New Com Pac owner

[skyshadd]

Hi everyone,
My name is Shadd-O, I'm 48, a husband, father of 2, and I have a sailing addiction
I just purchased a 1980 Com Pac 23, and will be restoring her over the coming months, well actually, cleaning overhauling, and general TLC. I have been lurking this site for sometime while researching what vessel I was going to purchase next, all of you have been a big help...and hope you will be in the future. I just spent the last 2 days aboard, sailing her home to her new home port of Cape Coral FL. I had a great time, and can't wait to get out there for some more cruising adventures.

Blue Skies, Fair Winds

Shaddo

p.s.
Any other Com Pac owners near by?

[Craig]

Welcome! Your 23 will be very happy here in SW Fl. Keep us posted on progress!

[jthatcher]

hey!   a compac 23 - just what every 48 year old father of two needs!    welcome aboard.  we would love a detailed account of your first sail, along with pics if you happen to have them.    jt

[curtisv]

hey!   a compac 23 - just what every 48 year old father of two needs!    welcome aboard.  we would love a detailed account of your first sail, along with pics if you happen to have them.    jt

It is just what a father with two kids needs.  I was a 44 year old father, with kids ages 13 and 9 when I bought my CP23.  That's a great age for kids to go sailing a a boat like that with Dad and The Admiral.

Shaddo - What ages are your kids?  I hope you don't need to spend too much time fixing and find plenty of time to take the wife and kids sailing.  Welcome aboard!

Fair winds and gentle seas,

Curtis

[Bob23]

   Hey there Shaddo and a warm welcome from the great state of NJ! From one 23 owner to another, they are wonderful boats, built quite tough. But I hope you are used to attracting attention...the 23 will turn heads wherever they go. I  know. I have a 1985 23/2 and she's been called by others as "the prettiest boat in the harbor".
   Again, welcome! Any name for the boat yet?
Bob23

[skyshadd]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the warm welcome.

Bob23, I do like the "classic" lines of the CP. It's one of the many things that sold me on the boat.

As for my delivery trip:

I picked up the boat on a mooring in Lettuce Lake, a cool little RV park/fish camp, it's way up the Peace River, at the top of Charlotte Harbour. After doing the normal paper work and pleasantries, we motored out to the boat, loaded my gear, and with a pull of the rope, the trusty little 8hp Johnson came to life, and I was off!
The Peace is one of those classic rivers that meander gracefully though the saw grass and palm hammocks. The only disturbance to the peace and serenity was the sighting of a manatee wishing me a good trip, or the alligator surveying me from the bank, just in case anything went wrong.
Just as I settled in and was going over the rigging in my mind thinking of my singlehanding task ahead, I started to realize....damn it's hot! Just as if were on cue...a gentle breeze blew though and my spirits soared at the prospect of sailing this little gem.
After a few hours of motoring, having had a bite, and a cool drink, I was ready for a change. Around a bend in the river the I-75 bridge came into view, and beyond the US 41 bridge, and beyond that lay Charlotte Harbour, opening up with a magnificent change of scenery....OPEN WATER! Charlotte is a sailors dream water, deep, wide, and so long the horizon is to infinity.
The time is right, the wind is right, the boat is right....it's time to sail. after fumbling around with the sheets and trying to keep a heading with only a tiller extension and a keeper, the time to raise the sails was at hand. Up the mainsail came with that familiar whip of sail in the irons, next the 150 Genoa, as I fell off the wind line, I felt the pull and power of the wind, as my little boat became a ship. She set up and harnessed the energy and transferred it to magic as I went scooting across the bay....

more tomorrow?

Blue Skies, Fair Winds

Shaddo

[MKBLK]

Skyshadd - Boy, your narrative sure made me feel good... and wishing I was in Florida, not Pennsylvania!

Maybe on your way to Cape Coral, you'll spot a CP16 looking for a home... then you'll have the best of both worlds! Just ask Bob23.

Happy sailing,

Marty K.
1981 CP16 Pegasus

[capt_nemo]

Skyshadd,

Welcome aboard.

There are 5 Sun Cats and 1 Horizon Cat that regularly sail Charlotte Harbor, with a few cruising occasionally to the Gulf Islands.

capt_nemo
Sun Cat "Frisky"

[treehugger]

Welcome sailor, I'm also new to the Com-Pac world but the bit we've gone out together I'm in love. Great boat! Docked at Key West but hope to moor off the Ocean side here in Big Pine soon.

[Bob23]

Hi Tree:
   Sorry I missed this...Welcome to the greatest forum in the universe! It's only as good as it's contributors...so jump right in!
Bob23