cape dory 36 sailboat data

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CAPE DORY 36

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. This fine yacht was designed from the keel up by Carl Alberg to provide the maximum combination of comfort and performance in a yacht of this size.

for owners' comments, photos and sailing yarns. See also this article on the CD 36 and this article featuring the Robinhood 36 and (article with photos) featuring Legacy. Be sure to download the following documents:

to view the 1991 sales brochure from Newport Shipyards. now builds this lovely vessel as the Robinhood 36.

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Cape Dory 36

Pretty lines and forgiving design from Carl Alberg, plus a sturdy build, make this classic a capable offshore cruiser

People are often surprised when they see the image of a handsome Cape Dory 36 pop up on my slide show of 25 great boats for bluewater sailing. Although I think it's beautiful, I don't hide the fact that I am not wild about full keel, short waterline boats. So why is it on my list? First, it is a well-proven Carl Alberg design with countless ocean miles logged, including a couple of circumnavigations. Secondly, it is well engineered and built with quality fittings. And finally, with prices dropping below $60,000, it has changed from being expensive to reasonably affordable, especially for a serious cruising boat.

Andrew Vavolotis founded Cape Dory Yachts in 1963. The fledgling company went from building the original 10-foot Cape Dory to becoming one of America's premier sailboat builders in the 1970s and 1980s. From the legendary 19-foot Typhoon Weekender to a 45-foot world cruiser, all Cape Dories had one common denominator: designer Alberg. Prolific and consistent, Alberg was a believer in long keels with attached rudders, narrow beam and relatively slack bilges, and easy-to-handle sailplans, preferably cutters. His designs are humble and seaworthy. The 36 was very successful. Introduced in 1978, it remained in production for 12 years and 165 hulls were launched. When Cape Dory went out of business in 1991, Vavolotis managed to keep the 36 molds and transported them to Robinhood Marine in Georgetown, Maine. The CD 36 was reborn as the Robinhood 36, and was available as a semi-custom boat until recently, although just a handful were actually built and sold.

First Impressions The Cape Dory 36 looks at ease in the water. The 36 has a subtle sheerline, and the low freeboard accentuates a low-slung profile. Alberg was a master of creating boats of moderate proportions that gave the impression of being heavier and more conservative than they really were. For example, the CD 36 has a displacement of 16,100 pounds. Contrasted with the Westsail 32's 19,500-pound displacement, the CD 36 is much lighter. Displacement is only part of the equation. The CD 36 has 9 feet of overhangs, and the 27-foot LWL is just 75% of the LOA, which makes it beautiful to look at but not speedy. The full keel is cutaway forward with an attached rudder and the prop is enclosed in an aperture. Most CD 36s were rigged as cutters with a club boom, a few came from the factory as sloops.

Construction For the most part Cape Dory did an excellent job of building boats and the proof is how well they've held up. The hull is hand-laid in a rotating, one-piece mold with alternating layers of fiberglass mat and woven roving. The deck is balsa cored except in areas of high loads and stresses where it is solid glass, plywood or aluminum. The hull-and-deck joint is on a wide, 3-inch inward flange and through-bolted on 12-inch centers, which makes sense. The chemical mastic bond is what keeps the joint from leaking, especially with a uniformly wide flange, and fasteners placed closer together do little to increase strength but plenty to increase the chances of a hull-and-deck joint leak.  Separate tools, or molds, were used to lay up the headliner and the pans in the V-berth and galley. A fiberglass subfloor adds additional athwarthships support, but further limits hull access. The ballast is cast in two pieces and placed inside the keel cavity. It is secured in place with several layers of fiberglass and covered with gelcoat for a smooth, clean bilge finish. The rudder combines two fiberglass half shells filled with a polyester compound and is built around a beefy 1 ½-inch stock.

What to look for The CD 36 has few serious problems as a class. Check for signs of deck delamination, not that it's a common problem, but with a balsa-cored deck you need to be wary. Some owners have had problems with the rudder delaminating. The most serious potential problem is with the chainplates, especially on hulls before No. 71. These early boats had a mild steel web that was used to attach the lower shrouds and the backstay to the hull and this unusual metal bracket was prone to rusting and corrosion. There is plenty of information about chainplate issues and solutions on the Cape Dory owner's page at www.capedory.org. After hull No. 71, an aluminum angle bar was fiberglassed to the hull just below the deck flange. The chainplate tangs were bolted to this weldment, which distributed the rig loads evenly, and most importantly, it didn't corrode as quickly.

On deck Most Cape Dory 36s have wheel steering, and the T-shaped cockpit was designed to accommodate a pedestal and decent-sized wheel. There are tiller boats, and if you will be fitting a windvane self-steering device, a tiller might be preferred. Otherwise, I would look for a CD 36 with a wheel because of the mechanical advantage it offers. The CD 36 can generate plenty of weather helm and the wheel eases the steering load. The visibility from the helm is excellent and the narrow beam places the sheet winches within easy reach. Yet the cockpit still feels spacious and there's plenty of storage with lockers port and starboard and a lazarette astern for the propane tanks. Teak coaming boards are elegant but they are hard on the back and overall the cockpit well is a bit shallow. There's a stout bridgedeck and the mainsheet traveler is usually set up on a bridge spanning the companionway with midboom sheeting on what is a proportionately long boom.  For a narrow boat, the CD 36 side decks are wide and there are long teak handrails atop the cabinhouse and a stout teak toerail. The single-spreader mast is keel-stepped and heavily stayed. The original staysail design called for a club boom, but many boats now have refit the staysail with furling gear.

Down below The CD 36 interior plan is straightforward and functional, and the level of finish is exceptional. Dropping below through the slightly off-center main hatch you find yourself in the galley, with two large sinks and a three-burner cooker. The comparatively small fridge is aft. The small nav station and quarterberth are opposite the galley to starboard. Unfortunately the electrical panel is located directly below the companionway behind the steps. One owner I noticed had covered the panel with clear plastic to keep it dry. The saloon includes an L-shaped settee to port with a straight settee opposite. I like the fold-up table that can be mounted on the bulkhead. Although the 6-foot, 4-inch headroom helps, you can't help but notice how narrow the boat is in the saloon. Continuing forward the head is to port with a hanging locker opposite. The V-berth cabin is spacious. There is storage in well-crafted drawers below the bunks. This is definitely the cabin for sleeping when at anchor, with a large overhead hatch and opening portlights to move the air around. Ventilation is excellent throughout the boat with plenty of opening bronze portlights.

Engine The old reliable Perkins 4-108 4-cylinder 50-horsepower diesel engine was standard on the CD 36. It is shoehorned into place behind the companionway with just enough room to work on it, and most maintenance items are within easy reach. The fuel tank is fiberglass, although some owners have retrofitted an aluminum tank. The engine compartment was nicely soundproofed.

Underway The CD 36 has been unfairly maligned when it comes to performance. You can't compare them to more modern hull shapes. The Cape Dory 36 tracks well and resists pounding in a seaway. With an SA/D of 15.7 and a D/L of 356, the CD 36 isn't fast, but it can carry sail and continue to make way when lighter, faster boats are running for cover in heavy air. Wide sheeting angles, a moderate-aspect rig and long keel prevent it from sailing close to the wind. But the CD 36 tracks quite well, as long as you don't pinch. And finally, the CD 36 heaves-to very well and this is very reassuring to bluewater sailors.

Conclusion The Cape Dory 36 is a quality cruising boat with a proven conservative design and impressive offshore track record. It's not flashy or fast but it is capable and also represents a solid financial value. This is a boat that you confidently entrust with your precious cruising dreams.

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• Sailboat Guide

Cape Dory 36 Kth

Cape Dory 36 Kth is a 36 ′ 1 ″ / 11 m monohull sailboat designed by Carl Alberg and built by Cape Dory Yachts between 1978 and 1990.

• 1 / 9 Vero Beach, FL, US 1981 Cape Dory 36 Kth $26,000 USD View
• 2 / 9 Vero Beach, FL, US 1981 Cape Dory 36 Kth $26,000 USD View
• 3 / 9 Vero Beach, FL, US 1981 Cape Dory 36 Kth $26,000 USD View
• 4 / 9 Vero Beach, FL, US 1981 Cape Dory 36 Kth $26,000 USD View
• 5 / 9 Vero Beach, FL, US 1981 Cape Dory 36 Kth $26,000 USD View
• 6 / 9 Vero Beach, FL, US 1981 Cape Dory 36 Kth $26,000 USD View
• 7 / 9 Vero Beach, FL, US 1981 Cape Dory 36 Kth $26,000 USD View
• 8 / 9 Vero Beach, FL, US 1981 Cape Dory 36 Kth $26,000 USD View
• 9 / 9 Vero Beach, FL, US 1981 Cape Dory 36 Kth $26,000 USD View

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

See CAPE DORY 36 for more details.

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Bluewater Sailboat – Cape Dory 36

Cape Dory Yachts was formed in New England in 1963 by sailor and engineer Andrew Vavolotis, who began with a small 15-footer. The business has built a solid reputation over the years for manufacturing durable yachts that are safe at sea, simple in design, and easy to handle. Outside of Cape Dory’s pocket cruiser choices of 30 feet and under, the Bluewater Sailboat Cape Dory 36 is the most popular. Perhaps this is owing to their versatility as superb offshore boats as well as weekend and coastal cruising vessels.

• LOA: 36′ 2″
• LWL: 27′ 0″
• Beam: 10′ 8″
• Draft: 5′ 0″
• Bridge Clearance: 46′ 6″
• Displacement: 16,100 lbs
• Ballast: 6,050 lbs
• Sail Area: 622 sq. ft.
• Fuel: 42 US. Gal.
• Water: 130 US. Gal.
• Designer: Carl Alberg
• Year Introduced: 1978
• Year Ended: 1990
• Builder: Cape Dory Yachts

Carl Alberg created the design, who was a legendary figure in cruising yacht design before designers like Perry reinterpreted what a cruising sailboat should look like during the golden years of the 1970s and 1980s. The Scandinavian folkboat influenced Alberg’s design, which prioritized seakindly and well-mannered sailing characteristics at the expense of internal volume and initial boat rigidity. This legacy is continued by the Cape Dory 36, which has a narrow beam, low freeboard, big overhangs, and a complete keel with a cutaway on the forefoot.

Construction has always been of the highest quality, including exceptional inside joiner work of this Bluewater Sailboat. In 1987, considerable alterations were made to the deck and interior layout. Owners have not noticed any areas of weakness or bad years, and the boats have gained a loyal following through the years. In 1991, Cape Dory Yachts halted manufacturing in New England, selling the moulds for the 36 to Robinhood Marine, who resumed manufacture with semi-custom modifications. There have been 165 Cape Dory 36s built in all.

Performance

The boat is well-built, and a short inspection of the heavy rig reveals a cutter layout that prioritizes offshore work. However, for coastal sailing, these boats are agile and simple to sail. They have a usefully shallow five-foot draught, making them ideal for bay hopping. The interior is tiny by modern standards, but it is habitable for couples on long excursions; save the six berths for social weekends away.

They track well to windward and have a tendency to be delicate at first, which lengthens their effective waterline before stiffening up. Because of the short freeboard, the ride is relatively damp. Except in quartering seas, they track relatively effectively on lengthy downward runs. There will be some hobby-horsing in chop.

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Cape dory 36 kth

The cape dory 36 kth is a 36.12ft masthead ketch designed by carl alberg and built in fiberglass by cape dory yachts between 1978 and 1990., it accomodates 4 people in 1 cabins plus salon..

The Cape dory 36 kth is a heavy sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is stable / stiff and has an excellent righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a bluewater cruising boat. The fuel capacity is originally small. There is a good water supply range.

Cape dory 36 kth for sale elsewhere on the web:

Main features

Model	Cape dory 36 kth
Length	36.12 ft
Beam	10.67 ft
Draft	5 ft
Country	United states (North America)
Estimated price	$ 0		??

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Sail area / displ.	15.21
Ballast / displ.	37.58 %
Displ. / length	365.16
Comfort ratio	35.74
Capsize	1.69

Hull type	Monohull long keel
Construction	Fiberglass
Waterline length	27 ft
Maximum draft	5 ft
Displacement	16100 lbs
Ballast	6050 lbs
Hull speed	6.96 knots

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Rigging	Masthead Ketch
Sail area (100%)	606 sq.ft
Air draft	0 ft		??
Sail area fore	288.75 sq.ft
Sail area main	225 sq.ft
I	42 ft
J	13.75 ft
P	36 ft
E	12.50 ft

Nb engines	1
Total power	0 HP
Fuel capacity	43 gals

Accommodations

Water capacity	132 gals
Headroom	0 ft
Nb of cabins	1
Nb of berths	4
Nb heads	1

Builder data

Builder	Cape Dory Yachts
Designer	Carl Alberg
First built	1978
Last built	1990
Number built	0		??

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