The Cape Dory Board

Here you go:

http://www.jibeho.org/vang.htm

The most cost effective performance improvement you can add to your boat!

Good Luck,
Tony Jeske

Like John Ring on TANTALUS, I too remove my paddle wheel when not sailing. On my boat, it's easy to get to and so only takes a minute to swap out and results in an always working speedo; which I find is easier to read than the speed on my GPS.
Tony Jeske

Ed:
I agree with your thoughts about upgrading to wider track. You'll have vastly more options for attachments. A good idea.
Good Luck!
Tony Jeske

Paul is correct, you certainly don't need heavy wire for this job, but I wouldn't go with anything smaller than #18AWG.
Don Casey's book, This Old Boat, does a nice job of de-mystifying boat wiring. I recommend it highly.
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske[/u]

Hi Bill: Spinnaker bails for Cape Dorys are carried by Rig-Rite. You need to have your mast section measurements, i.e. width and depth on hand in order to identify the stock number of your mast. Once you have the mast section number, you can go to the spinnaker bail section of their web page and det...

Chris and Dale: I've always felt that a vang is the most cost effective performance improvement you can add to a boat. It has no effect when sailing close hauled. On a reach, it will keep the boom from rising and maintain a powerful shape in your mainsail. Sailing downwind, it can be rigged as a pre...

Steve:
Here's a copy of the Spartan Marine spec. sheet detailing the location dimensions and fittings need to install a boom vang on most CD's, including your Ty:
http://www.jibeho.org/vang.htm

Good Luck,
Tony Jeske

Steve: Since you already have to be at the mast to hook the tack reef on to the tack hooks, why not terminate your clew reef on the boom, near the mast? Won't you be tying reefs into the sail along the boom also? Since one has to leave the cockpit for these tasks, you might as well do the clew reefi...

Hi John: I'm not sure you'll gain a lot by making your sheets longer. You'll be able to flip them end for end after some years and that'll give you added life. I have a mostly wire topping lift on my CD-28. I'm happy with it. While there are advantages to mid boom sheeting, there are also disadvanta...

HI:
I didn't drain my transmission one winter and the housing cracked on my CD-28's MD7. I was able to remove and replace the tranny without pulling the engine. Not fun, but WAY easier than pulling the engine!
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske

Hi Vincent:
Here's a copy of a spec sheet prepared by Spartan Marine showing the vang dimensions for most Cape Dory's:
[/url]http://www.jibeho.org/vang.htm
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske

Hi; You'll want to get an electrician's "fish tape". They're available for $7 to $10 at most hardware stores. Once you have one, you'll find a lot of opportunities to use it. I would route the wires through the mast tube, not the masthead. If the wires exit from the side, you can add a &qu...

Hi Rich:
I suspect the other CD-25 you saw was Mike Kummer's CD-25D, a sweet boat. He lives in Washington and sails with his dad Larry, who lives in Wyoming. How's that for a commute?
Glad to hear your new sail is working well!
Regards,
Tony

Hi:
Boye boat knives were rated highly by Practical Sailor, but they're expensive. Do you own one? Do you any any comments, both pro and con? I'd appreciate your input.
Thanks,
Tony Jeske

Hey Rich: Welcome to the board. I'm sure you'll find it as great a resource as I have. There are a few of us Cape Dorians out here in San Diego, how nice that now there's another. If you're ever looking for crew, send me a PM (private message) and we'll go sailing. Regards, Tony Jeske CD-28 #365 NO ...