Question:
I am considering purchasing a Cape Dory 30 (cutter or sloop version) or a
Cape Dory 33 this Spring. I intend to use it mainly for cruising the New
England coast. I would welcome comments from any Cape Dory sailboat owners
out there, either positive or negative.
Cape Dory 30 or 33 Sail Boat comments?
Answer:
-I have a 1981 Cape Dory 30, hull number 183, which we've cruised from
the Mid Hudson Valley region of New York State to Mt. Desert Island,
Maine. She's my third Cape Dory, I started with a Typhoon, moved up to
a CD22 and in the fall of 1982 bought my present CD30. When we moved
out to the west coast, I had my boat shipped out and currently sail her
on San Francisco Bay.
Needless to say, I am very pleased with the boat, Carl Alberg's designs
and Cape Dory construction. Cape Dory's are relatively rare out here
on the west coast but the ones that are here have given them a great
reputation for strength of construction and sea keeping abilities in
these boisterous waters. I did have to replace the original white ash
bowsprit on my boat with a teak one, aside from that there has been no
fundmental problems with the boat at all. The only somewhat negative
comment I might make about her is that the 13 HP Volvo engine is a bit
underpowered for this boat, but that's been a matter of convenience and
never really a problem. Some later model CD30s had a larger engine in
them, that would be a plus in my opinion. The cutter rig with a roller
furling yankee and self tending jib is a rig I really enjoy, the
heavier the wind gets, the easier the boat is to sail. I've found her
sailing performance to be more than adequate and never an embarassement
even though her hull and rig are very traditional. There have been
times when I have even passed some "hot" boats.
There are two interior arrangements, the original traditional
arrangement and a "B" arrangement with a large head area. To my taste,
the original version has considerably more usable storage area and is a
more desirable cruising arrangement for us.
Cape Dory also made a second design CD30 by another designer in Cape
Dory's later years. I am sure the construction and fit all have the
Cape Dory integrity, I don't know anything more about those.
-I own a 76 Ketch hull #6. It is a fine vessel that kept me safe last
winter in a hel of a storm. Try and find one that has a two cyl engine,
though the yanmar and volvo move it along just fine. If I had the extra
money I would have opted for the 33 but that is life. Great boat and
tough
-I own a 31' and love it. They only made about 90 of them mostly in the
later years.
