The Cape Dory Board

All good responses on the "joys" of lakes. I've sailed Georgia's Lake Lanier for the last twelve years. There's a wind station near the marina, and I check it online. By the time I get to the lake, about 45 minutes, it's either more windy or no wind. Occasionally, too windy to single hand ...

Was the ladder flat against the mast. If it was, how did you secure the ladder near the top before scaling it. Hum, now that you mention it, I may have used the main halyard just to steady the top of the ladder. I was replacing the steaming lamp bulb at the time. I didn't try reaching out to the sp...

Do you need precise measurement? Or are you thinking about a ladder to reach the spreaders? I used an aluminum extension ladder. Each section is only eight feet. So max extended is about fifteen feet. It worked, though I don't recall how much above spreaders it went. I secured it with rope around ba...

Joe ... I thought something like that might be the case. I don't see why you couldn't modify to be like I have on my 27: I made a drawing. fyi cheers I like the way you ran the lift line forward. Cassandra, a 25, is like your original configuration. When I replace the running rigging, I'll probably...

Yes, raising the lid 2 inches. . . actually improves the cooling airflow. . . thick Black soft rubber kneeling pads used by gardeners. It allows the fuel line to flex. . . Thanks. I'm going to tackle adding a couple blocks to raise the cover. Closed-cell foam pad sounds good. I have a scrap laying ...

I raised the engine well cover by fitting a teak 2 inch block under each rear hinge.. I'd thought of that, too, as a potential remedy for closing the cover. The modified section replacing the teak drop boards sounds good. That's a pretty easy mod. I like that. With the tohatsu I have enough aft cle...

Question: Is there a drain from the anchor well that runs under or around the water tank? I haven't opened up that area yet, and am curious.

bitn1geo wrote:Is there any potential harm in leaving it?

Cassandra has an opening both on the side and top with teak covers. It looks like it was done at the factory (the cuts were smooth, and other cuts on the boat aren't.LOL).

Regards, Terry

Terry, did your Tohatsu have an integral gas tank or not? JD No, it doesn't have the internal tank. As fir fitting, others (like bgephart mentions) have cut the support piece to lower the motor. I didn't want to do that, as the long shaft is long enough, I think, and I am concerned with weakening t...

Ditto. Tohatsu Sailpro. No, it didn't fit Cassandra. Lid doesn't close all the way. Various mods available that can be done. Some easily. Some not.

I varnished everything 3 yrs. ago as instructed and probably 8 coats. I let it go and now it looks terrible. Varnished wood is beautiful, until it's not; then it's simply horrid and a royal pain to redo. I opted to follow the lead of previous owners and go the oil route. Not as pretty, but not as p...

[quote="ric14854"I just need to figure out a good counterpoise to improve the receive, probably will try a KISS eventually. \[/quote] I looked up the counterpoise KISS you mentioned. Before going that route, try just 8 feet or so of wire from the braid side of the coax connector where it c...

Point is, get a HF SSB/HAM transceiver if you desire it. But there are options other than investing $3,500-$4,000 in a set up that’s not required. It’s not a be all, end all solution. But it works for me. That's a great point, John. The newer short wave receivers do a pretty good job with SSB, and ...

I just got my Technician license for amateur radio and am thinking about getting a setup for my CD30. Any other Cape Dory owners around that also have their ham radio license? I'm really interested in listening in to the various cruising nets if I can figure out a way to pick them up from either my...

I wonder if amateur radio for sailors will go the way of celestial navigation, with the advent of more affordable and capable satellite systems for offshore sailing. https://www.cruisingworld.com/7-affordable-low-bandwidth-satellite-systems-for-offshore-sailing/ Celestial nav hasn't gone bye-bye. A...