Boat #34

[Pat McL]

In 1976, we bought a used Compac 16. (Boat #34- and yes, the same number is on our only and original mainsail.) Sailed it for 10 years or so until we started our own busness. The boat has been sitting on a trailer since 1986, and has deteriorated from neglect, particularly the interior. (Am ashamed!) Decided to now take some weekends off (don't ever run a service busness from home and expect to have any free time, also having 7 kids takes up some time as well), and am now in the process of restoring it. (Kids are older).
  Really appreciate the posted information regarding similar projects. The keel has been glassed (badly cracked), the bunks and lazarette removed, hull cleaned etc. Figure about 3 months or so till seaworthy again!
 Have had the boat (Teddy B) under sail in the Ponce de Leon inlet years ago. Would not recommend this as it is a dangerous area for sailing, but was totally in control, I think , during the sail. Took it out a few miles along the beach and the boat was wonderful. Good sail. She has a strong weather helm, but is OK and I will deal with that at a later time. Always good to know that she will point up and not broach. For power, I use a British Seagull 40 Plus (bought new in 1977). Simply the best engine I have ever had on a sailboat. Noisey, smelly, and runs forever, alway starting on the 1st pull, even after 17 years layup.
  Will keep you'all posted --- Pat & Suzy

[TroyVB]

Good Luck with the restoration.  Fixing is at least as much fun as sailing IMHO.

I purchased our CP16 the first of Oct '05 and had to replace a bulkhead that had dry-rotted after sailing her only 3 times.  She is ready for the water now, but will have to wait about 3 months, Ah, the north country

[Pat McL]

Hi Troy,
Best sailing down here is March, April, Oct, and Nov. Summer is a bit hot, and we have been caught in more sudden storms than I can count. They usually arrive with line squols (is that spelled correctly?) as well.
I am not taking any chances with the woodwork, and will replace it all with marine ply, and teak. Make part of my living working with hardwood, and have an old patent or two in epoxides so I don't know whether to fabricate all parts, or to see what Hutchins has in stock. We can drive there in about 3 hours from home, so maybe we need a road trip.
Have to check the main sail, as I remember it being slightly blown out. Hope it can be repaired as I like having the original hull number on the sail. Any suggestions?

[TroyVB]

Good ideas on the woodwork.  I have only had minor conversations with Gerry at Hutchins by email but he was very helpful.  I had been looking at a CP16 that had a broken keel.  One whole side of it was missing and I wanted factory advice on whether or not it was worth fixing.  Hutchins would have laid up a new keel for me and quoted me a price of $500.00 which Gerry told me was probably not cost effective.  I don't know what happened to the boat but I hope somebody saved it.

I recently purchased a new main and I could have had the company put the Com-Pac logo on for another $50.00 I am sure that they could put the hull number on it.  My original had the logo but not a hull number.

[Pat McL]

Where did you purchase the main and how much was the quote? Was it bolt or lug?

I am interested as to how the new keel would be bonded and reinforced to the old hull, sounds like an interesting project. Did Gerry's quote include attaching the keel to the hull, or just casting a new one for you to bond to the hull.  Perhaps glassing the lower hull, and thru-bolting a more conventional style keel would have been more practical.

I always wanted to build my own boat, and still have a 1950s MoToR Boating line plan for a 26 foot gaff skipjack schooner called America Junior which is the prettiest boat I believe I have ever seen. Reality now dictates that I will never build it, but it kept me thinking for 30 or 40 years! Most likely would cost $30k in materials to build in today's dollars. I believe the parts estimate at publication was about $2k and change.

Have considered converting the 16 to a cutter rig to balance the weather helm. Mods would be minimal, and it would look neat.

[TroyVB]

I purchased the main from Masthead Enterprises for $265.00, 1 reef point, sail slugs, four battens, and sail bag 4.5oz Dacron

The keel from Hutchins was to be glassed to the hull and then would have needed to be filled with concrete ballast.  I think that this would be structurally sound then the concrete would need to be sealed from the inside.

My boatbuilding experience has consisted of smaller boats.  I would love to build a larger boat.  The last one was a D4 dinghy which I widened the beam by 10 inches and built a sailing rig.  I have yet to sail it but this summer we will.

[B.Hart]

Hello  pat mcl ,lake harris is one of my favorite sailing spots. we overnighted there the last weekend in october. It would be nice to get some com-pacs together to sail

[Pat McL]

I am very familiar with Lake Harris---I bought (during the wood age) a very old and rotted National One Design which I rebuilt and glassed back in the '60s during my college days. This is a 17 foot centerboard sloop (big brother of the Snipe) both designed by Crosby & unusual to find in Fl. I flipped the rig during a thunderstorm about a mile off of Johnson's Point while trying to take in the jib. Two of us bobbed around for about 3 hours waving at passing geriatic boaters (Florida, remember) until one actually noticed that the boat didn't look right being upside down, and provided some leverage to get the heavy cloth sails and mast up. (The 26 ft mast never touched bottom!) Still have the waterlogged 1946 Johnson 2 1/2 hp seahorse in my shop. Never tried to restart it since. Prefer the seagull.

Sold the boat and bought the Com-pac the same year (76). Never regretted the change. Love the metacenteric characteristics of a ballasted keel!!!

Lake Monroe in Sanford is also a nice location for sailing & leads via the St Johns eventually to Jax. Let me know if you get in the area, and we can compare hull numbers or something. (Sounds like a Mae West line)!