Cape Dory 14 Questions

[jcork]

I owned a Typhoon and currently own a CD25 in a slip. Yesterday I brought home a Cape Dory 14 that has been sitting in a garage for 10-15 years. Unfortunately the sailor passed away. I was told it was a 1964, a first year production year and it is stamped Hull #179. I have liked the boat since I saw it sailed in a Wooden Boat Mess-About years ago on the Great South Bay when I had a wooden Bolger Bobcat catboat.
It seems in great shape and everything seems here including a decent sail that is not original. The weighted center board seems similar to the one I had on a Flying Scot with it’s skateboard type roller.
I am hoping be able to raise the sail from the stern for solo sailing. My question is how does it sail? Is it a rowing skiff first and sails only in light breezes? We can get strong winds and chop on The Great South Bay and it certainly isn’t like lake sailing. At 6’3” 250 I don’t do much daintily and in sailing worse so. I did see a blog about some difficulty sailing down wind but what about the usual tacking back and forth? It is only 2/3ds as wide as a beetle cat or wood pussy. We have flats across the bay I want to try her out in around July 4th and the water will be warmer and till then I am going to paint her and redo the brightwork.

I was also frustrated trying to do Cape Dory 14 searches as it drops the number and the words Cape Dory is in every post! If you just put in 14 it kicks it out as too common. Too bad you can’t click a specific CD model or size and pare down the entries for specific interests. If there is a way please let me know!

Jack Corcoran
Babylon Village, Long Island, NY