My wife and I have 2023 Com Pac Horizon Day Cat. It’s a great day sailor, uncomplicated and comfortable. The folks at Hutchins were great through the whole process.
Loved the points of destination vs. journey! I just sold my 4th sailboat (I’ve had one since the mid 1980s), and you are SO right about what it does for family & friends.
Great video! I look forward to many more about your Horizon Cat. I’m in Ft Myers & just bought a 2008 Horizon yesterday and am excited to launch and learn all about it. I’m downsizing from bigger boats and expensive slip rentals. It’s is a huge relief and hopefully will get more use and enjoyment with less complicated maintenance.
Love the boat. It is on my short list for a move from my Catalina 22 as I’m in my late 60’s and want to continue to sail. Can’t wait for updates on your experiences! Well done!
Looking forward to future videos. I purchased a HA-18 two years ago (first boat) and I love to get ideas from more experienced sailors. Cheers from New England.
More episodes coming soon. Next up, we'll be working on the lazy jacks and getting her on the water. We're excited to share the adventure with fellow cat boaters!
What a lovely sailboat, a great practical evolution to Herreshoff's classic design. And seems a spectacular mobile laboratory to battle-test your Waterlust swag! Congrats!!
Great job on the video-really appreciate the way you thought through and represented boat ownership. Also, great research and presentation of the development of the Horizon cat design. The cameras angles that show hull shape and keel design present the form in a desirable light. Interior looks wonderful and the little diesel an efficient powerhouse. Two things that I would like to know; cabin headroom and practical use of the head “area” -looks like it could be a little tight?? Thank you again, and look forward to your other videos (I recently purchased a SunCat )
I own two Com-Pac sailboats -- a Legacy and a 23 -- they are phenomenal boats! I love them both to the moon and back! Just discovered your website/company and UA-cam channel today -- I'm a sailor and a new subscriber! Can't wait to check out your content! Fair winds! ⛵🌞🌊
I think you nailed it for your stated needs! Mate you have all those mangrove creeks, the Everglades and the Keys right in your backyard! If you ever wear that out maybe you pick a mellow day to cross the stream and go through the bights of Andros? I am looking forward to your videos, I know they will help promote this affordable and super fun style of sailing. Thanks for all you do for sailing and the environment!
Those are the best thoughts I have ever heard when thinking abt buying a boat 😀. The best boats that I have ever owned are dead simple, not expensive, can be stored cheaply in your yard and easily covered. Current boat is a 14 ft aluminum vbottom with 15hp outboard. Outboard is stored on a dolly in the garage. I built a custom frame cover for the boat that completely protects the boat under a cover in the yard. I have a blast when I use the boat, almost no maintenance and don’t care if it sits for a year between uses. Perfect boat for me.
What a great boat design. That extra keel space for the centerboard is ingenious! Not having to step over/around the centerboard trunk must be nice! Between my Sanderling's low cabin and the centerboard, my back is quite taut after a weekend cruise. The additional few inches of draft shouldn't affect you ability to gunkhole by much.
That's our hope! There is a tradeoff and we're pretty sure the Horizon is quite a bit slower than a sanderling, but what you lose in performance you gain in some added comfort.
We like that open cabin as well. The other tradeoff with a shoal keel centerboarder is launch spots, or how much "draft" will be needed to get a boat on and off the trailer. There is some great design in that trailer, it has a drop, or V, built into the frame and axles so that the bunks are lower, and they also went to a tandem axle with smaller circumference tires. The tandem axle also offers some piece of mind going town the road.
Corpus SRyan here. Love your thought process here. I see a bow sprit and I think... Easy jinnaker with a Sunfish sail for those lighter days when... why not? I used to sail a Privateer dingy and used a laser 2 foredeck rig to do that. Sometimes it's fun to over complicate. Later I had an MX-ray. Single handed dingy with an asymmetric. One pull line launch and recovery on the chute. Tons of fun but made it almost too easy.
Love that boat. Great ideas and just beautiful. I want to get into sailing and really only desire a Cat Boat. Thanks for the video. Now let me see what other videos I hope you've made. Just simply so damn pretty.
Good friends have one of these. They are comfortable boats for sure. The rig is pretty small for its displacement, so it’s useful to think of it like you’ve already got the first reef in. A friend put a larger sail on his 17’ Suncat by extending the boom and gaff by a couple of feet and it really lit the boat up. Might be worth investigating here. Replace the line that pulls up the centerboard. It’s only a thin cord and it will chafe through. I had to dive in my friends boat one time when theirs broke.
Our only complaint about the boat is that they reduced the sail area from the original design. Having a new, bigger sail cut is something we’re interesting in doing as part of this series. Some interesting full batten mains being made for cats too
@@Waterlust also make sure your trailer is in good shape. My friends have had lots of problems with their 'trailer from hell' for their cat. But you know that I'm sure.
@@mistermoonJB Absolutely! We purchased this boat from upstate NY, so already have a few thousand miles on the trailer bringing it back. Drives really well. Packed the bearings before the drive down and will probably do it again now. But so far, no problems (knock on wood)
@@Waterlust I'm sure you've checked but it's important to check the age of the trailer tires. There is a MMYY code on the sidewall and trailer tires need to be less than 6 years old.
Very nice details on the selection process. Some folks use boats that size as their rolling hotel, on their way to fun mess about spots. How much does boat, gear and trailer weigh?
That looks like a great little boat for exploring. I do wonder about the spokes on the wheel catching the mainsheet when you are in the middle of a tack...
@@Waterlust Catboat mainsheets are odd. However, I've never had mine dip when crossing center. If it catches anywhere, it is the outboard handle. Since you don't have that, it shouldn't be an issue.
Great Boat. My naval architect friend said a boat must be Beautiful, first thing! If you have no pride in your boat you will not use it. I've been lusting after a Cat Boat for ever. I think the Dream is the most important part of Everything.
Congratulations! I love your decision process! :-) It looks like there are no shrouds - is that true? Hope you do a piece on raising the rig and setting off.
Congratulations. We just got our Horizon Cat too. I am most interested to find out how you like it when motoring. Is there quite a lot of vibration throughout? Is it maneuverable in the marina and docking. We really wanted inboard diesel, but settled for outboard version because they are hard to find here in Texas. If you indeed got yours
So far we find the inboard great, vibration isn’t bad but the engine is loud, but in an endearing way. It makes a put-put sound that is pretty funny. Maneuvering hasn’t been a problem, though we haven’t done anything really tricky yet. Will explore more of this in future videos, stay tuned!
Love the Horizon Cat posts. I would really like to know1) if you have length dimensions for your lazy jack lines because I want to replace what I have with a better system with blocks, etc. 2) It was hard to see the lazy jack attachment points along the boom and I'm curious how you have done this. We have owned a 2005 HC for about 10 years now, and its great. We've done lots of sailing and extended Northern coastal trips (for up to a month!) putting it to the test. I'm also interested in any reef system upgrades HC owners have devised. Jeff
We're still getting to know her and have only had a handful of sails. In general, we'd say she's a little underpowered in the light stuff, though we're working to fix that and possibly have a new sail cut with a bit more area. Stay tuned!
Totally agree, we got ours under $20k, but it took about a year to find it. Scarcity isn’t helping, as it seems Hutchins can’t churn them out quick enough for current demand. We suspect that could change over the coming year or so. Hereschoff America’s are more readily available and cheaper, but they are usually in rougher shape and in need of serious TLC. Marshall sanderlings are another option. Great catboats that we’ve heard sail superbly
We’re still loving it. Definitely not super quick, but very simple and relaxing. For a low maintenance trailer sailor that you can singlehand, sunset cruise with friends and do some overnights in, it’s tough to beat. The super low draft is another key thing. We can sneak into some really shallow waters
Catboats are shoal draft boats for coastal cruising, so not the best choice for crossing the Cuba…buuut we have heard of people putting trailerable boats like these on mail ferries over to the Bahamas and then island hopping short distances over there.
In the fine condition, was this a 15,000 to 25,000, U.S., or... 25k -40k? Or... (if I may be so presumptive...) Also, have you found only this single boat, or have you noticed several, or dozens? Seems, what ever price, this size, very usable modernized catboat design will be ideal as you've indicated, and quite ideal for many, and for me, for the reasons you mentioned. Any of these modernized-design amazing sailing catboats get sailed across to Bermuda or to the S. Caribbean Islands with favorable weather? Convertible to such a use, or would that coures be as nuts as windsurfing or jetsking across?
Great question, we got this one in the 15-20K range, which was a great deal. It required we drive a pretty far distance to pick it up, but it was well worth it. We looked at 4-5 other Horizons before this, most of them priced in the $20-25K range. The boats new are around $45-50K. The big thing we were looking for was a model with the Yanmar Diesel as opposed to a Westerbeke. According to the builder, the Yanmar is a better engine and easier to service. Taking a boat like this to the Caribbean is possible, though the crossing would need to be timed carefully. We have heard stories of people loading their small boats onto the Bahamas Mail Boat, and then sailing locally around the islands....a creative way to skip the crossing!
@@Waterlust We have the Yanmar diesel and I love it. I knew nothing about diesel engines, but learned how to do the maintenance and it never has let us down. Well maintained, it will run all day when there is no wind, will not overheat when run hard (like making way into a strong headwind) and sip fuel - great for trips. And having the engine centred and low in the boat makes it more seaworthy.
catboats have a working history, which justifies living with their weaknesses. maximum working platform, minimum money. but they tend to be hard to handle, off the wind with a quartering sea. plenty of easier, safer rigs, that cost a little more.
Yes, the early versions came with the 1GM10, but apparently it is no longer available in the US and they are using the 2YM15 on new builds. Great motor that should last a lifetime
@@Philippe275 probably more than she needs horsepower-wise, but always good to have more than you need. Great little motors that last a long time and easy to maintain. Fits perfectly under the stairwell too
@@Waterlust I disagree, this was incredibly well produced. You’re a natural and your enthusiasm is infectious. This is the exact type of inoculation the sailing community needs. I counter Lars Thorwald, respectfully. You get an A+++. Now about these “other videos”… p l e a s e? It’s been a year now.
@@LindenEH Glad you enjoy them! The latest video is taking a lot longer than we had planned. It covers electrical work where we add a basic solar system, new batteries, fans etc...should be done soon with more to come with better frequency. Thanks for your patience and support!
@@Waterlust Patience, patience, we know film production isn’t a result of nose wiggling ! Sorry I’d only seen the intro until last night, when I stumbled on two more.. Lazy jacks and the lovely house matching yaller tarp, Am I missing any others? Perhaps you can make a Catboat playlist? ( Not that your other content isn’t Fantastic) just for ease of stream? Again, MANY thanks, HIGHLY appreciated.
My wife and I have 2023 Com Pac Horizon Day Cat. It’s a great day sailor, uncomplicated and comfortable. The folks at Hutchins were great through the whole process.
Loved the points of destination vs. journey!
I just sold my 4th sailboat (I’ve had one since the mid 1980s), and you are SO right about what it does for family & friends.
Great level headed discussion of your thought process, and why you decided on the boat. Great job. Hope you are enjoying it!
Great video! I look forward to many more about your Horizon Cat. I’m in Ft Myers & just bought a 2008 Horizon yesterday and am excited to launch and learn all about it. I’m downsizing from bigger boats and expensive slip rentals. It’s is a huge relief and hopefully will get more use and enjoyment with less complicated maintenance.
Love the boat. It is on my short list for a move from my Catalina 22 as I’m in my late 60’s and want to continue to sail. Can’t wait for updates on your experiences! Well done!
Looking forward to future videos. I purchased a HA-18 two years ago (first boat) and I love to get ideas from more experienced sailors. Cheers from New England.
More episodes coming soon. Next up, we'll be working on the lazy jacks and getting her on the water. We're excited to share the adventure with fellow cat boaters!
What a lovely sailboat, a great practical evolution to Herreshoff's classic design. And seems a spectacular mobile laboratory to battle-test your Waterlust swag! Congrats!!
Thanks Chris, we're super excited about it! Working on some rigging tweaks for the next video and then we'll get her on the water!
Congratulations! I hope you and your family enjoy the new boat. Good luck with it.
Great job on the video-really appreciate the way you thought through and represented boat ownership. Also, great research and presentation of the development of the Horizon cat design. The cameras angles that show hull shape and keel design present the form in a desirable light. Interior looks wonderful and the little diesel an efficient powerhouse. Two things that I would like to know; cabin headroom and practical use of the head “area” -looks like it could be a little tight?? Thank you again, and look forward to your other videos (I recently purchased a SunCat )
I own two Com-Pac sailboats -- a Legacy and a 23 -- they are phenomenal boats! I love them both to the moon and back! Just discovered your website/company and UA-cam channel today -- I'm a sailor and a new subscriber! Can't wait to check out your content! Fair winds! ⛵🌞🌊
I think you nailed it for your stated needs! Mate you have all those mangrove creeks, the Everglades and the Keys right in your backyard! If you ever wear that out maybe you pick a mellow day to cross the stream and go through the bights of Andros? I am looking forward to your videos, I know they will help promote this affordable and super fun style of sailing. Thanks for all you do for sailing and the environment!
So many places to explore!!! Thanks David!
What a great intro! The positivity just flows like a full sail in the wind.
Indeed very nice video and content. Im looking forward to see this beautiful catboat sailing, congrats man, very nice vessel.
Great video and explanation, thank you.
A nice little leisure-cruizer. Well thought compact layout. I wonder what your‘e gone bi able to undertake with it. Thank you for giving us an impact
Excellent presentation! You guys know how to enjoy life :-)
I love a Catboat. Cant wait to adventure with you!
Those are the best thoughts I have ever heard when thinking abt buying a boat 😀.
The best boats that I have ever owned are dead simple, not expensive, can be stored cheaply in your yard and easily covered. Current boat is a 14 ft aluminum vbottom with 15hp outboard. Outboard is stored on a dolly in the garage. I built a custom frame cover for the boat that completely protects the boat under a cover in the yard. I have a blast when I use the boat, almost no maintenance and don’t care if it sits for a year between uses. Perfect boat for me.
Totally agree! Next episode we’re installing a simple cover to protect it from the mango tree!
What a great boat design. That extra keel space for the centerboard is ingenious! Not having to step over/around the centerboard trunk must be nice! Between my Sanderling's low cabin and the centerboard, my back is quite taut after a weekend cruise. The additional few inches of draft shouldn't affect you ability to gunkhole by much.
That's our hope! There is a tradeoff and we're pretty sure the Horizon is quite a bit slower than a sanderling, but what you lose in performance you gain in some added comfort.
We like that open cabin as well. The other tradeoff with a shoal keel centerboarder is launch spots, or how much "draft" will be needed to get a boat on and off the trailer. There is some great design in that trailer, it has a drop, or V, built into the frame and axles so that the bunks are lower, and they also went to a tandem axle with smaller circumference tires. The tandem axle also offers some piece of mind going town the road.
I love the Catboat design and included a Traditional Catboat race in my book Champion :) 😀
Corpus SRyan here. Love your thought process here. I see a bow sprit and I think... Easy jinnaker with a Sunfish sail for those lighter days when... why not? I used to sail a Privateer dingy and used a laser 2 foredeck rig to do that. Sometimes it's fun to over complicate. Later I had an MX-ray. Single handed dingy with an asymmetric. One pull line launch and recovery on the chute. Tons of fun but made it almost too easy.
Love that boat. Great ideas and just beautiful. I want to get into sailing and really only desire a Cat Boat.
Thanks for the video. Now let me see what other videos I hope you've made. Just simply so damn pretty.
Love your channel and love your boat. I've been following you since the CLC build. Please review how to do a cleat hitch... ; )
Good friends have one of these. They are comfortable boats for sure. The rig is pretty small for its displacement, so it’s useful to think of it like you’ve already got the first reef in. A friend put a larger sail on his 17’ Suncat by extending the boom and gaff by a couple of feet and it really lit the boat up. Might be worth investigating here.
Replace the line that pulls up the centerboard. It’s only a thin cord and it will chafe through. I had to dive in my friends boat one time when theirs broke.
Our only complaint about the boat is that they reduced the sail area from the original design. Having a new, bigger sail cut is something we’re interesting in doing as part of this series. Some interesting full batten mains being made for cats too
@@Waterlust also make sure your trailer is in good shape. My friends have had lots of problems with their 'trailer from hell' for their cat. But you know that I'm sure.
@@mistermoonJB Absolutely! We purchased this boat from upstate NY, so already have a few thousand miles on the trailer bringing it back. Drives really well. Packed the bearings before the drive down and will probably do it again now. But so far, no problems (knock on wood)
@@Waterlust I'm sure you've checked but it's important to check the age of the trailer tires. There is a MMYY code on the sidewall and trailer tires need to be less than 6 years old.
Very nice details on the selection process. Some folks use boats that size as their rolling hotel, on their way to fun mess about spots. How much does boat, gear and trailer weigh?
Congrats and what’s wonderful choice in boat! 😉
Superb video!
That looks like a great little boat for exploring. I do wonder about the spokes on the wheel catching the mainsheet when you are in the middle of a tack...
the mainsheet system is a bid odd....will take some getting used to for sure!
@@Waterlust Catboat mainsheets are odd. However, I've never had mine dip when crossing center. If it catches anywhere, it is the outboard handle. Since you don't have that, it shouldn't be an issue.
@@danielshiplett Same here. The main sheets look like they will get hung up on a tack but never do.
Great Boat. My naval architect friend said a boat must be Beautiful, first thing! If you have no pride in your boat you will not use it. I've been lusting after a Cat Boat for ever. I think the Dream is the most important part of Everything.
Cool boat. Nice Doug DeMuro "Quirks and Features" reference.
We wondered if anybody would pick up on that! Doug is the best!
you got yourself a beautiful boat there 🎉
Congratulations! I love your decision process! :-) It looks like there are no shrouds - is that true? Hope you do a piece on raising the rig and setting off.
Thanks! This design does have shrouds, which is unconventional for most catboats. Will absolutely do a video about the rig!
Congratulations. We just got our Horizon Cat too. I am most interested to find out how you like it when motoring. Is there quite a lot of vibration throughout? Is it maneuverable in the marina and docking. We really wanted inboard diesel, but settled for outboard version because they are hard to find here in Texas. If you indeed got yours
So far we find the inboard great, vibration isn’t bad but the engine is loud, but in an endearing way. It makes a put-put sound that is pretty funny. Maneuvering hasn’t been a problem, though we haven’t done anything really tricky yet. Will explore more of this in future videos, stay tuned!
Catboats are a fairly old design. Marshall builds some here in Dartmouth, Ma.
Love the Horizon Cat posts. I would really like to know1) if you have length dimensions for your lazy jack lines because I want to replace what I have with a better system with blocks, etc. 2) It was hard to see the lazy jack attachment points along the boom and I'm curious how you have done this. We have owned a 2005 HC for about 10 years now, and its great. We've done lots of sailing and extended Northern coastal trips (for up to a month!) putting it to the test. I'm also interested in any reef system upgrades HC owners have devised. Jeff
Fair winds to you!!
That’s a really cool boat.
Excellent video. How does she sail in light air?
We're still getting to know her and have only had a handful of sails. In general, we'd say she's a little underpowered in the light stuff, though we're working to fix that and possibly have a new sail cut with a bit more area. Stay tuned!
A cat boat is an unmistakably an American design.
Nice boat, but man the price on these is incredible. Can't find one for less than $20k around here, yet I can get a Catalina 30 for $8k. Go figure.
Totally agree, we got ours under $20k, but it took about a year to find it. Scarcity isn’t helping, as it seems Hutchins can’t churn them out quick enough for current demand. We suspect that could change over the coming year or so. Hereschoff America’s are more readily available and cheaper, but they are usually in rougher shape and in need of serious TLC. Marshall sanderlings are another option. Great catboats that we’ve heard sail superbly
@@Waterlust
Are you still happy with the compact 20 . Thinking it may be to slow and poor up wind performance. For me x sailboat racer .
We’re still loving it. Definitely not super quick, but very simple and relaxing. For a low maintenance trailer sailor that you can singlehand, sunset cruise with friends and do some overnights in, it’s tough to beat. The super low draft is another key thing. We can sneak into some really shallow waters
Nice simple boat. Ahoy!
I want this boat
Could you take it to Cuba or Porta Rico ? I always wanted to take 2 of those and make a Catamaran !
Catboats are shoal draft boats for coastal cruising, so not the best choice for crossing the Cuba…buuut we have heard of people putting trailerable boats like these on mail ferries over to the Bahamas and then island hopping short distances over there.
Nice boat
Dude, get yourself a hat, a big one.
What do you tow your boat with?
Chevy Silverado 1500
Where in Florida are you?
In the fine condition, was this a 15,000 to 25,000, U.S., or... 25k -40k? Or... (if I may be so presumptive...) Also, have you found only this single boat, or have you noticed several, or dozens? Seems, what ever price, this size, very usable modernized catboat design will be ideal as you've indicated, and quite ideal for many, and for me, for the reasons you mentioned.
Any of these modernized-design amazing sailing catboats get sailed across to Bermuda or to the S. Caribbean Islands with favorable weather? Convertible to such a use, or would that coures be as nuts as windsurfing or jetsking across?
Great question, we got this one in the 15-20K range, which was a great deal. It required we drive a pretty far distance to pick it up, but it was well worth it. We looked at 4-5 other Horizons before this, most of them priced in the $20-25K range. The boats new are around $45-50K. The big thing we were looking for was a model with the Yanmar Diesel as opposed to a Westerbeke. According to the builder, the Yanmar is a better engine and easier to service. Taking a boat like this to the Caribbean is possible, though the crossing would need to be timed carefully. We have heard stories of people loading their small boats onto the Bahamas Mail Boat, and then sailing locally around the islands....a creative way to skip the crossing!
@@Waterlust We have the Yanmar diesel and I love it. I knew nothing about diesel engines, but learned how to do the maintenance and it never has let us down. Well maintained, it will run all day when there is no wind, will not overheat when run hard (like making way into a strong headwind) and sip fuel - great for trips. And having the engine centred and low in the boat makes it more seaworthy.
catboats have a working history, which justifies living with their weaknesses. maximum working platform, minimum money.
but they tend to be hard to handle, off the wind with a quartering sea. plenty of easier, safer rigs, that cost a little more.
Wow, it came with a Yanmar 1gm? That's a big engine for that light of a boat.
Yes, the early versions came with the 1GM10, but apparently it is no longer available in the US and they are using the 2YM15 on new builds. Great motor that should last a lifetime
@@Waterlust how much does this boat weigh?
@@Philippe275 2500 lbs
@@Waterlust way too light to need a 15 hp engine lol
@@Philippe275 probably more than she needs horsepower-wise, but always good to have more than you need. Great little motors that last a long time and easy to maintain. Fits perfectly under the stairwell too
8:03
Jump to 9:43 to finally find out what kind of boat he got.
The video would benefit greatly from a reduction in the number of facial close-ups. ...more boat, less you.
Totally fair, this was just meant to introduce the series. The following videos will be much more focused on the boat
@@Waterlust I disagree, this was incredibly well produced. You’re a natural and your enthusiasm is infectious. This is the exact type of inoculation the sailing community needs. I counter Lars Thorwald, respectfully. You get an A+++. Now about these “other videos”… p l e a s e? It’s been a year now.
@@LindenEH Glad you enjoy them! The latest video is taking a lot longer than we had planned. It covers electrical work where we add a basic solar system, new batteries, fans etc...should be done soon with more to come with better frequency. Thanks for your patience and support!
@@Waterlust Patience, patience, we know film production isn’t a result of nose wiggling ! Sorry I’d only seen the intro until last night, when I stumbled on two more.. Lazy jacks and the lovely house matching yaller tarp, Am I missing any others? Perhaps you can make a Catboat playlist? ( Not that your other content isn’t Fantastic) just for ease of stream? Again, MANY thanks, HIGHLY appreciated.
@@LindenEH we have a catboat dedicated playlist! Will drop the link here ua-cam.com/play/PLyRD5JMBJiSJBdyzA261dy5BJWvX50H8F.html&si=m3O1MN8T9YURHoyT