hutchins compac 23 sailboat

First impressions Although the Com-Pac 23 is a very practical boat, its wide appeal comes from its traditional appearance. The sheerline sweeps aft from the short bowsprit before bending up again just before the transom-hung rudder. The box cabintrunk, with round or oval bronze ports, flows naturally into the deck lines. From a distance the boat looks bigger than 23 feet. There is a shallow forefoot and a long, shoal keel with a draft of just 2 feet, 3 inches. Any more draft would make it difficult to launch on many ramps. Although trailerability is a nice feature, most 23 owners keep the boat in the water all season. The aluminum rudder has a kick-up blade. Displacement is 3,000 pounds, of which 1,340 is ballast, accounting for the 23's stiffness. The mast stands 30 feet off the water.

Construction Com-Pac farms out the molding of the 23's solid fiberglass hull and balsa-cored deck. The hull includes longitudinal stringers that encapsulate the bulkheads and stiffen the panels. The crew at Com-Pac builds the interior and finishes the boat. Surprisingly, the interior components are handmade, including plywood bulkheads and surfaces with teak veneers. The interior is not a symphony of stark molded components and the teak-and-holly sole is a very nice touch for a small boat. The workmanship is first rate, much better in fact than most small boat manufacturers. Com-Pac uses good quality materials throughout, and the company's construction philosophy has always been to build small boats like they were just short big boats.

What to look for The condition of all used boats is directly related to the care they receive. However, this seems to be more relevant with trailerable boats. For some reason these boats can be forgotten and languish on their trailers for years. If they are well sealed, they may be moldy, but otherwise are lightly used gems that just require a good cleaning and represent a solid value. On the other hand, if the boats have been leaking while shut up, you may push open the hatch to find rotting plywood and cabin soles among other problems. There are plenty of 23s on the market, and prospective owners can take the time to find a 23 that has been well cared for. There were several changes with different models and you should be aware of the differences. The first changes occurred with the model 23/2, which took place in the mid-1980s. This is when the popular hide-away galley was added, the interior finishing was upgraded and the bowsprit was added for much needed additional sail area. In the early 1990s, the 23/3 was offered and this model change included mostly small tooling upgrades. Small round portlights were changed to larger, oval ones for example. One model to look for is the rare 23 D, which includes a 10-horsepower single cylinder Yanmar diesel. According to Gerry Hutchins, only about 35 of these boats were built and they are quite desirable on the used market. On deck The cockpit is the best design feature on the boat. It is long, more than seven feet, and surprisingly comfortable. Many pocket cruiser designs sacrifice cockpit space to increase the size of the cabin but unless you are sailing offshore, and few pocket cruisers are capable of that, it is a mistake. The cockpit is control central, this is where you spend your time in most small boats. The 23's self-bailing cockpit includes two lockers and a bridgedeck. The original tiller was laminate mahogany and ash and there is good leg support when steering. Although the triangular mainsheet arrangement crowds the helmsman and isn't very efficient, a traveler would be more of an intrusion. The transom will likely have both an outboard motor bracket and swim ladder mounted, making it a bit crowded as well. The stainless pulpits and stanchions are beefy by small boat standards. In contrast, the standing rigging seems a bit undersized, but remember, the mast was designed to be raised and lowered without gin pole. Teak handrails on the cabintop and molded nonskid make getting around the boat safe and easy despite narrow side decks. Newer boats feature a chain pipe and divided chain locker. Most boats will include bronze cleats and small standard sheet winches.

Down below While nobody buys a Com-Pac 23 based on the interior, most are surprised when they drop below. The cabin is spacious, this is where you appreciate the nearly eight-foot beam. The bulkheads have teak veneers and the cabin sides are covered with teak paneling. Two overhead hatches and six opening bronze portlights provide excellent ventilation. There is just one step down into the cabin and standing headroom is only under the companionway. The hide-away galley usually features a two-burner stovetop to port and a stainless sink to starboard. These cleverly fold and slide aft. A boat without these features is a pre-23/2 model. The interior really does sleep four with some comfort, including two settee berths and two berths forward. There is a storage compartment for a portable head between the forward berths. As undesirable as this arrangement is, sacrificing room for an enclosed head would waste far too much space. There are clever storage compartments throughout the boat. A portable table mounts on the bulkhead.

Engine As noted earlier, the vast majority of boats came with outboard engines. A few, roughly 35, came with a 10-horsepower inboard diesel. While the inboard offers many obvious advantages, including the ability to efficiently charge batteries, don't set your hopes on finding one on the used market, and if you do, be prepared to pay for it. There is a bit of information on the Com-Pac owners Web site, www.com-pacowners.com, that discusses retrofitting a diesel. Unless you are committed to owning the boat a long time, it probably doesn't make sense. Outboards offer a few advantages of their own, one being portability for repairs. If something goes wrong, just heft it into the trunk and take it to a mechanic. A very unscientific survey reveals that most 23s on the market have 8-horsepower outboards. All major manufacturers seem to be represented. Another advantage of an outboard is that you can actually afford to repower without breaking the bank. A new four-stroke model would be a nice upgrade and a lot better for the water you sail in. A built-in locker is designed to house a six-gallon fuel tank.

Under way The hull shape of the Com-Pac 23 is deceptive, the boat has a long 20-foot, 2-inch waterline. The theoretical hull speed is 6 knots and owners report hitting this fairly regularly on a reach. The hull shape is a bit prone to pitching but more importantly, it doesn't pound in a chop. Although the 23 is nimble under sail it is not close winded. The sheeting angles are wide and it does develop a bit of weather helm when beating. So crack off a bit and enjoy the ride, the Com-Pac 23 is not a boat to race and it reaches beautifully. Besides, the 2-foot, 3-inch draft allows the 23 to skip across shallows that more weatherly deep-draft boats have to tack around.

Conclusion The Com-Pac 23 blends quality construction, practical design features and a handsome appearance in an affordable package. Prices may range from $5,000 for an early boat to more than $20,000 for a recent model, however the bulk of the boats on the market are asking less than $10,000. When you factor in the low cost of ownership, the 23 is genuinely affordable. If you live up north, you can trailer it south in the winter. It is an ideal boat for exploring the shimmering flats of the Florida Keys. It is also capable of crossing the Gulf Stream on a nice day, and is perfect for gunkholing the broad banks of the Bahamas.

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The Com pac 23 is a 22.75ft masthead sloop designed by Clark Mills and built in fiberglass by Com-Pac Yachts/ Hutchins Co. since 1978.

The Com pac 23 is a light sailboat which is a good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a day-boat. There is a very short water supply range.

Com pac 23 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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com-pac 23 review?

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Hello to all, first post.. I am looking at a com-pac 23 with the intention of offshore day and possibly overnight cruising and trailering it. It would be my wife, 3 small kids and myself. Please reply if you have any info on what to look for before buying, any experiences with this boat, how it handles rough water, etc. I found this forum by searching for com-pac 23 reviews. Thanks for any replies  

Com-pac 23 This is a great boat. Not to be too long-winded. 1. Comfortable 2. Get an autopilot 3. If sails are blown out (old) then get a new main, at least. 4. They tend to have a pretty strong weather helm. If so, check mast rake that it is fwd enuff, get a new main, reef early or just use genoa (jib), get an ida sail rudder. 5. Small boats get cluttered quick so keep stuff out of it. 6. Tiller tamer and/or autopilot really lets you enjoy your boat 7. Totally shoal draft. Take advantage of it to get close to shore, etc. 8. Solar power on back to keep house battery charged. 9. I am in intercoastal waterway in ne florida. Gets kind of rough but not open sea rough. Boat handles very well. Doesnt bob much. No seasickness. 10. I like the little bowsprit that the /3 and /4 have. It gives you more sail area fwd of the mast to lessen weather helm. Thats all there is to it. enjoy.  

samule said: Com-pac 23 This is a great boat. Not to be too long-winded. 1. Comfortable 2. Get an autopilot 3. If sails are blown out (old) then get a new main, at least. 4. They tend to have a pretty strong weather helm. If so, check mast rake that it is fwd enuff, get a new main, reef early or just use genoa (jib), get an ida sail rudder. 5. Small boats get cluttered quick so keep stuff out of it. 6. Tiller tamer and/or autopilot really lets you enjoy your boat 7. Totally shoal draft. Take advantage of it to get close to shore, etc. 8. Solar power on back to keep house battery charged. 9. I am in intercoastal waterway in ne florida. Gets kind of rough but not open sea rough. Boat handles very well. Doesnt bob much. No seasickness. 10. I like the little bowsprit that the /3 and /4 have. It gives you more sail area fwd of the mast to lessen weather helm. Thats all there is to it. enjoy. Click to expand...

the one i sailed on was pig slow  

The Com-Pacs are nice boats, very well made. But they are not intended as "offshore" boats. There aren't any 23', easily trailerable boats out there that I would consider safe for crossing oceans.  

Here's a couple of online reviews to check out: From Sailing Magazine : Sailing Magazine | Com-Pac 23 and from Jack Hornor (pro surveyor): Vessels: Sail Reviews: Com-Pac 23 | MadMariner.com  

The Dana 24? would probably be the only offshore rated boat that is trailerable. NOW< if off shore is going to catalina island, or some other island say 20-30 miles away from the main land, in good weather etc, you can wait out the other end if a gale shows up. I would bet the Com-Pac would work. There is a 19' version reviewed in Good old boat IIRC sept/oct issue. Marty  

blt2ski said: The Dana 24? would probably be the only offshore rated boat that is trailerable. NOW< if off shore is going to catalina island, or some other island say 20-30 miles away from the main land, in good weather etc, you can wait out the other end if a gale shows up. I would bet the Com-Pac would work. There is a 19' version reviewed in Good old boat IIRC sept/oct issue. Marty Click to expand...

First, a disclaimer: this is totally off topic, please ignore... you're not ignoring? oh well. I really have to visit the Atlantic at some point. When I see a boat qualified as "being able to make it to catalina in fair weather"... man, There's a crew that does that in Hobie Cats every month. I know a guy who did it on a laser. I know a group who does it regularly in Kayaks. This is NOT a hard trip to make in good weather, and ANY boat qualifies as open ocean under those circumstances. not that I mind, mind you. I just thought it was interesting what a qualification like that really means. Thanks. -- James  

Hey Tsojjourner: There is a very good ComPac forum at https://cpyoa.com/forum/ Samule is right on in his remarks. We have owned two ComPac 16's, a ComPac 23 and two CpmPac 27's. I have sailed on a ComPac 19...all good boats and fun to sail on. regards charlie  

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Description

In 1972, the Hutchins Company of Clearwater, FL, introduced the Com-Pac 16, a trailerable mini-cruiser. The model was tremendously successful and led to a larger version, the Com-Pac 23, which was introduced in late 1978 with the 1979 model year. Since then, Hutchins has introduced models ranging in size from 19 to 35 feet, all following the same styling of these early models. The Com-Pac 23 was designed by Florida boatbuilder and designer Clark Mills. His name may not be instantly recognized by many sailors but his most noted design, the Optimist Pram, is very familiar to sailors and unquestionably one of the most successful sail training and dinghy class racers ever.

Originally 22′ 9″ LOA, the Com-Pac 23 grew to 23′ 11″ with the addition of a bowsprit in 1984. The specified waterline length has remained 20′ 3″as has the draft at 2′ 3″ and beam at 7′ 10″. The manufacturer’s specified displacement was 2,900 lbs. prior to 1984 and 3,000 lbs. after. Internal ballast is 1,340 and is a combination of lead and concrete.

The hull of the of the Com-Pac 23 is built of a solid laminate of fiberglass cloth and resin and, since 1994, vinylester resin has been used in the outer layer to aid in preventing osmotic blistering. The deck and trunk cabin are molded as a single piece, and foredeck and side decks are constructed with a foam center core. The deck and hull are joined on an outward flange with adhesive sealant and fastened with pop rivets or nuts and bolts depending on the date of production. The flange is then finished with a vinyl rub rail over the fasteners.

Rather than the molded fiberglass interior liners used by most production builders of boats in this size range, Hutchins strengthens the hull with athwartship and longitudinal plywood frames and bulkheads tabbed to the hull with fiberglass cloth. This method of construction has the advantage of being easily inspected and the overall quality of construction is a cut above the production boats of this size. I think Hutchins could have been a lot better with just a little more effort. Bulkheads are not attached on both sides or over their entire length and there are no fillets at attachments to ensure strong and neat joints. The main structural bulkhead supports the hull sides at the chain plates and the cabin top at the mast step is drastically cut away so the interior is more open. Buyers should look carefully in this area for movement of the bulkhead or distortion of the hull side, decks or cabin top.

The deck area is about evenly divided between cockpit space, cabin trunk and foredeck. The self-bailing cockpit is over seven feet long and offers comfortable seating and two seat lockers for storage. Secure footing on the cabin top, side and foredeck is ensured by a molded nonskid pattern. There are bow and stern rails as well as lifelines supported by stainless steel stanchions along each side.

The Com-Pac 23 is, by design, a miniaturized version of a larger boat, which is apparent inside as well as out. Berths are not quite as long or wide as you would like, sitting and standing headroom is limited and there is little privacy, but all the essentials are there. There are berths for four and a self-contained toilet between the v-berths. The galley, a sink to port and stove to starboard, are cleverly designed to slide out of the way beneath the cockpit&s seats when not in use and there is a portable ice chest. There are three opening ports on each side of the cabin trunk, an opening hatch forward plus the companionway for excellent ventilation. The majority of Com-Pac 23s are powered by outboard engines ranging from 8 to 9.9 hp although, in 1989, Hutchins began offering an optional 9 hp Yanmar inboard diesel engine.

The displacement/length ratio of the 23 is 163 and sail area/displacement ratio is 19.2, which combine to make for an easily driven boat with sufficient sail area for a very respectable turn of speed. The 45% ballast to displacement ratio and moderate waterline beam allow the 23 to stand up well to a stiff breeze. On the negative side, draft is a scant 2′ 3″, rigging shrouds are attached at the deck edge, making close sheeting angles difficult to achieve, and the kick-up rudder is a flat aluminum plate with squared off edges. These factors combine to make the 23’s performance to weather less than stellar.

The Com-Pac 23 has been in production for more than 40 years, so interested sailors can choose from a good supply of used models as well as new. Many 23s are sold with trailers and although the boat is legally trailerable, at 3,000 lbs., it will take a full-size car or sport utility vehicle with an eight-cylinder engine to comfortably pull this load.

When you consider size, accommodations, shallow water capability, quality of construction and cost, the Com-Pac 23 is tough to beat and would be a great little boat for the weekend cruiser or cruising couple for whom shallow draft ranks near or at the top of their priority list.

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• Sailboat Guide

1989 Com-pac Hutchins Yachts Compac 23-3

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Seller's Description

1989 Compac 23-3 for sale in very good condition. This boat and trailer combination has been adapted for single-handed set-up, launching, sailing and haul-out….all can be done safely with no drama by one person, even if its windy. Overall, the boat is prepared for single-handed sailing in robust conditions.

There is a gin-pole and bridle included, with extra blocks and line. The mast is raised by pulling on a line led to a 4-part block and tackle system, which tilts the gin-pole forward (initially at 90deg to the deck). A line led from the top of the gin-pole to the top of the mast raises the mast. A bridle system steadies both the gin-pole and mast. The whole process can be stopped at any time; to allow checking for snagged shrouds, etc.

The trailer has a forward ladder, extra-high keel guides, and two vertical guide poles to facilitate single-handed launch/retrieval. (The trailer also has new brake assemblies, new master brake cylinder, new LED sealed lights, and all new wheel bearings. 2021)

Cockpit: Two Anderson #12 Self-tailing winches (2022). New auto-tiller mount, with Simrad TP-10 auto-tiller. Improved A-frame mainsheet system, with new ratcheting blocks and line, allows the boom to be pulled right up to and beyond the centerline when close-hauled. Two large cockpit lockers. Manual Guzzler bilge pump operated from cockpit, diaphragm and valves replaced 2022. Fresh-water shower hose comes out of one locker. (allows salt-water swim, FW rinse). Comes with older Tohatsu 2-stroke 8hp motor. (which recently took me about 200 miles out of 420 around the Delmarva Peninsula)

Interior: 6 heavy-duty oval bronze port-lights. Front hatch removed and re-bedded 2022. All cushions in very good condition. 15-gallon fresh-water bladder under V-berth forward…electric pump. Lots of storage under seats and V-berth forward. Slide-out single-burner butane stove. Kenmore stereo.

Equipment: Electrics/Electronics: New Garmin UHD 74SV 7 Chartplotter mounted with swing bracket in cockpit (2022). AIS (automated identification system) fed from Standard Horizon GX2150 VHF radio to chartplotter allows you to see commercial and some recreational traffic on the screen. Extra handheld VHF radio. Hummingbird depth sounder. Two 100ah batteries can be charged via shore-power (onboard charger) or 100W flexible solar panel (2022). The solar panel most days can keep up with electronic and auto-tiller needs. (I recently did a 12-day trip without charging from shore)

Sails: Mainsail was cleaned and 2nd deep reef point installed by SailCare (2022). 100% Jib, 155% Genoa. Light air asymmetrical spinnaker with Chute-Scoop sock. New stormsail (2022)

Hull/Rig: New heavy-duty chainplates (2021). Quick-release levers on forward shrouds and backstay to aid in set-up/take-down. Inner forestay of dyneema, rigged with soft-shackles and turnbuckle (for stormsail) Hull to deck joint was re-sealed 2021, with new rubber rub-rail. Various fittings and handrails have been removed and re-bedded (2022). The boat is very dry inside. Comes with 8 hard dinghy with oars

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

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Cruising the Moskva River: A short guide to boat trips in Russia’s capital

There’s hardly a better way to absorb Moscow’s atmosphere than on a ship sailing up and down the Moskva River. While complicated ticketing, loud music and chilling winds might dampen the anticipated fun, this checklist will help you to enjoy the scenic views and not fall into common tourist traps.

How to find the right boat?

There are plenty of boats and selecting the right one might be challenging. The size of the boat should be your main criteria.

Plenty of small boats cruise the Moskva River, and the most vivid one is this yellow Lay’s-branded boat. Everyone who has ever visited Moscow probably has seen it.

This option might leave a passenger disembarking partially deaf as the merciless Russian pop music blasts onboard. A free spirit, however, will find partying on such a vessel to be an unforgettable and authentic experience that’s almost a metaphor for life in modern Russia: too loud, and sometimes too welcoming. Tickets start at $13 (800 rubles) per person.

Bigger boats offer smoother sailing and tend to attract foreign visitors because of their distinct Soviet aura. Indeed, many of the older vessels must have seen better days. They are still afloat, however, and getting aboard is a unique ‘cultural’ experience. Sometimes the crew might offer lunch or dinner to passengers, but this option must be purchased with the ticket. Here is one such  option  offering dinner for $24 (1,490 rubles).

If you want to travel in style, consider Flotilla Radisson. These large, modern vessels are quite posh, with a cozy restaurant and an attentive crew at your service. Even though the selection of wines and food is modest, these vessels are still much better than other boats.

Surprisingly, the luxurious boats are priced rather modestly, and a single ticket goes for $17-$32 (1,100-2,000 rubles); also expect a reasonable restaurant bill on top.

How to buy tickets?

Women holding photos of ships promise huge discounts to “the young and beautiful,” and give personal invitations for river tours. They sound and look nice, but there’s a small catch: their ticket prices are usually more than those purchased online.

“We bought tickets from street hawkers for 900 rubles each, only to later discover that the other passengers bought their tickets twice as cheap!”  wrote  (in Russian) a disappointed Rostislav on a travel company website.

Nevertheless, buying from street hawkers has one considerable advantage: they personally escort you to the vessel so that you don’t waste time looking for the boat on your own.

Prices start at $13 (800 rubles) for one ride, and for an additional $6.5 (400 rubles) you can purchase an unlimited number of tours on the same boat on any given day.

Flotilla Radisson has official ticket offices at Gorky Park and Hotel Ukraine, but they’re often sold out.

Buying online is an option that might save some cash. Websites such as  this   offer considerable discounts for tickets sold online. On a busy Friday night an online purchase might be the only chance to get a ticket on a Flotilla Radisson boat.

This  website  (in Russian) offers multiple options for short river cruises in and around the city center, including offbeat options such as ‘disco cruises’ and ‘children cruises.’ This other  website  sells tickets online, but doesn’t have an English version. The interface is intuitive, however.

Buying tickets online has its bad points, however. The most common is confusing which pier you should go to and missing your river tour.

“I once bought tickets online to save with the discount that the website offered,” said Igor Shvarkin from Moscow. “The pier was initially marked as ‘Park Kultury,’ but when I arrived it wasn’t easy to find my boat because there were too many there. My guests had to walk a considerable distance before I finally found the vessel that accepted my tickets purchased online,” said the man.

There are two main boarding piers in the city center:  Hotel Ukraine  and  Park Kultury . Always take note of your particular berth when buying tickets online.

Where to sit onboard?

Even on a warm day, the headwind might be chilly for passengers on deck. Make sure you have warm clothes, or that the crew has blankets ready upon request.

The glass-encased hold makes the tour much more comfortable, but not at the expense of having an enjoyable experience.

Getting off the boat requires preparation as well. Ideally, you should be able to disembark on any pier along the way. In reality, passengers never know where the boat’s captain will make the next stop. Street hawkers often tell passengers in advance where they’ll be able to disembark. If you buy tickets online then you’ll have to research it yourself.

There’s a chance that the captain won’t make any stops at all and will take you back to where the tour began, which is the case with Flotilla Radisson. The safest option is to automatically expect that you’ll return to the pier where you started.

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Most Beautiful Metro Stations in Moscow

Visiting Moscow? Get yourself a metro card and explore Moscow’s beautiful metro stations. Moscow’s world-famous metro system is efficient and a great way to get from A to B. But there is more to it; Soviet mosaic decorations, exuberant halls with chandeliers, colourful paintings and immense statues. Moscow’s metro is an attraction itself, so take half a day and dive into Moscow’s underground!

The best thing to do is to get on the brown circle (number 5) line since the most beautiful metro stations are situated on this line. The only exception is the metro stop Mayakovskaya one the green line (number 2). My suggestion is to get a map, mark these metro stops on there and hop on the metro. It helps to get an English > Russian map to better understand the names of the stops. At some of the metro stops, the microphone voice speaks Russian and English so it’s not difficult at all.

Another thing we found out, is that it’s worth taking the escalator and explore the other corridors to discover how beautiful the full station is.

Quick hotel suggestion for Moscow is the amazing Brick Design Hotel .

These are my favourite metro stations in Moscow, in order of my personal preference:

1. Mayakovskaya Station

The metro station of Mayakovskaya looks like a ballroom! Wide arches, huge domes with lamps and mosaic works make your exit of the metro overwhelming. Look up and you will see the many colourful mosaics with typical Soviet pictures. Mayakovskaya is my personal favourite and is the only stop not on the brown line but on the green line.

2. Komsomolskaya Station

Komsomolskaya metro station is famous for its yellow ceiling. An average museum is nothing compared to this stop. Splendour all over the place, black and gold, mosaic – again – and enormous chandeliers that made my lamp at home look like a toy.

3. Novoslobodskaya Station

The pillars in the main hall of Novoslobodskaya metro station have the most colourful stained glass decorations. The golden arches and the golden mosaic with a naked lady holding a baby in front of the Soviet hammer and sickle, make the drama complete.

4. Prospect Mira Station

The beautiful chandeliers and the lines in the ceiling, make Prospekt Mira an architectural masterpiece.

5. Belorusskaya Station

Prestigious arches, octagonal shapes of Socialistic Soviet Republic mosaics. The eyecatcher of Belorusskaya metro station, however, is the enormous statue of three men with long coats, holding guns and a flag.

6. Kiyevskaya Station

The metro station of Kiyevskaya is a bit more romantic than Belorusskaya and Prospect Mira. Beautiful paintings with classical decorations.

7. Taganskaya Station

At the main hall Taganskaya metro station you will find triangle light blue and white decorations that are an ode to various Russians that – I assume – are important for Russian history and victory. There is no need to explore others halls of Taganskaya, this is it.

8. Paveletskaya Station

Another and most definitely the less beautiful outrageous huge golden mosaic covers one of the walls of Paveletskaya. I would recommend taking the escalator to the exit upstairs to admire the turquoise dome and a painting of the St Basil’s Cathedral in a wooden frame.

Travelling with Moscow’s metro is inexpensive. You can have a lot of joy for just a few Rubbles.

• 1 single journey: RMB 50 – € 0,70
• 1 day ticket: RMB 210 – € 2,95

Like to know about Moscow, travelling in Russia or the Transsiberian Train journey ? Read my other articles about Russia .

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Wow! It is beautiful. I am still dreaming of Moscow one day.

It’s absolutely beautiful! Moscow is a great city trip destination and really surprised me in many ways.

My partner and I did a self guided Moscow Metro tour when we were there 2 years ago. So many breathtaking platforms…I highly recommend it! Most of my favorites were along the Brown 5 line, as well. I also loved Mayakovskaya, Arbatskaya, Aleksandrovski Sad and Ploshchad Revolyutsii. We’re heading back in a few weeks and plan to do Metro Tour-Part 2. We hope to see the #5 stations we missed before, as well as explore some of the Dark Blue #3 (Park Pobedy and Slavyansky Bul’var, for sure), Yellow #8 and Olive #10 platforms.

That’s exciting Julia! Curious to see your Metro Tour-Part 2 experience and the stations you discovered.

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THE 10 BEST Moscow Boat Rides & Cruises

Boat rides & cruises in moscow.

• Boat Rentals
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• Things to do ranked using Tripadvisor data including reviews, ratings, photos, and popularity.

1. Flotilla Radisson Royal

2. Moscow River Boat Tours

3. Sup-Club

4. Akvanavt Diving Centre

5. Diving Center Crocus City Oceanarium

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19. Soho Sailing Style

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24. Kosinskiy Children Marine Club

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