The Cape Dory Board

Question: is your icebox double-walled? I ask this because our CD 31 has the original, double=walled icebox. Jim Walsh advised us on how to add insulation into the void between the walls: basically just drill holes about 10 inches apart and pump in the foam from cans from inside the ice box. This ap...

Hi Ann, Just getting around to checking the CD Board after a summer of injuries and little sailing. Our Origo 6000 is only 10 years old and, so far, no signs of rust on the cannister bottoms. But, thanks to you, we'll watch for it. Have you thought of repairing the cannisters? I don't believe the bo...

Hi owners,

The fuel level gauge on our CD31 has stopped fuctioning (it stays on "E").

Does anyone know a source for a repacement gauge?

Thanks so much,

Jenn and Terry McAdams
CD31 #33 "Glissade"
Northeast Harbor, ME

Kubota water pump part # 15552-73034. Brand new, still in original unopened packaging. Made in Japan on label. Not a knockoff. New ones sell for $150-200. Asking $100 plus $15 for insured shipping to a US address. Or pick it up yourself. Located at Northeast Harbor, Maine on Mount Desert Island PM o...

I have a question about zincs, or rather about aluminum anodes that contain no zinc. We started using aluminum on our prop shaft back in 2015. We took our 31 over to our other home in Nova Scotia and moored it in front of our house. The water off our place is brackish, more or less, depending on the...

Wow! Seeing these photos makes us sad that it's been so long since we've attended Cabin Fever. We now live in Madeira all winter and usually don't return to NH until April. So Andy V. wrote a book? Could anyone advise on how we can get a copy? Love to read it. Miss all of you. We'll be in Northeast ...

Best of luck to Rob with the sale. We also own a 31 (hull #33) and love it. Personally, we think a 31 with an almost new re-power for $39K is a bargain. They're a great design with large aft head (great for showers and hanging wet foulies). We live aboard our 31 all summer in Maine. It's quite comfo...

We agree with Jim and John: these are outstanding screens built to last for decades. We've been through some storms with them and they are as good as new. Thanks so much for sharing your skills with all the owners. Jenn and Terry McAdams North Conway, NH Northeast Harbor, ME Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

Interesting thread. Now in our 12th year of sailing our 31, we have no complaints about the boat at all. It is exactly what we wanted, a solid, nice looking boat that can withstand a close encounter with a rock in Maine. Years ago we heard an interesting yarn about Carl Alberg. Can't recall who tol...

Thanks to all for the responses. Very thoughtful and wise. But I have another question: The inlet hose for the pump in the bottom of the bilge has a tricuspid valve inside the inlet screen. Is this part necessary or wise? Isn't there a tricuspid valve in the pump housing? Again, thanks in advance fo...

Hello all CDers! It's springtime at the boatyard in Blue Hill, ME. We were getting our 31 ready for a Friday launch and checked the manual bilge pump. It was not working. We checked for clogs and the lines were clear. We noticed the rubber gasket around the pump handle was cracked. We're assuming th...

Hi Sailors, Our rigger is installing a Strong Track for us. He has to make some modification to the track on the mast and wants to unstep the mast to do this. Our yard normally stores sailboats mast-up. They have unstepped at least one other mast, but they are concerned about disconnecting the mast ...

Thanks so much for the kind advice, Jim. We see your point about running the main halyard aft and negating the positives of the strong track. The advice on the stack pack is also useful. It won't solve all our sail handling problems, but will certainly make it easier and faster for us to raise and l...

Hey CDers, We have to order some winch covers for our main genoa winches in the cockpit. We're away from the boat and we know the winch brand but not the winch size. Does anyone know what size of self-tailing Barlow genoa winches are used on a CD 31? They appear to be the original Barlows. Thanks in...

Thanks so much, Rich.

This is the kind of thoughtful advice we're looking for.

Enjoy your sailing and, if you're up Northeast Harbor way, stop by. We're at float # 335 on the far right side of the harbor as you come is, near the lobster boats.

Jenn and Terry