Thoughts on a CD 10

[Sail Scituate]

I am considering buying a CD 10 for multiple uses. My wife does recreational rowing on what I believe are 4 person boats. My sons will be starting their second year of sailing an Opti, and I'm looking for a dinghy for my CD 25. Just wondering if anyone has any input in terms of how the 10 rows and sails, and if it may be too heavy to be towed by a 25. We generally use the club launch to get back and forth from our 25, but would use the dinghy for any after hour use or if we wanted to drop anchor and explore. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[Stan W.]

A CD 10 would make a fine tender for a CD 25. The only limitation would be the inability to stow it on deck. That just means being careful about the weather.

I don't think a CD 10 will do much to advance your wife's rowing or your sons' Opti racing though. Four person boats are sweep boats (one oar, two hands), not scull boats (two oars, one hand each) and, while they row ok, CD 10s are all-purpose designs not optimized for sculling. Likewise, CD 10s sail reasonably well, but their 19th century rig is not going to teach you much about how to make an Opti go fast.

[Sail Scituate]

Thanks for the feedback. I'm not really looking at it as an extension for my wife's rowing or the kids' sailing, just looking at some of the positives the CD 10 offers that an inflatable tender doesn't. Biggest concern is how it will tow behind the 25.