The Cape Dory Board

Hello fellow CD fans, After 7 years of sailing the very last, very wonderful CD30 up and down the coast of Maine, we've decided to downsize to a "weekend" size boat-- so we're offering SANDRA LEE for sale, at $35,000. Please see many more photos & details at: http://capedory30.blogspot...

When sailing alone I tow a long floating line off the back of the dinghy, with a small oval foam float tied at the end. It helps keep the dinghy from surging forward. And the idea is, if I fall overboard, I can grab it and haul myself into the dinghy. Note: it's fairly easy to get back into the ding...

Regarding how to heave-to with a club-footed foresail (such as my staysail), I've considered just moving the traveler all the way to leeward before tacking-- thus holding the jib more or less to windward after the tack. I haven't tried it yet, so not sure if it will be sufficiently backed to work.

Hello all- I'm wondering if anyone has any brilliant ideas for prevention of clumps of seaweed fouling the prop & shaft. My CD30 has a "Campbell Sailer" prop, which I'm guessing must be part of the problem as I've not experienced this as such an issue on other people's boats. But we ba...

I find diapers to be the most critical element in effecting a tidy oil change.

However, if you keep them aboard, be sure to hide them. Last fall I had friends with a toddler aboard for a couple days. When I went to change my oil at haul-out time, all my diapers were gone.

P.S. If all your mate does is roll up her pants, she is showing great confidence in you. Mine tends to get in the dinghy before I begin projects which she deems to have "sinking potential".

Good job Mitch. After servicing my own through-hulls for the first time this spring, I gave a lot of preemptive thought to how I would handle the sort of leak you describe. My plan was going to involve a wetsuit (and a tapered wood plug from the outside, then waiting a few hours for it to swell up &...

[I'm answering my own question, just in case anyone needs the info in the future!] I managed to dramatically improve my stove's performance. First had to get the burners off the stove-- don't try to unscrew from the top! You have to remove several pieces of sheet metal from the top of the stove, the...

If you're going to seal off the engine compartment from the under-sink compartment, you might consider doing it in with some sort of a removable hatch between them. Having just replaced the double pipe system draining the galley sinks, I can say that having sideways access through the engine compart...

I can't offer specific advice on marinas to go to or avoid (I use a mooring and avoid marinas as much as possible)-- but if you need a hand with anything while in Portland, feel free to send me a message. I live in town and will help you out if I can. (Also, once you're tied up, I'd suggest you spen...

My 1987 CD30 has aboard a Tasco pressurized alcohol stove. I know it's a dinosaur, but I sort of like it. I'm used to the priming routine from many years of backpacking, I like the nonexplosive aspect, and it gets plenty hot. But it's old and needs help. It sputters and flares (more than is normal) ...

Oh, I forgot to mention I also have a solar panel on the companionway hatch (thanks, PO) which produces a few amps in sunny weather... so that should help keep the juice up, too.

I'm just curious how many batteries/amp-hours people are generally carrying around in their house banks. My CD30 came to me with three "group 27" house batteries (110Ah each, I think), plus a smaller starting battery. This great weight aft was tipping us down at the stern, and taking up lo...

Yikes. I'm hoping that my big, burly Spartan seacock proves sturdier than your unfortunate gate valve...

Thanks-- yes, I guess I am not certain whether it was seawater or antifreeze. I may not be familiar enough with the innards of a seacock, and perhaps I'm obsessing-- but maybe someone can clarify for me. I figured that if the boat is in the water, engine hooked up normally, and I close the seacock, ...