introduction

[Duckie]

Hello all. 

My name is Al and I have just bought an 88 16/3 last April.  I built a Stevenson Weekender four years ago and have been learning to sail on that boat.  I am beginning to get the feel for a gaff rig sloop and decided to branch out into a ballasted Marconi sloop.  My weekender is an unballasted flat bottomed, shoal draft plywood pocket yacht.  She is my first love and probably always will be.  However, the more I sail the CP 16, the more I come to love that boat too.  A 16 ft boat is about all the boat I can reasonably manage in my situation which is just fine with me.  I've also built a plywood lapstrake sailing canoe, and a puddle duck.  I have had my hand in making a half dozen Scamps and that is just in the first four years.  I guess I dove into this sailing/boat building thing head first. 

When I bought the Compac, it was to fill a void in my fleet.  I needed a boat that could stand up to a blow without turning into a tug of war. My weekender will stand up to a pretty good blow, but it is a white knuckle ride all the way.  I'm also not skilled enough to press my luck.  Last year I sat out a lot of sailing days  because it was just blowing too hard.  Not so this year.  I live in Duluth Mn. and sail my Compac in the harbour exclusively for now.  I am looking forward to taking her out on the big lake to pound around before the end of the season. 

So far I have noticed some pleasant things about the 16.  The first time I took her out I was able to balance the boat and tie off everything and steer with my weight.  Way cool.  I have found that the 16 will sail quite well under main alone if the wind pipes up more than I am happy with.  She is not as slow as many people like to think.  Sure I get caught by bigger boats and the racers around here, but it takes them a while and they better pay attention.  Speed was not important to me when I bought her, but it was a pleasant surprise just the same. 

Because I am so green I am sure I will be the source of many foolish questions.  After reading this board for a while I am confident that I will get serious and useful answers.

Al

[crazycarl]

welcome al!

i've always liked the lines of the weekender and gave thought many times to building one.


cc

[Mark F.]

Al:

I'm sure you will love your CP-16.  We just moved back to the Duluth area in June and sailed our Cp-16 in the Duluth harbor last Sunday.  We launched it from Rice Point Landing.  Our boat has a green hull with a white deck and is named "SHMILY."  Maybe we'll see you out there!

Mark

[capt_nemo]

Al,

Welcome to the loony bin. Hope you continue to enjoy your CP-16. Sail safely!

I actually went so far as to purchase the Plans for the Weekender but decided on a Selway-Fisher Highlander 12 instead.

You're right, boatbuilding can be many things to us who build boats, including cathartic, addictive, and Maslow's top in the hierarchy of needs - "self actualizing", to mention but a few.

capt_nemo

[MacGyver]

Welcome to the Forum Duckie,
You will like it here, and the Weekender looks like a nice little boat also!


I wish I could afford the plans right now Nemo of that Selway-Fisher Highlander 12, what a pretty boat! My wife even said "wow, lets do that one!"

My wife and I just decided a week ago to possibly turn the current project boat into a yard ornament/planter. It was from a cheap set of plans, I learned a lot as far as project planning, and now that I have sailed a boat, my overbuilt dynamics I incorporated into the current project are way more than it needs. That is why it will probably make room for a better project, and that Highlander is at the top of that list now!

Duckie, The 16 is a solid little boat, I am doubtful you will get into trouble with it. Enjoy!

Mac

[Duckie]

Thanks for the welcome gentlemen,

Wow,  that highlander is a nice looking boat.  And it looks like you did an excellent job of it.  One of the reasons that I am glad I did a weekender for my first boat is that it is so simple to build.  It didn't need a building jig or frames to get it to fit together perfectly.  The more I sail it, the more I see the genius behind the design. 

The CP 16 in my view is just as much a wonder in a whole different way.  After reading so many negative comments on the web, it was a nice surprise to get universally complimentary feed back at the landing.  Everyone who sees her falls in love with her looks and those who have some experience under their belts tell me I am going to keep her forever.  I think they are right as far as I can tell.  With my canoe, my weekender, and now the CP, I feel that I have an appropriate boat for all sailing venues but the bluest of water.  I am hoping that we have a nice long autumn this year so I can wait until November to tuck them away in the barn. 

Al

[capt_nemo]

MacGyver,

I'm currently putting the finishing touches on this Portuguese Dinghy, 7' 6" X 3' 10", made from FREE Plans available on the internet at http://koti.kapsi.fi/hvartial/dinghy1/simboii.htm

The removable tight scissor fit cross braces for the center thwart and/or longitudinal seat are my own design. Made of 5mm Luan Ply and select pine (mostly) the boat, with seats, weighs only 49.7 lbs.







ENJOY!

capt_nemo

[carry-on]

Duckie,
You may already know the site: www.ipass.net/sailboat. If not, I recommend a look/study. This is The Sailboat Company in Richlands, NC. Really some good gouge from Keith Scott about sailing the CP 16 .
You might enjoy "the sailing school" and particularly the section titled "Sweet 16".
Welcome to the Compac world.

[ChuckO]

Ahoy, Al ...  Welcome aboard !!

Sounds like you have a lot more knowledge and know-how then you are giving yourself credit for.

You've built 'em, sailed 'em and understand how and why they work.

Fair Winds,

ChuckO'
CP-16/2  Carpe Diem
Charleston, SC

[GretchenG]

Oh my gosh, you guys can build boats too?!  I managed to paint the deck and install some deck fittings this summer.  Left plenty of white caulk everywhere!  She ain't pretty, but I hope she's sturdy...  I was hoping "Thankful" would hit the water this year, but probably next spring.  Al and y'all are way ahead of me with such fine fleets!  Thanks for the nice photos of your lovely small ships--  Gretcheng

[Saluki86]

Welcome Duckie,

Tons of great info here.  And glad to hear you like your CP16.  What a great little boat.

Saluki