CD 28 for Coastal Cruise

Drew · Post by **Drew** » Jun 10th, '06, 08:53

I'm starting to look at boats for a trip next year and am considering Cape Dory. Will go north from Chesapeake in spring '07 to Maine, maybe Nova Scotia, head south in fall and cross to Bahamas for winter, return in spring '08. I want a simple, sturdy vessel that will get us home. GF is inclined to simplicity and wants to steer with a tiller. She has veto power but so far likes the CD 28 for all these reasons. Heck, it's pretty, too.

I've found a recently repowered 1978 version. Appears to be in pretty good shape overall. One thing I've noticed, design-wise, is the companionway is cut almost to the cockpit sole - unusual for an Alberg boat. Leaving a board or two in is no big deal to me. Are there any issues with this particular model, or year, that I should be aware of? Any insight, advice or better ideas would be most welcome!

Kittiwake · Post by **Kittiwake** » Jun 10th, '06, 15:10

Only other things that I'm aware of are the usual, check for soft spots in the deck around stanchion bases, wiring, battery capacity, cabin sole sides (the veneer). If you would like the survey of Kittiwake from fall of 2004, "28" hull 317, send me an email at kittiwakecd28 at msn.com and I'll forward it to you for comparison. I spent 6 months single-handing, from Annapolis - Key West - Annapolis, without significant problems, other than those that I brought on her. Peace and Fair Winds, Bill Watson

Wayne Grenier · Post by **Wayne Grenier** » Jun 10th, '06, 15:55

I have cd 28 hull #13 from 1974-the 1st model year-still going strong-of course-the engine-sails-wiring etc have all been rebuilt-replaced-"simple and strong" and pretty too are the operative words-very easy to handle and single hand-but comparitevly tight down below compared to modern designs-the more I sail it the more I like it-its alot of boat for around 20k and more than capable as a coastal cruiser-unless you intend to be out in a gale I doubt you will have to worry about putting the storm boards in-Carl designed these boats to be very boyant-they get picked up by the waves and put back down like a seagull at the beach-I sail it on and off my mooring with just the mainsail and its child's play-allthough I am sure I scare the neighbors-

Paul Grecay · Post by **Paul Grecay** » Jun 11th, '06, 06:57

I have owned a CD 28 for about 10 years and the more I sail it, the more I like it. This year I have repowered her with a Beta Marine because a reliable engine is a must for some of the sailing I do. I am located in Lewes, Delaware at the mouth of the Delaware Bay and I sail north along NJ to New York ... then into Long Island Sound and on to R.I. and Block Island. Mine also has the deep companionway entrance but it has never been a problem. If I were concerned, I would just fasten in the two lower boards. I think you would be happy with a 28 because they are so easy to manage....and the self-tending jib can be very useful when sailing in enclosed bays and harbors where there alot of single-handed tacking (although for long trips, I would probably not use it). I added an Aires windvane and the boat accomodates it with ease....it is not too big at all and it makes sailing very enjoyable. If you are going to make the run from NS to bahamas, I would strongly recommend a wind vane.
I don't think you will be disappointed with the 28....yes, they are small...but when the weather is bad I would rather have a sturdy boat then a big floating living room!

Stan W. · Post by **Stan W.** » Jun 11th, '06, 17:12

I want a simple, sturdy vessel that will get us home. GF is inclined to simplicity and wants to steer with a tiller.

The CD 28 meets these criteria to a T.

I've found a recently repowered 1978 version. Appears to be in pretty good shape overall. One thing I've noticed, design-wise, is the companionway is cut almost to the cockpit sole - unusual for an Alberg boat. Leaving a board or two in is no big deal to me.

Newer CD 28s have a proper bridge deck. In fact, I thought that change was made before 1978. You might want to double-check the hull id no. on that boat.

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Jun 11th, '06, 17:19

Stan W. wrote:Newer CD 28s have a proper bridge deck. In fact, I thought that change was made before 1978.

Not sure when, but the change was made after the '77 model year.

Russell · Post by **Russell** » Jun 11th, '06, 17:29

If your interested in a CD28 for cruising I am sure you would enjoy the website of Kerry Deare a CD28 that has done some pretty extensive cruising.

http://home.comcast.net/~kerrydeare/

Drew · Post by **Drew** » Jun 12th, '06, 15:42

For weighing in. I'm pretty well drawn to the boat - just don't want to make a mistake. I'm sure I'll be back soon with more questions....

Drew · Post by **Drew** » Jun 12th, '06, 19:52

Back already - thanks again for the input.

2nd Question on repowering. There's 28's out there with varying degrees of HP - I found one with a new 20 HP yanmar and one with a new Beta Marine 13 HP. The former strikes me as capable of towing a waterskiier, the latter a wee bit under powered.

I am concerned about getting this right as a) it is very expensieve to "fix," and b) way beyond my mechanical skill to wrestle with.

Thoughts on this? What is the minimum acceptable HP for a 9,000 lb. boat on a cruise? Is a 13 enough to get in and out of a marina, or enough to move the boat at or near hull speed in a pinch? Thanks again for any insight.

Steve Laume · Post by **Steve Laume** » Jun 12th, '06, 20:03

I believe engine horse power is an over rated commodity in a well designed sail boat. Do you really need the capability of reaching hull speed in any conditions? I think I would be much happier with a smaller reliable engine than a big old one, Steve.

George Shaunfield · Post by **George Shaunfield** » Jun 13th, '06, 00:01

Drew,

In March this year I sailed on FeNIX, a 1978 CD28, that is now sailing for the South Pacific. During a 6-day shakedown cruise in the Atlantic off the coast of Jacksonville, FL we encountered a full gale (sustained 35 knot winds per NOAA) and she handled it just fine, better than her two passengers. You can view a pictorial account at https://mv3.accountron.com/cdsoa/Atlantic2006/

I have sailed my CD26 on several coastal passages in the Gulf of Mexico, but so far have never encountered more than several thunderstorms, 5-7 seas, and 25 knots of wind. I returned last Sunday from a 123 nm offshore passage to the Flower Gardens and 110 nm passage returning (less tacking).

IMHO Cape Dorys are capable of taking most anything that weather might dish out and looking after their crews in the process. Fred Bickham previously had a Bruce Roberts 30-foot boat when he spent a few years in the South Pacific. He commented two different times during the gale about how much easier the motion of the CD28 was.

Also, you may want to check http://www.boats.com for some really economical prices on some CD28's.

My $.02,
George

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Jun 13th, '06, 19:54

Drew wrote:Is a 13 enough to get in and out of a marina, or enough to move the boat at or near hull speed in a pinch?

If you're defining "pinch" as motoring into a gale at hull speed, no, 13 hp won't do that. It will, otoh, keep you going at hull speed when the wind is zero, burning fuel at the rate of about a quart an hour.

bottomscraper · Post by **bottomscraper** » Jun 13th, '06, 20:31

In Nigel Calders "Cruising Handbook" he recommends 1 hp for each 500lbs displacement as a rule of thumb. There are more detailed calculations and it appears that most of the information is from Dave Gerr's "Propeller Handbook" (which I don't have).

Drew · Post by **Drew** » Jun 13th, '06, 21:02

Thanks, folks, for all the input. I'm inclined to the 2h.p. per 1,000 lb. rule of thumb myself, but, I must say, I absolutely hate motoring. Some times you gotta do what you gotta, but if I am facing a gale on the nose I would rather do it under (a teensy bit of) sail. When I say "pinch" I mean circumstances where the boat has got to move, quickly, to keep it out of harms way - shoals, oncoming Ya-hoos in powerboats, that sort of thing. I don't envision avoiding wind with an engine, though I do, from time to time, currently use one to get out of the sun in a dead calm. Oars would probably suffice in that case.

Engine h.p. will not be a deciding factor. but I do want an engine that will push the boat, and I want dependibility, which I would tend to think is commensurate with the age (or youth) of an unkown engine in a 20 plus year-old sailboat.

I'd prefer an already-repowered boat so I can expend my energy on things and systems I can better grasp and cope with. Sails. for example.

I'm told a new mainsail for a CD28 should run about $2,000. Does that sound right?

VidaliA · Post by **VidaliA** » Jun 14th, '06, 06:39

I have a 1985 cd28 which is powered with a universal 18 (14 hp). I have only cruised through Maine, but the 14hp seems to be plenty of power. I you were planning on spending a lot of time sailing the rivers in Maine where the currents can reach 8 knots you may want more power. But 14 horses goes hull speed!!.

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