The Cape Dory Board

I bought my used CD25 in 1984 and I have always left the outboard motor in the well year round - this is in tidal salt water in Savannah. In the 40 years I have gone through 4 or 5 outboards, mostly 2 stroke but now 4 stroke Tohatsu Sailpro 6 HP extra long shaft ( since 2016). I usually pull it twic...

I agree - 6HP is sufficient. I have owned my CD25 for 40 years, and used 15, 9.9, 8, and 6 HP. The big challenge now is to find a motor that will fit in the engine lazarette. The older 2 cycle 8 and 9.9 HP fit fine and work great, but 4 cycles are too big. Whatever motor you pick be sure to get a fl...

I appreciate your concern, but I think you are trying to solve a very unlikely problem. I have owned my current 1980 CD25 since 1984, and before that a 1974 CD25 for 4 more years, and I have never seen or heard of a significant bilge water problem. It is a relatively small bilge, and any problem wou...

An easy solution is to install two slide bolt latches, one on each side (inside) of the top drop board.

Yes = my CD25 had foam weather stripping on cockpit locker hatches when I bought it in 1984, and it's still adequate - no leaks.

I have a 1979 CD25 Hull # 713. Same as Jeff - ice box is under top step into cabin. No chain locker.

Congratulations on your successful repair. One question - how did you know that your shaft seal was leaking? Was the gear oil milky? Or loosing gear oil? Thanks.

Thanks for your post, John. I have been on off & on subscriber to PS for many years, and found it very helpful. But I was not aware of the extensive search tools available until this article. Thanks for the “heads up”.

I hope not! I am not a frequent poster, but I look at the forum almost daily, and have found it a terrific help addressing issues on my CD25 that I have owned since 1984. I am happy to pay local dues of $40, now $25 to keep the forum going. It is a great resource.

Look at Davis sail track round stop at Defender. About $10 each and work fine - I have used them for more than 25 years on my CD25.

I have never posted photos here before but willing to try. This is a Microsoft Share deal. https://sway.office.com/Rwj8npJJtLTkFiMw?ref=Link See if this works. There is a photo of the pumpout located in the center of the bow (not starboard as I earlier said) - also the vent on the port side of the b...

My 1979 (1980 model) CD25 hull #713 has a factory installed head with a holding tank. It is located below the v berth and is accessible via a rectangular hatch over it. The pump out is via a deck fitting located near the bow on the starboard deck.

I will bet anything it is the carburetor. I have a 6HP 4 stroke Tohatsu, and I have to clean the carb every 5 - 6 months to assure reliable starting, and I always use non-ethanol gas. There are several videos on YouTube that show how to do it. I am no mechanic, but I have learned to do it in about 1...

My 1979 CD-25 suffered similar damage when a “friend” towed my boat pulling it by the port side winch cleat - I was out of town at the time. I did have the advantage of recovering the broken piece. We did epoxy it back in place and it looks fine and just as strong as ever four laters later.

I just finished installing new halyards on my CD-25 this week. I have done this several times over the last 35 years with this boat. I simply butt the old and new together with really good 3M duct tape and then rub the tape vigorously between my hands to assure good adhesion and flexibility. Then ge...