Cd-25,25d questions

[Joseph Voss]

I am seriously considering a cd and have some questions. I am attracted to these boats as I want a solid,offshore,full keelboat that will take me safely to Catalina and the Channel islands. But my budget dictates a 25-footer. Many sailing freinds have suggested that a heavy keelboat will be slow as heck and unpleasurable to sail. I know I will give up some speed, but am wondering opinons from owners of this kind of boat. Thank you for any respones in advance. Joe Voss



jandmvoss@netzero.com

[chris mullins]

I am seriously considering a cd and have some questions. I am attracted to these boats as I want a solid,offshore,full keelboat that will take me safely to Catalina and the Channel islands. But my budget dictates a 25-footer. Many sailing freinds have suggested that a heavy keelboat will be slow as heck and unpleasurable to sail. I know I will give up some speed, but am wondering opinons from owners of this kind of boat. Thank you for any respones in advance. Joe Voss

joe:i have been living aboard and sailing my cape25 around the chatham to watch hill area four years now.she is awsome in light airs,and although i have to reef pretty early,once she's snugged down she will ride out the most ferocious blow in comfort.i have had her out in steep breaking seas off cuttyhunk island,surfed like crazy,and never took a drop aboard.the only problem i've had is that i loaded her down with so much stuff i almost sank her,but that was my fault,not the boat's.she has done everything i've asked her and saved my ass out of some stupid situations i should never have got into.the speed thing is like this:if you're highly competitive,it will bother you when the fin keelers go by you,and they will.but,since speed is a function of waterline length,and everybody seems to have a forty footer these days,they're all going to go by you anyway.and since almost everybody,at least on this coast,spends all their time under power,they're all going to go by you too.if you're in a hurry,take a plane,not a boat.i have found that in all conditions the 25 is a joy to sail,nimble at the helm but with enough directiolal stability that i can lash the tiller and go do other things,if need be.this boat is so good under sail,i only used six gallons of gas last year,and i'm still trying to use up the three gallons i bought in block island last june.i could type a couple thousand words on how great this boat is,but it would take me all day,slow as i type.i hear that of the two the 25d is the better sea boat for blue water,roomier,and of course deisle is much to be preferred,but they're not cheap.out here a 25 can commonly be had for five or six grand,the 25d is more like twenty.you may take this as an enthusiastic endorsement of the cape dory 25. chris.



douglas_rock@hotmail.com

[Bruce Bett]

Joseph:

I’m not sure I’d characterize the Cape Dory 25 as "awesome in light airs" but "slow as heck" is probably going to far as well. "unpleasurable to sail", that’s slander! Realistically these boats top out at around 7 miles an hour or so. Most of the time your making 5 or 6 mph. I would not hesitate to sail from the California mainland to Catalina Island. I have often sailed from Monroe MI to Peele Island Ontario, about 38 miles across the open waters of Lake Eire. Great sail nice boat!

Bruce Bett
Sostenuto
CD25 #496

I am seriously considering a cd and have some questions. I am attracted to these boats as I want a solid,offshore,full keelboat that will take me safely to Catalina and the Channel islands. But my budget dictates a 25-footer. Many sailing freinds have suggested that a heavy keelboat will be slow as heck and unpleasurable to sail. I know I will give up some speed, but am wondering opinons from owners of this kind of boat. Thank you for any respones in advance. Joe Voss

bettb@macomb.cc.mi.us

[Bob Luby]

The 25 and 25D are different boats.

A full keel design means that you won't heel/accelerate as much in a puff. In light air, the greater wetted area will make the boat slower. So if you are used to the quick motion of a fin-keel boat, it will feel slower.

However, you have a trade off in greater comfort - seakindliness. You won't be banged around as much, and heavy air won't be a problem - it will be a pleasure. Full keel boats also heave to more comfortably than fin-keel boats. You may arrive later, but you'll be in better shape when you do arrive.

YMMV, of course.



Rluby@aol.com

[Dave Duncan]

I am seriously considering a cd and have some questions. I am attracted to these boats as I want a solid,offshore,full keelboat that will take me safely to Catalina and the Channel islands. But my budget dictates a 25-footer. Many sailing freinds have suggested that a heavy keelboat will be slow as heck and unpleasurable to sail. I know I will give up some speed, but am wondering opinons from owners of this kind of boat. Thank you for any respones in advance. Joe Voss

Joe,
I purchased a 1978 25' CD this past summer. I also heard the same thing about her being slow and dead in the water. I would have to say that thats not true. With the right sails, I had her crusing at about 6.5 knots with a max of about 7. Winds were about 15 - 20 knots on a broad reach. What I love about her is she handles like a dream. Very little weather helm, easy to handle the lines, and she is supper stable. I only had one instance this past summer when we were sailing under reduces sail and a gust of wind hit us. She healed over enough to burry the wench put water in the cockpit, but we brought her up to dump wind and she was fine. The only concern you'll have to deal with is being under power. She does not back up! Make sure you have enough area to move her around. She also won't make tight turns either, because there is no prop wash. You have to get going about a knot to two knots to turn her. I know from me experience though, once you get use to her, you'll love any CD. Hope I helped.
Dave




duncanmdavid@msn.com

[Doug Kelch]

Many sailing freinds have suggested that a heavy keelboat will be slow as heck and unpleasurable to sail. I know I will give up some speed, but am wondering opinons from owners of this kind of boat.

Joe, This weekend the winds were register as 5 kts at Thomas Point light. The two of us were in the CD25 and as we turned around to return to the harbor a Catalina 22 paired up with us. I thought the conditions would favor the lighter Catalina with the outboard up. On the beam reach( both boats had 140% genoas) we would creep ahead if we paid attention and drift back when we were snoozing. We were side by side for 2 km and as the wind lightened evern more as we near land we were consitently gaining. Not bad for draging a 6 hp long shaft through the water.

Doug



dkelch@cox.rr.com