New to me 1987 Com-Pac 16

[Seadub]

Wanted to say hello to the group. After many months of searching for the perfect trailer sailor, browsing this forum, and daydreaming, a C 16 is finally sitting in our front yard. She's quite a boat! We haven't taken her out yet, have a few odds and ends to take care of...like overhauling the kicker, a 1962 Johnson Seahorse that my dad used for many years. The parts are ordered.  Carb rebuild, impeller, plugs and fingers crossed.

Trailer needs some attention, though it hauled her 120 miles on the day we bought her.  Bought this from a buddy who was setting her up to do the Loop. He installed an aft pulpit, stainless steel handrails, a forward hatch, bimini, AND...an engine well. Haven't seen a 16 with this mod, so I'll be very interested in thoughts from the group. Still hard to look through that hole in the hull and not imagine her at the bottom of the lake. As the pics show, I have some clean-up ahead, but that's part of the fun. Anyway, here she is! Soon to be christened Carolina Wren. I have lots of questions....get ready.

[ChuckD]

Nicely done!
And Welcome, from the Pacific Northwest!

Keep us posted as you progress toward the big splash.
Chuck

[Bob23]

Seadub:
    You've got questions? We've got answers...maybe not correct ones but what do you want for free??  Welcome to the forum and we look forward to your contributions. Where do you sail?
    Your 16 looks like a great boat but I've never heard of someone cutting a motor well into a Compac 16 before. Doesn't it take up a lot of valuable cockpit space? But I do like the forward hatch.
Bob23 and 1985 23/2 "Koinoina" from NJ

[nies]

Welcome, you will never be sorry for the effort to make her pretty, the worlds greatest boat, I have had mine 37 years, by the way we are never short of answers LOL....nies

[Seadub]

Thanks for the welcome! This forum was one of the main reasons I opted for a Com-Pac...that and the fact that it'll be the perfect boat for us.

The motor well does take up space, but not as much as one might think. I was surprised to find that my wife and daughter (the primary crew) fit comfortably.

I have the removed piece of hull, and I'm thinking I'll shape a foam insert, glass the hull piece to the bottom, a piece of epoxied marine plywood to the top, drop it in the well when under sail. Presto, a little cockpit table and no hole. Motor weighs 30 pounds so pretty easy on/off. Figure I'll hang it from a mount on the aft pulpit when not in use. At least until my back starts protesting.

Should note, I'm a tenderfoot when it comes to sailing, which was also a main reason for wanting a safe and stable boat to learn on. I'm sort of making this all up as I go...and having a ton of fun doing it! Anyone with experience with motor wells, especially in sailboats, please chime in. 

Next question will have to do with the traveler. It's attached to the aft pulpit, which is beefy stainless steel.  It' unusual, and slides along a 20 inch section, sort of similar to the Legacy design. Will post a photo asap.

[Craig]

Welcome! A question. Am I correct  that you intend to remove the motor from the well while under sail and hang it from a bracket on the stern pulpit? Even though the motor weighs "only" 30 pounds, removing/replacing it on the water is going to add another level of complication for a new sailor. You will have your hands full getting the sails raised,trimmed, steering and generally getting the hang of things. Manhandling the motor out of the well will require two hands violating one of the cardinal rules of sailing: "One hand for the ship and one for yourself". Not being negative but it would not take much to have a serious accident, this from a guy who has been bouncing around in boats for well over 50 years(I started young!)and has had his share of bruises. I would recommend that you live with the motor in the well. After sailing the boat for a while you may decide that you don't like the present configuration and the piece removed could be relatively easily replaced and re-glassed, returning the boat to its factory configuration. Doing so would certainly increase its resale value if/when you move up. Just a couple of thoughts. Have fun with your new boat it is probably one of the best boats to learn to sail on!

[Seadub]

Craig, thanks for the welcome and the advice is on point. Because of all of the unknowns, I'm leary of the process myself. I know that moving 30 pounds of motor from the well to the rail in the front yard is nothing like moving it afloat. My thought for the sequence, depending on conditions, was: turn into the wind, kill and stow the motor, raise the main, raise the jib. I'd skip the "kill and stow" step if things are too bouncy.

I'm definitely keeping open the option of removing the well and reglassing the hull. The PO is a lifelong sailor with a lot of boat-building experience.  His thinking was based on a solo 6k mile trip around the Great Loop. Prop in front of the rudder, engine weight more centered, easier refueling, easier access for maintenance.  I'll be trailer-sailing on Lake Murray in Columbia, SC, mostly. Weekend trips to Charleston Harbor seem do-able. But, both involve the motor on and off far more than did his planned use.

I know I'll have to just get her out there asap and see for myself how much water, if any, sloshes into the footwell, and how quickly it drains, especially when heeled. The scuppers are clear and flaps are in good shape. If the prop and shaft don't create appreciable drag, and if the water stays under the hull, not in the cockpit, perhaps I can leave it in place. I'm a bit anxious about it.

[Craig]

It all makes sense now! Having the motor in a well in the cockpit makes sense for the Great Loop since a great deal of the trip is under power and having the prop well under the boat will keep it in the water under rough conditions.  He probably did it solo for the most part and thus the loss of cockpit space was an acceptable compromise. Not so much for normal sailing in a 16' boat with a couple of crew. I would predict that you will eventually wind up restoring her to the factory configuration. By the way Job One is to avoid scaring the Admiral and crew as you "learn the ropes".   Pick your sailing days carefully and go slow and you will have a sailing companion for life! Again, welcome to Compac World. I have never met a better group of folks than you will find here!

[nreamer]

Welcome! 

Another Compac on Lake Murray!  The fleet is definitely growing!  I had a feeling you might be from SC when you decided to call her the Carolina Wren! 

There are a couple of us Lake Murray sailors active on here.  Catawampus is the other one.  Neither he nor I have had a 16, but we can both sail.  If you want help your first few times out, please ask!  I am sure one or the other of us could help! 

Of course, if you have a friend who is an experienced sailor, that will work also.  Just offering to help!

neil

[GeeW]

Welcome aboard Seadub, you've made a fine choice for your sailing boat.

Gordon

[Seadub]

Thanks for the local welcome, Neil! I appreciate the offer to sail, and definitely want to take you up on it!  Glad to add to the growing fleet!

[Seadub]

Thanks, Gordon! It came down to the CP 16 or an O'Day Mariner. I think we'll be really happy with the 16.

[Drescape24]

 Congratulations on your new boat! Happy sailing and cleaning your new find.

[Seadub]

Well, we've taken Carolina Wren out for five fine light wind sailing days on Lake Murray in Columbia. Got my dad's 1962 3 hp Johnson Seahorse running after rescuing it from a dark corner of an old shed. Cleaned out the fuel system, rebuilt the carb, replaced the plugs and impeller, she fired right up after a 15 year hiatus.

First sail we used the Johnson and it performed admirably. Once away from the dock, we killed the motor, left it in the motor well, hoisted the main and jib and sped off in the 3 knot wind. Not knowing how the boat would sail without a prop in the water may be a case of ignorant bliss. Basically, we had a blast ghosting along on a crisp, sunny fall day.

Took her out four more times, but swapped the Johnson for a 55lb thrust Minn Kota my father-in-law donated to the cause (great to have watermen in the family). The trolling motor is perfect for the lake under the conditions we're sailing in. Placed the battery all the way forward in the bow and felt grateful for the hatch the PO installed. The battery goes straight down to it's place through the hatch. Easy.

Retreiving has been the biggest challenge, actually. We found a steep ramp, but getting the keel over the last roller is tough. The boat is sitting on the rollers, lightly touching the bunk boards, but that last roller is a challenge. Might have to invest in an extension. Question for the trailer sailors: do you stop the boat at the trailer then wade out out and clip the winch strap on, or use the motor to (gently) drive onto the trailer? Either way, I get wet on the retrieve.

Looking forward to more sailing. Still haven't had her out in more than about a 5 knot wind, but that's been perfect for learning, and we're a happy sailing family.
Clint

[JBC]

That hatch is a godsend for battery placement/removal.  I do the same, though my hatch is stock on the boat and I have to use a smaller battery to get it through the smaller hatch.  Works great though. 

Highly recommend a hitch extension for your purposes.  12 to 18 inches should do the trick.  I installed a couple of small plates on the trailer tongue to step on when launching and retrieving.  Helps, but I still have to wade out to get on them before clipping/unclipping winch strap.  Have found that running the boat up onto the trailer with my MinnKota is tricky in any kind of windy conditions at the ramp.

Jett