New Cape Dory 26

[Peter K.]

I was hoping for a happier time to announce this, but perhaps one person's joy will brighten a few other people's lives too. I put my new (to me, of course) Cape Dory 26 into the water on Saturday (on Sandusky Bay on Lake Erie). It is CD26 hull number 42. I am overjoyed about the boat, and only wish it could have been a happier time for the rest of the world. As life gets back to some semblance of "normal" (whatever that means) I am looking forward to cruising the Great Lakes on the boat, beginning next summer. The boat appears to be in excellent condition, and the surveyor's valuation is 50% higher than what I paid for it.
I look forward to many years of reading, and occasionally even appearing on, this website.
Fair Winds to each of you,
Peter



pkozup@juno.com

[Rich]

Peter - good luck with your new boat. I've sailed your bay on my brother's C & C 30. I'm in year 3 of my ownership of Shearwater, a sistership to your CD26. Every time out I learn more about the boat. Even when I'm sitting in the marina on a rainy, calm day, I get such peace from just lying on one of the berths and letting the gentle rocking take my mind away.


Happy sailing,
Rich - CD26 Hull number 6, "Shearwater"



rpassmore42@hotmail.com

[Kurt]

Congratulations Peter! I've sailed my CD26, Alerion, on Lake St Clair near Detroit since 1992. It's hull #9 and is a wonderful boat. I'm primarily a day sailor although I occasionally take it on overnight and weekend cruises. It's big enough to handle the Great Lakes with confidence but small enough to still be a simple boat to sail and maintain.



KJLGPW@AOL.COM

[Bruce Bett]

Congratulations Peter:

I Sailed Sostenuto (CD 25 #496) on lake Erie out of Monroe MI for several years before moving her to Port Sanalic on Lake Huron this spring. Have a blast sailing the islands! Be sure you get to Peele Island, and order the "Pickrel Senator" at the Anchor and Wheel. No offence to you East Coasters but it's every bit as good as fresh lobster in Maine.

Bruce Bett

I was hoping for a happier time to announce this, but perhaps one person's joy will brighten a few other people's lives too. I put my new (to me, of course) Cape Dory 26 into the water on Saturday (on Sandusky Bay on Lake Erie). It is CD26 hull number 42. I am overjoyed about the boat, and only wish it could have been a happier time for the rest of the world. As life gets back to some semblance of "normal" (whatever that means) I am looking forward to cruising the Great Lakes on the boat, beginning next summer. The boat appears to be in excellent condition, and the surveyor's valuation is 50% higher than what I paid for it.
I look forward to many years of reading, and occasionally even appearing on, this website.
Fair Winds to each of you,
Peter

bettb@macomb.cc.mi.us

[ross williams]

Congrats on the new boat. My wife and I purchased a CD26 last Summer. We live just outside of Portland Maine and enjoy cruising the Maine coast with her. There a great boat and we're always getting compliments about the tradional lines etc. Have fun. You'll be wishing away this upcoming winter so you can get back out there.
Curiousity question, the only survey issue we had, which I should say the surveyor said is only cosmetic at this point, is extensive crazing in the gelcoat on the decks. Hull is great but decks have cracks that we'll have to address at some point to ensure they don't go from cosmetic to structural. We've seen a lot of Cape Dory's and have realized we're not alone with this deck issue. Our boat is hull #3 but I've seen more recent CD26's that still have cracks in the same areas on the decks.
Just be curious what your experience has been...
Ross & Sandra Williams
CD 26 Stornoway




rosswilli@aol.com

[Rich]

In the three years I've owned my 26 (hull 6), I would say that my gel coat cracks have widened a bit in some areas and that concerns me. At some point, maybe already, I will have water getting to the roving and perhaps the core. The worst areas for me are around the corners of the cockpit seats and at the cleats. I will have to start the process of filling these but I'm not confident of my ability to color match the gel coat.

Are there epoxy products that could be used to fill the cracks and limit water damage?



rpassmore42@hotmail.com

[Bob Loewenstein]

I think Larry DeMers used a thin crack filler on his boat. Larry promised to report how good it was after a season or two. Larry, do you have any results yet??