Choices.

[Jose Siqueira]

I am debating between a CD 30' and a Southern Cross 31', I sold my CD22' and loved that boat. I was looking for a CD 30' Ketch or Cutter for blue water cruising in the near future, there is a SC 31'Cutter with a new rig and a Monitor wind vane. Any ideas or imput would be helpfull. The price is about the same.



jsiqueir@kcc.com

[Joe Sankey]

I have not been aboard a Southern Cross 31', but there is one for sale near here. About two weeks ago someone who had looked at it also asked to see our CD30 (not for sale) as he like CDs also. He indicated that the Southern Cross was smaller below. FWIW.
Joe Sankey
CD 30 Slow Dance

I am debating between a CD 30' and a Southern Cross 31', I sold my CD22' and loved that boat. I was looking for a CD 30' Ketch or Cutter for blue water cruising in the near future, there is a SC 31'Cutter with a new rig and a Monitor wind vane. Any ideas or imput would be helpfull. The price is about the same.

sankey@gulftel.com

[Neil Gordon]

>>... there is a SC 31'Cutter with a new rig and a Monitor wind vane.<<

A new rig, maybe, but I wouldn't make a decision based on whether a boat had a new wind vane.

That said, boats are all about compromise. But the one that best fits your sailing style, etc.


Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167



cdory28@aol.com

[Ken Coit]

Jose,

You need to ascertain who finished the boat and from what stage.

You might want to look at Practical Sailor's "Practical Boat Buying," as they have reviewed both boats.

Ken
S/V Parfait
Raleigh, NC

I am debating between a CD 30' and a Southern Cross 31', I sold my CD22' and loved that boat. I was looking for a CD 30' Ketch or Cutter for blue water cruising in the near future, there is a SC 31'Cutter with a new rig and a Monitor wind vane. Any ideas or imput would be helpfull. The price is about the same.

kcoit@nc.rr.com

[Dale W.]

I owned my CD 30 for 7 years, sold it, and now have an Allied Seawind. I've looked at Southern Crosses hard over the years, but never sailed one. The Seawind is also a Gilmer design with very similar underbody.

All three of these boats are well designed, well constructed, and will ably handle more than anyone I know wants to try. So the choice you make will be a good one!

Some differences to consider:

Draft: The difference of a few inches is not significant in sailing performance or in avoiding groundings.

Displacement: The heavier boat with the longer keel travels with more aplomb . . . (the built for comfort arguement.) The full keel, lighter CD still has plenty of 'aplomb' but can also manuever better in close quarters (fuel docks, slips, small marinas).

Hull construction: CD and Allied solid fiberglass. SC airex cored. My understanding is that cored hulls are really great until they get water in them through damage or poorly placed added thru-hulls. I would be very careful before buying any older core-hulled boat.

Water tankage location CD under berths. Allied and SC tanks are centered in bilge.

Rudders: All attached to full keels. CD terminates underwater and leaves transom clear (easier to board over transom at the slip). Allied and SC aft on transom (easy to see and attach windvane tab to).

The Gilmer designs have slightly greater flare in the forward portion of the hull. Hence a drier ride. The longer keel I believe slows down steering response considerably. I found the Cape Dory to be quite responsive compared to the Gilmer boats which go straight real good.

Also, engine make, configuration, and condition count a lot. No Cape Dory owners that I know replace their Volvos with new Volvos. Yanmar leads the list of replacement choices. Both Cape Dory and Southern Cross used Volvos, and also used others. Most (not all) CD-30s are V-drives. Some CDs and all Allied's are straight drives. I believe the SC is a V-drive also. Given a choice, I'd prefer the straight drive.

Also, given decent 'pedigrees', a big issue is the actual condition and history of the individual boat. Where was it during Andrew, Hugo, Fran, Bertha???? How many owners? Refits? What essentials are aleady there? What essentials need to be replaced soon? What essentials will you have to purchase immediately or soon?

So, have fun. For more fun, check out a Seawind (it's been mistaken for a CD on several occasions), it's straight drive Westerbeke burns just over one half gallon/hour, it's beam and draft provide some additional space within . . .

Thanks for the opportunity to spend some time on good boat thoughts,

Dale W.



majortest@earthlink.net

[Larry DeMers]

Thanks for a nicely balanced comparison, that is accurate as far as I can determine. I have sailed a SC28, and would not own one. Too small inside, too slow in everything it did. But we are talking about the SC31, which may be a totally different boat.
The only thing I would add is that an awful lot of the Southern Crosses were owner completed kits, and that demands that the prospective boat be *very* carefully and thoroughly examined..down to the bulkhead tabbing and basic framing of the boat. The hulls they offered had a basic frame inside..for shipping purposes. But many owners removed this when they put in their own interior.

Larry DeMers
s/v DeLaMer
Cape Dory 30

I owned my CD 30 for 7 years, sold it, and now have an Allied Seawind. I've looked at Southern Crosses hard over the years, but never sailed one. The Seawind is also a Gilmer design with very similar underbody.

All three of these boats are well designed, well constructed, and will ably handle more than anyone I know wants to try. So the choice you make will be a good one!

Some differences to consider:

Draft: The difference of a few inches is not significant in sailing performance or in avoiding groundings.

Displacement: The heavier boat with the longer keel travels with more aplomb . . . (the built for comfort arguement.) The full keel, lighter CD still has plenty of 'aplomb' but can also manuever better in close quarters (fuel docks, slips, small marinas).

Hull construction: CD and Allied solid fiberglass. SC airex cored. My understanding is that cored hulls are really great until they get water in them through damage or poorly placed added thru-hulls. I would be very careful before buying any older core-hulled boat.

Water tankage location CD under berths. Allied and SC tanks are centered in bilge.

Rudders: All attached to full keels. CD terminates underwater and leaves transom clear (easier to board over transom at the slip). Allied and SC aft on transom (easy to see and attach windvane tab to).

The Gilmer designs have slightly greater flare in the forward portion of the hull. Hence a drier ride. The longer keel I believe slows down steering response considerably. I found the Cape Dory to be quite responsive compared to the Gilmer boats which go straight real good.

Also, engine make, configuration, and condition count a lot. No Cape Dory owners that I know replace their Volvos with new Volvos. Yanmar leads the list of replacement choices. Both Cape Dory and Southern Cross used Volvos, and also used others. Most (not all) CD-30s are V-drives. Some CDs and all Allied's are straight drives. I believe the SC is a V-drive also. Given a choice, I'd prefer the straight drive.

Also, given decent 'pedigrees', a big issue is the actual condition and history of the individual boat. Where was it during Andrew, Hugo, Fran, Bertha???? How many owners? Refits? What essentials are aleady there? What essentials need to be replaced soon? What essentials will you have to purchase immediately or soon?

So, have fun. For more fun, check out a Seawind (it's been mistaken for a CD on several occasions), it's straight drive Westerbeke burns just over one half gallon/hour, it's beam and draft provide some additional space within . . .

Thanks for the opportunity to spend some time on good boat thoughts,

Dale W.

demers@sgi.com