For Sale: 1979 Cape Dory 28 $25,000

I’m selling my beloved 1979 Cape Dory 28—a fast, comfortable, and incredibly solid boat that will take you anywhere safely. She has carried me to 45 countries, across the Atlantic twice, and through the North Sea, Baltic, Mediterranean, West Africa, and the Caribbean.

This is by no means a showboat—she could use some new paint and varnish —but the hull is solid, and she has all the equipment necessary for sailing around the world. If the buyer is new to sailing, I’m happy to include a lesson or two. I’m only selling because I recently purchased a catamaran, but I’ll be sad to see her go.

Dimensions:

• LOA: 28 ft

• Beam: 8.5 ft

• Draft: 4 ft

• Displacement: 9,000 lbs (3,000 lbs encapsulated lead)

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Sails & Rigging:

• Mainsail (20m²) – Fully battened with 2 reef points

• Genoa (24m²) – on Harken roller furler.

Main & jib were replaced Aug 2023 by Rolly Tasker with Contender CDX 6/7oz polyester cruising laminate. still have excellent shape, but some chafe spots should be reinforced.

• Spinnaker (84m2)– Symmetrical by North Sails. Several patches but really gets the boat moving in light air.

• Spinnaker /Whisker pole – On mast-mounted track, spare pole lashed to toe rail

• Spare Dacron sails – Stored in North Carolina, very good condition

• Stack pack sail cover (2021) – Fair condition

Rigging:

• Standing rigging replaced ~2018

• Chainplates: Bronze, with carbon fiber reinforcement (to fix the corroded mild steel backings plates that nearly all cape dories exhibit. 2021)

• Backstay: Small area of chafe where it rubbed the solar arch

• Halyards: High modulus main & jib halyards (2022)

Starboard spreader base cracked and stripped the threads during an Atlantic crossing—recommend replacing with upgraded Catalina 27 bases as other cape dory owners have done. About $200 https://www.catalinadirect.com/shop-by-boat/catalina-25/rigging/standing-rigging/spar-fittings/spreader-bracket-retrofit-c-25-c-27/

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Engine & Propulsion:

• 2001 Yanmar 2GM20F (~3,000 hrs)

• Stainless exhaust elbow (2020)

• Raw water pump (2021) – note this is an aftermarket pump that uses a different impeller than the OEM but it comes with the original pump & a rebuild kit

• Throttle/shift levers & cables (2021)

• Stainless engine mounts (2024)

• Starter (2023)

• Three-blade prop (2023)

• Drippless PSS shaft seal (2022)

• Zinc (2025)

• Oil & filters changed every 50–100 hrs

Note: Occasionally, the starter requires pressing the button a few times before engaging. This is a known issue with Yanmar’s under-spec’d wiring to the start solenoid—an inexpensive relay mod can fix it, but I haven’t installed it since it always starts after a few tries.

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Electronics & Power:

• Pelagic Electric Tiller Pilot Autopilot – 3 remotes, spare actuator arm (2024)

• Sailproof chart plotter tablet (2022)

• 24V zero breeze air conditioner on step-up converter

• Solar: 2x 175W panels (350W total, 2021)

• VictronConnect MPPT solar charge controller w/ Bluetooth (2020)

• Victron Smart battery monitor w/ Bluetooth (2024)

• BlueSea waterproof 12V DC switch panel (2021)

• Nav lights (2024)

• Anchor light (2022)

• House battery: 200Ah lithium (2022)

• Starting battery: 200Ah AGM (2020)

• Victron Bluetooth DC-DC charger (2024)

• USB charging ports (2020)

• Shore power chargers (110V & 220V, 2024)

• 2x Caframo 12V cabin fans (2020)

• Depth finder

• 2 electric bilge pumps

I’m keeping my Starlink Mini (because its on an affordable Dominican Republic plan that I want to maintain), but I can include the 12–24V step-up converter, wiring, and mount so you can easily install another one.

A couple of the light fixtures and things need to be rewired

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Anchoring & Mooring:

• Primary Anchor: Galvanized 55lb Spade 120 (rated for 35,000lb, 59ft boat)(galvanizing failing—needs repainting)

• 30ft 3/8” BBB chain + 200ft nylon rode

• Stern Anchor: Aluminum 15lb Spade 80 (Mantis stern bracket, 150ft rode)

• Aluminum Fortress anchor

• Muir Cheetah Windlass – Massively over-spec’d

• Mooring webbing on stainless spool (cockpit)

• Fenders: 2x Polyform A3 (17×23”), 2x large sausage fenders

• Dock lines: Large 1” diameter lines

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Upgrades & Additional Features:

• Hull-to-deck joint fiberglassed over (2021) – vastly improves waterproofing

• Bottom sandblasted & epoxy barrier coat (2020) – no blisters, new bottom paint (2024)

• Hull-shield Ultrasonic antifouling (2021)

• Mast wiring replaced & secured – eliminates rattling; extra wires run for future installs

• Halyards routed inside mast

Cockpit:

• Lewmar Ocean 30 2-speed self-tailing genoa winches (2024)

• Pacific Windpilot Windvane Self-steering system

• Heavy-duty Gahauer mainsheet traveler

• Manual cockpit bilge pump (2022)

• 2” stainless solar arch

• Sunshade from dodger to solar panels

• Hard dodger – very solid, needs repainting

• Stainless boom gallows & handholds

• Cockpit cushions (Stored in NC)

• Horn

• Note: One stanchion is bent—should be straightened or replaced

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Galley & Cabin:

• 12V fridge (2022)

• Alcohol stove

• Jetboil stove on custom gimbal with ceramic bearing (2023)

• Pressurized fresh water to sink & cockpit shower

• Saltwater & freshwater foot pumps (diaphragms replaced 2024)

• Water heater (engine or 120V electric)

• 30-gallon water tank

• Composting head

• Bronze seacocks & portlights (new seals 2020)

• Aluminum deck hatches – some crazing in glazing

• Companionway doors (2020)

• New mattress (2025)

• Folding table

• Teak floor grates & medicine cabinet

• Pipe berth

• Tool drawers & ample storage pockets

• Dehumidifier

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Extras:

• Achilles LT-2 hypalon roll-up dinghy (w/ trolling motor & carbon fiber mount)

• Binoculars

• Dyneema Series drogue (stern chain plates installed)

• 2x boat hooks

• Spare parts

contact sam samholmessailing@gmail.com

boat will be in Fort Myers Beach Florida around April 5