Hi folks,
I am shopping for a 30 ft sailboat and Cape Dory's have often been recommended. I plan on long term crusing, covering the East coast, Maine to Fla, on the icw and outside. Then possibly to the Bahamas, and then the Caribian.
Is this REALLY a good crusing choice? Why... specifics...... what is a CD 30 MK II anyway? why so much more $ . There are so many choices, Cape Dory's seem to be recommended highly.
This is a grest site and I value your opinions!!!!!
Thanks in advance,
Frank
CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Warren Kaplan
Re: CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
FRank,Frank King wrote: Hi folks,
I am shopping for a 30 ft sailboat and Cape Dory's have often been recommended. I plan on long term crusing, covering the East coast, Maine to Fla, on the icw and outside. Then possibly to the Bahamas, and then the Caribian.
Is this REALLY a good crusing choice? Why... specifics...... what is a CD 30 MK II anyway? why so much more $ . There are so many choices, Cape Dory's seem to be recommended highly.
This is a grest site and I value your opinions!!!!!
Thanks in advance,
Frank
I sail a CD27 so I can't help you but I think most of the CD30 sailors would first want to know how many people are "regularly" going to be cruising with you. The 30 is a nice sized boat but if you are going to have alot of people I imagine it might get a little tight.
Just my opinion of the top of my head.
Warren
Setsail728@aol.com
-
Larry Demers
Re: CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
Hi,
Well, as the other poster said..depends on the number of souls gracing this vessel. I have had our DeLaMer for 10+ years now, and have 12,000 miles approx. on Lake Superior.
If you can answer yes to the following, I would say that the boat would work for you.
If the usual crew is 2, both of which are sailors.
If you have previously experienced and enjoyed backpacking (living in a small boat is like extravagant backpacking, and a lot of the same sensibilities apply).
If you are willing to learn the boats systems, go through each thoroughly, replenish, repair or replace as is needed, without trying to shoehorn the outfitting into a budget. Rigging will need to be replaced, running rigging probably also.
I would cruise my CD30 anywhere I was fool enough to go, and have no doubt that she would stand by me well, should I go into areas that ought to be missed by the prudent sailor. However, experience the boat well before expecting to put her in unusual conditions. This is true of all boats really.
The ICW is mainly a motor. The engine on the CD30 is a Volvo MD7B, developing 13 hp, before refrigeration, high output chargers, desalinators and other goodies are added. Not much. I have had to learn to sail the hull in 50+ knot winds where I am trying to gain footage on the wind, as the engine will at best push you at 2-3 kts in those winds..and these were only 10 ft. seas inside the islands. Coming off the wind to 45 deg, I was able to get 5kts...all at 2600 rpm!! In situations like this, I would have liked perhaps 2x the power of course, but would have been fine with say 20 hp. In the end, 13hp slowly did the trick, we survived and the boat is still our loved home...but with many thousands more miles on her.
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 #283
~~~~~~~~~Sailing Lake Superior~~~~~~
demers@sgi.com
Well, as the other poster said..depends on the number of souls gracing this vessel. I have had our DeLaMer for 10+ years now, and have 12,000 miles approx. on Lake Superior.
If you can answer yes to the following, I would say that the boat would work for you.
If the usual crew is 2, both of which are sailors.
If you have previously experienced and enjoyed backpacking (living in a small boat is like extravagant backpacking, and a lot of the same sensibilities apply).
If you are willing to learn the boats systems, go through each thoroughly, replenish, repair or replace as is needed, without trying to shoehorn the outfitting into a budget. Rigging will need to be replaced, running rigging probably also.
I would cruise my CD30 anywhere I was fool enough to go, and have no doubt that she would stand by me well, should I go into areas that ought to be missed by the prudent sailor. However, experience the boat well before expecting to put her in unusual conditions. This is true of all boats really.
The ICW is mainly a motor. The engine on the CD30 is a Volvo MD7B, developing 13 hp, before refrigeration, high output chargers, desalinators and other goodies are added. Not much. I have had to learn to sail the hull in 50+ knot winds where I am trying to gain footage on the wind, as the engine will at best push you at 2-3 kts in those winds..and these were only 10 ft. seas inside the islands. Coming off the wind to 45 deg, I was able to get 5kts...all at 2600 rpm!! In situations like this, I would have liked perhaps 2x the power of course, but would have been fine with say 20 hp. In the end, 13hp slowly did the trick, we survived and the boat is still our loved home...but with many thousands more miles on her.
Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30 #283
~~~~~~~~~Sailing Lake Superior~~~~~~
Frank King wrote: Hi folks,
I am shopping for a 30 ft sailboat and Cape Dory's have often been recommended. I plan on long term crusing, covering the East coast, Maine to Fla, on the icw and outside. Then possibly to the Bahamas, and then the Caribian.
Is this REALLY a good crusing choice? Why... specifics...... what is a CD 30 MK II anyway? why so much more $ . There are so many choices, Cape Dory's seem to be recommended highly.
This is a grest site and I value your opinions!!!!!
Thanks in advance,
Frank
demers@sgi.com
-
Andy Denmark
Re: CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
Frank,
The Alberg designed Cape Dory 30 is a good boat for what you envision. My personal preference is the ketch rig. Are the CD's worth the extra $$$ -- IMHO yes, with some qualifiers. As a delivery captain with a few years (decades?) offshore and first-hand experience sailing both the ICW and the other places you've mentioned, there are some realities you might want to address.
First is the number and sizes of persons aboard on a full-time basis. Three is about all a 30 footer can handle as permanent crew and hopefully one of them is a little person. There's simply not enough room for gear and stores for more to live in any civilized fashion. Guests tend to visit while one is in these exotic places and we've always been able to make do somehow, even with people sleeping in the cockpit and on the cabin sole. These are short term things. I've done extended cruising on Rhiannon (CD-27) with another adult and a four year old with no difficulties. Another full-time body would have made this a miserable experience.
Second is the boat's systems. Simpler is better by orders of magnitude. No one who has not been to sea for extended cruising can appreciate the toll salt air and constant motion takes on things. Refrigeration is the big energy consumer and the most failure-prone . It'one thing you can live comfortably without! Ditto for fancy electronic stuff -- high output alternators (mostly for refrigeration -- no surprise here), sophisticated generation and regulation and monitoring stuff, ad nauseum. KISS is the byword offshore. Straightforward 12 V. systems, a well-insulated icebox, no big energy consumers except for communications (Ham is best here), all make for less maintenance and more enjoyment (unless you're one of these gear-heads who would rather be aboard screwing around with stuff than snorkelling in the blue holes in the bight of Old Robinson with the rest of the crew). Parts, duties, repair facilities and customer service people don't exist "out there." Adequate essential spares and tools are an absolute must and these take considerable planning and foresight.
Another consideration is the power plant. The MD-7 is adequate for a 30 footer because it is reliable and miserly on fuel. Practically the only time one uses the engine is when there is no wind (doldrums). Trying to push thousands of pounds of boat against a strong wind with 13 H.P. is sort of senseless anyway -- the experienced sailor will stand off until conditions change rather than try and punch into that stuff. Trying to power into anything attached to land in those conditions usually puts one into proximity of things that go crunch against the hull, an experience that is best avoided. But get-there-itus seems to be an affliction of those who need to get to work, etc., and they risk their boats and crews to this end.
Cape Dorys can be long-legged craft if properly fitted out. Changing standing rigging, as someone suggested, is not necessary except as wear might indicate. I'm still sailing with original stuff and it's fine. These boats are generally over-engineered and over-built with a couple of notable exceptions. If anything, I would suggest rewiring and new, good sails. Cheap, ill-designed or blown out sails will make sailing miserable in any boat. Keep the old rags for spares. Alberg Cape Dories, particulary the 27, 30, 33, 36 are great sea boats except they are WET. In heavy stuff water and spray comes aboard compared to other boats with more freeboard. The 33 and 36 are not so bad as the smaller ones. The upside is they are all ultimately safe, seaworthy and seakindly. Can't say that about Hunter, Beneteau, Catalina, Island Piglet, et al.
Hope this helps. It's all very opinionated but based on personal, been there-done that, experience. If you'd like more of this old man's opinions I'd be most happy to share them by personal email.
Oh, there's one more thing. When you're anchored in the Tobago Keys and everyone notices you're the "classiest boat in the anchorage" there's a sense of pride that can't be matched any other way!
Andy Denmark
CD-27 "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
35*05.1 N 076*38.7 W
trekker@coastalnet.com
The Alberg designed Cape Dory 30 is a good boat for what you envision. My personal preference is the ketch rig. Are the CD's worth the extra $$$ -- IMHO yes, with some qualifiers. As a delivery captain with a few years (decades?) offshore and first-hand experience sailing both the ICW and the other places you've mentioned, there are some realities you might want to address.
First is the number and sizes of persons aboard on a full-time basis. Three is about all a 30 footer can handle as permanent crew and hopefully one of them is a little person. There's simply not enough room for gear and stores for more to live in any civilized fashion. Guests tend to visit while one is in these exotic places and we've always been able to make do somehow, even with people sleeping in the cockpit and on the cabin sole. These are short term things. I've done extended cruising on Rhiannon (CD-27) with another adult and a four year old with no difficulties. Another full-time body would have made this a miserable experience.
Second is the boat's systems. Simpler is better by orders of magnitude. No one who has not been to sea for extended cruising can appreciate the toll salt air and constant motion takes on things. Refrigeration is the big energy consumer and the most failure-prone . It'one thing you can live comfortably without! Ditto for fancy electronic stuff -- high output alternators (mostly for refrigeration -- no surprise here), sophisticated generation and regulation and monitoring stuff, ad nauseum. KISS is the byword offshore. Straightforward 12 V. systems, a well-insulated icebox, no big energy consumers except for communications (Ham is best here), all make for less maintenance and more enjoyment (unless you're one of these gear-heads who would rather be aboard screwing around with stuff than snorkelling in the blue holes in the bight of Old Robinson with the rest of the crew). Parts, duties, repair facilities and customer service people don't exist "out there." Adequate essential spares and tools are an absolute must and these take considerable planning and foresight.
Another consideration is the power plant. The MD-7 is adequate for a 30 footer because it is reliable and miserly on fuel. Practically the only time one uses the engine is when there is no wind (doldrums). Trying to push thousands of pounds of boat against a strong wind with 13 H.P. is sort of senseless anyway -- the experienced sailor will stand off until conditions change rather than try and punch into that stuff. Trying to power into anything attached to land in those conditions usually puts one into proximity of things that go crunch against the hull, an experience that is best avoided. But get-there-itus seems to be an affliction of those who need to get to work, etc., and they risk their boats and crews to this end.
Cape Dorys can be long-legged craft if properly fitted out. Changing standing rigging, as someone suggested, is not necessary except as wear might indicate. I'm still sailing with original stuff and it's fine. These boats are generally over-engineered and over-built with a couple of notable exceptions. If anything, I would suggest rewiring and new, good sails. Cheap, ill-designed or blown out sails will make sailing miserable in any boat. Keep the old rags for spares. Alberg Cape Dories, particulary the 27, 30, 33, 36 are great sea boats except they are WET. In heavy stuff water and spray comes aboard compared to other boats with more freeboard. The 33 and 36 are not so bad as the smaller ones. The upside is they are all ultimately safe, seaworthy and seakindly. Can't say that about Hunter, Beneteau, Catalina, Island Piglet, et al.
Hope this helps. It's all very opinionated but based on personal, been there-done that, experience. If you'd like more of this old man's opinions I'd be most happy to share them by personal email.
Oh, there's one more thing. When you're anchored in the Tobago Keys and everyone notices you're the "classiest boat in the anchorage" there's a sense of pride that can't be matched any other way!
Andy Denmark
CD-27 "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
35*05.1 N 076*38.7 W
trekker@coastalnet.com
-
Warren Moore
Re: CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
Andy,
I'm curious, you mention the 27,30,33, and 36 as good sea boats. Why not include the 28? The 27, 28, and 30 are so much alike they would all seem to be excellent choices.
Warren Moore
CD 28 Crisscross
wmoore@peconic.net
I'm curious, you mention the 27,30,33, and 36 as good sea boats. Why not include the 28? The 27, 28, and 30 are so much alike they would all seem to be excellent choices.
Warren Moore
CD 28 Crisscross
Andy Denmark wrote: Frank,
The Alberg designed Cape Dory 30 is a good boat for what you envision. My personal preference is the ketch rig. Are the CD's worth the extra $$$ -- IMHO yes, with some qualifiers. As a delivery captain with a few years (decades?) offshore and first-hand experience sailing both the ICW and the other places you've mentioned, there are some realities you might want to address.
First is the number and sizes of persons aboard on a full-time basis. Three is about all a 30 footer can handle as permanent crew and hopefully one of them is a little person. There's simply not enough room for gear and stores for more to live in any civilized fashion. Guests tend to visit while one is in these exotic places and we've always been able to make do somehow, even with people sleeping in the cockpit and on the cabin sole. These are short term things. I've done extended cruising on Rhiannon (CD-27) with another adult and a four year old with no difficulties. Another full-time body would have made this a miserable experience.
Second is the boat's systems. Simpler is better by orders of magnitude. No one who has not been to sea for extended cruising can appreciate the toll salt air and constant motion takes on things. Refrigeration is the big energy consumer and the most failure-prone . It'one thing you can live comfortably without! Ditto for fancy electronic stuff -- high output alternators (mostly for refrigeration -- no surprise here), sophisticated generation and regulation and monitoring stuff, ad nauseum. KISS is the byword offshore. Straightforward 12 V. systems, a well-insulated icebox, no big energy consumers except for communications (Ham is best here), all make for less maintenance and more enjoyment (unless you're one of these gear-heads who would rather be aboard screwing around with stuff than snorkelling in the blue holes in the bight of Old Robinson with the rest of the crew). Parts, duties, repair facilities and customer service people don't exist "out there." Adequate essential spares and tools are an absolute must and these take considerable planning and foresight.
Another consideration is the power plant. The MD-7 is adequate for a 30 footer because it is reliable and miserly on fuel. Practically the only time one uses the engine is when there is no wind (doldrums). Trying to push thousands of pounds of boat against a strong wind with 13 H.P. is sort of senseless anyway -- the experienced sailor will stand off until conditions change rather than try and punch into that stuff. Trying to power into anything attached to land in those conditions usually puts one into proximity of things that go crunch against the hull, an experience that is best avoided. But get-there-itus seems to be an affliction of those who need to get to work, etc., and they risk their boats and crews to this end.
Cape Dorys can be long-legged craft if properly fitted out. Changing standing rigging, as someone suggested, is not necessary except as wear might indicate. I'm still sailing with original stuff and it's fine. These boats are generally over-engineered and over-built with a couple of notable exceptions. If anything, I would suggest rewiring and new, good sails. Cheap, ill-designed or blown out sails will make sailing miserable in any boat. Keep the old rags for spares. Alberg Cape Dories, particulary the 27, 30, 33, 36 are great sea boats except they are WET. In heavy stuff water and spray comes aboard compared to other boats with more freeboard. The 33 and 36 are not so bad as the smaller ones. The upside is they are all ultimately safe, seaworthy and seakindly. Can't say that about Hunter, Beneteau, Catalina, Island Piglet, et al.
Hope this helps. It's all very opinionated but based on personal, been there-done that, experience. If you'd like more of this old man's opinions I'd be most happy to share them by personal email.
Oh, there's one more thing. When you're anchored in the Tobago Keys and everyone notices you're the "classiest boat in the anchorage" there's a sense of pride that can't be matched any other way!
Andy Denmark
CD-27 "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
35*05.1 N 076*38.7 W
wmoore@peconic.net
-
Jay Ankers
Re: No...It's a great cruising sailboat!
My wife and I have sailed our Cape Dory 30 (cutter) for the past 3 years from the waters of South Carolina to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Couple of ocean sails and lots of bad weather and high winds. I would not want any other 30 foot boat beneath me and my wife. With a reefed main and small jib, the boat can handle 35-50 knot winds comfortably....in fact it likes it better when blowing over 15.
I agree with the other comments and particularly the one about keeping it simple. The boat is "cozy" so there is not any extra space for water makers, refrigerator compressors, etc....if you want to pack a lot of clothes, food, and water.
Couple of things to work on after buying a CD-30: The bottom needs to be stripped, dried, faired, and epoxy-barrier-coated...but it is a solid hull to start with. The motor should be your best friend and you should enjoy being close to it....I mean that.....there is not much room but you will get used to laying on top of it....and it will pay you back in reliability.
Email if you have any specific questions.
Jay Ankers
s/v Per Diem
#344
jankers@pii-cgmp.com
I agree with the other comments and particularly the one about keeping it simple. The boat is "cozy" so there is not any extra space for water makers, refrigerator compressors, etc....if you want to pack a lot of clothes, food, and water.
Couple of things to work on after buying a CD-30: The bottom needs to be stripped, dried, faired, and epoxy-barrier-coated...but it is a solid hull to start with. The motor should be your best friend and you should enjoy being close to it....I mean that.....there is not much room but you will get used to laying on top of it....and it will pay you back in reliability.
Email if you have any specific questions.
Jay Ankers
s/v Per Diem
#344
jankers@pii-cgmp.com
-
Andy Denmark
Re: CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
Sorry for the oversight -- include the 28 in the list -- it was late and I was tired.Warren Moore wrote: Andy,
I'm curious, you mention the 27,30,33, and 36 as good sea boats. Why not include the 28? The 27, 28, and 30 are so much alike they would all seem to be excellent choices.
Warren Moore
CD 28 Crisscross
Andy Denmark wrote: Frank,
Andy
Warren Moore wrote:Andy Denmark wrote: The Alberg designed Cape Dory 30 is a good boat for what you envision. My personal preference is the ketch rig. Are the CD's worth the extra $$$ -- IMHO yes, with some qualifiers. As a delivery captain with a few years (decades?) offshore and first-hand experience sailing both the ICW and the other places you've mentioned, there are some realities you might want to address.
First is the number and sizes of persons aboard on a full-time basis. Three is about all a 30 footer can handle as permanent crew and hopefully one of them is a little person. There's simply not enough room for gear and stores for more to live in any civilized fashion. Guests tend to visit while one is in these exotic places and we've always been able to make do somehow, even with people sleeping in the cockpit and on the cabin sole. These are short term things. I've done extended cruising on Rhiannon (CD-27) with another adult and a four year old with no difficulties. Another full-time body would have made this a miserable experience.
Second is the boat's systems. Simpler is better by orders of magnitude. No one who has not been to sea for extended cruising can appreciate the toll salt air and constant motion takes on things. Refrigeration is the big energy consumer and the most failure-prone . It'one thing you can live comfortably without! Ditto for fancy electronic stuff -- high output alternators (mostly for refrigeration -- no surprise here), sophisticated generation and regulation and monitoring stuff, ad nauseum. KISS is the byword offshore. Straightforward 12 V. systems, a well-insulated icebox, no big energy consumers except for communications (Ham is best here), all make for less maintenance and more enjoyment (unless you're one of these gear-heads who would rather be aboard screwing around with stuff than snorkelling in the blue holes in the bight of Old Robinson with the rest of the crew). Parts, duties, repair facilities and customer service people don't exist "out there." Adequate essential spares and tools are an absolute must and these take considerable planning and foresight.
Another consideration is the power plant. The MD-7 is adequate for a 30 footer because it is reliable and miserly on fuel. Practically the only time one uses the engine is when there is no wind (doldrums). Trying to push thousands of pounds of boat against a strong wind with 13 H.P. is sort of senseless anyway -- the experienced sailor will stand off until conditions change rather than try and punch into that stuff. Trying to power into anything attached to land in those conditions usually puts one into proximity of things that go crunch against the hull, an experience that is best avoided. But get-there-itus seems to be an affliction of those who need to get to work, etc., and they risk their boats and crews to this end.
Cape Dorys can be long-legged craft if properly fitted out. Changing standing rigging, as someone suggested, is not necessary except as wear might indicate. I'm still sailing with original stuff and it's fine. These boats are generally over-engineered and over-built with a couple of notable exceptions. If anything, I would suggest rewiring and new, good sails. Cheap, ill-designed or blown out sails will make sailing miserable in any boat. Keep the old rags for spares. Alberg Cape Dories, particulary the 27, 30, 33, 36 are great sea boats except they are WET. In heavy stuff water and spray comes aboard compared to other boats with more freeboard. The 33 and 36 are not so bad as the smaller ones. The upside is they are all ultimately safe, seaworthy and seakindly. Can't say that about Hunter, Beneteau, Catalina, Island Piglet, et al.
Hope this helps. It's all very opinionated but based on personal, been there-done that, experience. If you'd like more of this old man's opinions I'd be most happy to share them by personal email.
Oh, there's one more thing. When you're anchored in the Tobago Keys and everyone notices you're the "classiest boat in the anchorage" there's a sense of pride that can't be matched any other way!
Andy Denmark
CD-27 "Rhiannon"
Oriental, NC
35*05.1 N 076*38.7 W
trekker@coastalnet.com
-
Bill Collins
Re: CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
Frank King wrote: I have owned both a CD30 and a CD30MKII, so I can perhaps answer that question. Your other questions about the seaworthy attributes of the Cape Dory have been answered - quite well, I may add. The CD30MKII (only 30 were made - We own "Finally" #29) is a beamier (10.5' vs. 9') and is not an Alberg design. She adds more cabin space, more "creature" comforts, a 22hp Westerbeak engine and more freeboard. Most CD30MKIIs you see on the market will be newer than the original 30 ketch or cutter. For the above reasons the MKIIs will be significantly more expensive. Either would be a grest vessel for your planned agenda. E-maill if you have any other questions. Good luck!
dddelta@earthlink.com
-
Michael Heintz
Re: CD 30 MK II
Frank,
I am new this year to the CD family, and thus far have been sailing primarily Long Island sound, ( with the exception of sailing her up from the Chesapeake ), which by the way was a great cruise.
I did end up buying the MK II after looking at many CD 30's.
The biggest difference is the beam, when they "redesigned" the original CD 30 to the MK II, they increased the beam to 10.6 from 9.3 which essentially gave an additional 35% more room below !!!!!!! It is significant!!!!!!
I too wanted a "cruising" sailboat which I could take offshore and plan on taking her to the Bahamas ( I hope ) this fall. The comments about size and living space as mentioned by the other posts, are to be considered. With this additional space you can easily increase the size of your crew and provisions for extended cruising.
The other MAJOR difference is the size of the engine, The CD 30 MK II has a 21 horsepower Westerbeke, the additional horse power over the 13 horsepower of the regular CD 30 is significant. Not only size but accessibility is much improved with this engine, it is more typical than the Volvo Penta found on standard CD 30's. ie; you have front access to the engine.
I agree with the majority of options regarding "simplicity" of systems when cruising, but if sailing to southern climates , would recommend refrigeration, as ice availably and price make it hard to do any long term cruising. I intend to install refridgeration, and so far the Isotherm system is looking good.
Good luck on your search, take a look at the CD 30 MK II if you see one available, although more costly than the standard 30, it may be what you need for cruising. And stay in tune with this web site!!!!! I have found great answers to every question I have had since buying this CD, this site is an incredable source of information and this family of CD owners are fanatics..... with good reason!!!!
And yes it is nice to be sitting at anchor and have people pull alonside on their ( Catalinas, Hunters etc ) and say what a beautifull sailboat. To own a CD is to own quality and beauty!!!
Michael Heintz
"Macht Nichts" CD 30 MK II 004
Mzenith@aol.com
I am new this year to the CD family, and thus far have been sailing primarily Long Island sound, ( with the exception of sailing her up from the Chesapeake ), which by the way was a great cruise.
I did end up buying the MK II after looking at many CD 30's.
The biggest difference is the beam, when they "redesigned" the original CD 30 to the MK II, they increased the beam to 10.6 from 9.3 which essentially gave an additional 35% more room below !!!!!!! It is significant!!!!!!
I too wanted a "cruising" sailboat which I could take offshore and plan on taking her to the Bahamas ( I hope ) this fall. The comments about size and living space as mentioned by the other posts, are to be considered. With this additional space you can easily increase the size of your crew and provisions for extended cruising.
The other MAJOR difference is the size of the engine, The CD 30 MK II has a 21 horsepower Westerbeke, the additional horse power over the 13 horsepower of the regular CD 30 is significant. Not only size but accessibility is much improved with this engine, it is more typical than the Volvo Penta found on standard CD 30's. ie; you have front access to the engine.
I agree with the majority of options regarding "simplicity" of systems when cruising, but if sailing to southern climates , would recommend refrigeration, as ice availably and price make it hard to do any long term cruising. I intend to install refridgeration, and so far the Isotherm system is looking good.
Good luck on your search, take a look at the CD 30 MK II if you see one available, although more costly than the standard 30, it may be what you need for cruising. And stay in tune with this web site!!!!! I have found great answers to every question I have had since buying this CD, this site is an incredable source of information and this family of CD owners are fanatics..... with good reason!!!!
And yes it is nice to be sitting at anchor and have people pull alonside on their ( Catalinas, Hunters etc ) and say what a beautifull sailboat. To own a CD is to own quality and beauty!!!
Michael Heintz
"Macht Nichts" CD 30 MK II 004
Mzenith@aol.com
-
KENNETH MERSON
Re: CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
I have a 25 CD and sail/travel in the ICW of South Jersey. There are three bridges(that do not open) in my local area that I cannot get under at dead high tide. With my weather vane and antena I need at least 33 feet to get under these bridges. I would assume that the mast on a 33 is taller; I have no idea if there are other bridges on the ICW futher South or North that present similiar challanges.Frank King wrote: Hi folks,
I am shopping for a 30 ft sailboat and Cape Dory's have often been recommended. I plan on long term crusing, covering the East coast, Maine to Fla, on the icw and outside. Then possibly to the Bahamas, and then the Caribian.
Is this REALLY a good crusing choice? Why... specifics...... what is a CD 30 MK II anyway? why so much more $ . There are so many choices, Cape Dory's seem to be recommended highly.
This is a grest site and I value your opinions!!!!!
Thanks in advance,
Frank
I would be concerned about how much the "30" draws, It's a shallow world and at dead low tide there are places that my 3 foot "draw" stops me from going locally in the ICW (but if your patient you have no problems and if you do not ground once in a while you are not using the boat enough).
Good luck
Ken
kmerson@avaloninternet.net
-
KENNETH MERSON
Re: CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
I have a 25 CD and sail/travel in the ICW of South Jersey. There are three bridges(that do not open) in my local area that I cannot get under at dead high tide. With my weather vane and antena I need at least 33 feet to get under these bridges. I would assume that the mast on a 33 is taller; I have no idea if there are other bridges on the ICW futher South or North that present similiar challanges.Frank King wrote: Hi folks,
I am shopping for a 30 ft sailboat and Cape Dory's have often been recommended. I plan on long term crusing, covering the East coast, Maine to Fla, on the icw and outside. Then possibly to the Bahamas, and then the Caribian.
Is this REALLY a good crusing choice? Why... specifics...... what is a CD 30 MK II anyway? why so much more $ . There are so many choices, Cape Dory's seem to be recommended highly.
This is a grest site and I value your opinions!!!!!
Thanks in advance,
Frank
I would be concerned about how much the "30" draws, It's a shallow world and at dead low tide there are places that my 3 foot "draw" stops me from going locally in the ICW (but if your patient you have no problems and if you do not ground once in a while you are not using the boat enough).
Good luck
Ken
kmerson@avaloninternet.net
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Michael Stephano
Re: CD 30 is it a good crusing sailboat?
One of the issues that came up was space (how many on board). I normally sail alone but when the wife and 2 kids are on board it can get kind of small. One of the first things I did when I got the boat was remove the 2 shelves in the v- berth and replace them with collapsable hammocks. All of a sudden I could sleep forward in relative comfort. There is a lot of space available if you look, that is not utilized effectivly.
EXAMPLE: 15 gallon water tank to feed a useless pullout sink in the head. Remove both and you pick up storage in the head and a huge area under the v-berth. You will need to cut access panels in the former. This is a great area for storing bottled water canned beer and drinks etc.
EXAMPLE: Under the sette is an area aft of the water tanks which is just a stuff /stuff in area. Again cut an access in through the top on the strbd side and build dividers to turn that area into bins for storage(dry/can goods etc.)On the port side I have a pull out which makes the bunk bigger but we never use it. I cut an access in that as well and got storage out of it. By the way the access panels that exist have been turned in to small closed bins for odds and ends that are needed on a regular basis.
So for long term cruising the space is there it just needs to be better utilized.
mundo@visi.net
EXAMPLE: 15 gallon water tank to feed a useless pullout sink in the head. Remove both and you pick up storage in the head and a huge area under the v-berth. You will need to cut access panels in the former. This is a great area for storing bottled water canned beer and drinks etc.
EXAMPLE: Under the sette is an area aft of the water tanks which is just a stuff /stuff in area. Again cut an access in through the top on the strbd side and build dividers to turn that area into bins for storage(dry/can goods etc.)On the port side I have a pull out which makes the bunk bigger but we never use it. I cut an access in that as well and got storage out of it. By the way the access panels that exist have been turned in to small closed bins for odds and ends that are needed on a regular basis.
So for long term cruising the space is there it just needs to be better utilized.
mundo@visi.net
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marv brinn
Re: No...It's a great cruising sailboat!
J ay I love my boat and look foward to the day I can sail on open waters .were you on my boat?Jay Ankers wrote: My wife and I have sailed our Cape Dory 30 (cutter) for the past 3 years from the waters of South Carolina to the waters of the Chesapeake Bay. Couple of ocean sails and lots of bad weather and high winds. I would not want any other 30 foot boat beneath me and my wife. With a reefed main and small jib, the boat can handle 35-50 knot winds comfortably....in fact it likes it better when blowing over 15.
I agree with the other comments and particularly the one about keeping it simple. The boat is "cozy" so there is not any extra space for water makers, refrigerator compressors, etc....if you want to pack a lot of clothes, food, and water.
Couple of things to work on after buying a CD-30: The bottom needs to be stripped, dried, faired, and epoxy-barrier-coated...but it is a solid hull to start with. The motor should be your best friend and you should enjoy being close to it....I mean that.....there is not much room but you will get used to laying on top of it....and it will pay you back in reliability.
Email if you have any specific questions.
Jay Ankers
s/v Per Diem
#344
mibrinn@aol.com