Those of you who participate on this board are the experts so I thought I would post these questions. I am considering buying my first boat (a 1978 cape dory 28 in fair condition)and am wondering if there was anything particular to this year and model that I should be aware of. One thing that concerns me is the age of the 13hp Volvo inboard. I don't know the quality of these engines but suppose a compression test will answer the question. Any other comments or things to look for would be appreciated. THanks. Bill - Chesapeake Bay (Virginia).
bkerkam@yahoo.com
1978 Cape Dory 28??
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
wayne grenier
Re: 1978 Cape Dory 28??
If you research the matter you will find the volvo engines are the heaviest duty and most expensive you can put in a boat-they were designed for contiuos duty-running generators and irrigation pumps in Europe and can be run straight for several hundred hours-shut down to change the filters and run again-at 22 years old its probably tired-but if it starts right up-after a few turns-that means the compression is good-your motor probably does not have glow plugs and like my MD11 in my cd 28 fires on compression alone-they are well worth rebuilding-or trading in-try Dipietro International 1-900-447-9482 in Manchester Ct-they are the best-they might have a rebuilt one right on the shelf-they are the best-no word of a lie-sunday I bashed my cd 28 dead upwind for 3,5 hours against a 15-20 headwind-4'seas and the tide-with my genoa uo! and sheeted in tight-it was overkill but the weather forecast was for much lighter conditions-I kept up with some very big boats in terms of pointing and was only a little slower than them-there were a couple of boats my size but I outpointed them and they had to tack several times and i left them way behind-when i tied up at my mooring-the guy in a c+c 27' next to me said he was not going out becuase "it was too windy"-I am not making this up! the cape dorys are real boats with real engines-you can plan on worst case scenario-haiving the motor and gearbox rebuilt-or trading in for the same-Dipietro will give you a price-but have a good mechanic check the engine-so you can adjust your offer accordingly-good luck!Bill Kerkam wrote: Those of you who participate on this board are the experts so I thought I would post these questions. I am considering buying my first boat (a 1978 cape dory 28 in fair condition)and am wondering if there was anything particular to this year and model that I should be aware of. One thing that concerns me is the age of the 13hp Volvo inboard. I don't know the quality of these engines but suppose a compression test will answer the question. Any other comments or things to look for would be appreciated. THanks. Bill - Chesapeake Bay (Virginia).
grenier@ma.ultranet.com
-
Mike Everett
Re: 1978 Cape Dory 28??
My 1978 CD28 is exactly what I'd want in a sturdy, comfortable cruiser that a couple can live on for weeks and not be afraid to sail offshore. I hope to keep this boat until I'm no longer able to sail. I can't think of any particular problems with it. It's a good model.
A couple of weeks ago I got some help from the diesel mechanic at my marina (tracing an overheating problem - a simple clogged thermostat housing). He told me that the Volvo MD is the best marine diesel he's ever worked on - "they run forever." My MD7 has lost some compression and will need a rebuild in a year or so. A rebuild costs $1500-$2000, which isn't much (in my opinion) for an engine that's run faithfully for twenty-two years.
If your engine takes more than about twenty-thirty seconds to crank for a cold start and if it smokes visibly after it's warm, then you've got failing compression. But I wouldn't reject a CD28 for this reason - instead I'd try to get the cost of the rebuild knocked off the price.
Great boat with a great engine.
everett@megalink.net
A couple of weeks ago I got some help from the diesel mechanic at my marina (tracing an overheating problem - a simple clogged thermostat housing). He told me that the Volvo MD is the best marine diesel he's ever worked on - "they run forever." My MD7 has lost some compression and will need a rebuild in a year or so. A rebuild costs $1500-$2000, which isn't much (in my opinion) for an engine that's run faithfully for twenty-two years.
If your engine takes more than about twenty-thirty seconds to crank for a cold start and if it smokes visibly after it's warm, then you've got failing compression. But I wouldn't reject a CD28 for this reason - instead I'd try to get the cost of the rebuild knocked off the price.
Great boat with a great engine.
everett@megalink.net
-
Anthony P. Jeske
Re: 1978 Cape Dory 28??
Bill:
Some owners have reported problems with delamination, particularly in the foredeck area. People are beginning to find significant wear of the rudder hardware. Less common, but reported, are chainplate corrosion problems. These topics have been covered on this site, use the search function to read about them. Spending the money on a competent surveyor is the best thing you can do to discover, and allow for these problems before you buy the boat.
Don't let this list scare you off, if this boat has one of these problems, remember that all these items are repairable. You'll wind up with a rugged, beautiful boat that will be a joy to sail.
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
ajeske@ixpres.com
Some owners have reported problems with delamination, particularly in the foredeck area. People are beginning to find significant wear of the rudder hardware. Less common, but reported, are chainplate corrosion problems. These topics have been covered on this site, use the search function to read about them. Spending the money on a competent surveyor is the best thing you can do to discover, and allow for these problems before you buy the boat.
Don't let this list scare you off, if this boat has one of these problems, remember that all these items are repairable. You'll wind up with a rugged, beautiful boat that will be a joy to sail.
Good Luck,
Tony Jeske
ajeske@ixpres.com
-
Neil Gordon
Re: 1978 Cape Dory 28??
I have a '77... no problems at all with the motor... it starts on the first turn, every time, first time in the spring included.
The CD28 is a great boat. Get yours surveyed, renegotiate the price for anything beyond ordinary maintenance and enjoy a boat that you can trust to take good care of you regardless of conditions.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
The CD28 is a great boat. Get yours surveyed, renegotiate the price for anything beyond ordinary maintenance and enjoy a boat that you can trust to take good care of you regardless of conditions.
Regards, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
neil@nrgordon.com
-
Jay Hubbard
Re: 1978 Cape Dory 28??
I recently purchased a 79 CD 28 Hull Number 245. I looked at many 28's and 30's and being located on Lk Michigan was of course trying to find a fresh water boat. To get a real "Feel" of what is good and or bad I think you need to look at 3 or 4 boats before you make a decision. Most of the boats I saw were in pretty good shape but you should expect to find surface cracks in the gel coat along the side decks especially near the aft end of the cabin. If no water has seeped in and caused delamination, they are relatively easy to repair but watch out for any that appear to bulge or are rough. An other problem area can be under the bow sprit and around the bow mooring cleats. A good surveyor will find these pretty quickly.
I assume you are looking at boats that have always been in salt water.
If so you have to make some judgement calls on what seams to be excessve corrosion. Every one's perception is different.
The boat I purchased has the original MD7A and had the injectors replaced a couple of years ago. It runs like new. Don't be deceived by engine hours, too few hors can be as bad as too many hours. Let an experienced mechanic decide for you.
Look at the sails and find out their age and all about them. I saw boats from the 70's with really good original sails and I saw sails that were 2 or 3 years old that were in very poor shape. Because of your location you need good ocean sails that will take the variable conditions you will encounter. Remember these boats are meant to carry sail long after most of the more contemporary designs are back on their moorings.
Good sailing
mailbox1@worldnet.att.net
I assume you are looking at boats that have always been in salt water.
If so you have to make some judgement calls on what seams to be excessve corrosion. Every one's perception is different.
The boat I purchased has the original MD7A and had the injectors replaced a couple of years ago. It runs like new. Don't be deceived by engine hours, too few hors can be as bad as too many hours. Let an experienced mechanic decide for you.
Look at the sails and find out their age and all about them. I saw boats from the 70's with really good original sails and I saw sails that were 2 or 3 years old that were in very poor shape. Because of your location you need good ocean sails that will take the variable conditions you will encounter. Remember these boats are meant to carry sail long after most of the more contemporary designs are back on their moorings.
Good sailing
mailbox1@worldnet.att.net