Cape Dory´s in Europe?

[Gabriel]

I´m looking for a sailboat to enjoy the coasts of Scandinavia, with the additional goal of a one year trip along the norwegian coast - from the swedish boarder to the Russians up north and back.
Looking at adds for months I have found a few boats that will do the job, but not making me really want to own it. Now there is a boat available here in Norway - a 1982 CD30C ("Sirius") - that really made my heart tick faster, and I´m going to loook closer at her in a few weeks.

I have done enough research to understand it´s a small (inside) and slow boat for the length compared with most of my alternatives, but I love the traditional layout and have sailed long-keeled boats in the far past leaving good memories of stability and ability to go through the chop rather than pounding and stopping at every wave.

A few questions to sailors with first hand experience:
- Is there a good solution available if I want to install an electric autopilot?
- What about sprayhood? The sheet traveller seems to be in the way.
- Detaching the cutter stay to make room for a small dinghy on deck? The boat has a furlex genoa mounted up front, but I don´t know the size of it yet. Or modify the pushpit to act as daviter for the dinghy?

Any other input of interrest for a pretty rusty sailor and "maybe-soon-to-come-CD30Cowner" are most welcome!
Fair winds to all

[Kickin Bears]

We have a 30C:

- Has a Raymarine auto-pilot. I have no doubt other solutions will work too
- Ours has a dodger that ends at (and just under) the traveler
- We have a club boom for our staysail that would make putting a dingy on deck a challenge.

Look fw to seeing other replies! I do love the way the CD30C feels underway

[Gabriel]

Thank you for the response. A dodger with a steep front will fit then, and auto-pilots can be bought without to much hazzle of modifying the construction of the original steering? Thats good news, except the cost of it... I do like the freedom and privacy of staying at anchor, so a tiny dinghy with an engine is sort of a must. But where to put it?

[Cathy Monaghan]

Regarding an autopilot. You’ll have to determine how old that CD30 is. The older boats have worm gear steering and the wheel is mounted on a steering box at the stern. On the newer boats, built after 1980 I think, they have pedestal wheel steering. It’s pretty easy to add a wheelpilot to a boat with a pedestal, but I don’t know about the ones with the worm gears.



- Cathy Monaghan
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

[Kickin Bears]

^^^ good point. Ours is an ‘82, hull #08 so I was assuming it’s as early of a model as can be had for the 30C.

Does the 30C you’re looking at have a club boom? I think an 8.5’ dinghy could fit on deck without one.

[Gabriel]

Thank you Cathy. The boat for sale is buildt in -82, and pictures show it has pedestal steering of the newer type. The owner will be available after holidays next week, so I will get more answers then.

It looks like there is a boom attached to the inner foresail, but no good pictures of the deck in the advert bearkicker.

I don´t find a list of Cape Dory´s abroad? Were few exported or is this association strictly dealing with the US-boats?

[Neil Gordon]

I don´t find a list of Cape Dory´s abroad? Were few exported or is this association strictly dealing with the US-boats?

I suspect few were originally sold abroad. Some crossed over on their own bottoms. As for our association, we're open to owners wherever they and their boats might be.

[psjanker]

I believe that some have mounted nested dinghies both forward and aft of the mast. That would be my choice but for now I use a lightweight inflatable with a small Honda.

I have not found Cape Dories to be especially slow especially regarding being able travel distance. I find that I am having a great sail when many are stuck at the dock! I recall arriving at Crisfield Maryland over a 4th of July weekend when there were small craft warnings. A sailor (stuck in the marina for 4 days waiting for a weather break to get to Annapolis) exclaimed “where did you come from” only to look out and note “O you have a Cape Dory!”

As you have noted, Cape Dories are easy on the eyes and I often get compliments on their beauty.

V/r

Pete

[Gabriel]

That´s my impression too, Pete. It will do distance better than most "fast" boats.
A small inflateable (soft bottom) with a lightweight motor will do fine. I have even thought of just having a "packraft", but then I´ll miss the opportunity to bring a passenger.
I guess owning a CD30 here in Norway will be a little bit like driving a veteran car. You get some attention, and it´s mostly a joy to have a chat with people wondering about your vessel.

[psjanker]

Gabriel

Cape Dory are to sailboats what Jeep Wranglers are to SUVs. They make folks smile and wave to each other. CDs just look like a sailboat should which is why they are considered classics.

Not sure what prices are like in your neck of the woods but in the US Cape Dories are almost at Fr (considering why one gets for their money). You might consider coming the pond, getting a Cape Dory and sailing it back. Might even get some board members to come along to help.

V/r

Pete

[John Stone]

There is a Cape Dory 30 named Olive Oil hat just crossed the Atlantic west to east. Jim Walsh posted pictures of their boat when he met them in Bermuda this summer. I heard Chris Parker broadcast wx to them when I was on the way home from the Virgin Islands. I’d be happy to have a CD 30. I would not be afraid to take it anywhere I might want to go.

Also, Steve Laume has a ton of experience ocean sailing with his CD 30. If I was going to buy one I would definitely seek him out and get his thoughts on what he has learned about the 30. He is a frequent contributor to the board.

Regarding speed. Cape Dorys are plenty fast. Here is the thing—they are not as fast a fin keel boat on the bay in flat water. But that’s not what we are talking about. A CD 30 will carry twice the load as a J30 and still be going upwind when a J30 is getting beat to hell. Offshore, light weight fin keel boats are not sailing 35° apparent in 8 foot swells. They are footing off just like we are. But our ride is a bunch more comfortable. The wind vane or auto pilot is not struggling as much to keep the boat on course. Also, the conditions encountered in offshore sailing are not as hard on a CD as on lighter supposedly “faster” boats. Cape Dorys are designed and built to be sailed double reefed with a staysail. The scantlings support such sailing. Lighter “faster” boats often are not designed that way.

They are not slow. Did I mention they are not slow?

[Jim Walsh]

Just to save you some time searching, this is the photo I posted of Olive Oyl, a CD30 cutter, while in Bermuda. Doug and Salli Whitman enjoyed the island for several days then continued on to The Azores. Their solution for a dinghy was to have a Porta-bote brand https://www.porta-bote.com/?gclid=EAIaI ... gKNAPD_BwEcollapsible boat.

[Gabriel]

Understand the Wrangler comparison Pete, but here in Norway I might end up owning the only CD so it will be the looks more than the recognition Regarding prices I guess you are saying they are cheap in the US? I don´t know the expression "almost at Fr", but the boat I´m drawn to costs 18 000 USD with a new engine, fueltank, seacocks and valves and new sails. Just the price of flying over the pond and bring a boat back including the import taxes (25% VAT) would probably be close to my original budget for buying a boat....

Your breef mention on the CD30 not beeing slow is noted, and thank you for the tips John!

Thanks to Jim as well, for a nice photo of the ocean cruiser "Olive Oyl". Even if I don´t have the drive to cross oceans, the abilities of the boat will be much appreciated when travelling the Norwegian coast. The Porta-Bote doesn´t appeal to me I must admit. I´m worried about the low bow and how it will behave folding it in cold conditions. I live in Norway and want my dinghy to work year round.

[psjanker]

Gabriel

Sorry it was a typo....meant to say almost free. On several occasions members have gifted their Cape Dories to good homes. Wonder what a VAT tax would be on a free boat?

My take is that roots of the Cape Dory extend from the American NE right over to your neck of the woods. Even if you were the first I don’t think you would be alone for long.
V/r

Pete

[Joe Myerson]

I guess owning a CD30 here in Norway will be a little bit like driving a veteran car. You get some attention, and it´s mostly a joy to have a chat with people wondering about your vessel.

Gabriel,
There is, or was, one Cape Dory owner in Norway. I'm not sure that he still belongs to the CDSOA, but a few years back, like you, he asked a number of questions about our boats. I believe he has, or had, a CD28 that he was working on as a project boat.

There was also a Cape Dory in Northern Ireland at one time, and Breezy, a 25D was sailed from San Diego, California to Australia, where it remained in the CDSOA for a few years.

Perhaps somebody more familiar with how to search the archives could find more information about the boat in Norway.

--Joe