CD Pilothouse

Discussions about Cape Dory, Intrepid and Robinhood sailboats and how we use them. Got questions? Have answers? Provide them here.

Moderator: Jim Walsh

Post Reply
Mark Gressle

CD Pilothouse

Post by Mark Gressle »

I am interested in a CD Pilothouse and would like to hear from other owners about their sailing and motoring experience. We find that on Long Island Sound we motor more than we sail if we have a specific destination in mind. Hence ,we would like to hear from others about expereince with the Pilothouse CD's.



mgressle@aol.com
Michael L. Howell

Re: CD Pilothouse

Post by Michael L. Howell »

Mark Gressle wrote: I am interested in a CD Pilothouse and would like to hear from other owners about their sailing and motoring experience. We find that on Long Island Sound we motor more than we sail if we have a specific destination in mind. Hence ,we would like to hear from others about expereince with the Pilothouse CD's.
I have been sailing a CD300 sense 1989. I purchased the vessel new from Cape Dory, Robinhood, Maine. Cape Dory is currently out of business. However, the Pilothouse vessel is back in production in Mass. The boat is sold underthe name Nausett, I beleive. The boat has a few short falls. The best impovement to the rigging is to convert the vessel to a cutter. She will hardly point without this option. Approx. $5,000. We disposed of the jib and opt to use a 150 genoa. This vessel has such a small main she is slow on the run. A world of difference with the genoa. We use to motor more than sail until the options were completed. Now we sail most of the time. The vessel now points and will run with most shoal draft vessels. Here in Maine the pilothouse is worth everything. We sail in good weather and bad, rain. With the cutter rig and a reefed main we have sailed pointing in 25 kts standing up at 15 to 18 degrees. Not bad for the displacement and shallow draft. She will give to lee as most boats of this keel configeration. She is a very managable vessel and the only lines we have to handle outside of the pilothouse are the sheets to the genoa. We have made several other improvements to this boat such as hot water boiler heating system (We lived on the boat for 5 years in Maine), radar arch, wind generator, propane stove w/oven. Most of the CD300 came with alcohol, not exceptable for living aboard. We also have anchor windlass, 200 ft of 3/8" chain, boom vang. Ham and SSB radio and all the other assessories of navigation such as Loran, GPS, Radar, VHS, Chart plotter, Hailer w/mast specker. Well, you get the picture, the boat is equipped to our needs and wants. Solar panel, water maker are next and we are off. We do love our CD300 and find that for the crusing we want to do, it is the perfect boat. I have done some boat deliveries from Va. to Maine and have found that the CD300 is the most comfortable boat I've sailed. Not the highest in the list of performance, but comfortable. Good luck if you are looking for one used. There is only about 44 built by Cape Dory before the production stopped. If I may be of any service to you in the future on the CD300, please write, I'll help where I can.

Respectfully,

Michael



nalsnati@aol.com
Jurgen Seebacher

Re: CD Pilothouse

Post by Jurgen Seebacher »

Michael L. Howell wrote:
Mark Gressle wrote: I am interested in a CD Pilothouse and would like to hear from other owners about their sailing and motoring experience. We find that on Long Island Sound we motor more than we sail if we have a specific destination in mind. Hence ,we would like to hear from others about expereince with the Pilothouse CD's.
I have been sailing a CD300 sense 1989. I purchased the vessel new from Cape Dory, Robinhood, Maine. Cape Dory is currently out of business. However, the Pilothouse vessel is back in production in Mass. The boat is sold underthe name Nausett, I beleive. The boat has a few short falls. The best impovement to the rigging is to convert the vessel to a cutter. She will hardly point without this option. Approx. $5,000. We disposed of the jib and opt to use a 150 genoa. This vessel has such a small main she is slow on the run. A world of difference with the genoa. We use to motor more than sail until the options were completed. Now we sail most of the time. The vessel now poin


JSeebacher@compuserve.com
Post Reply