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Sailing Events Page, 24 June 2009
We had a good day and a good engine test. We installed a new 11hp Vetus engine in a Com-Pac 23 sailboat that had an outboard motor as original equipment. The installation went well and the boat didn't have any leaks when launched. The engine started on the first try and really sounded good. The Vetus engine has a break in period of 50 hours. That's a long time. The builder recommends no more than two thirds throttle during the break in period. Our rpm limit during break in was going to be 2250 rpm. The little boat had a smooth cruise speed of 5 knots at 1700 rpm and came close to 6 knots at 2000 rpm. We didn't have to worry about exceeding our break in rpm limit. The boat didn't have a nose up attitude at speed. We added throttle and the nose stayed down. You can see the boat speeds and the sea trials on our VETUS ENGINE LINK. We ran the engine between 1500 and 1988 rpm during the sea trials. Idle speed is 700 rpm or dead slow for docking.
Someone may steal your outboard motor if they have a chance. The thieves like late model Honda motors. Some owners are replacing their stolen motors with old and ugly motors that are not that popular with the thieves. Several motors have been stolen from the storage yards at Jordan Lake and others have disappeared from boats at the beach. With the NC State unemployment rate at over 10%, you need to keep an eye on your motor. You don't have to worry if it's old and ugly.
It works and I like it. We plan on increasing the Starboard seat material thickness from the current 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch. We can also enlarge the seat by adding 1 inch to the forward edge and 2 more inches to each side. If you are building a rumble seat and have an outboard, I think I would skip the extra material on the sides. The original frame dimensions are good as designed. The mainsheet is going to work without any problems. You don't need a larger rudder lock-down handle with the rumble seat. The seat makes getting to the handle better than before.
The diesel installation design worked well. The entrance steps and frame for the steps can be removed with 2 screws. The engine is sitting in an almost level position with 360 degrees of access. I have always liked the CP-27 where engine access is excellent.
The Sun Cat rudder lifting device worked well. We still need to test the device in big winds and high speeds. The Com-Pac design is very flexible and it works well from the rumble seat. We plan on making a soft seat and backrest for the rumble seat soon. We will do some pictures when it's finished.
I'm happy with the little diesel. It started the first time on our yard and keeping on running. Not bad for a first try. We launched our 23 with the diesel and it floated. No leaks. The idle speed was a little high and it has been adjusted to 750 rpm. The engine was installed in an almost flat position fore and aft. It may have a 7-degree down angle and that's going to be good. It's a little forward under the entrance steps for good access. Remove the steps and you can get to all the important parts and pieces. The transom is sitting high without an outboard motor hanging off the rear. I plan on taking pictures when I can. The first 23 had a keel full of ballast. The boat was too low in the stern and the second boat had a ballast dam installed like the boats are built today. The extra space behind the ballast became a bilge. The Mark II added a bowsprit that moved the sail plan forward and keeps the same ballast and bilge design. All of these changes were designed to balance the boat. The little Vetus diesel is going to do the same thing with sailing balance.
The only problem with the diesel is the alarm buzzer. Old men need a loud noise if the alarm system is going to work. I think I have a solution for the problem and it's not a hearing aid.
Every O'Day 17 and most other daysailors should buy a mast hinge from Com-Pac to make the job of raising their mast easy. The mast is moved forward for travel and it can also be used in that position as a hardback for a canvas cover. It's a good installation.
Our new Vetus Motor (11 hp) installed in a used Com-Pac 23 ran on our yard yesterday. It started and ran on the first crank. It sounded good and was very smooth.
We are installing a Com-Pac Mast Tender Hinge on an O'Day 17 Daysailor. A big benefit will be that the mast will not move side to side when raising. Of course another benefit will be that you will be raising less mast and that will make getting the mast up easier. Almost all small boats use masts from Dwyer Mast and that makes this conversion possible.
You can always tell when our business is slow. We build new boats or create new items for our inventory when boat sales are slow. We call it working on Plan "B". We do all kinds of projects during the wintertime and during the super hot summer months. The Sailboat Company has really had a big spring with lots of boat sales and more than our normal amount of maintenance on customer boats. We have had to slow down on our trawler and sailboat projects because our sales have been that good. We think our spring business should slow down in June.
The next project boat that's going to be finished is the diesel 23 with the rumble seat. I plan on sailing this boat for awhile and checking out the seat (sleeping). I should have a report and pictures by June. We should be back at work on the 16 trawler soon. The 16 is ready for it prime coat of paint. The 20 trawler should be on the water this summer.
The Sailboat Company has a daughter and a son-inlaw in the FL Keys. They are moored in Marathon, FL and they are having a wonderful time. The mooring field is just over a $100 per month and they think it's a big bargain. Their really like their Nature's Head and they plan on buying a cheeseburger in paradise at Jimmy Buffett's place in Key West. If you go to Key West, everyone needs to buy a Cheeseburger in Paradise.
Com-Pac has modified their Sun Cat Daysailor with a small cuddy cabin. It will have room for a toilet and provide the privacy needed for its use. Pictures will be on the Web soon.
If your Bimini is going to be useful, it needs to be stored in a convenient location. Leaning it up against the mast gallows on a 16, 19 or 23 makes it available when needed and out of the way when it's not.
Our Rumble Seat (stern pulpit seat) is going to work on OUTBOARDS and diesels and it is going to fit all Com-Pac Mark II 23s, 19s and newer boats. The rumble seat modification is inexpensive and fast to do if you do it yourself. The old pulpit doesn't have to be removed. You cut the stainless in place and install the new parts and it only takes about 2 hours. We still have to install the flat seat part that covers the horizontal tubes on our boat in the picture. We think controlling the outboard motor and rudder will be easy with the new seat installed.
The seat has several benefits. In my opinion, the best benefit is being able to see sail shape from a position behind the boat. Steering with your foot on the tiller and sleeping in place are other nice features. We plan on installing a cushioned backrest before the boat gets wet.
The boat in the picture is also getting a new Vetus diesel motor. Both the rumble seat and the engine installation will be featured on our DIY link soon.
We are currently installing a diesel motor in a restored Com-Pac 23. Without the outboard hanging on the transom, we can build a stern pulpit seat on this boat. The mockup is looking good and we will have pictures soon. The seat is going to be larger than the Factory's cat-bird seats and it will be more comfortable. Sitting behind the boat and watching it sail by itself has always been a wonderful experience on boats with cat-bird seats. The good news is that most owners will be able to make their own seat from our pictures. The seat should be finished and picture ready in March.
Click the Marine Corps Label Pin image on our Home Page for some aviation history (your mouse has to be a little high and to the right on the image). Airplanes, helicopters and sailboats are similar machines. They use a differential in air pressure to make them fly. If you can sail a sailboat, you should be able to fly an aircraft. It's all about balance.
We have cut the deck and installed the house on our current Com-Pac 16 Trawler. This boat will be similar to our first trawler 16, but it will have some additional features like bunks and a head. We also hope to reduce the cost of construction and make a better boat with better materials. The boat on the trailer will still go through a 7-foot garage door and will have the good looks of the original boat. We think this boat is going to have a blue hull with a cream colored top. With a new trailer and controls, it should sell for about $12K
We put her in the water and she looks good. I'm pleased with the hull extension and the house. The little boat will have sleeping accommodations for 2, a head and 2 sets of controls. The tiller in the cockpit with engine controls will be the solution to single handed docking. I like to look good when I dock a boat. The tiller will act as a vertical flagstaff when not being used for steering. The primary set of controls featuring a wood spoke wheel will be inside the house. The engine installation is almost complete and we should be doing sea trials soon. Some of the furniture in the cabin needs to be installed to balance the boat. We are currently a little bow up. The battery will be installed in the bow.
Two exceptional long distance sailors have their stories listed on the left. The stories are Herb Lincoln's Log-Book and Richard Summers Cruise of the Harriet II. Both sailors used Com-Pac Yachts and Yanmar diesels to cover lots of miles. I sailed with Richard from Annapolis, MD to Cape May, NJ and loved every minute. It was exciting going down the Delaware Bay with the current and wind at our back. We were really fast and sailed most of the way. I have one picture that Herb made as he sailed by the Statue of Liberty. It shows the people waiting in line to go up the Statue and they were all looking at Herb. They are two sailors that had great adventures.
Com-Pac has made a big improvement in their Web site. The Web site now shows videos of the Com-Pac boats sailing on your computer screen. In most cases, the boats are rigged, launched and sailed in the videos. Technology sure is wonderful. Click on the bottom link on the left to see the Com-Pacs in action.
We have purchased our first diesel engine from Vetus Marine. We plan on installing diesel engines on small sailboats that currently have outboard motors. We will do the design work and installation on our yard in Richlands. Some small sailboats can't be repowered, but most of them can be converted. A diesel sailboat puts the ballast where it belongs and the new engines are smooth and make very little noise. You can talk in the cockpit and forget about all those outboard problems. You may be able to get by with 3 gallons of diesel fuel for a whole year of use. You may have a problem with fuel because you don't use enough fuel and the fuel may get old in the tank. That's a good problem to have with the current price of fuel. The 11-hp Vetus engine will work on most sailboats up to 23 feet. We hope to do an installation on most small sailboats for about $8,000.
Sergeant Major (Retired) John Holmes is on his way to Parris Island, SC from his home base of Jacksonville, NC. His mode of transportation is a Com-Pac Legacy. John is a teacher in the Jacksonville area and this is vacation time for him. He should have a good story to tell when he gets home.