I am about to buy my first sailboat, am considering the CD25D and would be grateful for any advice or thoughts any of you may have. My sailing experience is limited, mostly in dinghies and occasionally sailing on friend's larger boats. I have a family of four (children ages 6 and 9) with whom I anticipate sailing about half the time, the balance spent either alone (after getting some experience) or with a crew of two. The boat would be located in Quincy MA and mostly day-sailed in the waters around Boston harbour with the occasional extended sail to Cape Cod and the Islands and long-term plans of sailing the coast of Maine. I love the traditional, solid look of the Cape Dory line but want to make sure I get a boat that fits the "mission."
Thanks,
Dan Genis
dgenis@tiac.net
Advice on CD25D as a first boat please
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Lee H. Hodsdon
Re: Advice on CD25D as a first boat please
Dan,
The 25D would be an excellent choice. First, I am a strong believer in dinghy sailing. If you do something wrong in a dinghy you either get wet or go nowhere, when doing something right you are rewarded. This will be a good base to build from.
The size of your family will fit nicely. As the children grow it will become more cramped. We, my wife and I , regularly sail the NH and ME coast. Our trips are usually 2 weeks in duration and we find no problems with space in that time. Get fuel, water and ice when available.
The boat is no J24, but sails well, sometimes better than it should. Just keep an eye on sail trim and wind shifts (remember the dinghy part?). 90% of my sailing is done either alone or "singlehanded" with my wife below reading, sleeping or preparing food. This has never been a problem.
Both halyards run to the cockpit, with the winches moved to the cabin top. I removed the roller furling and have hanked on headsails. This works well for me but others have their preferances as well.
The boat is stable, and well mannered. I've made a couple of trips from East Boothbay to the mouth of the Piscataqua alone in miserable weather with no problems, though I don't recommend it as a first trip.
I've made numerous modifications to make life easier, but your thoughts on such things will come with time.
In short the 25D is an excellent choice, I think you will be pleased. Feel free to contact me via e-mail with any other questions.
Sincerely,
Lee
lhodsdon@nh.ultranet.com
The 25D would be an excellent choice. First, I am a strong believer in dinghy sailing. If you do something wrong in a dinghy you either get wet or go nowhere, when doing something right you are rewarded. This will be a good base to build from.
The size of your family will fit nicely. As the children grow it will become more cramped. We, my wife and I , regularly sail the NH and ME coast. Our trips are usually 2 weeks in duration and we find no problems with space in that time. Get fuel, water and ice when available.
The boat is no J24, but sails well, sometimes better than it should. Just keep an eye on sail trim and wind shifts (remember the dinghy part?). 90% of my sailing is done either alone or "singlehanded" with my wife below reading, sleeping or preparing food. This has never been a problem.
Both halyards run to the cockpit, with the winches moved to the cabin top. I removed the roller furling and have hanked on headsails. This works well for me but others have their preferances as well.
The boat is stable, and well mannered. I've made a couple of trips from East Boothbay to the mouth of the Piscataqua alone in miserable weather with no problems, though I don't recommend it as a first trip.
I've made numerous modifications to make life easier, but your thoughts on such things will come with time.
In short the 25D is an excellent choice, I think you will be pleased. Feel free to contact me via e-mail with any other questions.
Sincerely,
Lee
lhodsdon@nh.ultranet.com
-
Bob Luby
Re: Advice on CD25D as a first boat please
The 25D is my first "real" boat. ( Sunfish earlier)
It will fill your requirements very well. The stability is a plus for those of us who are slightly klutzy.
More questions? Fire away!
Rluby@aol.com
It will fill your requirements very well. The stability is a plus for those of us who are slightly klutzy.
More questions? Fire away!
Rluby@aol.com
-
Ray Worthington
Re: Advice on CD25D as a first boat please
After looking at numerous boats in the 25 foot range, I settled on a Cape Dory 25D. It took me three more years to find one in my area (southeast Georgia). In June 1997 I became the proud owner of a 1982 25D. I love the boat! My wife and I (our children are grown) sail it up and down the coast of Georgia, South Carolina, and Florida, usually a few miles off shore rather than the ICW. There are many secluded anchorages in our area where we like to spend the night. The boat has done everything we have asked of it. We tow a dinghy to go ashore. Sleeping four in the cabin will be close. I made some plywood sheets to fit in the cockpit and with an air mattress, it quite comfortable sleeping under the bimini. The holding tank is relatively small, about 11 gallons, so use it sparingly. Put a pad eye in the anchor well to tie off the bitter end of the anchor rode. There's hidden storage space under the drawer of the starboard side berth. Email me with any questions. Ray.
acw@thebest.net
acw@thebest.net
-
Al Souza
Re: Advice on CD25D as a first boat please
Dan Genis wrote: I am about to buy my first sailboat, am considering the CD25D and would be grateful for any advice or thoughts any of you may have. My sailing experience is limited, mostly in dinghies and occasionally sailing on friend's larger boats. I have a family of four (children ages 6 and 9) with whom I anticipate sailing about half the time, the balance spent either alone (after getting some experience) or with a crew of two. The boat would be located in Quincy MA and mostly day-sailed in the waters around Boston harbour with the occasional extended sail to Cape Cod and the Islands and long-term plans of sailing the coast of Maine. I love the traditional, solid look of the Cape Dory line but want to make sure I get a boat that fits the "mission."
Thanks,
Dan Genis
asouza@eros.com
-
Mike Wainfeld
Re: Advice on CD25D as a first boat please
Lee
Very true about sailing a dinghy!
I've been sailing my other boat, a 12' O"Day Widgeon, and when I'm back on my Typhoon it feels like a Cadillac/Mercedes/Lincoln/BMW. Tacking is so smoooooth! And effortless. Jibing is easy. You can really appreciate that "big" boat feel.
Mike
CD Typhoon "Regalo"
ripcord1@erols.com
Very true about sailing a dinghy!
I've been sailing my other boat, a 12' O"Day Widgeon, and when I'm back on my Typhoon it feels like a Cadillac/Mercedes/Lincoln/BMW. Tacking is so smoooooth! And effortless. Jibing is easy. You can really appreciate that "big" boat feel.
Mike
CD Typhoon "Regalo"
ripcord1@erols.com
-
Dan Genis
Re: Advice on CD25D as a first boat please
Ah, the Widgeon is dinghy I wrote of. A fun boat. Thanks for your post.
Dan
Dan
-
Ray Quaranto
Re: Advice on CD25D as a first boat please
A few thoughts from a ex 25d owner.
Perhaps the first negative response
Any 25 foot cruising boat is a compromise of course but I always felt that this boat was just trying to be too many things. I owned mine for 4 years and got good use out of her.
ok my gripes. She always felt like she was laboring under sail except on a broad reach i rarely ever got that real sense of SAILING.. I'll never forget a sail out of buzzards bay in a 15-20 knot chop, wind in the teeth of course, and just about everybody was flying by me... she is a bit tender and with that short waterline we just got hammered (and i got a bit seasick).
Below : The galley sink is a real pain and i was constantly annoyed by the way the sole rises up at the stove. Very comfortable for 1 or 2 i couldn't imagine 4. The best part is the head(!)
Engine: A true auxilary do NOT expect it to power through a chop but very reliable and economical.
No complaints about build quality or systems.
one last thing - look at her from any angle except from the stern-not a pretty boat (imho). In sum its a strong well built little boat but you may want to go smaller or larger...
i know this sound like a rant but you should know that after i sold her i really wanted a cd 30 which i think is a much better example of a good pocket cruiser. The scale of things on the 30 is really much more comfortable and she is much prettier. I"ve also sailed the cd 25 which is really what a 25 footer should be ( more graceful,simple systems, and a much better sailor). It turns out i couldn't find a suitable cd30 at a price i could afford so i bought an allied seabreeze 35 which is really in a different league entirely.
anyway good luck ..i'm sure i will hear the wrath of the 25d owners out there...
ray40@optonline.net
Perhaps the first negative response
Any 25 foot cruising boat is a compromise of course but I always felt that this boat was just trying to be too many things. I owned mine for 4 years and got good use out of her.
ok my gripes. She always felt like she was laboring under sail except on a broad reach i rarely ever got that real sense of SAILING.. I'll never forget a sail out of buzzards bay in a 15-20 knot chop, wind in the teeth of course, and just about everybody was flying by me... she is a bit tender and with that short waterline we just got hammered (and i got a bit seasick).
Below : The galley sink is a real pain and i was constantly annoyed by the way the sole rises up at the stove. Very comfortable for 1 or 2 i couldn't imagine 4. The best part is the head(!)
Engine: A true auxilary do NOT expect it to power through a chop but very reliable and economical.
No complaints about build quality or systems.
one last thing - look at her from any angle except from the stern-not a pretty boat (imho). In sum its a strong well built little boat but you may want to go smaller or larger...
i know this sound like a rant but you should know that after i sold her i really wanted a cd 30 which i think is a much better example of a good pocket cruiser. The scale of things on the 30 is really much more comfortable and she is much prettier. I"ve also sailed the cd 25 which is really what a 25 footer should be ( more graceful,simple systems, and a much better sailor). It turns out i couldn't find a suitable cd30 at a price i could afford so i bought an allied seabreeze 35 which is really in a different league entirely.
anyway good luck ..i'm sure i will hear the wrath of the 25d owners out there...
ray40@optonline.net