1977 Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender (#1400)

[Sea Hunt]

Yesterday afternoon I purchased a 1977 Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender, Hull Number 1400. She is presently located in Marco Island, Florida. Next week she will be moved to Grove Key Marina in Coconut Grove (Miami), Florida, for rigging, etc. I will then sail her to her new mooring at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club - fortunately a very short distance. Picking up a mooring should be interesting - never having done so before.

I hope to be under sail by 10 or 11 April 2008, but this may be wishful thinking. Her head sails are presently hank ons. Because I will be single handing (Admiral departed months ago-still not sure about which emoticon to use here) I am considering a Harken roller/furler system but do not think I have the money for it. I may consider installing a bow pulpit at some point down the way. From what I have observed some Tys have it; some do not. I am not sure if it was an OEM "add-on" at time of purchase/commissioning. If I do not install a roller/furler, a bow pulpit may be helpful when working on the foredeck. Also, I think I want to obtain some type of portable swim/boarding ladder as soon as possible. A "rope & plastic steps" ladder came with the CD Ty Weekender.

My plan as of today is to not do much to her (she does not need much - the seller took excellent care). There are a few issues reported by the marine surveyor (repairing the rudder shaft below the gudgeon ( ) and rebedding some deck hardware that showed high moisture readings) that I will have taken care of by the marina/boatyard before launching. My plan is to just sail her for 12-18 months. Then there are three options. One, I decide that while I love to sail I enjoy sailing and racing more on someone else’s sailboat and do not really enjoy sailboat ownership. I will sell her with no regrets. Two, while I love my CD Typhoon Weekender, she is, as I suspect, a little too small for my adventure plans. I will sell her (with some regrets I am sure) and buy a CD 25D or CD 27. Three, I will realize I really love my CD Typhoon Weekender and she is the ideal size for me. I will keep her and bequeath her to my goddaughter in 15-20 years - if she behaves and listens to her "padrino".

I cannot begin to express my heartfelt gratitude to all of the members of this board for their advice, suggestions, encouragement and much needed prodding. Candidly, but for this board I NEVER would have bought a Cape Dory.

I would also like to briefly comment on the seller, Rob Roberts. During my long search I have met many, many CD owners. Everyone has been terrific - patient, kind, giving of time, helpful beyond belief, etc. Rob is/was all of this and more. Rob understood this was a major decision for me and was patient beyond belief and very understanding. He allowed me several months of thinking, reviewing, etc., without any pressure to "buy it now". He repeatedly offered to go sailing with me. His attitude was "buy the boat, don’t buy the boat, it doesn’t matter. Drive over and let’s go sailing." A true sailor and, to my good fortune, I now consider Rob a good friend.

On the day of the survey and transfer of title, Rob (a very experienced sailor who has owned many, including a CD 28 for 17 years and a CD 10 he restored himself) made sure everything went smoothly. And once again, he did so with patience and understanding of my "tadpole" status.

Rob even suggested "Tadpole" as the name of my new Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender. At present, there is no name on the transom. John V., what is the nautical protocol for naming a sailboat that does not presently have a name on her stern The LAST thing I want to do is offend King Neptune and his mermaids.

In addition to "S/V Tadpole" or "S/V Tadpole Sailor" does the CDSOA board have any other suggestions? I have thought of "S/V Sea Hunt" and "S/V My Princess" (intentionally generic ). Any and all suggestions are welcome - so long as they pass the webmaster’s test for public decency.

The above is the good news. The bad news is that I will now be peppering this board with hundreds of stupid, silly, inane questions about things I should have learned long ago. I sincerely apologize in advance. But as everyone knows, I am truly a "the tadpole sailor".

Dean, exactly how many Guinness do I owe you know

[Jim Walsh]

Congratulations! I will miss all the "shopping" emails though. They were hilarious at times.

[Ron Churgin]

SeaHunt,

Though I have never been of much help to you during your long odyssey, I have followed it closely. I have shared your pain, disappointments and indecision, as I have many of the same traits but without your good nature,humility and humor. I was beginning to despair of your boat ever finding you.

Hearty congratulations. When I saw you post I was truly delighted.
Now the adventure really begins.


Ron

[barfwinkle]

Welcome aboard Robert.

Personally, I like S/V Tadpole! Tadpoles grow and morph and in this case into a fine sailor I'm sure.

I almost got a Ty two years ago and was going to name her "Minuet" or "Tiny Dancer"?

But again I do like Tadpole.

Good Luck

Bill

[Neil Gordon]

>>Yesterday afternoon I purchased a 1977 Cape Dory Typhoon Weekender, Hull Number 1400.<<

This is clearly the end of an era for this message board and the Cape Dory community as a whole.

>>Picking up a mooring should be interesting - never having done so before.<<

It's better than pulling into a slip - never having done so before. At least when you overshoot the mooring, you've just overshot the mooring. Just go around and try again or just wait and fall back with the wind.

>>The bad news is that I will now be peppering this board with hundreds of stupid, silly, inane questions ...<<

Please do. We're all looking forward to it.

[novotny]

Sea Hunt, I take it all back, you are not a bored housewife from Bakersfiels, CA, congratulations and good luck. Jerry

[boom2it]

Let me know what you come up with for installing a bow pulpit. Are you going to use this to store an anchor? I have been curious about putting something like that in place. I have also been browsing for a roller furler. I am pretty sure I am going to go with the CDI FF1 with ball bearings. Price point is not bad $315 and seems to get good reviews. Thinking of buying a new genoa 135% or 150% cut for roller furler also, either that or have to older genny cut to fit the rf, not sure how well that works though.
Good luck and happy sailing

[SeaBelle]

SeaHunt,

You have made your mark here. You have always been honest and yourself, always appreciated here. I've noted the many who have fondly followed and participated in your saga. Now the nature of your journey has changed; now you are among: "They that go down to the sea in ships".

[John Vigor]

Well, glory be and hallelujah! You did it! I can hardly credit it. I thought it would never happen, but you have shamed us disbelievers.

Well done, Sea Hunt, my sincerest congratulations. I take it all back.

As for naming your lovely new Typhoon, if she never had a name, you simply go ahead and do a short christening ceremony with the best champagne you can afford.

If she did have a name, and even if it wasn't painted on the boat anywhere, you will have to go through the de-naming ceremony first (which has its own compensations.)

You'll find both ceremonies here:

http://www.48north.com/mr_offline/denaming.htm

May you have many, many happy sailing days to come.

Cheers,

John V.

[Neil Gordon]

>>As for naming your lovely new Typhoon, if she never had a name, you simply go ahead and do a short christening ceremony with the best champagne you can afford.<<

Notwithstanding John's good advice, don't spend more for the champagne than you did for the boat.

[BillNH]

Congratulations, and enjoy! "Tadpole" sounds very appropriate... just be careful it doesn't grow up into a CD 27 "Frog"

[bhartley]

WHERE ARE THE PICTURES?????? I hope you have many years of happiness with your Ty.

Tadpole works for me -- and you can always go with Grenouille for the 25D

Bly

[seajunkie]

Congrats on your new Yacht. I do think that there is another option in there.....you learn to sail on this awsome machine, and you grow into a little bigger one, then grow into a bigger one then leave a CD45 to you God Daughter....only by then the name will be Dinosaur. Have fun.

[John Ring]

Seriously, the entertainment value of this board just plummeted tremendously.

May I suggest it's time Sea Hunt starts thinking about moving up?

John Ring
CD28 Tantalus
www.yachttantalus.us

[ronkberg]

Robert, I am very happy for you and certain that you will fully enjoy your.....YOUR!!!! Typhoon

I installed a CDI FF1 and had my 150% genny modified to fit. It is an easy installation job that a tadpole can perform with relative ease. I also replaced my gate valves with seacocks, another straight forward job even though I leave them open nearly always. With the rail buried, some water comes through the leeward seacock but it drains when you straighten up. Crossing the drain hoses will mitigate that problem but will also block access to the storage area under the cockpit.

We will all miss your searching reports but welcome to the water and feel confident that the Typhoon will bring you back to your mooring. She's a tough little boat.....much tougher than most of us would guess. Read wingreen's 3/24 adventure to prove the point.

Please do not hesitate to ask any questions of a brother Typhoon sailor. The name must be "S/V Tadpole" so we will all be able to find you plying the world's oceans.

Ron