Different feel under way? Different construction?

[Interested in larger CDs]

Other than the obvious difference between sloop and cutter rig, how do the CD 33 and CD 36 differ in sailing characteristics? Does the 36, being larger, feel more stable in flukey conditions? Or does this go to the 33, with its taller rig and greater ballast ratio? Do either have any bad habits? (I did read that they all go in random direction when powered in reverse.)

Are there any significant differences in construction between the 36 and 33?

Another question: I often like to sit on a sailboat's coamings. This seems -- er, painful -- when the coamings are a teak board on side. Has anyone figured out a slip-over seat for the Cape Dory coamings? (I realize some later models had molded coamings.)

[Neil Gordon]

>>(I did read that they all go in random direction when powered in reverse.)<<

It's the full keel. Cape Dory, Island Packet, etc., all have the same problem... they go in reverse but they don't steer in reverse.


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



neil@nrgordon.com

[Matt Cawthorne]

I can't speak to the differences in handeling between the 33 and 36, but have a 36 and received high praise from crew who own other types of boats when in tough conditions off shore. Other than the overall size differences 33 and 36 are mostly the same in underbody design and ballast ratio. The 36 also has a bowsprit to increas the sail area a bit.

The boat direction in reverse is only random when there is no wind, or when the wind is from directly ahead or directly behind. The rest of the time the bow of a 36 will blow off. While this may appear to be a handicap, it can be used to great advantage, especially when med-mooring in tight conditions in a crosswind. It also helps in completing a turn in tight quarters. Once the bow is through the eye of the wind, just back it down and it will complete the turn very nicely.

As far as the coamings, just buy a throwable cushon with stiff foam in it. You may find that the cushon on the thin coaming is more comfortable than a molded coaming without a cushon. If you make a seat, that just becomes one more thing to store and maintain.

Matt

Other than the obvious difference between sloop and cutter rig, how do the CD 33 and CD 36 differ in sailing characteristics? Does the 36, being larger, feel more stable in flukey conditions? Or does this go to the 33, with its taller rig and greater ballast ratio? Do either have any bad habits? (I did read that they all go in random direction when powered in reverse.)

Are there any significant differences in construction between the 36 and 33?

Another question: I often like to sit on a sailboat's coamings. This seems -- er, painful -- when the coamings are a teak board on side. Has anyone figured out a slip-over seat for the Cape Dory coamings? (I realize some later models had molded coamings.)

Mcawthor@bellatlantic.net

[Interested in larger CDs]

> Other than the overall size differences 33 and 36 are
> mostly the same in underbody design and ballast ratio.

The 33 has a somewhat greater ballast ratio than the 36,
41.3% versus 37.5%. This was likely required to balance
the sails, given that the 33 has a slightly taller stick.
(Even though it is the smaller boat.) It was these
differences that caused me to wonder about difference
in sailing characteristics, but I suspect they are small
differences between very similar boats off the same
designer's board.

[M. R. Bober]

The CD330 resolved the "plank on edge pain in the rear problem" by using coamings that are several inches wide. It may be heresy, but it's comfy.

Other than the obvious difference between sloop and cutter rig, how do the CD 33 and CD 36 differ in sailing characteristics? Does the 36, being larger, feel more stable in flukey conditions? Or does this go to the 33, with its taller rig and greater ballast ratio? Do either have any bad habits? (I did read that they all go in random direction when powered in reverse.)

Are there any significant differences in construction between the 36 and 33?

Another question: I often like to sit on a sailboat's coamings. This seems -- er, painful -- when the coamings are a teak board on side. Has anyone figured out a slip-over seat for the Cape Dory coamings? (I realize some later models had molded coamings.)

thebobers@erols.com

[sam]

Matt is right about bow blowing off to wind. My 40 does the same. The experienced skipper learns the quirks of his boat and takes advantage of them. For instance when turning or docking you can use the fact (on my boat) that while moving forward, if you reverse the prop, the stern 'kicks' to port. Hence in tight quarters always turn to starboard- move forward, reverse to kick stern and slow forward momentum etc. Much better than turning to port. docking 'port side to' is much easier than docking to starboard for the same reason.

We all like to show off- don't we? I took my boat thru the Barge canal locks. Had to wait 5 minutes for a powerboater to get tied up in the lock- it was a real fire drill. I came in with the wall to port, reversed engine - the boat slowed and moved right over parallel to the wall, right at the lines. If the power boater was watching, he would have thought CD's are the most maneuverable boat in the world, clearly much easier than his power boat!!! If he had seen us a few locks later where I had to tie on the starboard side, he would have known better!!

[Jackie Upton]

Other than the obvious difference between sloop and cutter rig, how do the CD 33 and CD 36 differ in sailing characteristics? Does the 36, being larger, feel more stable in flukey conditions? Or does this go to the 33, with its taller rig and greater ballast ratio? Do either have any bad habits? (I did read that they all go in random direction when powered in reverse.)

Are there any significant differences in construction between the 36 and 33?

Another question: I often like to sit on a sailboat's coamings. This seems -- er, painful -- when the coamings are a teak board on side. Has anyone figured out a slip-over seat for the Cape Dory coamings? (I realize some later models had molded coamings.)

We have always felt it better for my husband to do the heavy work in docking with me at the helm. We spent hours in the bay maneuvering around a buoy for me to get the feel of the boat in backing, etc. Talk about fire drills! Finally mastered it, but don't ask me to explain how, it is in the muscle memory I guess. We own our slip and have to back to starboard. Parfait is not fond of that direction. In calm weather and no wind she does fine. If I back out and the stern blows off, I just go with it and make a complete turn to starboard. Or, if Dick gives a big push from the bow on the starboard side and I give short guns to the engine, she will often complete a back to starboard with the wind on the port side. But do we ever love that long keel in rough weather! Dick gets those sails balanced just so and she feels as though she is on tracks. Dick handles her differently than I do, but we seem to end up with the same result.



gammy@eatel.net

[Carl Jones]

>>(I did read that they all go in random direction when powered in reverse.)<<

It's the full keel. Cape Dory, Island Packet, etc., all have the same problem... they go in reverse but they don't steer in reverse.

Besides that, how far do you have to go backwards anyway. They're made to go frontwards!!! We shouldn't worry about it.

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

GreatCells@aol.com