Com-Pac 33 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Com-Pac 33 means looking at a Charles Morgan–designed shoal-draft cruiser built by Com-Pac Yachts, intended for family comfort in thin water. These are traditionally styled boats with simple systems, so the buyer’s task is less about decoding complex electronics and more about judging condition and honest cruising fit.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Com-Pac 33 follows the same core layout: V-berth forward, an aft quarter double, a main cabin with starboard swivel chairs and a port L-shaped settee, and a bulkhead-mounted dining table anchor. Headroom is 6 feet 8 inches, and the head includes shower space. The interior is a GRP liner trimmed in teak. Because the boat was produced as a single design rather than a multi-version model, used buyers are comparing condition and upgrade state rather than hunting for a specific layout variant.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The standard boat carries a Universal 25-horsepower diesel with 30 gallons of fuel and 75 gallons of water, and a 579-square-foot masthead rig with a short bowsprit anchor. A hydraulic backstay adjuster appeared on the reviewed boat, useful for cockpit rig tuning. Given the simple original outfitting, the most consequential used-market additions to look for are energy and rig-handling upgrades — a larger battery bank or solar to support anchoring, plus a windlass or upgraded winches for ground tackle and sails. Navigation and canvas upgrades matter less to seaworthiness but improve comfort; judge them as bonuses rather than necessities.
What to Inspect
The rigging architecture deserves a close look. All chainplates are bolted to the outside of the hull, so examine those fasteners and the surrounding gelcoat for staining or softening anchor. The cap shrouds share the aft lower chainplate, and the spreaders are swept aft with fore and aft lowers — confirm the chainplate integrity and the hull penetration sealing. The partially balanced spade rudder and Scheel keel are shoal-grounding items, so inspect the keel stub and rudder post for impact damage. With the backstay offset to clear the boarding ladder, check that the lead and adjuster hardware remain secure.
Buyer's Takeaway
- Verify externally bolted chainplates for corrosion or deck leakage
- Inspect Scheel keel and spade rudder for grounding or impact damage
- Confirm Universal diesel service history and fuel system condition
- Assess rig upgrades (backstay adjuster, winches) as value, not requirement
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Com-Pac 33. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tartan 33 | 33.67' | $ 23,500 | 23 | 8 |
| Conyplex 33 | 32.25' | $ 25,026 | 14 | 4 |
| CS 33 | 32.67' | $ 21,071 | 13 | 3 |
| Morgan 34 | 34' | $ 21,725 | 12 | 3 |
| Pearson 33 | 32.92' | $ 19,000 | 10 | 5 |
| Cape Dory 33 | 33.04' | $ 30,500 | 10 | 2 |
| Com-Pac 25 | 28.17' | $ 21,000 | 8 | 2 |
| Morgan Yachts 32 | 31.92' | $ 26,900 | 7 | 1 |