  With the board up they can float in as little as 18" of water and I've sailed in as little as 24".  They're fast, fun, and easy to trailer.  With some practice they can be readied for sailing in about 30 minutes.  They have more room inside and the cockpit is about the same.  The mast is a bit longer and much more heavier constructed.  I sailed ours for 30 days around the Keys in some pretty bad weather and I'd still have her today if I had anchored out instead of tying her to a dock that fateful night last February.  It was the insurance $ that allowed me to search and find the Compac we now have.  As of yet, we haven't been able to sail her, but I'm hoping to splash her this fall.  
The Compac 19 was my first choice because of it's style, solid glass construction and legendary quality.  However, if this one didn't come along at the right moment, I'd be back in a Starwind.




 

[Joseph]

If, as I did for my SunCat, I had decided to buy a new 2010, I would most likely had ordered a Montgomery 17.

J.

[CaptRon28]

I've liked just about every boat I've owned - including (and especially) a Catalina 400 which I had for 12 years. The boat and I sailed about 31,000 miles, much of it single-handed and offshore and in some pretty rough conditions. Didn't want to sell it either, but shallow water on the SW Coast of Florida would have caused me many problems. My shoal draft version was about 6 feet down and 61 feet up.

It's replacement was a Telstar 28 trimaran and I've really gotten to like it. Totally different boat, but I'm having loads of fun on it. What can you say about doing nearly 17 knots in just over 20 knots of wind, and being able to beach it tied to a palm tree? First time I did that I nearly forgot about the big Catalina. And it has an amazing amount of room for a 28 foot trimaran. Over 6 feet standing head room !! The Horizon will turn out to be another favorite. Due to medical problems I've only taken it out 4 times since I bought it in March, but it sails very well for a 20 foot cat boat. And there is absolutely nothing made on this planet in this size range which can be launched and rigged faster. It will stay in NJ this winter, and maybe forever.

For those who've never seen a Telstar (we were doing about 5 knots in 6 knots of wind) -


And the Catalina 400 -

[Billy]

Ron, Where are you in SW Florida? I'm in Tampa Bay (Palm Harbor). DO you still have the Telstar? Let me know if you ever come back down this way and need a deck hand. That boat looks FAST!

[CaptRon28]

We should be back in Punta Gorda by the end of October, but I may not be able to get the boat into the water for a few weeks. It depends on how fast the shoulder heals. You'd be welcome to come along for a ride anytime after that. It's fun going 10 knots in about 10 knots of wind. I'd love to get a ride on the America's Cup trimaran one day - that was doing 35 knots propped up on one ama in less than 10 knots of wind. Unbelievable.

What is really amazing is how easy it gets going. No weatherhelm at all, almost no heel - it just accelerates. You can control the tiller with 2 fingers in 20+ knots of wind. A monohull would be much more work just fighting the weather. I can nearly doze off in 20 knots. Nothing to do.

[Billy]

WOW sounds awesome! Yea a lot of the "sailing pureist" hate teh americas cup tri. I think it is amazing. why not do what it takes to sail as fast as possible! but lets not forget the thread......I love COM-PACS!!!

[lostsailor101]

For me I find something special in all sailing vessels, and I am a Com-Pac owner by choice. "We may have all come on different ships, but we're in the same boat now.

Thanks for playing along guys. Here is a short summary.......

Glenn kept it real with his faster Percision 21.

Brackish will be having fun on a Hinckley 42.

Billy was torn between the faster  Percision 21 or a Catilina 21 but has decided to upgrade to a Beneteau 1st 50..(29 foot ites)

Bob23 seems like he will be happy with any boat as long as there is a bikini-clad crew.
Crazycarl knows precisely that a Starwind 19 is the boat for him

Joseph  likes a Montgomery 17 the 2010 model

CaptRon is the one who makes me envious .... Not so much for the boats you sail but just having the ability, skill and time to sail 31.000 miles on one boat is astounding.  He certainly will never have any problems finding crew after this post. Sign me up to crew on your Telstar she truly sounds incredible

I think Captain Jack Sparrow captures my feelings precisely with this line about his ship the Black Pearl .

"Wherever we want to go, we'll go. That's what a ship is, you know. It's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails; that's what a ship needs...but what a ship is...what the Black Pearl really is...is freedom."

[romei]

Someday I'd either love to find one of these or have one built.  It's called a YM 3-Tonner.

http://www.eventides.org.uk/3tonpic.htm

scroll for pics

[Salty19]

Probably a Seaward Fox or 22.  If I had more cash, an Island Packet.

[Tom Ray]

I was looking at a Precision 18 when we bought our Sun Cat. Used to own a Corsair F-27. How many answers am I allowed?