sailFar.net

Guys I bought this boat. It's a long story, and I'm really frustrated with this computer thing, so I will condense. A lot. If I don't get it this time, I quit. (I think I need a Drink.) In fact I think I'll have one. Ahh That's better.

I got a lightly used ComPac23 Pilothouse from a CP dealer/broker in Punta Gorda FL. I made what I thought was a very frivolous offer, (I fully expected the owner to tell me to get lost), But to everyones surprise, he accepted.  So I got this boat here on the mountain and I want to get it in the water, see if everything (or anything) works and get a little experience before winter sets in. I'm having a little trouble finding a marina that wants to deal with me.

Questions:  Is it feasible for me to raise the mast myself using THe ComPac supplied gin pole, tackle and cockpit winch, or should I hire help?  And where can I find an experienced sailor or Captain I can hire to day sail with me for a few days. Oh, about raising the mast. I'm 63, 5'6" tall, 135lbs., 20 of 'em are fat. I'm outta shape kinda weak, had surgery in August. I'm fine now, thanks, just ain't as strong as I useta be. I'd kinda like to have a travel lift to launch the boat.  Don't really want to back my rig into the water.  Especially salt water.
 
OK, I made it this far without everything I wrote Going Away somewhere so I'm a-gonna hit Post and see what happens. Huh, maybe next time I should have a Drink BEFORE I try to use this thing.

Phil

Quote from: Phil on October 09, 2018, 08:33:50 PM

Guys I bought this boat.

Cool!  I love a post that starts like this.

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It's a long story, and I'm really frustrated with this computer thing, so I will condense. A lot. If I don't get it this time, I quit. (I think I need a Drink.) In fact I think I'll have one. Ahh That's better.

Whatever it takes, brother.

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I got a lightly used ComPac23 Pilothouse from a CP dealer/broker in Punta Gorda FL.

Cool boat, man.  I dig the small-ish ComPacs. 

CapnK is far more qualified to chime in with more useful specifics on that boat.

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I'm having a little trouble finding a marina that wants to deal with me.

In what way?  In launching?

Since you mention below wanting a lift to launch, you might need a boatyard, not a marina, to help with that.

Where are you located?  Or, more to the point, where are you wanting to launch?

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Questions:  Is it feasible for me to raise the mast myself using THe ComPac supplied gin pole, tackle and cockpit winch, or should I hire help?

There are many ways/tools to help raising and lowering a mast.  Again, CapnK can provide more specific detail for THAT boat, but people raise/lower masts on far bigger boats than that all the time.

Most methods involve some variation of the tried and true A-Frame, so you may need to construct something like that to get the mast up.

That said, any boatyard worth doing business with should be able to raise that mast for you (for a fee) using a crane or whatever they have.  For example, the boatyard my boat currently resides in charges $75 to put a mast up/down, and that's even on much bigger boats than yours.

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  And where can I find an experienced sailor or Captain I can hire to day sail with me for a few days.

Sites like this one are a very good start.  So, where are you located (if you've said in the past and I've missed it, I do apologize).  For example, if you are in my AO, I'd go out for a sail or two, and I've taken many people for their first sail; some of them were on their own boat.

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Oh, about raising the mast. I'm 63, 5'6" tall, 135lbs., 20 of 'em are fat. I'm outta shape kinda weak, had surgery in August. I'm fine now, thanks, just ain't as strong as I useta be.

Glad to hear you are doing better.

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I'd kinda like to have a travel lift to launch the boat.  Don't really want to back my rig into the water.  Especially salt water.

Some thoughts:

(1) You can use a tongue extension on a trailer so you don't put your tow vehicle in the water.  Lots of full keel boats launch this way (isn't the CP23 shoal draft?).  A tongue extension MIGHT be cheaper than a travel lift launch, depending on where.

(2) Shop around for boatyards in your AO with a suitable lift.  If you've talked to marinas, I'm surprised none have mentioned a yard to you.

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I should have a Drink BEFORE I try to use this thing.

Do what ya gotta, man.   ;D

First=- welcome aboard-

second, some of your questions could be more easiliy answered if we knew where you were

Well Shucks.  I stayed up til after midnight last night writing a rather lengthy explanation and I see it didn't show up.  I have never participated in this kind of thing before so please bear with me as I try to figure it out.  I signed up here over the summer (see the post titled Howdy) but haven't participated much. Things have been "happening"  and trying to learn to use this has been time consuming. Not to mention a bit frustrating. Ain't no young folks here to 'splain it to me.

I will try again.  I live in the northwest corner of Virginia, 25 miles southwest of Winchester, 110 miles from Babylon on the Potomac, "Scuse me, I mean Washington DC. About 3 hours from Annapolis (expensive) depending on traffic. I talked to a marina/boatyard/ASA school in Deltaville Va. Actually two places there. Both say they are booked up thru the end of the season(Nov).Deltaville is 200 miles from here. About halfway between Baltimore and Norfolk. The prices there seem to be more reasonable.

OK, I'm trying to learn this thing. I'm going to post this and see if it shows up. More to follow.

Phil

Yayy!  I think it worked this time.  I'm typing on a tablet, which is tethered to my cell phone, which I hope is accessing the internet. Now, I learned to type 50 years ago on an old Remington Noiseless from the 1920's. This keyboard is all wrong to me. Given a little time I hope to sort it out. When I try to use the shift Key (wrong place) I'm hittin' Enter or something else and weird things happen. The darn curser (apt name) is never where I think it oughta be. I didn't have this much trouble with the computers at work.

The draft of this boat is listed as 2'3". I'd rather use a travel lift to launch at this point. I would consider launching from the trailer at a suitable ramp in fresh water but without a tongue extension I'm nervous about backing my truck into the water. I really don't want to put it in salt water.This rig needs to last me awhile. The truck is 4 wheel drive. 2015 Dodge Ram 1500 short wheelbase. "Yeah, It's a Hemi". 

I need advice on raising the mast. I'd like to try it here at home to make sure I have all the necessary parts. The boat has what ComPac calls a MasTender system I think. Looks like a 2 piece gin pole, some tackle and line. The masthead is 30 feet above the waterline, I'm guessing the mast itself at about 25 or 26 feet.Anyone know if this can be done singlehanded? Help is hard to come by out here in the wilderness.
 
I've been thinking I'd like to find (or hire) someone to sail with me for a day or two. I have sailed before (Morgan 28) but very little and no formal instruction. I can usually handle a boat under power. My older brother (now deceased) had several powerboats on the Chesapeake. Last one as I recall was a Grady White 26 or 28, I forget. Biggest one was a wooden 42 somethin' or other. Been a while. He'd take me out on the bay, and I'd take him flying. Those were shining times.  Lotta fun.

I appreciate any advice Y'all might have to offer.

Phil

upper right on this page is a block which says "search" Enter "mast raising methods" and you'll find quite a few different ways listed  from previous times

Thanks Carlie I'll give it a look.

Also thanks to Captain Smollet for the quick response to my first post .Sorry my initial reply got lost in the ether.

I'm going to quit now for tonight. It just happened again. I type and type and it seems to be going well but I try to hit SHIFT and everything disappears. Right now I'm blaming this tablet The ENTER key is where my brain thinks SHIFT should be. But I'm not sure. And the !@#$% cursor is never where I think it should be.ARGGHHH!

Phil, you must be around Rockbridge County.  Not far from an old friend of mine near Moorefield WV.

Have you considered launching in the Potomac River, down some from DC, where it is wider?  If so, I might be able to meet you and see if we can raise the mast together, and try out her performance in the river.  The river is not salty up that far.  I currently have a Mcgregor 22, converted to the pilot house configuration.  Is your hitch a 2 inch or 1 7/8?  Receiver or fixed?  I have a 1 7/8 with a small drop, which decreases how far you need to back into the water to launch, and it fits a standard receiver socket.

What do you fly?  I flew mostly Cessna 172, from a plain, no letters, to 172M.  Medical not current, but not failed.

At the top of the screen, there is a Messages choice.  Click on that, and check for messages, I will send my email, so we can visit direct, and see if we can work out some sailing in the Compac 23PH.  I have sailed other Compac's, but not the PH.  Compac makes good boats.

Norman

try CTRL Z  often that brings back lost typing

Hi Phil! I'll post you some detailed thoughts later tonight or - more likely :D - tomorrow. In short and regarding this at least; you can hoist that mast yourself, just go slow and pick a non-windy day your first time so if/you can hit snags, it is without much in the way of consequences. :) I did it without the MastEnder system you have, so that should make it even more manageable.

They are kindly boats and won't let you get in too much trouble on the water. The flatter you can sail when pointing, the better - the stub keel loses efficiency when heeled. If you don't have a foiled rudder, budget for it - they do make that much of a difference.

I have seen guys who put a 3rd, front wheel on the trailer and winched it down/up the ramp instead of actually backing their vehicles into the water - Google might turn up some resources on that.

More later. Except for this: get used to getting complimented on the boat - people *love* the CP's, there is something about the way they look that even non-sailors appreciate. Glad you got a good deal. :)

Thanks, Cap'n K. Hey, aren't you in North Carolina? Y'all been gettin' some WEATHER down there. I hope you and the dogs (right?) are ok. I spoke at length with Norman this afternoon. Great guy, Norman is. He made the same suggestion about the third wheel. Just so happens my trailer already has that wheel. As an old truck driver, that was a real smack my forehead moment. Why the heck didn't I think of that! I think I have been suffering a serious case of novice jitters. She IS a pretty little boat and I didn't want to do anything to hurt her out of ignorance. I got some valuable advice from Norman and the folks here. I think I made an excellent choice for my first foray into whaddaya callit social media? Anyway I am grateful.

I hope to get together with Norman for a little sail on the Potomac. Be kinda like a sea trial, make sure everything works like it should.

A word or two about what brought me here. I started searching for a cruising boat last summer. The usual stuff 30-35 feet, able to singlehand, and a pilothouse.I was looking hard at the Nauticats and Fishers, trying to figure how I could afford to actually keep one. I was probably, no, almost certainly going to have to sell my house. Then one day I stumbled on this website called Sailfar and started reading stories. I read about Norman cruising the Potomac (great writing!) and late night musings. I read about svFaith's adventures in The Bahamas and elsewhere. And I said HMMM. Then I read about a gent named Frank who took an unusual little boat to The Bahamas and then the San Juans. And I said HHHHMMMM. Trailerable, place to sleep, place to eat, place to, well y'all get the picture. And an inside helm!

All of Y'all have been a real inspiration to me. I feel like I'm very close to making this happen now with the help of the folks here. And I think I can keep my home! Little cabin on a mountain and a neat capable little boat on the water. Does it get any better?  Well, maybe one of those purty island gals? Yeah, dreamin' again.

Again, many thanks.

Phil

CONGRATS Phil !!
I love that boat!
The pilot house 23 is an awesome little cruiser.
Great "old fart's" boat 😄
I've probably both sailed and trailered one farther than most and can say it's a fine vessel!
Yanmar or  Westerbeke?


PS...Capt S and K.....did I get it right this time? 🤣

Thanks, Frank.  I didn't know such a boat existed til I read your story about your trip to The Bahamas On this forum about this time last year. So you get the credit for giving me the idea. The engine is a Westerbeke 12D Two, 12 horsepower. If I'm reading the HIN number right the boat is hull number 2, built in 2013.She was shipped to a dealer in Michigan where she sat 'til November last year.

I haven't even got her in the water yet, but I've trailered her about 1200 miles so far. This boat probably has close to 5000 miles on her all of it on the trailer. Shoot, I had to replace all the wheel bearings soon as I got home. Did you have the Magic Tilt trailer? How did it hold up for you? Seems to me this trailer is loaded right to its listed max capacity.

Norman, if you happen to check in here, I opened the drain on the Racor filter and got some of the cleanest, purtiest Diesel fuel I've ever seen! Not so much as a hint of water. Didn't even try to raise the mast yet. Still blowin' 15-20 mph here all day.

Quote from: CapnK on October 11, 2018, 07:53:18 PM

More later. Except for this: get used to getting complimented on the boat - people *love* the CP's, there is something about the way they look that even non-sailors appreciate.

That's a fact.  Those CP boats are very "shippy," and the 23 is a sweet spot in the stable.  Though I must say, I really dig the old CP19 a lot as well.

Getting together with you was a pleasure.  Hopefully, we can get together again soon, and see if we can get her wet.  The weather should improve in the next week.  Glad the diesel is pure, that can be a special kind of misery if it is not.

It is really nice to have the manuals for everything in the boat, even if some are rather generic, such as the Westerbeke.  Plenty of detail, but 5 different transmission options?  If you have not yet looked for the model number, the camera on your phone is the way to go, stick it down there instead of your head.  My son taught me that one.

Norman

Try youtube; there are several articles on mast raising. Actually there are several, or many , articles on almost anything you can think of.

I actually had good luck with the trailer although the purchaser ended up replacing bearings by memory after a few hundred miles.
I ramp launched and retrieved. A steep ramp works well.
Took 3 to raise the mast. The pilot house creates a wierd spot while walking up the mast...that's where the third person was handy.
One pulling the job halyard
One walking it up
A second on deck to take it once out of reach for the cockpit guy
Good luck
Have fun

PS..the lil Westerbeke ran extremely well for me!
Access to change the impeller is very tight tho
That said, I never did change it, nor the second owner.

Thanks Frank, That's all good to know. Say, do you know where the zinc for the heat exchanger for the engine is located? I raised the lid on the port cockpit seat to get at the Racor fuel filter and I think I see the back end of the heat exchanger right down on the hull. Looks like there is something threaded  (I think)  into the back of it at the bottom. It doesn't have a hex head, more like a knurled knob. Could that be the zinc? Already had two nights in the upper 30's here in the mountains. I may have to winterize this boat before I can get it in the water. Looking for a way to drain that heat exchanger.

I have the ComPac mast raising system: gin pole, stabilizing line on each side (think A frame), tackle and a long line to crank using winch. I'm going to (gulp) try raising it tomorrow by myself. If it looks shaky or iffy I'll quit.

Untangling that line and tackle took most of the afternoon. 'Fraid I said some Words.

Hey Norm, I'm thinkin' I'll try using the winch on deck. I got plenty of line, and tackle to give me some power. That way, if something gets caught on something I'll be able to see it before things start getting bent, and I can reach over and unhook it without scrambling up and down a ladder. Whaddaya think?

Quote from: Phil on October 15, 2018, 07:42:24 PM
That way, if something gets caught on something... <snip>

Phil - "That way, WHEN something gets caught on something right when I don't want it to..." - fixed that for you. ;) ;D

Hope your mast raising goes well!
The zinc, by memory, is hex head and on the rear of the heat exchanger. I'm thinking near the top, but again....by failing memory.
I do remember the impeller was kind of behind the oil filter....the filter had to be off to change it.
Enjoy your day!

Congrats on the CP23! Check out the Com-Pac Yacht Owners Association. I know a few CP owners in Virginia!

Com-Pac Yacht Owners Association (http://cpyoa.geekworkshosting.com/forum/index.php)

We've raised the mast on a CP23 several times, and we old. Two people is possible but three is best!
Bob and I both use a marina to travel lift the boat in. There are a couple videos on YouTube of folks launching from their trailer.

Launching HideAway - How Hard Can It Be? (https://youtu.be/0aG2KB9cRbs)

See our videos.

Koinonia Gets Splashed! (Mast Stepping Com-Pac 23) (https://youtu.be/zheuLmrjXOw)
Stepping The Mast On A Com-Pac 23 (https://youtu.be/20PJzQGla_w)

-Kevin

Hi Kevin! It's nice to actually "speak" with you. Your mast raising video happens to be the one I did watch. In fact, I have visited your blog several times. That's goin' some for me I'm not a real big internet guy yet. Um, judging by your picture, y'all ain't old! Say hi to the pretty redhead for me. 


Actually, I am happy to report success! Thanks to advice and encouragement from the fine folks here, and especially to Norm, who drove all the way out here to the wilds from Md.(had to be over 100 miles), the mast went up and down without incident. Cap'n K, you were absolutely right about WHEN somethin' hangs on somethin'. My ole knees were making funny noises time I went stern to bow to stern a dozen times. We figure it took about 4 1/2 hours start to finish. ComPacs' mast raising system is the cat's meow. Cat's meow? Where did I dredge that up from? Must be the old Swing music I'm listenin' to this evening. I am now confident that using this system it is feasible to raise and lower the mast singlehanded. It's not gonna be fast. Three people walking the mast up would almost certainly be quicker, but I'm likely to be singlehanding most all the time.

Looks like my window for gettin' the boat wet is closing. Hard Freeze warning tonight here in the mountains. I'm gonna concentrate on winterizing for now, and take some time to contemplate the next move. My ol' Granddaddy always advised takin' time to contemplate.  Florida is off limits til Feb. first. Don't want to run afoul of the "revenoors" down there. Granddaddy also advised not attracting the the attention of the revenoors.  Man was full of wisdom. Just didn't believe in paying tax on good whiskey.

Many thanks again to all. Now that I'm starting to get the hang of this internet thing I'm sure I'll be bugging y'all some more. I'm looking forward to meeting Y'all in person once I get to actually doing some cruising.

Congrats on a successful first step.  Pun intended, and I won't apologize for it.

Congrats on the mast raising!
Next congrats will be the first "splash" 😄

It all seemed strange, winding gravel road, woods on all sides, climbing steep grades.  No way sailboat country.

Phil resides about 3000 feet up in the western edge of Virginia, but has a new to him Compac 23, pilot house.  We had discussed raising the mast, and the boat came with the Mastender system, which I had heard good reports on, but not used.  Being a dedicated trailer sailor, mast raising was a way of life, and I was sure that we could get it up and down with just two of us.

We started out dealing with a boat that had been secured in Florida for a thousand mile trip, by people who knew how to do it right, therefore difficult to undo.  Otherwise, wind and vibration on the highway un does it prematurely.  Phil had much of that done before I arrived, using pliers and screw drivers on many of the knots.  Doubtless they had been rained on too which helps tighten knots.

When all the parts were arrayed, assembly of the system proved fairly simple, and the mast was slid back, bolt secured through the mast tabernacle, and other items arranged, and with a number of starts and stops (which were easy with the Mastender system), the mast was up.  Coming back down proceeded much faster, and without any need to rethink, and no tours around to verify that all was going well, as I had done going up.  Phil did the whole process, I just watched for trouble, and stopped him when needed, and let him solve the problem, so he would know what to look for the next time.

As Phil said, the whole thing took about 4 1/2 hours, but bringing it down and securing it was less than 1 1/2 hours.  It was not quite secured road ready, but nearly so.  Going up, was very much a learning experience, so slow.  Without a doubt, this was the easiest mast raising system, short of pure muscle, that I have ever used, and with a little practice could be done single handed in an hour if not secured for the highway, and two if secured.  Compac has an outstanding design for their mast raising system.

The steaming light and masthead lights ere tested while we had it up, and they worked.  There were no nearby vessels to call for a radio check.....

He has a fine little yacht, and looking forward in getting a local sea trial, and then heading to the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico.  As Frank has said, it is not luxurious, but very adequate for solo cruising and live aboard.  The Virginia mountains are pretty cold, and when it snows, the roads to his house are a challenge.  His pickup is 4 wheel drive, but the fun of that wears thin after a while.

Charlie J, one of your favorite anchors hangs in the bow, a Bruce, backed up by chain and nylon rode, so he should be set for gulf anchoring.  Give him a good sales pitch on the weather down in South Texas, and he may come to visit you.  I think you will enjoy his company, as I did.

Norman

PS, I am envious, wish I were his age and owned such a pretty yacht.

Thanks Norman for that excellent write up on the mast raising.  Not only am I learning about the boat, I am learning how to participate here properly. Next time I will endeavor to render as clear and concise a report as yours. I admit to a certain difficulty stringing more than three sentences together without crackin' wise at least once. In fact, the wisdom of my posterior has been celebrated on three continents so far.

Per Kevin's suggestion I checked out the Compac owners site. I saw a couple names I recognize already.  Hi Cap'n K. You must be the Computer Wizard. I expect I will join soon but trying to take small steps here. It looks like there is a wealth of good information there, too.
 
  I am not really a Luddite. I think technology is great.  I'm just on a tight budget. There is no cable service here and if there was I wouldn't pay for it. Same for satellite dishes and TV or internet service. I prefer to spend my money on doing things that are fun and challenging, like sailing. Just to do this I had to increase the data plan on my cell phone, which causes me to say ouch whenever I get the bill. I am wary of an over reliance on automated systems. I think it would be fun to someday learn to use a sextant.

'Nough philosophy, got another question. If I throw about a gallon of RV antifreeze in the bilge and operate both pumps (manual and electric) will that protect them from freezing or is it not really necessary? 
 

The antifreeze is a good idea.
Anywater in the lines, or pump, will freeze and expand.
You're on top of things! 😄

Thanks, Frank, will do. First thing tomorrow morning.

Captain Smollet, as someone who is pundamentally opposed to being too cereal, it is a pleasure to meet an unabashed punster. Ok, this one IS pretty corny, I admit.

I should have mentioned that Phil is a most pleasant person to work with, and completely unexcitable, at least with the minor issues that we had.  If he travels your way, be sure to meet him.

Start with pure antifreeze for the bilge pumps.

Wipe out the bilge if it is not clean, if practical.

Hang a clean container under the bilge port and catch the antifreeze water mix, and if it has dirt in it, pour through a clean cloth.

Then remove the hose from the raw water seacock, close the seacock first, good habit, and run that antifreeze mix through the raw water pump and heat exchanger, to eject any water there and leave antifreeze mix in place.  Be sure to replace the hose, and leave both seacocks closed until launch.  Put those seacocks on your prelaunch check list.  The Westerbeke manual had the pump through described, but used much more antifreeze solution than you are going to have, but that is a small engine, plus it probably has very little water in it from shaking on the highway for a thousand miles.

Have you pumped out the drinking water tank and 'anti freezed' it with colored drinking alcohol (vodka or white lightning) yet?  CapnK would probably recommend Rum.  For those not familiar with this drinking water tank system, you pump empty, then pour a quart of colored high proof drinking alcohol in, and pump till the color comes through, catching it all in a glass for refreshment while doing chores.  When recommissioning the boat, the colored water is pumped out into a glass, and used for refreshment again, and another quart , this time , water is added to get most of the anti freeze out of the plumbing.  That makes the chores more pleasant, or at least go faster.

I believe the anode for the heat exchanger is under the middle of it, and is a hex head.

A frugal way to keep up here at no cost is to visit the library when you are in town, and use their computer and internet access.  I have done that when traveling.  You will have to use your password with the 'strange' computer

Norman

Phil has had his first sea trial, and the Compac floats, the Westerbeke runs, the Garmin GPS's, the
Raymarine steers, the VHF communicates, and the head works.  What more can a Yacht owner wish for?

Phil picked me up at my house way before sunrise, with a 10:00 appointment for a travel lift launch at Ocean Marine, in Portsmouth, VA.  The haul out season is in full swing, and finding an available time slot involved phone calls to half a dozen marinas before we found one to fit us in.  We were early, and had the mast up and ready well before they were ready to put us in the water. They were behind schedule due to a 70 foot mast in 4 pieces from an "interference" with a railroad bridge.  A story too long for now.

Launch was at 1645, and as the day was gone for cruising, we motored just a short distance, and spent the night in their associated marina, on the inside of the outside pier, with some truly large yachts between us and the harbor waves, which produced a fairly quiet night's sleep.  A couple of hours later the delivery Captain with the mast-less sailboat came in and tied to the other side of our finger pier, and we had a short visit.  They departed at the first hint of light, all bundled up in foul weather gear, apparently for the ocean passage to New York.

We cooked breakfast, and warmed up the diesel for our departure, and when Phil checked the bilge, there was a little water in it.  A search found that the drain plug on the bottom of the muffler was leaking.  After an extensive internet search, including by Westerbeke, a replacement was found at a marina a few miles away, and we installed a new one.  We were here for a shake down, and there is probably no place around with a better source of replacement parts that we might need.

The owners of a catamaran nearby came over to admire the Pilot house 23, and explained that they were South bound, but the ICW had too much traffic and turns, they were waiting for a good weather window for an off shore passage South.  They handed our lines as we departed for the ICW, through the teeming traffic of the Navy Yard and monster repair facilities.  According to my notes, we took departure at 12:45.  Traffic of every kind, traveling in every direction kept the helmsman busy, with the deck hand covering his back.  Around here, rear view mirrors would help.  Going up the Elizabeth River, we passed many bridges, but all except one were open, so no delay.  If we had been more aware of the signage, we would have realized we had 3 feet of clearance, and could have continued.  The delay was short, as we were not the only ones waiting.  Above the last bridge, traffic became lighter, and I coupled the tilllerpilot to check if it worked.  There were still enough large vessels, compared to us, that the cross seas were confusing, and the tiller pilot did not hold a very steady course, but did function correctly, turning to desired headings.  We returned to hand steering, and transferred from chart book on the dinette table to navigation on the Garmin 640.  The small screen has little detail when you can look a reasonable distance ahead, and did not allow enough anticipation when in congested waters.  Once the river became narrower, this became less of an issue. 

At the mouth of Deep Creek is the marina we would have preferred, but from there the search for the Westerbeke plug would have been much more difficult.  The turn to Starboard here put us into the approach to the actual Dismal Swamp Canal, and the somewhat out of date chart data was not always accurate, the recent storms had move mud banks and channels.  The depth sounder became a vital tool.  The creek winds a lot, and shoals extend way out from the points, so attempting to cut the inside of the turns was risky, even with a draft of 28 inches. When we arrived at the locks, there was large sailboat, and also a large cabin cruiser waiting.  I was at the helm, and after dropping to idle, put the wheel hard over, to see how sharp a turn was possible.  She turns on the proverbial dime, about 3 boat lengths diameter.  Phil looked up the schedule, and found that the lock does not open for over half an hour, so we dropped anchor, out of the way in shallow water.  The location proved potentially poor, as the wind blew us onto a shoal, 4 feet of water, so we pulled up anchor and motored to the other side, and repeated the procedure.  I had brought one of my Northill anchors, with chain and nylon rode, and was selling Phil on the advantages of anchoring from the stern.  With the first set unsatisfactory, we had done two sets and a recovery before the locks opened.  The sail boat copied us, setting their anchor, and the cruiser took a trip back down the creek for a changing scene.  The problem came when we recovered the second time.  The anchor was well set, and when we backed up over it, the sailboat was already in the lock, the cabin cruiser enroute, and we hurried to get the anchor up.  Idle did not pull it, and Phil suggested a quick gun of the motor, and I agreed.  The stern dipped a little, we listed to the side, and a loud pop!, and the broken end of the 3/8 nylon flew out of the water.  What I had misjudged was the pull that a 12 HP diesel could produce, and the inertia of a 2 ton hull.  The rode broke at the splice at the chain, and was a well used piece.  I have been using it for about 15 years, so was not up to the strength of that size rode.  The part near the chain has been rubbed on the bottom many hours, and I should have cut a few feet off and respliced it to get rid of the abraded nylon.  With 4 HP and my 1500 pound boat, I doubt that I could have broken it.

We turned to the lock, and proceeded to lock through.  That was the first lock for either of us, and it went well, although a learning experience.  We elected to continue south, even though the sun was getting low, and both of the other vessels tied up at the bulkhead just beyond the lock.  Just around the bend, the lock keeper opened the US 17 bridge, and we continued.  We did a radio check with the bridge tender and it performed just fine.  Unfortunately, the anchor we lost was essential for the proper anchor set I had planned to use for that night.  "You cannot anchor in the canal" may be a practical, or a legal statement, but this time of year, and at night, should be no problem.  I planned to set bow and stern anchors in 5 feet of water on the side away from US 17, leaving the deep part of the canal unobstructed, and with the anchor light shining.  Rising at first light, we would be under way before traffic became an issue, so safe enough.  With only one anchor, we would need to anchor in a little deeper water, and use short scope after a hard set.  The trouble we encountered was the bottom here was deep soft rotting leaves, and the Bruce just filled with leaves and drug, with a boil of bubbles rising in its path.   After three failures, we turned back North, and tied up on the bulkhead at the US 17 highway bridge.  During the partial transit of the canal, the tiller pilot was engaged and used for steering again, and steered much better, but still overcorrected.  Given more time, I would have tweaked the gain and rate settings to more closely match the turning characteristics of the boat, but light was failing.

The sightseeing was outstanding, tree colors just beginning to change and ducks everywhere, literally within 100 feet of us at all times, in groups of dozens.  They were so tame that we often passed within 10 feet of ducks on the water.  There were occasional flocks of geese also.  Here, the sounds of traffic were less, as it was moving at a steady speed on smooth pavement.

The plus for the bridge location was two restaurants across the highway, the minus, the constant traffic crossing the metal bridge.  We did not cook supper or breakfast, and when 8:30 came, were prepared to pass through the locks home bound.

In Deep Creek, the depth sounder became less necessary, as we put the Garmin in track back mode, and followed our track in.

Down river, we came to the railroad bridge, it was closed, and we turned large circles while a hundred car coal train went across. While doing this, we learned a few things, first, there was a tide board with the air clearance for the parallel highway bridge, and we had 3 feet to spare.  We had not had to wait going up the river.  We also studied the colored lights to advise of the status of trains on the rails route.  Those lights are much smaller.  The bridge tender made a radio call for smaller sailboats to proceed through even before the railroad bridge was full up, if the could stay clear of the rising end, and we were the first boat through.  In the next 2 miles we met a dozen craft of every size waiting to pass through the bridges, including 2 monster dredges.

The rest of the trip back to Ocean Marina was routine, and after some delay we were lifted out, lowered and secured the mast, and returned home.

I found the accommodations adequate and comfortable, Phil's 2 burner camp stove created hot food and drink, and the overall environment comfortable and pleasant.  A real flush head is a luxury.  The weather was fairly mild, but the mornings made the pilot house very much appreciated, and if under way in wind or rain, comfort without foul weather gear on.  I brought a lot of un necessary gear with me, just in case, and without that , the storage space would have been much more adequate than it was.

The best of the environment was the company of the owner, Phil, who is competent and even tempered, a pleasure to be around at all times.  We shared all the boat handling responsibilities and duties, the housekeeping was mostly tidy, and I am ready to go again.  That is a perfect yacht for sailors of our age and physical limitations


Norman

Great report and so glad you both had a mini cruise to shake down the 23PH.
For their size...an amazing little boat and as you noted...so comfortable in foul weather!
Have fun!

Awesome story.

Another day to the South and I probably could have come up to meet you guys for some "Shore Support."  Next time you plan to cross the locks on the Dismal Swamp Canal, let me know.  Would love to see the CP 23 Pilothouse in person.