The Cape Dory Board

If you get a chance, try a little time in a Hobie Mirage Drive kayak, with the sail kit. These entertaining little boats are one of the main reasons I sold my Cape Dory. I loved the Cape Dory, but the Hobies became so addictive, while "new horizons" suddenly appeared in my life. Over the l...

The plastic tanks that come with the new motors will crack at the fuel/air level. Some kind of acidic reaction from the ethanol in our gasoline. When you see the dark line form in the plastic (looks a little "smokey") the reaction has started. Drain those tanks dry, every time you plan to ...

Great stuff, however! Why does this stuff have to happen, now that I just have sea kayaks?!

One useful trick for the epoxy with fillers....after putting the material in place (whether you use a Dremel with a sharp point burr or simply try filling the existing cracks) you can put thin (low mil weight) duct tape directly onto the epoxy/deck area. Use the corner of a wooden stir stick to push...

She will remain berthed in Dana Point, and will be well attended by her newest family. I read, awhile back, a comment about owning vintage cars, motorcycles, boats, etc. "We don't really get to own these.... we just have the privilege of being their caretaker for awhile. It's our duty to suppor...

This also works with cleaning wax jobs or even polishing with fine cut cleaners. Use a lightweight "mouse" sander with no sand paper. Instead, wrap the sander in fresh "polishing diapers" available at the auto parts stores. The velcro pad on the bottom of the sander will move the...

I had the 25" shaft Yamaha in my CD26 and never aired the prop. Now I have the 20" Tohatsu and haven't been able to air the prop (only had it in rough stuff a couple times). It seems if the conditions are strong, I'm under sail offshore. In the harbor, when the wind is up, the waves aren't...

I took the tank out of my CD26 and cleaned it. It's not that difficult to remove, and it gives you a chance to clean the hull under that area (I like having the boat smell clean). I found some separation of the tabbing in the tank compartment, so I reglued with West Epoxy and set blocks in place whi...

I let the boom pretty far out, letting the boat sail on the jib, then bring the forward reef up first. I then ease the mainsheet some more, and bring the leech reef up. With no significant pressure on the sail, it sets home nicely. I have camcleat arrangements for all 3 of my jiffy reef lines. Hope ...

I suspect your boat has the same well as my old CD25 (the type with a closed bulkhead forward of the motor, with small opening). I had a Tohatsu 5HP 2-cycle in mine, and was considering the 6HP 4-cycle Tohatsu (Nissan/Mercury). The carry handle portion of the motor head is too long (sticks too far f...

I converted my CD25 by this method: 1. Install large diameter flush (round) hatch in foredeck (over rode locker). 2. Block area ahead of V-berth with duct tape (sticky side pointing forward). It takes a lot of tape, but it works. The small bulkhead with access opening will be glassed over (forward s...

All automotive body shops have a contact with bumper repair services. These folks can take a destroyed plastic bumper (often made of PE) and put it back to "like new". Turnaround 24-48 hours. You might check with them. By the way, I fixed mine with 5200 and no problems since. Regards, JimL

....see my website at http://home.earthlink.net/~leinfam/index.html and look on the "More about Odyssey IV" page. This lift will pull your Yamaha out of the water after each use (I had a Yamaha before the Tohatsu). the lift folds in half for storage in a cockpit locker. Hope it helps. Rega...

..you might try knurling them. This is a method I use to relock differential side bearings that have spun in the cast iron case (easy to do when putting too much power through smaller axles). Using a VERY sharp metal punch, I punch series of "dots" into the metal bore (where the outer race...

This thing will charge batteries, run accessories, etc. for 4 hours on about 2 pints of gas. It is super quiet (especially on the low rpm economy setting), very compact, and only weighs 28 lbs. The alternator is actually the flywheels inside the engine (not exposed to salt air), and the waveform is ...