Choosing a CD25

[Dave Bristle]

I'm seriously considering buying a CD25, and would like to hear from its owners what I should watch out for or look for as I compare them. Thanks to Jon for his history lesson posted in July--I now know that a few brokers' photos showing the bronze ports (something I've always admired on CDs) must be from a brochure--not from the actual boat... What do you owners wish you'd known when you were buying yours?

Thanks in advance,
Dave in CT



bristle@att.net

[Linda Swiatocha]

We bought a 1980 CD25 in April of this year, and had it trucked down from upsate New York to the Chesapeake Bay area. It is a great boat, not as tender as I thought it would be. After looking at a few older CD25's, we decided to buy a 1979 or newer to get the bronze ports and real teak down below. She's fun to sail, but the things we don't like about her are: 1) the outboard in the lazarette--smelly when the wind is coming across the stern and hard to back into our slip; 2) headroom down below. We now think a CD 30 would have been more appropriate for how we want to use the boat. Hope this helps in your search.



oh2wander@aol.com

[Dave Bristle]

Thanks for that. Headroom is not a big thing for me--my size (LOA) and budget constraints dictate against headroom. But what about backing up--can you turn the motor in the lazarette? Are you satisfied with the turning radius? I need to be able to back into a tight spot, as I currently do quite nicely with my day sailer. (The spot will be somewhat larger, but tight.)

- Dave



bristle@att.net

[David Hodos]

My wife and I really enjoy our CD25 which we purchased this spring. Backing up, as you can see from some comments on this site, can be very challenging to say the least. I finally decided to give up and dock the boat bow in. At least I can make it in before they close the bar.



dhodossr@aol.com

[Dave Bristle]

That IS important... At my municipal club, we use transom brackets on the dock--no finger docks, and no pilings for bow lines. So, I need to back in between two boats. I'll definitely have to test some moves like that. Can you use the engine to turn, or is that impractical or impossible? How about with the somewhat larger 4-strokes?



bristle@att.net

[Linda Swiatocha]

There isn't much room in our 1980's lazarette to turn the motor. I do my best to fend off the pilings and walk the boat in. The tiller and rudder are useless for steering when backing and of course the wind direction is always adding to the equation. Our motor is very old and the throttle is a bit sticky. We plan to get a new 4 stroke (with a kill button, so we don't inadvertently shut off the motor at a critical time), but from what I have read on this board, the CD25 will still make us look incompentent when backing. Good luck.



oh2wander@aol.com

[Bill Smith]

I have a 73 cd25 with an 8 hp nissan electric start. There is plenty of room to turn the motor in the lazerette so backing is no problem.
Along with no head room there is also no head room.
The boat sails good after putting some ballast in the forepeak



rwsmth@aol.com

[David Hodos]

I have a 10 h.p. Honda 4 stroke, and if there is any kind of wind, I had a real hard time backing in to a finger dock! My prior boat was a Catalina Capri 25 with a 5 hp outboard, and I made it 1st time, every time regardless of wind strength. Quite a difference. Now that I dock bow in, I can sail single-handed. I fee that the stern design and my position in the marina allows this type of mooring. I really love the boat, and gave up a pristine Capri 25 for a very 'average' CD25, but I think it was well worth it. My wife and I have sailed this a lot more.



dhodossr@aol.com

[Don Carr]

IMHO there is nothing average about the CD25. When the winds and seas kick up here on Long Island/Block Island Sound I don't see too many Capri 25 's out. Yes the boat may be average or below average in PHRF ratings but I get a lot of comments from other sailors in their 'above average' boats, as I'm sure you do. Cramped by modern standards, I find this a plus on rougher days. These boats are classic, full keel pocket cruisers with attendant issues of said. Cruising World listed the CD25 on their top-ten best buys in used boats in their July issue.
Pardon my fierce loyalty to the boat.

Regards.
Don Carr
s/v Camanae



carrd48@netzero.net

[Dave Bristle]

Thanks, Don--it's that seaworthiness and solidity that I'm looking for, and the comments are a plus that no sailor can truthfully ignore! Headroom is not an issue--head room only slightly more so. But precision backing is a necessity--I'll have to figure out a way to test that.



bristle@att.net

[Max Treece]

I agree with you Don. Cape Dory has always been a cut above any other boat that I have sailed. "Average" fits many of the others but not Cape Dory.

IMHO there is nothing average about the CD25. When the winds and seas kick up here on Long Island/Block Island Sound I don't see too many Capri 25 's out. Yes the boat may be average or below average in PHRF ratings but I get a lot of comments from other sailors in their 'above average' boats, as I'm sure you do. Cramped by modern standards, I find this a plus on rougher days. These boats are classic, full keel pocket cruisers with attendant issues of said. Cruising World listed the CD25 on their top-ten best buys in used boats in their July issue.
Pardon my fierce loyalty to the boat.

Regards.
Don Carr
s/v Camanae

metreece@ureach.com

[Brian A.]

We tied our CD25 stern-first in a narrow slip for over 10 years. With practice, you can learn to back in with grace and dignity-especially if your engine has swivel room (our 8 hp 2-stroke gives us just enough). You will need to learn to read the wind and current and compensate accordingly-sometimes you may have to begin backing toward the slip at a 45 degree angle. In addition, you can make corrections by shifting between forward and reverse while alternating the direction of the engine. A short burst in forward gear with the engine turned will corrct your angle of approach more effectively than attemting to "pull" the stern around strictly in reverse. Occaisionally, with a cross wind in excess of 18 knots, it's almost impossible to back in under power. Its a great little boat. Good luck. Bt the way, we now keep her on a mooring-but prefer the old slip.

[David Hodos]

By 'average', I was referring to the general condition of the boat! I should be more careful about my choice of words.



dhodossr@aol.com