Stopped to see my buddies at Compac last spring. An old friend that lives close by had interest in a suncat. While there....Gerry had a mock-up of the new 23 pilot house. A quick review and I made a deal. Figure with standing headroom, inside/outside steering, lil twin cylinder diesel, standing-private head etc etc and only 2ft 3in draft it would be a perfect Bahamas cruiser.
I have no expectations of crossing big oceans or pointing high...just a great overall set of compromises. Steer inside in the rain, coffee with a 360 degree view on a wet/cold morning and gunk holing into shallow places are what appeals to me after a few trawler trips. Realizing I'd miss a sail made this seem near perfect.
I added a footpump at the sink, full cockpit enclosure, a built in solar panel, extra cooler and engine insulation to make it a better cruiser.
It's finished, but I won't get it until I get outta here sometime in December.
pics
pics...panel mounted to bimini frame plus one thats movable
pics...had to get a ships wheel for looks ;-)
filler boards and cushions for nice nights in the cockpit
interior (not mine...but the same cushions)
cushions in
Its kinda ugly and beautiful at the same time. ;D Compac builds quality boats and i`m sure it will make a great mini-cruiser. Congrats on your purchase.
Congrats Frank I read the write up in Latitudes & Attitudes and the 1st mate and I both agree its a nice boat.
See you in the Bahammas
Very cool Frank. :)
"You be stylin'" going to be the envy of your neighbor hood down there
We admired the craft at the Annapolis show.
yep...ugly and beautiful at the same time ;) :D ;D :o Great set of compromises. Looking forward to gunkholing on it.
There's a lil back cut at Manjack....almost like a creek. Can't wait for a windy day to anchor back there in the shallows, protected by mangroves, sitting inside, watching the fish swim by and not caring about the weather....all in 3ft of water. Hoping that scenario repeats itself in many places ;D
Congratulations on the new little ship, Frank. I saw the boat at the factory just before sea trials and see it regularly at the Clearwater Marina. She's a beauty! No "ugly" at all.
Green with envy
BobL
Nice little ship. great interior. Wish I was in Bahamas...
Frank,
She looks like a comfy cruiser--almost a mini-motorsailer. Should be great for voyaging. Congratulations!
--Joe
Thanks for the comments gang. It truly is a "mini motor sailor". After a few Desolation Sound (west coast of Vancouver)cruises on a trawler, I was sold on the idea of inside steering and a coffee with 360 degree view...with heat if needed ;) But...like most here, I'd sure miss sailing. This otta fill the needs pretty well. I'll keep the group posted once I get sailing her.
link to a few pics
http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php?topic=4263.0
gotta scroll down....
I think that it is beautiful.
If you need a 'test pilot' to try it out Frank, I could probably find one for you. ;D
Sitting on the hook in the midst of a rainy day swinging on a Manson Supreme as a cold front clocks through... drinking a cup of coffee and reading a book on a February day at Allens-Pensacola... that full cockpit enclosure would be a wonderful thing indeed!
I am sure you will find her to be all that you had hoped for. Glad you took the plunge, look forward to hearing all about it!
Just got this from Gerry at Compac.
Cooto's to "Sail" magazine (traditionally BIG boat stuff) for this award!!
"FYI
To Everyone:
We are pleased to announce that the CP-23 PILOT HOUSE has won Sail Magazine 2012 Best Boat Accommodations award.
The announcement was just made this date 11-21-2011 and to say the least we are extremely pleased with this acknowledgment of the efforts of the Com-Pac team.
We have attached the Sail Magazine Best Boat Banner in two formats. Below is a link to Sail Magazine?s website where you may view the write-up and a video.
http://www.sailmagazine.com/best-boats/best-boats-2012-winner-com-pac-cp-23-pilothouse
Thanks for hanging in there with us.
The Com-Pac Yacht Team
Yep. I opened my copy of SAIL and there she was.
But I already knew about this cute little cruiser, thanks to Frank's posting on SailFar!
(Who would have thought that SAIL would actually write about a potential SailFair boat.)
--Joe
quick update.....launched at Indiantown Marina....St Lucie canal, through the lock, out to Manatee Pocket....then outside to West Palm (Lake Worth) ROUGH!!...inside to No Name harbour (S end of Key Biscayne)....on down past Key Largo, anchored at "Jews Creek, then on to Tavernier Key. Folks at Mangrove Marina welcomed us and had a great Christmas. Drove a rental to "Key Wierd" for a tour...checked the forcast....looked good for today, so on back up toJews Creek, then No Name, then Ft Lauderdale. Crossed to day...nice crossing! Currently at "Old Bahama Bay" marina, "West End" Grande Bahama island. "all good" in 23ft!!
PS...Craig...."Sadie Girl" ..boat name and our golden retriever, is along with us. She's a great traveller!!
Great to hear Frank, Happy New Year and send pics when you can.
Haven't been on n a while. Short version....west end to Great Sale, to Allens-Pensacola, to Manjack, to Green Turtle.....hung out at the cottage on Manjack for several weeks....then to Man of War, to Hope Town, to Marsh Harbour, to Treasure Cay and back to the cottage. Hung out.....left yesterday to Green Turtle, today to Guana (Yep Craig....the "sailfar.net" sticker is still on the painted up backhoe on the walk to Nippers) (picture later)and on down to Hope Town. Just anchored here and havin a rum punch at Harbour's Edge (wifi) "life is good" ;-)
Wow Frank!
Sounds like a pretty good life.
Hope to be down the Bahamas way myself in May. Save some rum for me.
Frank, thanks for the quarterly report ;) see my post above ;D
PICTURES
There is LOTS of CHEAP rum left!!!! (the beer is expensive)
PICTURES....I know, I know.....prob is I am not on my own computer and can't reduce them to post (tried) till I get home.
OK...a "tease".....sitting here looking at boats swinging on moorings, Hope Town candy striped lighthouse behind, sun working it's way down behind it all and sipping a punch with "Sadie girl" (golden retriever)curled up at my feet. Wishing I could post THIS picture right now!! ;D
Thanks, I closed my eyes and "got there"!
Glad to hear you are "out there" again Frank.
I'll get back to the Bahamas again one day.
Quick update. Vicky's folks flew in...we got married in Hopetown !!!! ;-)
Spent the week with them touring the island and a mini boat cruise as well. Left HopeTown on the 21st, long day straight to Allans-Pensacola (thank goodness for longer daylight), 22nd to Mangove....another L O N G day, 23rd to the West End....shorter day...beach and bar time ;-), crossed to Stuart on the 24th. Took 14hrs. The worst part were those DANG sport fishing boats buzzing in at the same time as us. It's an aweful entrance anytime. Put the tide running and a ton of speeding boats (that saturday thing...I knew better but the crossing window was good) and it was the most stressful part of the trip!!
Hauling out monday or tuesday....heading home.
Once I'm on my own computer, I'll reduce the pics and post a few. It truly was a GREAT winter, super weather, great cottage time mixed with fun cruising. Best part is the crazy "prairie gal" that had never been on salt water before but followed along ;-)
Congratulations Frank on getting married!
And for having a great winter there. :)
Am eager to see the photos.
--Jim
FINALLY both have some time since returning and found a download to reduce picture sizes so I can post. We had a great winter on "Sadie Girl" . I'll start from the beginning.
Picked here up at Hutchins yard, then trailered to Indiantown to rig, provision and launch. It takes 3 to step the mast but it went well. First "splash" is always exciting. By that evening we were at the St Lucie lock and spent the night there at a campground right beside.
We locked thru early the next day and had a manetee join us. Then on to Manetee Pocket where we tied up for the night at Finz Red Eye (great place, dog friendly, free wifi and cheap drinks)
Next morning was out the cut to the ocean. Simply AWEFUL...slop from the windy day before coupled with shallow water and WAY too many big sport fishermen in/out created a mess at the entrance. Once out, it was a broad reach to West Palm (Lake Worth). My "able bodied crew" were ever attentive along the way
We tied up behind Peanut Island at Lake Worth for the night and headed for Ft Lauderdale the next morning. The winds were up and we often surfed at over 7knts (over 8 twice). Fun stuff. Once inside Ft Lauderdale, you are treated to an array of ships and mega yachts. We went to Baha Mar marina.....smallest boat there ;D
The marina does not have a "minimum" ft rate, so was reasonable as it was only steps to the beach. Water taxis take you around all day with commentary. Seemed odd seeing winter scenes along the tour. We spent an extra day enjoyng the sites before heading S to Biscayne Bay through Miami on the ICW
I generally avoid the ICW if possible, but on this week day, traffic was minimal and it was neat to see Miami from inside water.
After spending the night at No Name harbour (S end of Key Biscayne) we crossed the bay and anchored at Jews Creek Bridge. I remember back when it was a lift bridge....now it has 60 odd ft clearance. The lil bar was friendly and the view was great. It had been a few years since I was in the Keys. Lots changed...lots the same.
On down to Mangrove marina for Christmas (lots of dolphins this cruise) I had stayed there years back and it is a cruiser friendly place (still). We were welcomed to the gift exchange (joke gifts) and had a great time. Friendly folks! We rented a car to tour further south...seemed odd to walk beachs on Cristmas day.
The lil boat was fun, albeit a bit cramped with a 70lb Golden Retriever along. I loved the diesel at 4hrs+ to the gallon and enjoyed the ease of the furling (confirmed hank-on guy) What I really enjoyed was how easy this was to dock. I guess with the big prop and lots of torque...backing down and lil turning blasts were easy. We truly did enjoy Christmas on 23ft.
A good crossing window was forcast, so we booted back up to Key Biscayne, then Ft Lauderdale and crossed from there. The light house is on the SE end of Key biscayne. The sunrise is about 20 miles out during the crossing. BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We cleared customs at "the west end"
Sun rise at the West End is awesome as well. Then it was off to Great Sale Cay. No wind blurred the line between sky and water. Lots of dolphins this cruise!
I got a new haircut over there. Sadie loves the beach.
Sunset at Great Sale....then off to Allens-Pensacola
From Allans-P, it was a brisk sail to "home waters" at Green Turtle. Always feel I'm back when I arrive at Sundowners Bar and their great sunsets
Great pics Frank! ;D
Simply awesome. Thanks for posting.
Once we reprovisioned...it was off to the cottage to open it up. Luckily there was no damage fom Irene except for sand being re-arranged and only one tab of one shingle blown of. We spent a few weeks there before getting too bored. Never know what you'll see while walking the beach
Depending on the wind, we anchored out front or one bay behind us. Was nice to look out front and see the boat
hard to tire of the beachs!!
We headed out on mini cruises twice. Went to Man Of War...still building dingy's there
From there off to Marsh Harbour and a stop at "Curly Tails" bar overlooking the marina. We stopped for a few nights at Treasure Cay as well. A bit more Americanized...but a beautiful beach and only $10 a night in their protected anchorage included showers and wifi.
Had to stop at Gauna Cay as well. Yep Craig....our sticker is STILL on the painted up back hoe (by dogs head). The ocean beach bar has a pig roast every sunday...big party! The beach out front is great and protected by the 3rd largest barrier reef in the world.
Hope Town at Elbow Cay is really nice. Quante homes, narrow streets and lots of flowers...all overlooking the nice lil harbour and the striped lighthouse. PS...never know what you'll see float by ;D The dingy dock at Capt Jack's bar gets busy on "bingo night"
Hope Town harbour really is nice. PS...this sign was at Capt Jack's bar ;D
Too much fun Frank! thanks for taking the time to share, keep em coming!
Sadie turned into a "boat dog" down there. She loved dingy tours (back waters in Hope Town Harbour) and was a pretty cool buddy all the time. Craig....too bad "Peter dog" wasn't around for a play mate ;D
Great pics! Looks like you got the perfect boat for your needs (well, no boat is "perfect," but close enough).
--Joe