## Marshall vs Menger vs Com-Pac 

## PatrickMaguire 

 have owned two Marshall Sanderling's, a Menger 19, and now a Com-Pac Sun Cat, which might (surprisingly) be the right one for me. I 

First, you can't go very wrong with any of the above. Here are my impressions. (please keep in mind that these impressions are based upon the boats with me at the helm. I may detract from the net value of a boat just by stepping aboard.) 

The Marshall's were the best sailing boats. Faster and slightly quicker to tack. More weather helm than the others and they heeled more. I did not like the Marshall construction. The bulkhead and cockpit are made (cored? is that right guys?) with plywood. Water can get in the wood and delaminate. Sailing without a reef in winds over 15 can encourage this. I never reefed and as Bill Menger told me I was sailing the boat apart. See what feedback you get on this site but I expect many boats 10-20 yrs. old have had or will need a rebuild of the cockpit or bulkheads. Please, Marshall folks, I am not implying Marshalls are not well made. On the contrary, compared to production boats they are battleships. But I had two and had the same problem in both. It's a weakness you should watch for. 

The Menger was a well made beautiful boat. The max beam is further forward than in a Marshall so the cockpit is slightly smaller (but the cabin is larger). The Menger is more of a “seaboat” The cockpit design is more suited to open water and is solid fiberglass. I had a diesel in mine. Mistake for me. I am mechanically disadvantaged. (When I hooked up my DVD there was blood on it). I was sailing one day and a Sanderling put her sail up about 1/2 mile away. She rolled me in about 1/2 hour. Sold the Menger. Now that Bill Menger has passed I predict the 19s will hold their prices well. 

The Com-Pac is growing on me. I always wanted a blue hulled boat and in spite of conventional wisdom I got one and am glad I did. Very well constructed. The rig is still a gaff but some modern features like a traveler. The mast is slightly further back and the stays limit how far you can let the sail out when running. But that may force you to reach more than run and therefore avoid an accidental gybe. I still think she is under rigged for a light air area. Someone on this site (Jim B? if not sorry, don't want to put word in anyone’s mouth) told me to consider it as having main and working jib as opposed to genoa and that seems to be spot on. That's perfect for me as I don't like getting up and reefing. The first reef may already be in. The worst trade off here is in light air in chop thrown up by powerboats. But she tracks well and has a very neutral (for a catboat) helm. I keep mine at a mooring but the advantages the Com-Pac has for trailering are obvious. 

As for Sanderling's passing me by, well now I just put up the Bimini and wave. 

If I had to choose from these three I would buy the one in best condition in the same price range. 

For day sailing and catboat racing the Marshall 18 is hard to beat. You can heel it over and bury the rail and from the high side, see green water going by the porthole. But that will mean you should have reefed already and are fighting the helm for your life. 

If you’re going to overnight a lot or venture offshore for a few hours Menger is your boat 

For trailer sailing - the Com-Pac can't be beat 

Having said that any of these boats will be a great choice. Since it's still a niche market the construction of these boats is above normal production boats 

