Chet, I see you took my advice when I e-mailed you back about

Posted By: Buck Buchanan, P-18, Alert, #129, Fayetteville, NC
Date: 5/8/09 4:49p.m.

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In Response To: Disp of P18 vs P165 (Chet)

posting the question about P-165 vs P-18 on this forum. I sold my P-165 to go to heavier & roomier boat, the P-18. The P-165 is a great "learner" boat and is a compromise of a day-sailer/cruiser. Two can sleep in the P-165 but with no room to turn over in berth. By the time you add overnight gear, sleeping bags, air mattresses, food, clothing, there is little room for the two of you. It is OK for one but tight for two. (Don't forget the Porta-Potty-3 SQ FT) P-165: It can be roomy for two sitting in cabin without above gear, but remember your headroom is only 42". Then there's the compression mast which splits the length of the cabin by a third. It can be rigged in less than an hour. There are some mast-raising ideas on the forum to save time on rigging. For the sailing you mentioned, it's fine, but comfort in the cabin, especially for an overnight will be restrictive. Especially, when one has to get up in middle of night to go. Since the potty usually sits on the floor between the two bunks, it can be disturbing if someone eats a lot of baked beans...LOL. Now that I have had experience with the P-165 and the P-18, I would have started with the P-165 if camping overnight for TWO was NOT a requirement. Overnight for one is OK, but compression mast gets in the way for stretching out. If overnighting for two is a requirement, then choose the P-18. A little roomier, but still "intimate". The alternative to keeping the P-165 and camping for two, is Her in the cabin and YOU in the cockpit on air mattress and "moskitto" netting over your sleeping bag. And a boom-tarp (tent-fly) to keep the rain out of your face. To keep her coming back for overnights, you need to make sure SHE has most comfortable place to sleep and will enjoy time spent awake & asleep. The P-18 does not have a compression mast to divde the cabin, so more sleeping quarters (& more privacy). If you don't mind sleeping out in the cockpit with a "boom-tarp over you & netting around you, get the P-165. If you would rather sleep in same cabin, get the P-18 It is a little more to rig, and learn about, but cabin comfort increases dramatically. Remember the "Admiral" comes first, if you want her to accompany you. The deciding factor here is whether there be ONE in the Cabin or TWO. And how much you enjoy sleeping in the cockpit with boom-tent and netting, and it's raining. Buck's "Boatyard" July 7,2006. Returning from Tom Scott's house in P. G., Florida with "Alert". My P-165, "FA$TBUCK" in back ready for sale. Now ("Sweet 16.5") in Jerry's good hands in Pennsylvania. Best of luck & Fair Winds. Buck Buchanan