CD Typhoon Questions

[Jonathan Craig]

I have a few questions in looking at the Typhoon as a first time boat. My wife is an inexperienced sailor, but wanting to give it a try. We also have an infant, and I grew up sailing small boats. Will the Typhoon be a good boat for us to start out with in Buzzards Bay, MA where it can get fairly choppy?

Also, I know of a 1971 Typhoon Weekender being sold by a friend who is the original owner. They are conservative sailors, and seem to care well for her. The boat is moored in the summer. Is there anything I should watch out for specifically in looking at a CD 19'? Also, does anyone know if the hull and deck are solid glass or wood core?

Thanks for any input you might have.

Jonathan



jcraig@mediaone.net

[Brent Musolf]

Jonathan,

The Ty is a very good, seakindly boat. I used to have one and sailed it in the gulf of mexico. At many times was the boat was pushed and never once was I scared or worried that it could not perform to the task at hand. That it not saying be stupid but it will bring you home in all but the most severe cases, say a small huricane or something along those lines. The deck is balsa cored. Things to look for are the backing plates, there are none. Make sure the fittings are not pulling through the deck. Also look at the mast step. This is a good place for galvanic corosion to take place. Any Questions please call me at my office during the week at (734) 676-6004. Always am willing to talk boats.

Brent



docmusolf@wnol.net

[Stu Timm]

I have a few questions in looking at the Typhoon as a first time boat. Is there anything I should watch out for specifically in looking at a CD 19'? Also, does anyone know if the hull and deck are solid glass or wood core?

Hi Jonathan,

Good pick on starting with the CD-19. I am looking for one also, and have unfortunately seen the bottom of the barrel thus far. Things to look out for on older Typhoons are cracking around the cabin house at the deck. The mast on these boats is stepped directly to the cabin roof, and in held from crashing through by a fiberglass arch within the cabin. Over time, and with improper rig tuning, (over-tightening) the cabin roof will start to sag. Many owners have installed a post under the mast within the cabin to prop it and the cabin roof back up again to original specs. Look at the postings on this website for messages under this subject.

The back deck of the boat can be a problem area. I saw a Typhoon with a soft back deck. The mainsheet block is attached to the deck, and was wobbly to the touch, not a good thing in the strong, blustery winds of a place like Buzzard's Bay! I believe the deck core is balsa (IF ANYONE KNOWS OTHERWISE, PLEASE PIPE UP!)and can get spongy if water gets in there. Walk the deck and let your feet tell you if there's any softness. A good marine surveyor can also find this out also.

The rudders may have decay, corrosion or delamination about the post bearings and the seat bearing at the keel. Generally the hulls were made to strong specs, and I have not seen any hulls with blistering problems, kudos to Cape Dory.

Well that's the major items to look for aside from the more common items associated with an older boat (old running rigging, old stays, deck fittings, hardware, interior cushions, etc.)

They're classic looking vessels, I hope you find yourself one soon!

Happy hunting.

regards,

Stu Timm



mitshu@juno.com

[Jim Ehrenfried]

I have a few questions in looking at the Typhoon as a first time boat. My wife is an inexperienced sailor, but wanting to give it a try. We also have an infant, and I grew up sailing small boats. Will the Typhoon be a good boat for us to start out with in Buzzards Bay, MA where it can get fairly choppy?

Also, I know of a 1971 Typhoon Weekender being sold by a friend who is the original owner. They are conservative sailors, and seem to care well for her. The boat is moored in the summer. Is there anything I should watch out for specifically in looking at a CD 19'? Also, does anyone know if the hull and deck are solid glass or wood core?

Thanks for any input you might have.

Jonathan

Jonathan,

My wife & I were in the exact same circumstance as you. I had sailed dinghys, she had only a little sailing experience, and we had a young child. We moved up from our dinghy to a Ty.

We sailed it in Sebago Lake, ME (choppy like Buzzard's Bay), Plymouth Harbor and Buzzard's Bay (current spot).

With some patience and thorough checking, you should be able to find a structurally sound Ty in the So. New England area.

The sailing tradeoffs go something like this. The Ty is a very stable, easy to sail rig that should be a good learning platform for your wife. We brought our son on trips when he was 1 and he has been very comfortable onboard. He gets a little tired of the relaxed sailing pace, goes below with his toys and usually naps for hours.
This gives my wife and I some welcomed quiet time. My wife has now become comfortable enough to take the helm for long stretches.

The Typhoon is relatively easy to maintain, and a fairly low cost boat. We have a trailer so we can store the boat at home, but the rig weighs about 2700 lbs loaded, so a larger vehicle is required. We have an SUV, but the previous owner used a full-sized van. It's easy to handle the ropes, with no or minimal winching required. It reacts deliberatley like a larger boat, but it's not as slow as rumored.

The compromise is that it is a small boat that we use almost exclusively as a daysailer. The sanitary facilities are a porta poty cramped and somewhat exposed. If anyone in the group are particularly modest about that, well... I have slept overnite and the berths have quite a bit of space once you are in them, but head room is tight. I'm a bit claustrophobic anyway, so I ended up sleeping in the cockpit, which wasn't too bad.

Underway, the boat's very comfortable for 3 adults, workable with 4 adults, and cramped beyond that. I have sailed with 3 adults & 3 kids, and 4 adults and 2 kids in fair weather. I wouldn't do that every day or in steep seas. The shallow draft is great for getting across shoals, getting near beaches, etc. The good Cape Dory lines always draw positive comments. The other good thing about Ty's is that there is a good resale market, and you won't lose much (if any) in depreciation.

Buzzard's Bay can get pretty rough. If sailed half intelligently, the Ty can handle alot and get you home safely. I had it out solo last summer in 25 kts with 6-7 ft chop. The question becomes was it fun, and would my wife still sail after the experience? There have been some days when I wanted to go out, but decided against it because of seas. Also there were a couple of times where I would have liked to accomodate additional guests. From a pure sailing standpoint, if I did it again, I would probably go with the CD22 or 25. The issue there is cost, trailering ease and maintenance time, which are all a premium for a family with an infant. Overall, I'm very pleased with our decision to buy a Ty, because we can sail alot and haven't exhausted our son's college fund.

If you are selective about weather, the Typhoon is a wonderful boat for the family to learn on. If you all decide to move up in a few years you can. If you want to continue primarily daysailing, you have a great boat for it, and for teaching your child to sail.

Our boat is in Red Brook Harbor

Regards,

Jim Ehrenfried
TY 272
"Slipknot"



jfreeds@msn.com