The Cape Dory Board

I replaced the bulbs in my port, starboard, and stern running lights. When I removed the metal cap and plastic lens from the teak, the space around the fixtures seems covered in a thick, black goop. Lord knows how many years it has been since these were removed. I cleaned the stuff out as best I cou...

I have a CD27 (1977) which has a two lever engine control ... one for forward/neutral/reverse and the other for slow/fast. This evening the cable and controls for the throttle parted company with a big snap. I think it was the linkage between the levers and the cable mechanism that wore out and brok...

Would anyone like to recommend a solvent/cleaner to clean up the few bits and shreds of scotch blue tape (2080) and adhesive that didn't come off the fiberglass cleanly when I finished varnishing the teak.

Joel S.
s/v Baraka

I have just finished scraping and sanding all the old varnish off of Baraka's teak. NEVER AGAIN !! Now I am ready to start putting on the new varnish. I have put on a couple of coats of sealer and now plan to put on 3 to 6 coats of Epiphanes Woodfinish glossy varnish, followed by a few coats of Epip...

When referring to the cabin of a sailboat as the saloon, does one properly pronouce this like the place where one buys cheap whiskey and beer or like the place where the ladies go to have their hair done ?

I think that Practical Sailor has reviewed the lifesling.

On my 1977 CD27 the ignition key has broken many times, usually when an inexperienced guest has placed his foot on it. I have solved the problem in two ways. First I remove the key after starting the engine and wear it around my wrist with a coiled plastic band until I need to shut the ignition off....

How far behind the transom does the dinghy usually ride? I understand that the dinghy rides one the crest of the bow wave following the boat (or on the second wave back ?), but how far from the stern of the boat are the first and second waves. I don't want to buy a piece of tow rope that is too shor...

A few days ago we took delivery of a handsome looking 10-foot dinghy to serve as a tender for Baraka, our CD-27, as a sailing dinghy for my daugher and as a rowing dinghy for my wife. Our new Bauer-10 sports a black hull and tanbark sails. My question is what is the appropriate length and material f...

The manual bilge pump on my CD27 has stopped working. When I pump the handle in the cockpit, quite a bit of pressure builds up, but no water is being pumped out. Is there anything obvious an simple I should check and/or repair before asking the boatyard to take a look at it?


Joel

I sail my CD27 around Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island, and am planning to do more cruising and overnighting than I usually do this summer. I am seeking advice from the readers of this board on what I should carry for anchors and how much chain I should have on the anchor rode. Currently we carry tw...

I received an email for a product called Aurora HP Bottom wax "with VS721" ... superhydrophobic biorelease polymer .... (supercalifragilisticexpialodocious?). Claims to keep your boat or dighy's bottom free of algae, zebra mussels, barnacles without bottom paint. I've never heard of such a...