Well, I'm Buying a Plastic Boat...

[WindHawk]

I'm keeping the wee yawl, but I just finished checking off boxes on the option sheet for a new Com-Pac 23 diesel. The bank, the wife, and the piggy bank all said yes (not necessarily in that order!).

I'm geeked for it, and no, they don't even Know How to paint a faux wood finish. I asked ;)

[Hwyl]

Designed by Clark Mills, who also designed the Optimist.

Good luck with her. Do you have the layout with a porta potti between the forward berths?

[WindHawk]

Yep. I think I pefer a bucket, but the Coasties don't like that at all.

Mills also designed the two smaller of the Cat boats they offer, the Picnic Cat & the Sun Cat.

[Paul Scheuer]

Didn't I read recently that ComPac just brought in some top salesman ? He must really be good ;)

The crew will be happy with the 23, mine is.

[alteran]

Never explain--your friends do not need it and your enemies will not believe you anyway. smile.gif

[Tom Lathrop]

Well Hawk,

I am in the same boat, pun intended. I build, on average, one wooden boat per year so I must like wooden boats. Four boats were designed by Clarkie Mills; Optimist (2) and Windmill (2).

On the other hand, my son took the 26 foot FG boat last year that I had enjoyed and raced for over 12 years. Just bought a little 22 foot FG sailboat that I hope to enjoy for as long as I am able. The new one is even from a manufacturer that has gotten many disparaging remarks from me in the past :rolleyes:

What does this mean? I don't know :confused: It's partly economics, partly time, partly conserving available time for other important things, partly because I think FG is a good material to make boats out of and partly because I just wanted to walk down to the dock and sail for a while now rather than in a few years.

My friends don't need an explanation and I don't care one whit what my enemies think tongue.gif

I expect you will love your new boat.

[Beowolf]

Given where you are, it seems to me like an odd size boat to have (Liitle on the big side for Lake Lansing). Which direction do you plan on trailering the most?

Jeff

[WindHawk]

Nope, she's getting her own slip on Lake Michigan. I've called around abit, but serious shopping for a slip has to wait for those folks to get back from Florida... half the people I called were off somewhere taking messages on their cell-phones. Lakes Macatawa & Muskegeon look OK (and I understand Muskegeon has been cleaned up quite a bit). It's a 90 minute drive, but I'll be overnighting as often as possible.

The best of both worlds, small inland lakes that lead out to Lake Michigan. The boat has a reputation that she can handle quite a blow, so we'll see.

[ssor]

There are more advantages to a plastic boat than disadvantages. They are tolerant of a bit of neglect and won't fall apart because of it. wooden boats left uncovered in our marina are very sad looking in a year or two, but the plastic ones just need a bath and a bit of polishing.

[Tom Robb]

Are you sure that you're on the right forum?
This is a bit like bringing a fifth to an AA meeting :(

[WindHawk]

That was the first thing my wife said, "You're not going to sell the yawl, are you?"

Of course not, this one's a bit over 10 feet at the bow pulpit when she's on the trailer; she'll never fit in the boat shed! She looked out the window at what used to be a garage for her car, and said, "OK".

Who say's you can't train em? :D

I've still got to refinish the cockpit on the yawl, so the day's I can't get to the lake, I can sit & sand the cockpit... None of these high-powered sandin' machines, and no chemicals or heat guns; just 7 or 8 thousand sheets of sandpaper and a block of wood. No need to rush the job, ya' understand.

[ 01-29-2005, 04:06 PM: Message edited by: WindHawk ]

[Beowolf]

I was wondering if you might plan that route. It seems like a mighty large 23 footer to trailer about all the time. I'm more of an East Coaster (Bay City and Tawas), so I'd probably look for a slip on the Saginaw River. Either way, I'm green with envy. I've always thought that the 23 was a good looking boat. Does it have a centerboard in the keel as well?

Jeff

[WindHawk]

No, the CP-23 is a solid, although very shoal keel, at just 27". It is molded into the hull, so no leak worries there.

There is 1,340 lbs. of cement at the bottom of keel, but she won't always point as high as you'd like with that depth, and the bottom of the keel is flat as well. This allows her to be trailed (and walked within waist deep water off the beach), but I wonder what affect the loss of that last six-inches of keel might have on upwind ability might have as well.

No one I've talked to is complaning about it, and I doubt I ever will as well; I mean, everyone loves the auto they drive, even if it took them a couple years to get to that point!

BTW, Beowolf, you and everyone else on this board, are more than welcome to come for a sail on her. Even Milo...

That's an odd thing about new-found sailors isn't it? They can use all of the friends, AND Advice, they can get!

[ 01-29-2005, 05:11 PM: Message edited by: WindHawk ]