Seward 23 vs compac 23?

[domromer]

I thought I narrowed my search down to just compac 23s, then a seaward 23 pops up on my radar. I know I'm asking on a compac forum...so everyone is going to say the compac is better. But just for kicks, has anyone here owned a seaward 23, can you ell my anything about it vs the compac. Or why you own a compac 23 instead of a seaward. The seem pretty similar.

[HeaveToo]

My big thing with the Compac 23 was the fixed keel.  I like the shallow draft keel with no centerboard.  I hate Centerboards.

Hake (Seaward) is a good boat.  They are pretty well made and the 26RK is an amazing boat.  I wish I could afford one, if I was going the trailerable route.
http://www.quietboating.com/straighttalk.html

Compac is also well made.  It is my belief that the Compac is a bit more stout.  Mine has sailed through some higher winds and done okay.  She is a pretty tough boat and she sails pretty good. 

I choose Compac because I wanted an affordable boat that was tougher.  Catalina 22 is so popular and I really wasn't wanting a lighter boat that I feel would be tossed around by the Chesapeake Bay.  I knew that it was a well built shallow draft boat without a centerboard.  I liked having upper and lower shrouds and I felt that the rig was okay.  There is a lot of Compac 23s around and the factory support is good.

So I have had my Compac for two seasons.  I like the boat overall.  I do miss having a larger boat with more room but, for a boat that you can put on a trailer, it has a good bit of room.  The boat sails okay.  It is actually pretty good off of the wind but sailing upwind is not its strong suit.  The cabin design is well thought out and it has a classic look inside.  There is a lot of wood down below which is very uncommon for a smaller trailer sailor. 

The one thing I will say is that if you can afford and find a diesel 23 do it!  The Diesel helps with range.  This is advice if you are going to cruise it versus day sail it.

Maybe it would be best to post some questions that you have thought of.

Oh, one other hint.  Make a list and put the attributes that you like of both boats under that boat.  Compare which boat has the best features based on your list and what you feel is important.

[BruceW]

This is an interesting topic. I have owned CP 19, CP Suncat, Precision 21, Seaward 17, and now a CP 23.

My Seaward (Slipper) 17 was much lighter than the CPs. I really liked it for lake sailing. Easy peasy. Very like the Suncat in form factor, but was a sloop. Also the weight was less. This became important in the Neuse, so I decided to get a more hefty boat.

So, not a direct answer, but do check the ballast ratio to see if it has the mass for your intended sailing area.

I'm also a fan of centerboards, and yet....it's good to not have one with the CP 23. I find I don't really care about the pointing that much. I also do miss the centerboard for depth sounding, haha.

Good luck with your comparison.

Bruce

[Bob23]

Maybe K3v1n will chime in. He owned a Seaward 23 or 24 and he now owns a Compac 23. He's sailed mine so he may have some feedback. I remember his Seaward being cavernous down below compared to my 23. But in my most humble and correct opinion, the Compac is the prettier boat.

[domromer]

Here's a little background that might help. This would be out first "large" boat. In the past we've had a Hobie Tandem Island, sunfish, Peep Hen, Catalina expo 12, Catalina expo 14, and now a hobie 16 cat. We live a block from St Joseph Sound in Clearwater. We are looking for a boat that we can bring two friends on comfortably for a day sail, bring our 50lb dog on and take it out to the bay and go camping. We used to tent camp a lot on the state parks, but I'm getting sick of the crowds and the noise.

We'd like to keep the boat in the water as our driveway is too small to have a boat that large on a trailer. Weather permitting we sail every weekend so I wouldn't want to got thought the hassle of raising and lowering the mast every weekend.

Right now we sail and explore the spoil islands and three rooker. I'm a little worried that such a large boat will curtail our visits to the islands. But eventually we;d like to cruise and visit places like the Bahamas, and with all my little boats I'd never learn about all the things it takes to cruise long distance...navigation, bridge opening, the buoy system...ect. Hopefully that gives a bit more insight as to what we are looking for in a boat.

[Rahn]

I've had 2 Suncats (don't ask), a Horizon Cat, a Seaward Fox, Seaward 25, a Seaward 26RK and now have a Seaward 23. Each has it's compromises but both Com-pacs and Seawards are comparable in build quality. I believe Nick Hake worked for Com-pac for awhile and I find their lines to be similar.

The huge advantage Com-pac has is excellent support from the factory for both advice and parts which is non-existant for the Seawards.

Every boat I've owned has had their compromises and I have enjoyed learning to sail them to the best of my ability. I would pick the best available boat and either have it inspected or take someone with you if you don't feel confident in appraising a boat. Also keep in mind that used boats need repairs and parts need to be replaced so add money for these expenses. Don't forget the trailer.

Forgot to add my Hobie Adventure Islands and Hobie inflatables (i12s) that I use as tenders when I cruise.

[relamb]

I can't help you with the comparison, but I had a CP23 and sailed it all around the general area.  Launched at Ft DeSoto park ramp many times and sailed under the Skyway bridge up to St Pete, and up your way as far as Johns Pass.  Offshore as well as in the intercoastal.  Spent many nights on board around Egmont Key, and all the islands around Ft Desoto.  I preferred the fixed shallow keel and no centerboard, yet the draft is still low enough I can anchor close to the beach (waist deep) and walk ashore.  There's another guy on this forum who keeps his at the Boca Ciega yacht club in Gulfport and sails the same area, he has several youtube videos posted.  I was very happy with the 23, but I moved up to a CP27 so I could stand up and put on my pants inside, and live on it for weeks instead of days.
Rick

[HeaveToo]

I have been aboard my Compac 23 for 10 days at the longest stretch so far.  You get use to the size of the cabin but you have to learn smart storage ideas to keep from having to constantly move stuff around the cabin.

The draft is 2'3" according to Compac.  I usually calculate my draft as 2.5' because I figure I am loaded pretty heavy.  In my sailing area, the Chesapeake Bay, I have access to a lot of places that I couldn't access with my Catalina 30.  Still, I really don't get in areas that are really skinny as much as I don't want to be stuck hard aground.  I know that if you do run aground you can simply get out and push it off.

As I have read, both boats are designed to sail the Florida Keys.  Both manufactures are good manufactures. 

Keeping the boat in the water is a good idea.  One other suggestion is that you could find a place to dry sail it.  That is to keep the boat on the trailer in storage at a marina that has a boat ramp.  You could simply put the boat in the water when it is time to sail and take it out when you are done.

Still, if you can, get a diesel.  If you plan to cross over to the Bahamas then it would be a better setup. 

[domromer]

I've had 2 Suncats (don't ask), a Horizon Cat, a Seaward Fox, Seaward 25, a Seaward 26RK and now have a Seaward 23. Each has it's compromises but both Com-pacs and Seawards are comparable in build quality. I believe Nick Hake worked for Com-pac for awhile and I find their lines to be similar.

The huge advantage Com-pac has is excellent support from the factory for both advice and parts which is non-existant for the Seawards.

Every boat I've owned has had their compromises and I have enjoyed learning to sail them to the best of my ability. I would pick the best available boat and either have it inspected or take someone with you if you don't feel confident in appraising a boat. Also keep in mind that used boats need repairs and parts need to be replaced so add money for these expenses. Don't forget the trailer.

Forgot to add my Hobie Adventure Islands and Hobie inflatables (i12s) that I use as tenders when I cruise.

You mention no support from the seaward factory, Are they no longer open? I was under the impression that they were still manufacturing boats.

[Rahn]

Seawards are now being built by Island Packet Yachts. My impression is that they don't support their older models (they no longer build the Fox or 23). When I owned my Com-pacs, parts for my boats were readily available from the factory and Gerry Hutchins was available to answer questions.

[domromer]

Seawards are now being built by Island Packet Yachts. My impression is that they don't support their older models (they no longer build the Fox or 23). When I owned my Com-pacs, parts for my boats were readily available from the factory and Gerry Hutchins was available to answer questions.

It helps that I live 4 miles from the compac shop. Been there a few times when I looked at suncats right before I bought my peep hen. Good point about support, not something I had really considered.

[BruceW]

I'll plug Com-pac's support, and there are many Hutchines that work there; Gerry & Rich are the brothers I know about, and there are a few more, I think. Great help from the parts guy Matt (who might be a Hutchins also).

I'm near a dealer of theirs also, and btw, he's a great source of info no matter where you are. Keith Scott is his name, and he is at www.ipass.net/sailboat.

[Craig]

Matt is a family member. Can't say enough about the factory support! Just a phone call away.

[HeaveToo]

I met and talked with both of the brothers.  They are really cool to talk with and know their product.  They are also there for suggestions and they regularly reply to email.  I really like talking to them/dealing with them.  Great people.

I had no idea that Seaward is no longer manufacturing.  If Island Packet is doing this now then it may be a good thing down the road.  Island Packet make great quality boats. 

I have always heard that Hake made a good quality boat too. 

[HideAway]

I think it would be hard to go wrong with either boat.  The Seaward seems to have more room below and is a more modern design.  Between the two the Compac is more solid and would be and was my choice.  There have been times I wish it was a center board boat for pointing but the loose footed main has resolved most of those issues.  I would not take either to the Bahamas though both could make the trip  neither is set up for long term liveaboard situations unless you have good support- water -food -waste disposal etc.  The Keys would be fine.  We have several videos on my utube site below.  svhideaway    Matt