CD27 or CD28 singlehanding?

[JimL (Leininger)]

I'd really like to hear some comments regarding single-handing these models. I'm in a 26 foot slip (allows 3' overhang), so I'm considering moving up to a larger CD. I'll stay with these Cape Dorys cause my old joints don't like the bouncy ride of all these "California" boats! I am concerned about handling the larger mainsails....left shoulder is a little wimpy from too many motorcycle crashes.

thanks for comments/suggestions!
JimL, CD25 #21



leinfam@earthlink.net

[Neil Gordon]

As for the larger sails, it's probably the genoa that gives me more of a workout, not the main. But you can substitute the winch handle for muscle power. You'd have to see for yourself how your shoulder does with the higher loads... but as for sailing alone, the boat does just fine.


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



neil@nrgordon.com

[Gary L.]

I'd really like to hear some comments regarding single-handing these models. I'm in a 26 foot slip (allows 3' overhang), so I'm considering moving up to a larger CD. I'll stay with these Cape Dorys cause my old joints don't like the bouncy ride of all these "California" boats! I am concerned about handling the larger mainsails....left shoulder is a little wimpy from too many motorcycle crashes.

thanks for comments/suggestions!
JimL, CD25 #21

Jim,

I had a CD26, which I soloed for six years. Like Neil says, the 150 genny was a bear. But, I also found that by over trimming during a tack, it was easier to ease the genny out, then to haul it in for trimming. So timing your moves and establishing a routine helps. Plan what you want to do and then do it.

Now I have a CD30C. I solo this also. But, unlike the CD26, the CD30 as well as the CD28 have a club footed jib (staysail on the CD30). You only have one sheet for either the jib or mainsail. Tacking in the CD28 would be just pushing or pulling the tiller. For me, when I fly the yankee, I have to position myself before the pedestal so that I can uncleat and recleat the yankee sheets. These are really great boats for soloing.

But, both boats offer the ability to solo, just depends upon your needs and means.

Hope this helps.

Gary Lapine
Red Witch III
CD30C, #339
Somerset, MA



dory26@attbi.com

[Clay Stalker]

I'd really like to hear some comments regarding single-handing these models. I'm in a 26 foot slip (allows 3' overhang), so I'm considering moving up to a larger CD. I'll stay with these Cape Dorys cause my old joints don't like the bouncy ride of all these "California" boats! I am concerned about handling the larger mainsails....left shoulder is a little wimpy from too many motorcycle crashes.

thanks for comments/suggestions!
JimL, CD25 #21

Jim:

Both boats can be single-handed if rigged properly. I sail a 27 with a 135 genoa on a roller furler...works fairly well for most winds. First reef the main, then begin to bring in the genny...As for which boat to move up to, that depends on how you plan to use it most...the 28 is set up more as a longer distance cruiser...is heavier, has more storage, an inch more headroom, larger head. The 27 is 1,500 lbs. lighter, is quicker on her feet (have sailed both) and probably would be a better choice if you are primarily daysailing. I take quite a few weekend trips on my 27 and the room is fine, but if you plan to take extended trips, the 28 would serve you better. And, the 27 is a prettier boat, but the 28 folks will carve me up for that comment (no harm intended, I love the 28 also...). Having sailed my 27 for two seasons, I am giving some thought to moving up to a 31 or 33 in the next year or two...broke the news to my wife, who gagged and then caught her breath and said okay....ain't life grand?? Good luck with your search...you cannot go wrong with either boat to be sure.

Clay Stalker
CD27 Salsa #247
Bristol, Rhode Island



cstalker@cheshire.net

[mike]

Jim:
Have you considered the 25d? It's a much different boat than the 25. Most people confuse it for the 27 or 28. Single handling is a piece of cake, and you won't have to worry about your dock limits.

Mike
Scituate, MA



metmike@aol.com

[Ken Cave]

I sail my CD 28 about half the time alone without any problems except backing out of my slip!!

I have a Harken furler system and a l35 genoa that makes life easier.

But, the best thing that life can offer to us singlehanders is an Autohelm!! I have a 2000 which works great when motoring, and when you really got to pee!

Also, a nice thing about your Autohelm is that it won't drink your beer or yell at you if you do something stupid!

Hope this helps


Ken Cave
CD 28 #227
Anacortes, WA



bcave@whidbey.net

[Marc]

Also, a nice thing about your Autohelm is that it won't drink your beer or yell at you if you do something stupid!

ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT YOUR MOTHER IN LAW???

Marc
A22

I sail my CD 28 about half the time alone without any problems except backing out of my slip!!

I have a Harken furler system and a l35 genoa that makes life easier.

But, the best thing that life can offer to us singlehanders is an Autohelm!! I have a 2000 which works great when motoring, and when you really got to pee!

Also, a nice thing about your Autohelm is that it won't drink your beer or yell at you if you do something stupid!

Hope this helps


Ken Cave
CD 28 #227
Anacortes, WA

adrenaline@vif.com

[Richard Perlot]

I second the motion on the Autotil! It's a must have. I have a CD28 and use a TP10 and it works adequately to give me the ability to go forward and raise and lower sails. I don't think the sails are too big to raise with a weak shoulder. You can use your weak arm to tail and use the winch if necessary. I don't have a roller furling. It is a real pain in the ass to go forward all the time to change or sails (especially if you are just bringing out the iron Geni temporarily to get around a point), but I don't think this is an issue limited to single handers. I just thought the pain of the price of a roller furling was greater than the pain I currently experience under sail.

I don't use the auto-helm when I tack, even though it has a tacking feature. I've developed a pretty good ability to steer through the tack with the till between my knees, keeping both hands free (with the Genoa). Of course, sailing the self-tending Jib is far less complicated.

I also strongly suggest a couple other items. You should upgrade your cockpit winches to self-tailers for sailing with a Genoa. This will at least give you an extra free hand to hold your beer (and cup holders to hold the beer so you really have a free hand). I also suggest you get a tiller extension to give you more manuverability around the fringes of the cockpit.

And, for GOD's SAKE, don't single hand without a life-line. If you fall overboard, your boat will sail away from you and you will have no one around to come back and pick you up. This happened to a guy last summer here in Seattle. Luckily, someone saw him bobbing around in the water before he caught hypothermia. I never heard what happened to the boat.



Rperlot@swedeco.com

[Neil Gordon]

>>I sail my CD 28 about half the time alone without any problems except backing out of my slip!!<<

You can't back a 28 in a straight line no matter how many people you have on the boat.

>>I have a Harken furler system and a l35 genoa that makes life easier.<<

I have a CDI furler. Yes... genoa furling is a definite plus for single handling or otherwise.

>>But, the best thing that life can offer to us singlehanders is an Autohelm!!<<

I leave the autopilot stored when I singlehand the boat. I don't like the idea of falling overboard and watching the boat go off on its own. General strategy for putting the main up is to get some headway into the wind, go into neutral, take a liesurely walk to the mast and raise the main while momentum (and the full keel) keep the boat into the wind.

>>I have a 2000 which works great when motoring, and when you really got to pee!<<

I do use the auto when motoring, but not without keeping a lookout. When sailing, if I need to use the head, I heave to (on a stbd tack is a good idea).

>>Also, a nice thing about your Autohelm is that it won't drink your beer or yell at you if you do something stupid!<<

I mostly singlehand with my chocolate lab, so technically, I have crew. She NEVER yells at me or complains that there's not enough wind or too much wind, etc., etc. And she keeps great secrets.


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



neil@nrgordon.com

[Joe Sankey]

Jim, I don't have the definitive answer, but I am familiar with single-handing the 28. It is as easy to sail as the 27, I suspect, but the key questions to me are: How will you rig it? Where will you sail it? While the 28 came standard with a 100% working jib, we installed roller reefing/furling on ours along with a new 155% genoa. Later I rigged it so I could reef from the cockpit. Having done that, I would typically leave the slip with the main reefed, then see what the day brought. I used some of the existing hardware no longer used when I removed the club boom. I know folks who routinely sail single handed with hank ons, and wouldn't consider roller furling. Like you, I have sore shoulders, too. And, a few more years makes a difference.

Having said all that, we've had our 30 for over a year; standard cutter rig. I have not yet single-handed it. Under sail I like it, but getting things up/down is a fire drill. I've committed to learning to sail it before changing things, but I must say I'm leaning toward a sloop rig with the club boom gone, then setting up the main for reefing from the cockpit, as we did on our 28.

I agree with Clay, by the way; the 27 gets the nod on looks! You'll learn to love whatever CD you get.
Joe Sankey
CD 30 Slow Dance

I'd really like to hear some comments regarding single-handing these models. I'm in a 26 foot slip (allows 3' overhang), so I'm considering moving up to a larger CD. I'll stay with these Cape Dorys cause my old joints don't like the bouncy ride of all these "California" boats! I am concerned about handling the larger mainsails....left shoulder is a little wimpy from too many motorcycle crashes.

thanks for comments/suggestions!
JimL, CD25 #21

Jim:

Both boats can be single-handed if rigged properly. I sail a 27 with a 135 genoa on a roller furler...works fairly well for most winds. First reef the main, then begin to bring in the genny...As for which boat to move up to, that depends on how you plan to use it most...the 28 is set up more as a longer distance cruiser...is heavier, has more storage, an inch more headroom, larger head. The 27 is 1,500 lbs. lighter, is quicker on her feet (have sailed both) and probably would be a better choice if you are primarily daysailing. I take quite a few weekend trips on my 27 and the room is fine, but if you plan to take extended trips, the 28 would serve you better. And, the 27 is a prettier boat, but the 28 folks will carve me up for that comment (no harm intended, I love the 28 also...). Having sailed my 27 for two seasons, I am giving some thought to moving up to a 31 or 33 in the next year or two...broke the news to my wife, who gagged and then caught her breath and said okay....ain't life grand?? Good luck with your search...you cannot go wrong with either boat to be sure.

Clay Stalker
CD27 Salsa #247
Bristol, Rhode Island

sankey@gulftel.com

[wayne grenier]

I'd really like to hear some comments regarding single-handing these models. I'm in a 26 foot slip (allows 3' overhang), so I'm considering moving up to a larger CD. I'll stay with these Cape Dorys cause my old joints don't like the bouncy ride of all these "California" boats! I am concerned about handling the larger mainsails....left shoulder is a little wimpy from too many motorcycle crashes.

thanks for comments/suggestions!
JimL, CD25 #21

here's what I do on my cd 28-which is on a mooring-I start the engine-leave it in neutral-hoist the main and get the jib ready to go up- I cast off-motor out into the channel with the main luffing-then I sheet in the main and motor sail out of the harbor-there I shut off the motor-let the boat turn into the wind-go forward and put up the jib-walk back to the cockpit-sheet everything in and go for a sail-everything is almost the same when I am coming in-I start the engine and put it in neutral-then about 1/2 mile from the harbor I turn the boat into the wind-go forward and drop the main and jib-here is where its good to have a cape dory-this boat sits flat and stable-and once the sails are down very slowly turns broadside to the wind and starts drifing back to the harbor at about .5 knots- I have all the time in the world to flake and tie the sails-hook up the uphaul-put the covers on etc-when I am ready I walk back to the cockpit-put the engine in gear and motor in-I shift the engine into neutral and round up to my dinghy and mooring with the boat hook in my hand and walk forward and pick up my line (most of the time) - the above is contingent upon having a prevailing southwesterly wind-advantages-I only leave the cockpit in the vicinity of the harbor-so if I fall off I/m in a very heavily traveled area-and with the engine in neutral when I take my sails down-there is no chance of running them-a line or myself over-your situation no doubt is different than mine-but find a nice open area to put your sails up and take them down-and see how your boat handles with no sail up and the engine in neutral-



grenier@ma.ultranet.com

[Greg Phillips]

I'd really like to hear some comments regarding single-handing these models. I'm in a 26 foot slip (allows 3' overhang), so I'm considering moving up to a larger CD. I'll stay with these Cape Dorys cause my old joints don't like the bouncy ride of all these "California" boats! I am concerned about handling the larger mainsails....left shoulder is a little wimpy from too many motorcycle crashes.

thanks for comments/suggestions!
JimL, CD25 #21

Jim, Please don't move up a larger CD. I'm afraid if you do your numerous and valuable posts concerning your CD25 will end. I've "ridden (sailed) your coattails" while redoing Linda Lou since you began contributing to this board. Seriously, good luck with the research and thanks again for sharing your work and ideas.

Greg Phillips
CD25 Linda Lou
Apalachicola,FL



2mileyc@digitalexp.com

[Gary L.]

I mostly singlehand with my chocolate lab, so technically, I have crew. She NEVER yells at me or complains that there's not enough wind or too much wind, etc., etc. And she keeps great secrets.


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

Neil,

Does she drink all your beer?

Gary



dory26@attbi.com

[Gary L.]

And, for GOD's SAKE, don't single hand without a life-line. If you fall overboard, your boat will sail away from you and you will have no one around to come back and pick you up. This happened to a guy last summer here in Seattle. Luckily, someone saw him bobbing around in the water before he caught hypothermia. I never heard what happened to the boat.

Good point Richard,

Nearly happened to me in '87' off Brenton Reef RI. Fortunately the jib halyard and the decorative teak rail on the house kept me from going over the life line. I never saw that jib go up so fast! Figured that the boat on autopilot would have ended up in the Azores.

Gary Lapine



dory26@attbi.com

[chuck]

I'd really like to hear some comments regarding single-handing these models. I'm in a 26 foot slip (allows 3' overhang), so I'm considering moving up to a larger CD. I'll stay with these Cape Dorys cause my old joints don't like the bouncy ride of all these "California" boats! I am concerned about handling the larger mainsails....left shoulder is a little wimpy from too many motorcycle crashes.

JimL, Thanks for your info on all the uses of PVC 40 last week. I am suprised to see this possible change after all you've done with the CD25. but life always changes, for us all. Thanks for allthe great info, and we'll hopefully be making similar changes in another year or so. Stop by and see us next time you are in Texas. Chuck

thanks for comments/suggestions!
JimL, CD25 #21

Jim, Please don't move up a larger CD. I'm afraid if you do your numerous and valuable posts concerning your CD25 will end. I've "ridden (sailed) your coattails" while redoing Linda Lou since you began contributing to this board. Seriously, good luck with the research and thanks again for sharing your work and ideas.

Greg Phillips
CD25 Linda Lou
Apalachicola,FL

chcabinetry@earthlink.net