The Start of a New Chapter

[InertBert]

Hello everyone, I am new to the community, but from what I see, I may fit in well.  I've finally got my first com-pac, as an easy single hander.  My 5 year old son is my first mate, but when my wife or friends find time, they tag along also.  I will try and keep up on posting for the work I will do with my boat, and for the day trips and big vacation trips that I take this summer.  Maybe, if I get a few minutes to reminisce, I might also post some old fish sailing/boating stories as well.

My new com-pac 16.  I like it so far, and I think this boat will do well for me

Replacing my McGreggor Venture 222

The com-pac sails well.  This is the maiden voyage, complete with mother-in-law for extra ballast.

My home waters, the Gulf of Mexico, at the mouth of the Pithlacascotee River at Durney Key.  Best sailing waters I've ever seen.

But it has some rotting wood on the inside.  I cut out much of it, and have been running fans to dry it.  I am planning on reinforcing what you see here with lumber, and glassing over it.

I've so far installed a new 45lb trolling motor, deep cycle battery, and onboard charger.  Solar panel, charge controller, breaker panel, and LED nav lights showed up yesterday, hope to have time this weekend for more work on it.

[InertBert]

Also, I think I might name her "Mangrove Dancer".  What do you all think?

[Bob23]

Bert:
  Welcome from NJ! I must say I'm a bit jealous of your sailing grounds. Up here, we're just starting to uncover our boats from winter hibernation. Not that it was a bad winter but it was winter just the same.
  You must be some kind of Computer genius...it took me almost 2 years to learn to post photos and you did it on the first post. Congrats...
Bob23 and 1985 Compac 23/2 "Koinoina"   both in NJ!

[jthatcher]

not sure that it is safe to touch the sentence that contains  both the phase  "mother in law"  and the word  "ballast"....    i guess there is no chance of her reading this thread!   
  nice boat.. nice to see you all smiling..  my wife was not smiling all the time on our first cruise..  she is still getting used to the   word  "heel"    i guess i need to be a little less adventurous this season

good luck .. looking forward to more pics     jt

[kickingbug1]

   welcome. you will meet great people and gain by their wisdom

[ribbed_rotting_rusting]

Greetings, and I also am jealous of your sailing area. Nice photos in what had to be blinding glare
One of my sisters is a CPA, who has told me that those 3 initials roughly correspond in meaning to your Latin motto.
Oh, speaking of ballast, does yours speak? Though in all fairness the older I get the more sensible mine seems, what once seemed obnoxious now
seems to be more a matter of politically incorrect (as long as it isn't directed at me)

The name sounds strong and different, but then I would always be afraid all my wife would hear is  the dancer part.  Mike

[Bob23]

Bert:
   You might find yourself out it some high winds....you'll be thankful for that ballast!
Bob23

[crazycarl]

nice pictures!

if you read through the old posts you'll see that in the past new members were required to submit a small "fee" to bob23 for the pleasure of being a member here.

i'm suggesting a new "fee" to all new members.  one i believe everyone will find quite fair.

upon becoming a member of this here compac yacht owners association, from here on known as cyoa, the new member shall choose a week of his or her liking to host a gathering of compac sailors in his or her waters.  thus gaining great wisdom, camaraderie, and the opportunity to actually meet and sail with the great bob23.

all in favor... aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye! aye! aye! aye! aye! aye !aye !aye!

all against...naye! (bob23)

the ayes have it!

motion carried!

so...when can we come and play in those inviting waters?

[Bob23]

Uh....hate to burst your bubble but the great Bob23 is a myth! The not-so-great Bob23 is indeed a real character (which some of you who know him will attest) who likes to shoot his mouth off sometimes and is prone to occasional over-imbibing on various rum based hydration units.
  Rumor has it that Bert's sister is gonna invite us all down to sail on her new Cat. Sure, it's not a Compac but this is not a time to be judgemental. We Compac-o-nauts may be alot of things but boat snobs we ain't!
  Bert: Thank you sister for us in advance...maybe you can get her to introduce herself here so we can thank her personally for inviting us aboard!
Bob23

[InertBert]

I guess fair is fair and I will pay that fee.  Although I have some bad news, the big boat is for sale now.  I guess there is some new fangled way of boating that involves "motors".  I dunno, I think its a fad, but that is what she is trading down for.  That means all of you will have to cram onto my boat. 

The water is great, the boat ramps are free, the beer is cold.  Don't forget your sunblock

Also, I do make my way up and down the gulf coast quite a bit, and will be trailering the boat with on most of my trips.  So if there is anyone who sails around Anna Maria, or Marco Island or the Keys, etc, I would love to meet up.  Maybe we could even figure a way to get some photos of two or three compacs sailing together side by side.

[Billy]

I sail in Palm Harbor, just down the road. Anclote & 3 RookerBar are two of my favorite destinations. I would definitely love to meet up for a sail.