Different Concepts
Different concepts, different sets of virtues. While comparable in many ways, both the Sanibel and Com-Pac are designed with different objectives. Depending on your sailing preferences and your needs, either boat could be the "better" boat.
We liked the Sanibel 17 for its simplicity. Its three-stay rig, lightweight and shallow draft would make it an easy boat to haul around, launch, and retrieve. The shallow draft makes it fully beachable.
While the Sanibel's stability is good, the Com-Pac 19/2's stability is phenomenal thanks to its ballasted keel. Its six-stay rig and 2-foot draft make it a less casual boat to throw in and out of the water. Sitting on its trailer, the boat's waterline is 3½ feet off the ground. Still, the boat is trailerable and provides a reassuring stiffness and solidity once on the water. Many sailors are going to like the added security, not to mention the subtle satisfaction of the oiled wood and brass-trimmed interior.
Both boats are good looking; both are well made; both sail well; both do what they were designed to do. And both have teams of skilled and friendly folks to back them up. For the money, the 17- to 19-foot compact cruiser may offer the most use and pleasure per dollar you can find. That may be the best news of all.