Com-Pac 19 "Restless II"

Article by Burton Blais

Amalia and I just got back from our first cruise in Restless II, a new-to-us Compac 19. We put in near Gananoque in the heart of the Thousand Islands (St. Lawrence River), and spent two nights anchoring among some of the most breathtaking freshwater vistas in the world. Winds never got much above 10 knots, but even so, we were delighted with our boat’s handling characteristics. She ghosted along dreamily in the wakening mid-morning breeze, a perfect conveyance for placid drifting through a stunning landscape of granite-bound islands crowned by windswept pines, and some of the most beautiful old-world cottages you’ll ever see. With her board down she easily tacked through 90 degrees (ours is a rare model fitted with a stainless-steel centerboard), and when the wind perked up she clipped along at a satisfying pace, even to windward. When pressed into service, the smooth-running older 6-hp Merc purred along, pushing us smartly through narrow channels between picturesque islands. Shallow draft of the Com-Pac 19—a mere two feet with the board up—emboldens the skipper to try for passes that are strictly off limits to the boat’s larger sisters.

We were especially impressed by stability of the boat, providing a perfect platform for lounging at anchor as well as under a press of wind (though she does roll when catching broadside wakes from passing motor cruisers). She is every bit the keelboat—and I’ve owned a succession of them—promising many new cruising venues on the horizon. She tows easily behind a six-cylinder pickup truck, and while she needs a decent ramp for launching and retrieval, this is not as difficult as one might imagine for such a burdensome little keeler…although four-wheel drive helps on some slippery ramps.

And how pretty she is to behold, whether swinging at anchor or docked in port. No forgettable euro-wedge form here, just timeless proportions that are easy on the eyes. At night, her diminutive cabin offers comfortable berths for two, inviting cozy bedside reading to close the day.

Berths are kept made up throughout the cruise. Cooking is done in the cockpit, with the accoutrements kept in a varnished galley box that’s stowed in a convenient V-berth notch. And, amazingly, she even has space for a portable toilet under the companionway step, easily accessed. This approach to small-craft cruising sure beats the onerous daily routine of unloading gear, making camp, breaking camp and stowing it all…a common ritual with many smaller boats.

The photos convey a sense of just how much boat has been packed into a relatively small envelope. Readers might also note our “stealth” dinghy, handy when you want to evade those pesky fee-collecting officials when going ashore on park lands. (Not that we advocate shirking our duty to pay for the value-added amenities provided by the state, but old guerilla-camping habits die hard.) Finally, despite loving our Com-Pac 19, we still haven’t totally abandoned open-boat cruising, with many remote destinations remaining impractical for a hefty little boat…but there comes a time in middle age when bones grow weary of sleeping on rock, and the creature comforts of a small cabin beckon irresistibly. •SCA•

First appeared in issues #102