early vs late

[Alan Holman]

I like to tap the collected wisdom of the board to find out if there are any thoughts on the earlier versions of the Cape Dory 25, say those built in the early to mid-70s, versus the later versions built in the late 70s to '82. Are they essentially the same, or are there differences in construction or materials, differences in the craftsmanship? Overall, given two well-maintained boats, would one from the early years be better than a later version, or vice-versa?

[mgphl52]

One main difference is the ports. The first CD25 (#648, 1978?) I owned did not have the opening bronze ports. The last one (#693, 1979) did have the bronze ports. Because there was 17+ years between the time I had the CD25s, I don't remember any other major differences.

[DaleVP]

I have a 1968 Greenwich 24 Hull # 13, some of the differences that I have noted are placement of fuel tanks port and starboard amidships, the motor cover is only 24 inches square, I do not know if this is due to a retrofit or original but the portholes are lexan and are not able to open also the bronze piece that the forestay connects to is a stainless steel piece supported by a wood block. I am in an extensive renovation and would appreciate the sharing of any information. My boat has been sitting under a carport for 12 - 15 years (according to neighbors) and I believe it is the best $100.00 i have ever spent. My goal is to have her back in the water by 4th of July Weekend next year

[Steve Laume]

I
My boat has been sitting under a carport for 12 - 15 years (according to neighbors) and I believe it is the best $100.00 i have ever spent. My goal is to have her back in the water by 4th of July Weekend next year

It might be the most expensive $100.00 you ever spent too.

I used to have this joke about a canoe a guy was willing to give me but I insisted on paying him $10.00. A tree had fallen on it, the wood was all rotted and the gel coat was beyond dull, it was lichen covered.

I mostly wanted it for the project.

When the restoration was done it was beautiful.

It has always been the $10.00 canoe that cost about $800.00. I don't think it was quite that bad unless you count labor and then it was probably worse but it was a fun project and it felt good to bring it back.

So congratulations on your $100.00 / $?,000.00 sailboat and have blast bringing her back into shape. The Greenwich 24 is certainly a worthwhile candidate for your efforts, Steve.

[Carl Thunberg]

The first generation of CD25s had plastic framed port lights. At least that's what I've been told, but I've yet to see a CD25 with plastic framed portlights, so I don't think they were in production very long. The second generation of port lights were metal framed, but I don't know what the alloy was. You see lots of these CD25s out there, including my former 1975 CD25. Finally, there's the bronze opening ports in the later CD25s. I seem to vaguely remember an old thread in the archives that outlines which production years had which ports, but I'm at work right now and don't have the time to do a proper search of the archives.

I'm not aware that there were many other differences, other than switching from blue non-skid to beige at roughly the same time the bronze port lights were added. Some were built with a head and holding tank and some were built with a porta-potty at the customer's request.

[Jerry Hammernik]

Early models did not have a bridgedeck. Not sure when the change occurred, but by the time of my 78 (Hull #584) the bridgedeck was in. I think it is important from a safety and strength point.

The factory did a retro modification to mine to strengthen the boat in the area of the mast step and the companionway. I can only presume that they made those modifications during the build in later years.

BTW my 78 had plastic portlight frames.