Setup time for CP23...CP16 guy venturing onto CP23 page

[Jason]

Hi!  I have sailed my 16 for 2 seasons now and it is a great boat.  Plan to keep sailing it, but as one may tend to do, I think about other boats from time to time.  I sail on inland lakes/Lake Michigan/green bay, and keep the boat stored on the trailer indoors.  How feasible is it , with a CP23, to set up, launch, sail, retrieve, take down, trailer back home, for an afternoon+evening sail?  Do the shrouds and back stay remain fully connected and you just tip up the mast and connect the forestay?   The beauty of the 16 is the ability to go anywhere at a moments notice and you don't need to commit to a long sail.  I wouldn't want to get a bigger boat and wind up sailing less...  Bigger boat would allow for longer trips and comfort for some additional people, etc...

Happy Sailing

Jason

[Cevin c Taylor]

I've been thinking exactly the same thing as you.  I'll be interested in the responses.  Also, has anyone invented a cloaking device for boats so that I can park it in my yard without my wife being aware I bought it?

[brackish]

Mine stays in the water most of the year, but I trailer once a year.  It takes me about 2 hours working by myself to go each way, retrieve and prepare for a long tow, and set the boat up and launch.

There are things that have to be done for a long road trip that might not have to be done for a frequently launched boat going a short distance.  I have to set up and attach two mast crutches, one on the stern one to the bow pulpit.  You can't just drop the mast and leave it in the tab, it sticks out way too far to the stern.  It must be unbolted and moved forward.  You disconnect the forward stay and the two forward lower shrouds, the remainder of the standing rigging stays attached, but has to be coiled and strapped.  If you have at least three strong folks you might not need to hook up a mast raising system, but I usually don't and must do that.  The boom, in its stock configuration cannot be hinged up and must be removed and stowed, however the sail and cover can stay attached.  In my case the furler with or without the sail attached has to be securely strapped the mast in order to protect the foil extrusion from kinking.  I also have to remove my Windex and VHF antenna, too fragile to make a high speed trip at that angle.  I also remove my motor as the manufacturer of the mount requires, I wouldn't for a short trip.  My old motor required me to back my truck up under the motor and have two people lift it off.  My current motor can be lifted off by myself on a ladder, so it will take less time.  I also pump out my water tank, the portapotty supply tank and remove the gas tank and carry an empty tank simply to reduce the tow haul weight. 

It is a transportable sailboat, not a trailer sailor.  I think I could probably reduce the time to an hour and a half each way for a short trip.  And it is hard work and I would not do it for a short afternoon or evening sail.

[NateD]

I agree with brackish, I would not want to set it up for a day sail. I had a 16 before my 23 and I could have that rigged and in the water in about 20 mins. The fastest I've ever got my 23 ready was 1.5 hours with another persons help. Taking my time is more like 2-3 hours. It could be sped up a bit if you find ways to leave the sails bent on and most of the running rigging in place, then you might be able to get it into that 1-1.5 hour range consistently. I believe there is a person on here that trailer sails his 23 on a weekly basis, but it is significantly harder than the 16.

[Jason]

Thanks for the feedback, I think the 16 is the right boat for me at this time!  Sounds like if you want to sail frequently with the bigger boats, you should keep em in a slip or on a mooring. 

[skip1930]

The larger the boat, the less you go sailing?

When I was an infant dad had to come up with a crew to race this schooner, and mom wasn't it. Snickers.
This was when boats were wood and men were iron.

Brac, that's funny. My life didn't quite follow that scenario. But your right.


skip.

[Jason]

Hi!  To clarify....... I wouldn't say say that a larger boat would mean less sailing as a rule, only speaking for myself.   I know people with 30ftrs that sail a couple times a week, and then there's people out there with nice size boats that live on em and pretty much sail all the time.   For myself, sailing opportunities are often after work or for other limited time-frames of say 4-5 hours, and seems that a larger boat (logically) does take longer to set up; to the point that I probably wouldn't be able to take advantage of many of my windows of opportunities to sail as they would be consumed with set up time.    As I think about it, I think the key to sailing a large boat often would be to keep in in the water ready to go, or to have enough time to set up often.   Right now, neither one of those is in the cards for ole me, so I will remain a very happy camper with my CP16.  Once my kids can swim my wife has given me clearance to take them sailing, and then it will be a family activity and my windows of sailing opportunity will be greatly expanded.  Sailing is one of the activities I really want to enjoy as a father-daughter experience.  Maybe a bigger boat will be in the radar in a couple years!  For now, I will spend the winter fiddling around with the 16, and next year will sail it around SE Wisconsin/Lake Michigan, + a nice trip again to Door County (maybe Jackson Harbor up to Summer Island and back)  or maybe the Apostles, or maybe even explore around Mackinac Island.

Thanks for the feedback on the 23, beautiful boat.

Jason

[Vipersdad]

Skip:  I heartily agree.

V.

[brackish]

The larger the boat, the less you go sailing?

skip.

No Skip, I've been the whole cycle and it ain't the fault of the size of the boat that's just coincidental.  It is a natural evolution.  You're young and free, get a sail boat and you sail it all the time.  You go to work, have the pressures of a job but are making a little money, and buy a bigger boat, but don't sail it as much because you are working long hours.  You get married, have a few kids, get promoted, are making more money, buy a bigger boat and you sail even less because you are still working long hours but now your free time is taken up with little league, soccer, scouts, PTA, various community organizations, etc....BUT THEN...you retire...sell the big boat, buy a smaller one that you can handle by yourself....kids are grown and gone....all those time issues are resolved... and you sail all the time.  But it has nothing to do with the size of the boat, that just happens along the way.

[Jason]

Thanks again for the feedback.  I've been looking through Precisions and Compac's for a boat for the family that I can still rig and launch quickly, and I think the Eclipse could be the real winner for my needs, and man it's a good look'n boat.  Maybe I'll find a nice used one in a couple years.  Either way, the next boat I buy will probably be an optimist for the kids to learn on!  unless an eclipse comes by at a great deal price....

For now the CP16 is great, but is in the garage in Sussex waiting for spring.  On the other hand I got out skiing with my 6 year old yesterday so winter can be  fun too!

Jason

[NateD]

GET THE KIDS A BOAT! Ain't nothing going to instill a love of boating like being the captain of your own ship. I liked boating until I got a chance to take a sunfish out at Boy Scout camp, then I loved it.

[Eagleye]

and I think the Eclipse could be the real winner for my needs, and man it's a good look'n boat.  Maybe I'll find a nice used one in a couple years. 
Jason

Jason,
As I have been following your thread it appeared to me (biased opinion) that an Eclipse would seem to fit your needs. We have trailer sailed the Madame for 2 seasons now and I wouldn't want anything bigger or anything smaller.  The setup time can be trimmed down to less than 45 minutes (arrival to launch) and the cabin would handle your family quite well.  We too are looking forward to taking out the grandkids when they are old enough or, more importantly, when their parents are comfortable with the idea.

And the Madame Z sure does love having kids onboard!







I still have a list of Eclipse's that were for sale when I was looking 2 years ago.  I would be happy to email it to you as it may give you a baseline of what is out there.

-Allen

[MKBLK]

Allen - Really nice picture. They are adorable! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Marty K.
1981 CP16 Pegasus

P.S. A happy Thanksgiving to all our CPYOA members! 

[capt_nemo]

WOW.

Reading this thread reminds me of yet another thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving - MY SUN CAT!

We're talking about 5 MINUTES, perhaps 10 MINUTES if you are slow, between arriving at the ramp area and backing the trailer down the ramp.

EVERYTHING stays attached and ready to go except the forestay.


capt_nemo

[Bob23]

The Capt is right.
   This summer I met a fellow Compac-o-naut who was setting up his Picnic Cat. He was practically done during the short conversation we had and soon was backing his rig down the ramp. It takes me more time to row out to my 23 to prepare for a sail!
   Nonetheless, I love my 23 and the room below, weight while under sail and just general good manners and looks are more than rewarding enough to offset the time it takes to set her up. But I'd never want to trailer sail a 23 for just a day sail. Way too much work. In my opinion, she's a great boat to keep on a mooring or boat slip.
Bob23