With all the attention to detail...

[Jerome P. Smith]

I am in the process of aquiring my first CAPE DORY. A 1987 25'. It's a beautiful boat, but I do have one question... With all the attention to detail that Cape Dory puts into it's boats, what is the thinking behind the crappy, plastic, seamed window framings they put on the 25?
Being a traditionalist and somewhat driven by asthetics, is there any off-market companies that make bronse, or other porthole trim replacements?



artd@mindspring.com

[Lyn Heiges]

I am in the process of aquiring my first CAPE DORY. A 1987 25'. It's a beautiful boat, but I do have one question... With all the attention to detail that Cape Dory puts into it's boats, what is the thinking behind the crappy, plastic, seamed window framings they put on the 25?
Being a traditionalist and somewhat driven by asthetics, is there any off-market companies that make bronse, or other porthole trim replacements?

Jerome,

You have one of the "late/newer" Cape Dorys and there were changes for economic reasons. Contact Spartan Marine (their address in the where to find it area of this site) and get their catalog. Spartan Marine used to be affiliated with Cape Dory as it was run by Andy's brother in East Tauton, MA. They are now part of Robinhood Yachts in Maine and continue the tradition. For money you can get anything, and Spartan's products are of the finest manufacture and design -- but far from free!

Good project and you will be satisfied, if you do it!

Best Wishes,
Lyn Heiges
CD 28 MOON CHILD



lheiges@compuserve.com

[Bruce Bett]

I’m curious here. When Jerome said he had an 87 25’ Cape Dory with plastic windows I assumed that he had typoed and actually had a 77 cd25. Lynn said that It was a "late/newer" model and implied that they had cut back a bit for financial reasons. Did Cape Dory make a 25’ sailboat in 1987? Was it the old cd25 or the 25d?

If it was indeed a typo and the boat in question is the old cd25 then a word of warning is in order. The "crappy, plastic, seamed window" in the main cabin is nice and big! The beautiful bronze windows from Spartan Marine at are so strongly associated with Cape Dory in the mind of the boating public are considerably smaller. If you do replace them you not only will loose light in the cabin but will have to figure out a way to plug up the hole that’s left in the deckhouse.

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto (cd25 #496)

I am in the process of aquiring my first CAPE DORY. A 1987 25'. It's a beautiful boat, but I do have one question... With all the attention to detail that Cape Dory puts into it's boats, what is the thinking behind the crappy, plastic, seamed window framings they put on the 25?
Being a traditionalist and somewhat driven by asthetics, is there any off-market companies that make bronse, or other porthole trim replacements?

Jerome,

You have one of the "late/newer" Cape Dorys and there were changes for economic reasons. Contact Spartan Marine (their address in the where to find it area of this site) and get their catalog. Spartan Marine used to be affiliated with Cape Dory as it was run by Andy's brother in East Tauton, MA. They are now part of Robinhood Yachts in Maine and continue the tradition. For money you can get anything, and Spartan's products are of the finest manufacture and design -- but far from free!

Good project and you will be satisfied, if you do it!

Best Wishes,
Lyn Heiges
CD 28 MOON CHILD

bbett@macomb.cc.mi.us

[Lyn Heiges]

I’m curious here. When Jerome said he had an 87 25’ Cape Dory with plastic windows I assumed that he had typoed and actually had a 77 cd25. Lynn said that It was a "late/newer" model and implied that they had cut back a bit for financial reasons. Did Cape Dory make a 25’ sailboat in 1987? Was it the old cd25 or the 25d?

If it was indeed a typo and the boat in question is the old cd25 then a word of warning is in order. The "crappy, plastic, seamed window" in the main cabin is nice and big! The beautiful bronze windows from Spartan Marine at are so strongly associated with Cape Dory in the mind of the boating public are considerably smaller. If you do replace them you not only will loose light in the cabin but will have to figure out a way to plug up the hole that’s left in the deckhouse.

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto (cd25 #496)

Bruce and Jerome.

Back again. I have no knowledge that CD was producing a 25 per se in 1987. However, something that seems to be missing in the database is the Intrepid line of boats which were manufactured by Cape Dory and did use plastic and other cost saving materials in non-structural applications. I say a CD 28 Intrepid for sail recently in the Florida Mariner "free" rag distributed throughout Florida. To my knowledge there were very few CD Intrepids manufactured. The "Intrepid" name has been used by other manufacturers as well, but I have seen one in Maryland and then this one recently posted for as best I can remember at $12,000 for a 28-footer where to find a typical CD28 for less than $22,000 is RARE. Maybe the BUC book or other source has more details. It is hard to believe that a 78 CD25, if Jerome was dyslexic with the numerals, had plastic portlights!

If you find out anything, I AM interested!!

Thanks for the dialog!

Lyn Heiges
CD28 MOON CHILD

I am in the process of aquiring my first CAPE DORY. A 1987 25'. It's a beautiful boat, but I do have one question... With all the attention to detail that Cape Dory puts into it's boats, what is the thinking behind the crappy, plastic, seamed window framings they put on the 25?
Being a traditionalist and somewhat driven by asthetics, is there any off-market companies that make bronse, or other porthole trim replacements?

Jerome,

You have one of the "late/newer" Cape Dorys and there were changes for economic reasons. Contact Spartan Marine (their address in the where to find it area of this site) and get their catalog. Spartan Marine used to be affiliated with Cape Dory as it was run by Andy's brother in East Tauton, MA. They are now part of Robinhood Yachts in Maine and continue the tradition. For money you can get anything, and Spartan's products are of the finest manufacture and design -- but far from free!

Good project and you will be satisfied, if you do it!

Best Wishes,
Lyn Heiges
CD 28 MOON CHILD

lheiges@compuserve.com

[Jerry Hammernik]

My 25 was a 78 model (Hull #584) and had plastic ports. They are great boats, but the bonze ports that came out on 25's in the early 80's were better looking. There is a 25 in Ephraim, WI (Door County) which had the plastic replaced with bronze. You're right, you have to do some pretty extensive fiberglass work, but wow, it looks great! I don't know much about Intrepid's, but Cape Dory made a "price" 28 that had plastic ports and a single cylinder diesel.
Jerry Hammernik
Lion's Paw CD 28



dauntles@execpc.com

[Lyn Heiges]

My 25 was a 78 model (Hull #584) and had plastic ports. They are great boats, but the bonze ports that came out on 25's in the early 80's were better looking. There is a 25 in Ephraim, WI (Door County) which had the plastic replaced with bronze. You're right, you have to do some pretty extensive fiberglass work, but wow, it looks great! I don't know much about Intrepid's, but Cape Dory made a "price" 28 that had plastic ports and a single cylinder diesel.
Jerry Hammernik
Lion's Paw CD 28

Jerry,

Thanks for the insight! I did't know about the '78 CD25 plastic ports. I wonder why? Andy Vavolotis is up in Maine these days and I may have to ask him. Thanks for the info on the CD28 Intrepid. If they put the Yanmar YSM-12 (12HP, 1-banger) in the CD28 it would probably be OK most of the time, but in a "blow" and running current would certainly keep your heart pounding! I know from the YSM-8 (8HP) in my CD27. The 18HP in my CD28 IS A BIG relief!

Thanks again,

Lyn Heiges



lheiges@compuserve.com