Are the later yr. 27's better?

[Craig]

I am kindof interest in the cd 27 and was wondering if the later yr boats(in the 1980's) are better models for whatever reason. Does a price of high teens to low 20's sound about right after all the haggleing is done? Thanks for any help. craig



shavdog@aol.com

[Larry DeMers]

Craig,

As far as the best years to look for, I would prefer a boat built before 1986. After this date, Cape Dory was in a world of hurt, and laid off their entire QA staff, so boats were leaving the shop with more troubles than would be acceptable normally. Certainly some of the problems would have been shagged out and fixed by now, but larger problems in construction would not likely be remedied, but adapted to. The fit of the woodwork for instance, fell off remarkably, as did the quality of the wood, even within the same year.

The price you quoted seems a tad low for an average quality low 1980's boat. I suspect that on average, they will go for 23-26k all things being equal. But, there are many prices lower than this out there, and there may be a winner in there worth a bit of work to get her up to the top dollar category.
One thing you can count on is that the boat itself is a solid creation. They did a great job on whole, and that is what stands the test of time.

Larry DeMers
DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30

I am kindof interest in the cd 27 and was wondering if the later yr boats(in the 1980's) are better models for whatever reason. Does a price of high teens to low 20's sound about right after all the haggleing is done? Thanks for any help. craig

demers@sgi.com

[Warren Kaplan]

Craig,

As far as the best years to look for, I would prefer a boat built before 1986. After this date, Cape Dory was in a world of hurt, and laid off their entire QA staff, so boats were leaving the shop with more troubles than would be acceptable normally. Certainly some of the problems would have been shagged out and fixed by now, but larger problems in construction would not likely be remedied, but adapted to. The fit of the woodwork for instance, fell off remarkably, as did the quality of the wood, even within the same year.

The price you quoted seems a tad low for an average quality low 1980's boat. I suspect that on average, they will go for 23-26k all things being equal. But, there are many prices lower than this out there, and there may be a winner in there worth a bit of work to get her up to the top dollar category.
One thing you can count on is that the boat itself is a solid creation. They did a great job on whole, and that is what stands the test of time.

Larry DeMers
DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30

Craig,
Larry (as usual) is certainly right about post 1986 boats but since the last CD27 rolled out of the factory in 1985, you shouldn't have to worry about that problem. They only made 277 of them. I have a 1980 CD27 #166 and she is a great boat. I'm no expert on earlier models, (I'm sure others with them will chime in) but there are some differences if memory serves. Firstly, I have a YSM8 engine. Earlier models may have the YSB engine and some of the later ones have YSM12. My boat has a teak and holly sole in the cabin, I believe the earlier boats had fiberglass only. I think there is a difference in the table in the cabin. Mine folds up neatly and stores hooked into the forward bulkhead out of the way. I don't think the earlier boats had that but I'm not sure. I also think there was a difference in the number of doors between the head and the main cabin and the head and the v berth. Again, I'm not sure. I'll tell you this. The CD27 is a great boat. What you need to look for is a boat that has been well taken care of. Most of these boats have been modified to some extent by their previous and present owners so what they had for layout and equipment when they came out of the factory may not be the case today, no matter what the year. I've done a lot of work on my CD27 since I got it last year to make it the way I want it, despite the fact that the previous owner sold me a well taken care of boat. So no matter what you get, the chances are you'll want to make modifications, great or small.

Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27 #166



Setsail728@aol.com

[Clay Stalker]

I am kindof interest in the cd 27 and was wondering if the later yr boats(in the 1980's) are better models for whatever reason. Does a price of high teens to low 20's sound about right after all the haggleing is done? Thanks for any help. craig

To repeat what others have said, the 27 is indeed a great boat! I used to sail a Quickstep 24 but wanted something with more interior accommodations but still manageable under sail for me alone. The 27 sails faster than most people think when they think of Cape Dorys...she also is handled fairly easily by one person and has a very comfortable interior (for one or two folks). There are some differences between early and later models, but the real value will be condition...all are solid, pretty, and sail well. There are a lot of them around, so take your time and look at many. However, do not delay when you find a good one, because, as I learned in my search, the "cherry" ones sell fast. Earlier models in good condition can be found for $17-20,000, later models will be in the $20-26,000 range if real clean. I became the caretaker (we never really own them, they will outlive us, and we just pass them on...) of a 1982, hull #247 last year and am truly bonding with her in a great way. You will not be sorry.

Clay Stalker



cstalker@cheshire.net

[yves feder W1UX]

Craig,
Larry (as usual) is certainly right about post 1986 boats but since the last CD27 rolled out of the factory in 1985, you shouldn't have to worry about that problem. They only made 277 of them. I have a 1980 CD27 #166 and she is a great boat. I'm no expert on earlier models, (I'm sure others with them will chime in) but there are some differences if memory serves. Firstly, I have a YSM8 engine. Earlier models may have the YSB engine and some of the later ones have YSM12. My boat has a teak and holly sole in the cabin, I believe the earlier boats had fiberglass only. I think there is a difference in the table in the cabin. Mine folds up neatly and stores hooked into the forward bulkhead out of the way. I don't think the earlier boats had that but I'm not sure. I also think there was a difference in the number of doors between the head and the main cabin and the head and the v berth. Again, I'm not sure. I'll tell you this. The CD27 is a great boat. What you need to look for is a boat that has been well taken care of. Most of these boats have been modified to some extent by their previous and present owners so what they had for layout and equipment when they came out of the factory may not be the case today, no matter what the year. I've done a lot of work on my CD27 since I got it last year to make it the way I want it, despite the fact that the previous owner sold me a well taken care of boat. So no matter what you get, the chances are you'll want to make modifications, great or small.

Warren Kaplan
S/V Sine Qua Non
CD27 #166

Hi Craig,

Heartily amend Warren's comments. Will add my experience with a 1977 CD27 - Hull #4!! She has a YSE engine (probably same/similar as/to YSB) which runs like a champ. A new 3-blade this year added a lot of thrust, and some real reverse capabilities missing earlier. New PSS shaft seal is a great comfort and relief; that stuff was not around years ago.

A close friend owned a 1982 CD27 and the major differences were in little odds & ends - the teak eyebrow trim on the later boats, some extra drawers/doors to help increase access to storage space in galley area (although the same spaces are there in the early boats) - but we're dealing with the same boat, same layout.

True, our table sits on posts and does not fold up to the port bulkhead. But everything is a tradeoff! We remove our table in a flash, stow it, or leave it up (you can deploy it in 2 positions - allowing very decent passage to the head/for'd cabins) and above all it allows us to make full use of the port bulkhead - bookshelf, instruments, pictures!

We have a fine solid well crafted door between the head and the main cabin. None though to the for'd cabin, but that would be so easy to add, so far we haven't felt the need.
Major things to look for are quality of maintenance...... our topsides polish up almost like new, nowhere near needing awlgrip or anything like that. Teak treatment? Matter of esthetics. Ours was awful - stripped and cleaned and coming back incredibly well with not much effort. (many of my SSCA cruising friends don't TOUCH their teak, that silver gray is a mark of saltiness :)

But - if you add modern nav gear, upgrade the sails and rigging, do the dodger thing right, keep up really proper maintenance on the engine and make the right choices about the propeller, shaft, stuffing box, etc.etc. you've got something terrific.

I'd rather keep my '77 with all the improvements done in the 2 years I've owned her, than take a later one in need of lots of stuff.

But the sailing qualities, all the good stuff that good old Carl Alberg designed into the sweet, sweet hull shape and the rigging design, were right there from the beginning.

Now all I need to do is get the room of a 36 footer and we'll be all set!!
Best!
Yves
CD27 #4 (1977) "Alphee"



saltwater@tinyradio.com

[Jeff Schmoyer]

As owner of 1978 Hull #79 I second comments any CD27 is fundamentally a great boat.

Two areas where in my opinion the newer 27's have a real advantage:

- Somewhere around 1980, CD switched from mild steel to aluminum for the chainplates backings. Check ANY CD up under the cabin liner near the main bulkhead to assertain degree of any rusting problem...also gives you a clue as to the health of the hull deck joint. Apparently, the pre 1980 mild steel is much more susceptable to rust. Mine has a little bit of it...doesn't look like any big deal, but if I were going blue water sailing I'd fix it first.

- The YSM/YSB 8 engines are very noisy, rough running single cyl. raw water cooled 7.5 hp. Although quite reliable, I'd rather have what was fitted into the late model (82 on?) CD27's had Westerbeke 13hp 2 cyl. FWC. The boat really needs the extra push and I think this engine is a little easier on the soul.

Jeff



Jeff.Schmoyer@iff.com