CD30 ketch questions (hull, deck, head...)

[Barkley]

Hi, all! I'm considering joining your ranks with the purchase
of a late 70s Cape Dory Ketch. But I know little other than
I like the looks of the dang thing, and that the general size and
layout seems to suit my needs. I've learned a lot by reading
almost all of the messages here, but had a few more
questions:

Is the CD30 hull solid or cored fiberglass? What kind of hull
to deck joint did they use? Are leakage and/or blister problems
common?

Any good (out of sight) location to install a holding tank
for the head?

I've heard many pros and cons concerning ketch rigs, any strong
feelings about how the rig does on this boat?

Any particulars I should be aware of? I will bring in a
real surveyor when the time comes, but want to know as much
as I can before I spend the cash. Any info sources would be
much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Barkley
(barkley@aol.com)



barkley@aol.com

[Jon F. Larson]

Barkley,

I'm a 1981 Cape Dory 30 cutter owner, and have owned the boat
for close to 15 years.

Here on the west coast Cape Dorys are well respected boats
from a construction standpoint. The hull is a solid fiberglass
hull, the deck is cored. I don't know the technology
of the hull to deck seam but I've never had any problems
with mine and there is little concern in my mind about
how it was done. The weight of the boat as compared
to most other 30 footers on the market is probably
a pretty good measure of the solidness of construction.
The rigging is viewed as being staunch.

I have seen individual and small blisters on Cape Dorys,
though so far none on mine. I suspect this is as much
a factor with an individual boat as it might be with
any brand of boat. Your surveyor can tell you if the
boat has any serious problems like blisters.

My holding tank is mounted under the Vberth forward.

I have had to replace the original white oak bowsprit
on my boat as it had rot in it coming up from underneath.
I put an all teak bowsprit on, per the recommendations
from Cape Dory, you may wish to have your surveyor
pay particular attention to that.

One can argue pro's and cons about ketches vs. Cutters,
but it's really a matter of personal choice, there
is much to be said for a divided rig in terms of flexibility
and reduced individual sail areas when things get wild.
The cutter will probably have an edge in sailing
however. I personally don't like the little wheel
at the back of the cockpit in the ketch, but I could
also get used to that.

If you like the boat and she surveys well, you could
do far worse than buying a Cape Dory.

Good luck,

Jon Larson
Cape Dory 30 PERI
San Francisco Bay.

Hi, all! I'm considering joining your ranks with the purchase
of a late 70s Cape Dory Ketch. But I know little other than
I like the looks of the dang thing, and that the general size and
layout seems to suit my needs. I've learned a lot by reading
almost all of the messages here, but had a few more
questions:

Is the CD30 hull solid or cored fiberglass? What kind of hull
to deck joint did they use? Are leakage and/or blister problems
common?

Any good (out of sight) location to install a holding tank
for the head?

I've heard many pros and cons concerning ketch rigs, any strong
feelings about how the rig does on this boat?

Any particulars I should be aware of? I will bring in a
real surveyor when the time comes, but want to know as much
as I can before I spend the cash. Any info sources would be
much appreciated!

Thanks in advance,

Barkley
(barkley@aol.com)

jon9@ix.netcom.com