Likes/Dislikes of CD25?

[Dave Haynes]

I'm considering the purchase of a CD25 and would like to hear from you good folks as to what you like and dislike about the model. Also, are there any common problems that I should look for? How does the boat perform under sail? And finally, what do you do with the outboard while under sail?

Thanks,
Dave

[Bruce Bett]

Dave:

I’m a big fan of the CD25. With a little shining up they are beautiful boats! They are best owned by traditionalists who appreciate the Apollonian qualities of simplicity and sacrifice and perpetual encampment. You also have to be able to zip up your trousers while bent over double. If you’re that kind of guy the CD25 is for you!

The boat is a fine and forgiving sailor. The long full keel makes her track beautifully. Her narrow beam and fine entry make a boat that that will not pound even in a Lake Erie chop. She can be wet. She can tack through 90 degrees. While she is not, and never was a hot rod, she will move along nicely given a little wind. Like most boats of her type she is initially tender but stiffens up when it counts. With a couple of reefs tucked in she can take a lot. She is easily sailed by one or two persons. A great day sailor and a fine little cruiser (for the right kind of guy).

You asked about the motor. Some on this board will tell you to get a light motor and keep it in a locker when underway. I do not doubt that boat sails better that way. I have an old Evenrude 9.9 which barely fits in the well (and has not come out while I have owned the boat). It is too heavy. With 12 gal. of gas the boat squats in the water. On the other hand there have been days when I didn’t feel that 10 hp.was any too much to keep my head to windward.

Not everybody likes these boats. If you’re a racer forget it. If you’re looking for luxurious accommodations, this isn’t your boat. But if you take her where she’s at, love her for what she is, she won’t let you down.

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto
CD25 #496

I'm considering the purchase of a CD25 and would like to hear from you good folks as to what you like and dislike about the model. Also, are there any common problems that I should look for? How does the boat perform under sail? And finally, what do you do with the outboard while under sail?

Thanks,
Dave

bettb@macomb.cc.mi.us

[Dan L.]

.: Dave:

I’m a big fan of the CD25. With a little shining up they are beautiful boats! They are best owned by traditionalists who appreciate the Apollonian qualities of simplicity and sacrifice and perpetual encampment. You also have to be able to zip up your trousers while bent over double. If you’re that kind of guy the CD25 is for you!

The boat is a fine and forgiving sailor. The long full keel makes her track beautifully. Her narrow beam and fine entry make a boat that that will not pound even in a Lake Erie chop. She can be wet. She can tack through 90 degrees. While she is not, and never was a hot rod, she will move along nicely given a little wind. Like most boats of her type she is initially tender but stiffens up when it counts. With a couple of reefs tucked in she can take a lot. She is easily sailed by one or two persons. A great day sailor and a fine little cruiser (for the right kind of guy).

You asked about the motor. Some on this board will tell you to get a light motor and keep it in a locker when underway. I do not doubt that boat sails better that way. I have an old Evenrude 9.9 which barely fits in the well (and has not come out while I have owned the boat). It is too heavy. With 12 gal. of gas the boat squats in the water. On the other hand there have been days when I didn’t feel that 10 hp.was any too much to keep my head to windward.

Not everybody likes these boats. If you’re a racer forget it. If you’re looking for luxurious accommodations, this isn’t your boat. But if you take her where she’s at, love her for what she is, she won’t let you down.

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto
CD25 #496

I'm considering the purchase of a CD25 and would like to hear from you good folks as to what you like and dislike about the model. Also, are there any common problems that I should look for? How does the boat perform under sail? And finally, what do you do with the outboard while under sail?

Thanks,
Dave

Dear Dave,
As someone who has just recently purchased a 1977 CD25, I have great interest in this subject. I just last week sailed her home from the Cape Cod canal to Boston.This was a 43 nautical mile trip that took approximately 10 hours(w/some use of engine). Winds were generally 15 to 20 knots. . the boat performed exceptionally well in my humble opinion as I am a relative beginner.However, some things quickly became apparent to me;
The boat was incredibly stable.
She tracked very well.
She seemed to be aft heavy.
Not having roller reefing is a much bigger hassle than I thought.
This discussion board is great source
of information with very knowledgable people.
sincerely,
Dan L.

[Don Carr]

Dave: Bruce has said it most eloquently. I just have a couple of supporting comments. As far as accomodations are concerned they are a bit cramped for cruising, but that is a double edged sword. On one hand, when the seas kick up a bit and you are bouncing around, you can feel very secure in the cabinand you won't be thrown very far. Second with so little space by 'Clorox Bottle Standards' you will find yourself becoming a lot more organized in your space management and you find that your boat is equiped with 'need to have' rather than 'want to have' equipment. It's your paradigm.

As far as sailing goes this boat is not a light air boat. she really doesn't get up and go until the winds get 12 knots or better. This is one boat that will get you home. I find that she is an extremely well behaved boat in seas from 5-10ft. Following seas do not bother her at all. For a full keel boat she does point fairly well. She seems to sail best at about 15-25 degrees of heel which due to her sheer will also give you a significant addition of waterline (i.e. higher hull speed).

Suggested upgrades. I would eliminate the roller reefing as it is absolutely a nightmare when you do need to reef. Replace it with slab or jiffy reefing ASAP. Secon a boom vang helps immensely in downwind work. Third, invest in a light air sail. I have not regretted purchasing a cruising spinnaker for light/medium air off wind work..makes a big difference between 'bobbing and baking' and actually
enjoying those light air summer afternoons.

Personally this is a perfect boat for me and from a financial perspective works well for my budget. It also fits my sailing style of a small crew or singlehanded daysailing. It does make a great weekend or 1 week cruiser. In my mind the CD25 is a perfect first boat for anyone.



carrd48@netzero.net

[Patrick Meyer]

Don -

After doing a little "bobbing and baking" in my CD25 last year (Chesapeake Bay area), I am interested in purchasing a cruising spinnaker. Do you have any suggestions on what to buy, what to look for, sail weight, etc. etc. I'm a novice at this. The CD25 is my first boat and all of the comments you and others posted are dead on. Thanks for your help.

Patrick



Patrick_Meyer@vanguard.com

[Pat Ballo]

wet boat due to low freeboard. saied in vineyard sound which can be choppy. i was a good solid sturdy boat, but no holding tank for the head and no stand up headroom. not good for my bad back. owned with my ex- husband. eventually we did more and longer cruises and bought a bigger boat. I'm considering the purchase of a CD25 and would like to hear from you good folks as to what you like and dislike about the model. Also, are there any common problems that I should look for? How does the boat perform under sail? And finally, what do you do with the outboard while under sail?

Thanks,
Dave

PJBallo12@aol.com

[Don Carr]

Patrick;
Without getting into the commercial 'proprietary product' stuff, let me say that in the Chesapeake during the summer, a 'cruising' or asymetrical spinaker would be a good thing to have in the light airs.
Spinnakers are made of lightweight Nylon usually from .5 oz to 1.5 oz.
The .5 oz would not be a good investment as it really is designed for winds 0-10 knots anything more than 10 knots and you risk 'blow out',
The 1.5 oz is, of course, on the other end of the spectrum - 'big wind spinn'and is designed for winds from 15-20 knots and on a low wind day it will hang like a curtain. So; having said the above the .75 oz is the most practical weight in my opinion for winds up to about 15 knots.
Now for the commercial part. All major sail lofts make a cruising spinnaker marketed under various names and construction technologies. A cruising spinnaker will set you back from about $800 to $1200 for a CD25 depending on loft, discounts, etc.. Your investment doesn't end with the sail. You must purchase 4 blocks, a masthead bail (if you don't have one already), 2 sheets (each should be 2.5 times the LOA. 5/16 should suffice for a CD25)and a halyard. Many people swear by another device called a sock which assists you in setting and take down of the sail. Personally I don't buy into the sock but just a point for you to ponder.
As far as handling the sail my advise is you find one person who has
experience in handling a cruising spinnaker and have him instruct you on your boat. Technically it takes 3 people to handle the sail (helmsman, middeck trimmer, foredeck sailhandler). Once you gain experience you can nicely control the sail with 2 people in moderate winds. These sails perform very well on broad reach to a run; CAUTIONARY NOTE: DO NOT LET THE SAIL GO TOO FAR TO LEEWARD LEST YOU TAKE A SPECTACULAR BROACH.

Hope this helps.

Don



carrd48@netzero.net

[Al Levesque]

I'm considering the purchase of a CD25 and would like to hear from you good folks as to what you like and dislike about the model. Also, are there any common problems that I should look for? How does the boat perform under sail? And finally, what do you do with the outboard while under sail?

We changed (eventually) to the larger CD33 but still recall that the CD25 was almost ideal. Perhaps the only thing we missed was not having an alternator on the outboard to recharge our battery.

On the other hand, the 6hp outboard was light enough that we easily stored it in the starboard seat locker on foam padding when we didn't need it.

Al



albertlevesque@cove.com

[Patrick Meyer]

Don -

Thanks for the help and your objective response. I'll look into this now that I'm armed with a little more information.



Patrick_Meyer@vanguard.com