1979 Cape Dory 36'

The basic hull design of the Cape Dory yachts is a traditional one which has proven itself over many years of use and thousands of miles of cruising. The long keel with attached rudder hull configuration combined with a generous but not bulbous beam provides stiffness and longitudinal stability: it also provides protection for the rudder, propeller and propeller shaft. The sail plans are not as lofty as those used on more race oriented designs of similar size. Instead of high aspect ratio main sails, Cape Dory has continued with what it considers to be a more sensible cruising sail plan. This means that a smaller head sail is needed, that a family or limited crew can handle a Cape Dory, and that the stresses of the rig and boat are less than those on high aspect ratio rigged boats under identical conditions. The interior layouts of Cape Dory yachts are designed to provide comfortable accommodation for reasonably sized crew on boats of their size.