compac 23 sailboat

First impressions Although the Com-Pac 23 is a very practical boat, its wide appeal comes from its traditional appearance. The sheerline sweeps aft from the short bowsprit before bending up again just before the transom-hung rudder. The box cabintrunk, with round or oval bronze ports, flows naturally into the deck lines. From a distance the boat looks bigger than 23 feet. There is a shallow forefoot and a long, shoal keel with a draft of just 2 feet, 3 inches. Any more draft would make it difficult to launch on many ramps. Although trailerability is a nice feature, most 23 owners keep the boat in the water all season. The aluminum rudder has a kick-up blade. Displacement is 3,000 pounds, of which 1,340 is ballast, accounting for the 23's stiffness. The mast stands 30 feet off the water.

Construction Com-Pac farms out the molding of the 23's solid fiberglass hull and balsa-cored deck. The hull includes longitudinal stringers that encapsulate the bulkheads and stiffen the panels. The crew at Com-Pac builds the interior and finishes the boat. Surprisingly, the interior components are handmade, including plywood bulkheads and surfaces with teak veneers. The interior is not a symphony of stark molded components and the teak-and-holly sole is a very nice touch for a small boat. The workmanship is first rate, much better in fact than most small boat manufacturers. Com-Pac uses good quality materials throughout, and the company's construction philosophy has always been to build small boats like they were just short big boats.

What to look for The condition of all used boats is directly related to the care they receive. However, this seems to be more relevant with trailerable boats. For some reason these boats can be forgotten and languish on their trailers for years. If they are well sealed, they may be moldy, but otherwise are lightly used gems that just require a good cleaning and represent a solid value. On the other hand, if the boats have been leaking while shut up, you may push open the hatch to find rotting plywood and cabin soles among other problems. There are plenty of 23s on the market, and prospective owners can take the time to find a 23 that has been well cared for. There were several changes with different models and you should be aware of the differences. The first changes occurred with the model 23/2, which took place in the mid-1980s. This is when the popular hide-away galley was added, the interior finishing was upgraded and the bowsprit was added for much needed additional sail area. In the early 1990s, the 23/3 was offered and this model change included mostly small tooling upgrades. Small round portlights were changed to larger, oval ones for example. One model to look for is the rare 23 D, which includes a 10-horsepower single cylinder Yanmar diesel. According to Gerry Hutchins, only about 35 of these boats were built and they are quite desirable on the used market. On deck The cockpit is the best design feature on the boat. It is long, more than seven feet, and surprisingly comfortable. Many pocket cruiser designs sacrifice cockpit space to increase the size of the cabin but unless you are sailing offshore, and few pocket cruisers are capable of that, it is a mistake. The cockpit is control central, this is where you spend your time in most small boats. The 23's self-bailing cockpit includes two lockers and a bridgedeck. The original tiller was laminate mahogany and ash and there is good leg support when steering. Although the triangular mainsheet arrangement crowds the helmsman and isn't very efficient, a traveler would be more of an intrusion. The transom will likely have both an outboard motor bracket and swim ladder mounted, making it a bit crowded as well. The stainless pulpits and stanchions are beefy by small boat standards. In contrast, the standing rigging seems a bit undersized, but remember, the mast was designed to be raised and lowered without gin pole. Teak handrails on the cabintop and molded nonskid make getting around the boat safe and easy despite narrow side decks. Newer boats feature a chain pipe and divided chain locker. Most boats will include bronze cleats and small standard sheet winches.

Down below While nobody buys a Com-Pac 23 based on the interior, most are surprised when they drop below. The cabin is spacious, this is where you appreciate the nearly eight-foot beam. The bulkheads have teak veneers and the cabin sides are covered with teak paneling. Two overhead hatches and six opening bronze portlights provide excellent ventilation. There is just one step down into the cabin and standing headroom is only under the companionway. The hide-away galley usually features a two-burner stovetop to port and a stainless sink to starboard. These cleverly fold and slide aft. A boat without these features is a pre-23/2 model. The interior really does sleep four with some comfort, including two settee berths and two berths forward. There is a storage compartment for a portable head between the forward berths. As undesirable as this arrangement is, sacrificing room for an enclosed head would waste far too much space. There are clever storage compartments throughout the boat. A portable table mounts on the bulkhead.

Engine As noted earlier, the vast majority of boats came with outboard engines. A few, roughly 35, came with a 10-horsepower inboard diesel. While the inboard offers many obvious advantages, including the ability to efficiently charge batteries, don't set your hopes on finding one on the used market, and if you do, be prepared to pay for it. There is a bit of information on the Com-Pac owners Web site, www.com-pacowners.com, that discusses retrofitting a diesel. Unless you are committed to owning the boat a long time, it probably doesn't make sense. Outboards offer a few advantages of their own, one being portability for repairs. If something goes wrong, just heft it into the trunk and take it to a mechanic. A very unscientific survey reveals that most 23s on the market have 8-horsepower outboards. All major manufacturers seem to be represented. Another advantage of an outboard is that you can actually afford to repower without breaking the bank. A new four-stroke model would be a nice upgrade and a lot better for the water you sail in. A built-in locker is designed to house a six-gallon fuel tank.

Under way The hull shape of the Com-Pac 23 is deceptive, the boat has a long 20-foot, 2-inch waterline. The theoretical hull speed is 6 knots and owners report hitting this fairly regularly on a reach. The hull shape is a bit prone to pitching but more importantly, it doesn't pound in a chop. Although the 23 is nimble under sail it is not close winded. The sheeting angles are wide and it does develop a bit of weather helm when beating. So crack off a bit and enjoy the ride, the Com-Pac 23 is not a boat to race and it reaches beautifully. Besides, the 2-foot, 3-inch draft allows the 23 to skip across shallows that more weatherly deep-draft boats have to tack around.

Conclusion The Com-Pac 23 blends quality construction, practical design features and a handsome appearance in an affordable package. Prices may range from $5,000 for an early boat to more than $20,000 for a recent model, however the bulk of the boats on the market are asking less than $10,000. When you factor in the low cost of ownership, the 23 is genuinely affordable. If you live up north, you can trailer it south in the winter. It is an ideal boat for exploring the shimmering flats of the Florida Keys. It is also capable of crossing the Gulf Stream on a nice day, and is perfect for gunkholing the broad banks of the Bahamas.

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The Com pac 23 is a 22.75ft masthead sloop designed by Clark Mills and built in fiberglass by Com-Pac Yachts/ Hutchins Co. since 1978.

The Com pac 23 is a light sailboat which is a good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat. There is a very short water supply range.

Com pac 23 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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com-pac 23 review?

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Hello to all, first post.. I am looking at a com-pac 23 with the intention of offshore day and possibly overnight cruising and trailering it. It would be my wife, 3 small kids and myself. Please reply if you have any info on what to look for before buying, any experiences with this boat, how it handles rough water, etc. I found this forum by searching for com-pac 23 reviews. Thanks for any replies  

Com-pac 23 This is a great boat. Not to be too long-winded. 1. Comfortable 2. Get an autopilot 3. If sails are blown out (old) then get a new main, at least. 4. They tend to have a pretty strong weather helm. If so, check mast rake that it is fwd enuff, get a new main, reef early or just use genoa (jib), get an ida sail rudder. 5. Small boats get cluttered quick so keep stuff out of it. 6. Tiller tamer and/or autopilot really lets you enjoy your boat 7. Totally shoal draft. Take advantage of it to get close to shore, etc. 8. Solar power on back to keep house battery charged. 9. I am in intercoastal waterway in ne florida. Gets kind of rough but not open sea rough. Boat handles very well. Doesnt bob much. No seasickness. 10. I like the little bowsprit that the /3 and /4 have. It gives you more sail area fwd of the mast to lessen weather helm. Thats all there is to it. enjoy.  

samule said: Com-pac 23 This is a great boat. Not to be too long-winded. 1. Comfortable 2. Get an autopilot 3. If sails are blown out (old) then get a new main, at least. 4. They tend to have a pretty strong weather helm. If so, check mast rake that it is fwd enuff, get a new main, reef early or just use genoa (jib), get an ida sail rudder. 5. Small boats get cluttered quick so keep stuff out of it. 6. Tiller tamer and/or autopilot really lets you enjoy your boat 7. Totally shoal draft. Take advantage of it to get close to shore, etc. 8. Solar power on back to keep house battery charged. 9. I am in intercoastal waterway in ne florida. Gets kind of rough but not open sea rough. Boat handles very well. Doesnt bob much. No seasickness. 10. I like the little bowsprit that the /3 and /4 have. It gives you more sail area fwd of the mast to lessen weather helm. Thats all there is to it. enjoy. Click to expand...

the one i sailed on was pig slow  

The Com-Pacs are nice boats, very well made. But they are not intended as "offshore" boats. There aren't any 23', easily trailerable boats out there that I would consider safe for crossing oceans.  

Here's a couple of online reviews to check out: From Sailing Magazine : Sailing Magazine | Com-Pac 23 and from Jack Hornor (pro surveyor): Vessels: Sail Reviews: Com-Pac 23 | MadMariner.com  

The Dana 24? would probably be the only offshore rated boat that is trailerable. NOW< if off shore is going to catalina island, or some other island say 20-30 miles away from the main land, in good weather etc, you can wait out the other end if a gale shows up. I would bet the Com-Pac would work. There is a 19' version reviewed in Good old boat IIRC sept/oct issue. Marty  

blt2ski said: The Dana 24? would probably be the only offshore rated boat that is trailerable. NOW< if off shore is going to catalina island, or some other island say 20-30 miles away from the main land, in good weather etc, you can wait out the other end if a gale shows up. I would bet the Com-Pac would work. There is a 19' version reviewed in Good old boat IIRC sept/oct issue. Marty Click to expand...

First, a disclaimer: this is totally off topic, please ignore... you're not ignoring? oh well. I really have to visit the Atlantic at some point. When I see a boat qualified as "being able to make it to catalina in fair weather"... man, There's a crew that does that in Hobie Cats every month. I know a guy who did it on a laser. I know a group who does it regularly in Kayaks. This is NOT a hard trip to make in good weather, and ANY boat qualifies as open ocean under those circumstances. not that I mind, mind you. I just thought it was interesting what a qualification like that really means. Thanks. -- James  

Hey Tsojjourner: There is a very good ComPac forum at https://cpyoa.com/forum/ Samule is right on in his remarks. We have owned two ComPac 16's, a ComPac 23 and two CpmPac 27's. I have sailed on a ComPac 19...all good boats and fun to sail on. regards charlie  

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• Sailboat Guide

Com-Pac 23 MK 2

Com-Pac 23 MK 2 is a 22 ′ 8 ″ / 6.9 m monohull sailboat designed by Clark Mills and built by Com-Pac Yachts starting in 1979.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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