The Cape Dory Board

Severn Marine Services, Tilghman MD (Tilghman Island) 410 886 2159. Ask for Carl or Toni.

A real old-fashioned yard, not a fancy marina, though it has docks and a large capacity Travel Lift. Security minimal but not likely necessary. Definitely DIY. Help available.

Dave J

By September (when the sailing really gets good on the Chesapeake) the lower unit of the outboard on my CD 25 is seriously foul, even when aluminum-compatible antifouling paint is applied in late Spring. It looks as if the simplest solution is to lift it out of the well and clamp it to the horizonta...

Anyone install and use a "Boomkicker" and with what results? I checked the archive and sent one pm, but received no reply.

An overpriced gadget or something really worthwhile that makes mainsail control easier, safer, and overall better?

You could Google it. I found it elsewhere online but didn't look far enough to find a retail outlet.

A customer service phone rep at Franmar recommended using Soy Gel rather than the more powerful Soy Strip to remove failing varnish on teak. We'll see.

Has anyone tried Soy Strip on old varnish that needs removal? Several posts mentioned its possible use on bottom paint but not varnish.

In my case I bought the bayonet adaptors, which install with a push and slight twist, and the LED bulbs' two wires fit into slots on the adaptor ends. Pretty simple. Though I have not had much experience using them, the fixtures that surround them are much cooler to the touch.

Anyone got thoughts on the original question...painting brightwork with paint?

Has anyone painted brightwork with paint (not Cetol, oils, etc., much less varnish)? I imagine a dark red might look pretty good, if somewhat odd. If you did paint it, would you use a one-part polyurethane, exterior acrylic house paint, or what? Do you think painting would decrease maintenance or in...

I also have replaced incandescent bulbs in the interior fixtures with Sensibulb LEDs from Sailing Solutions. Easy to install (don't forget to order the bayonet fixture adapters with the LEDs). So far, fine, and the fixtures as in the gold-colored cone shades run much cooler, meaning, I think, more l...

Where we are, up a shallow creek off Chesapeake Bay, wind can have a very large influence on tide rise and fall, hence depth. The bottom is mud. Our boat, a CD 25, will sometimes ground out, but the longish keel just settles in without, so far, producing excessive tipping. (I can't imagine how a boa...

Books by Arthur Ransome as mentioned, especially "Swallows and Amazons" and "Coot Club." "Storm Without Rain" by Jan Adkins (not strictly sailing but close enough). "The Pirates' Apprentice" by Peter Wells. This is no doubt out of print but worth looking for. ...

Thank for the pointer to "freewheeling" in the archives. I'll just close this thread and coast on home.

Recently I read in some sailing magazine (forget which) that it is a good idea when sailing with the engine off to put the engine in reverse gear.
As I recall the reasons were (a) less drag from a non-rotating prop (b) less wear on shafts etc.

True?

True for an outboard?

Anyone had success putting a "soft" ice-loaded cooler inside the semi-insulated ice box under the companionway step of a CD 25? The idea is to have something that can be easily removed and gets some cooling bonus from being in that space. (I don't like water draining into the bilge, and I'...