The Cape Dory Board

As I see it you have two problems here. First, is the condition of the boat good enough to make this a realistic project? After sitting in on a trailer for some 18 years, presumably uncovered, it could be very rough, particularly if it is located in an area where water collecting in the bilge could ...

A vang may help, but not much if the sail is blown out. Take it to a good sailmaker who can evaluate how badly or not it is stretched out. There will be some cost, but in my experience it is modest. I had all of Mintaka's sails, now about 6 years old, evaluated this past winter. They all proved to b...

After water gets into the engine, the slow start is the result of the piston trying to compress water in the cylinder with both valves closed. If it's going to start, something has to give, since water is not compressible. That something is usually a connecting rod. The new Yamaha on Mintaka had to ...

Does anyone know where to get Bomar hatch parts? I need a replacement latch bolt for the forward hatch on our 1985 CD 40. This is the part that holds the hatch closed. There is a main bolt that holds the hook assembly that keeps the hatch closed. That bolt broke at the hole that holds the hook pin. ...

I have a chartplotter mounted at the helm. Since we draw 5'8" and sail in some rather thin water (sailors have gone aground in the Pamlico Sound completely out of site of land) the helmsman needs to know at all times where the bumps on the bottom are. I don't stare at the thing, just pay attent...

We had Mintaka AwlGriped back in 2000. It has held up well. This year we are having the hull buffed lightly to bring up the shine, and are having a few scratches repaired. It looks like new, and should last another 6 or 7 years before buffing again. The downside of AwlGrip is that with a dark color ...

Based on what you described the boat could be a bargain. On the other hand you wouldn't want to get into it only to discover a fatal flaw that would be a total loss. I suggest you get a good surveyor to look at the boat before you place a bid. Sure it will cost you $$, but may save you big $$ if he ...

Having owned two CD's over the last dozen years, I have come to the conclusion that my boating pleasure was severely negatively impacted by the boats' pathetic performance when maneuvering under power. There have been days when we wouldn't take the boat out because of the mental anguish and potentia...

All of the above is correct. You have hull no. 5. I have no. 7. Where do you keep her? We are in Oriental, NC. Hope you enjoy her as much as we've enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, ours.

John: The CD 28 is a fine boat. Its 4' draft should be of no concern unless you really want to get up into the shallow creeks, in which case some kind of swing keel or keel centerboard drawing 3' or less might be more suitable. The 28 should do well in the Pamlico chop. At a draft of 5'8" we ha...

A year or two ago I agonized over hitting 60, and how I would be unable to manage Mintaka under sail, and how maybe I ought to get a smaller boat with all the conveniences like furling main and power winches. Then I read Reese Palley's book, "Call of the Ancient Mariner," not just once but...

I didn't think I would be bored, but I never imagined I would be so busy. Frankly, I don't know how I got it all done while I was working. Then my wife retired, and it got even worse. But we're loving every minute. The trick is to decide what you want to do, then make it a priority. Otherwise, you g...

We used to have a CD 31. It was a great boat for coastal cruising, but we found it a bit tight when fully stocked even for a couple of weeks. Engine access was also tight. It seems to me that a 36 would be an ideal solution. It is large enough to hold all you would need (including fresh water), yet ...

I had my 4.108 replaced with a Yanmar. My thinking was that a rebuild would give me a new 20 year old engine with old pumps, etc. attached, whereas a new engine would have the benefit of 20 years advances in metallurgy and other diesel technologies. Also, I've heard that the Perkins rebuilds still l...

A furler is a compromise, and and you always pay in performance. Hanked on sails help you get the most out of the boat for the conditions. On the other hand, a full set of sails takes up a lot of space on a 30 footer. Stowed when wet they can give rise to a musty smell in the cabin that's hard to ge...