CD27 sailing characteristics (vs 25D/26 or even 25)

[JSS]

I'm interested in the group's comments on the sailing characteristics of the CD27 vs the smaller models ... CD25D/26 in particular.
Stability, ease of handling, ease of singlehandling. I'm interested in a boat that is easy to singlehand, will move along in lighter (5 -10kt) winds, yet will not easily get overpowered in 12-15kt winds with higher gusts. My family dislikes heeling much past 10 or 12 degrees, so flatter is better. I know... all boats are comopromises ... just interested to hear impressions, especially if you've sailed both models.



joels@ids.net

[Warren Kaplan]

I'm interested in the group's comments on the sailing characteristics of the CD27 vs the smaller models ... CD25D/26 in particular.
Stability, ease of handling, ease of singlehandling. I'm interested in a boat that is easy to singlehand, will move along in lighter (5 -10kt) winds, yet will not easily get overpowered in 12-15kt winds with higher gusts. My family dislikes heeling much past 10 or 12 degrees, so flatter is better. I know... all boats are comopromises ... just interested to hear impressions, especially if you've sailed both models.

I sail a CD27 and its a great boat!! Haven't sailed the other boats. The 27 is very easy to handle. Heels a bit at the beginning but stiffens up pretty quickly. I've been out in 30 knots (unknowingly..just seemed plenty windy at the time) with both full main and 110% genny up and she sailed very well. Alot of weather helm and she did heel alot but not uncomfortably or dangerously that day. Of course they put reef points in sails for days like that but I was having too much fun to bother. The point is that the CD27 can take alot of wind and sail very well. If your family doesn't like heeling, throw a reef in at about 15 knots (or a little earlier if they prefer it that way) and a second one in at around 20 knots give or take a few mph and it will do wonders for keeping the boat "on an even keel" as well as reducing heavy weather helm that will wear you out after a while. The 27 is a solid boat in good wind and it feels it too under sail.
The boat is pretty easy to sail single handedly. Of course it gets easier if you set it up that way. Things like roller furling head sails, lazy jacks or a Dutchman system for the main, leading many or all lines back to the cockpit make things much easier for the single hander. The more you do, the easier it gets.
Hope this helps!
Warren



Setsail728@aol.com

[Bob]

I'm interested in the group's comments on the sailing characteristics of the CD27 vs the smaller models ... CD25D/26 in particular.
Stability, ease of handling, ease of singlehandling. I'm interested in a boat that is easy to singlehand, will move along in lighter (5 -10kt) winds, yet will not easily get overpowered in 12-15kt winds with higher gusts. My family dislikes heeling much past 10 or 12 degrees, so flatter is better. I know... all boats are comopromises ... just interested to hear impressions, especially if you've sailed both models.

All the Carl Alberg designed Cape Dories have narrow beam compared to other contemporary yacht designers. If you can not tolerate a heel of past 15 degrees you should not be thinking of getting a Cape Dory. All the Cape Dories heel initially to windward but will stiffen up after 15-25 degrees depending on wind conditions. These boats like to heel to windward because they sail better when heeled to windward and they also sail faster when heeling. Some boats like to sail to windward with less heel but that is due to their hull configuration.

I'm not trying to talk you out of buying a Cape Dory but just trying to be realistic. The best way for you to check this out is find someone in your area that has the boat you are seeking and go for a sail.

Bob
S/V Ranger #144
1984 CD25D



Ranger1442@hotmail.com

[Dana]

I have sailed both the CD25D and CD26. Both feel about the same. I have only been aboard the CD27 but I believe it is also very similar from listening to their owners. As others have stated the CD is the one you want to have in rough weather or if a storm blows up. A simple way of looking at the CD is to consider it a coke bottle floating in the water. It ducks and bobs in flat water...and would seem very unstable. But put it into a steep wave "wall" coming at it and you can probably visualize that the coke bottle "rides" up the front of the wave still pointing up and as the wave passes by the bottle still points up as it rides "down" the back side of the wave. A flater, wider boat would try to follow the slope of the wave as it approached and passed by. Thus you get a very steep heel in one direction as the wave approaches and then you are quickly heeled in the other direction as the wave passes and you ride down the reverse side. So other designs will give you great stablity in flat water but will try to follow the slope of the water in a heavy wave.

Thus many CD owners have elected to have a boat which is kind to the crew and boat in heavy seas and have accepted a 15-20 degree heel under normal sailing. Another attribute is minimizing the amount of hull pounding into a short 1-3 wave chop. Since the hull bottom is not flat it tends to ease down into the next wave rather than pound into it. I wish we could convince you that getting use to a firm steady 15 dgree heel does not take long at all. You may want to charter one of these for an afternoon before making a decision....

Dana

___________

I'm interested in the group's comments on the sailing characteristics of the CD27 vs the smaller models ... CD25D/26 in particular.
Stability, ease of handling, ease of singlehandling. I'm interested in a boat that is easy to singlehand, will move along in lighter (5 -10kt) winds, yet will not easily get overpowered in 12-15kt winds with higher gusts. My family dislikes heeling much past 10 or 12 degrees, so flatter is better. I know... all boats are comopromises ... just interested to hear impressions, especially if you've sailed both models.

darenius@aol.com