1979 Sam Holmes Sailing Cape Dory 28

Listed Apr 9

Price Reduced

$18,000 USD

~~$22,000~~

Seller's Description

Im 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. 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, Im happy to include a lesson or two. Im only selling because I recently purchased a catamaran, but Ill be sad to see her go.

Full keel Windpilot Pacific Windvane US Coast Guard Documented 6ft Headroom New Laminate Sails Yanmar Diesel Air conditioning Lithium Batteries Epoxy Barrier Coat New 2-Speed Self-tailing Winches Set up for Single-Handing Muir Cheetah Windlass Folding Mast Steps

Equipment: 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

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)

Halyards: High modulus main & jib halyards (2022)

Engine & Propulsion:

2001 Yanmar 2GM20F (2,700 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 50100 hrs

⸻

Electronics & Power:

Pelagic Electric Tiller Pilot Autopilot 2 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)

VHF radio with AIS receiver

Handheld VHF radio

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

Primary Anchor: Galvanized 55lb Spade 120 (rated for 35,000lb, 59ft boat)(galvanizing failingneeds 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-specd

Mooring webbing on stainless spool (cockpit)

Fenders: 2x Polyform A3 (1723), 2x large sausage fenders

Specs

Designer: Carl Alberg

Builder: Cape Dory Yachts

Association: Cape Dory Sailboat Owners Association

# Built: 388

Hull: Monohull

Keel: Long

Rudder: ?

Construction: FG solid lamine hull/ cored deck.

Also Known As: CD28

Dimensions

Length Overall: 27′ 11″ / 8.5 m

Waterline Length: 22′ 2″ / 6.8 m

Beam: 8′ 5″ / 2.6 m

Draft: 4′ 0″ / 1.2 m

Displacement: 9,000 lb / 4,082 kg

Ballast: 3,500 lb / 1,588 kg (Lead)

Rig and Sails

Type: Sloop

Reported Sail Area: 404′² / 37.5 m²

Total Sail Area: 400′² / 37.1 m²

Mainsail

Sail Area: 197′² / 18.3 m²

P: 31′ 5″ / 9.6 m

E: 12′ 6″ / 3.8 m

Air Draft: 41′ 0″ / 12.5 m

Foresail

Sail Area: 203′² / 18.8 m²

I: 35′ 2″ / 10.7 m

J: 11′ 6″ / 3.5 m

Forestay Length: 37′ 0″ / 11.3 m

Auxilary Power

Make: Volvo

Model: ?

HP: 15

Fuel Type: Diesel

Fuel Capacity: 32 gal / 121 l

Engine Hours: ?

Accomodations

Water Capacity: 60 gal / 227 l

Holding Tank Capacity: ?

Headroom: 6′ 2″ / 1.9 m

Cabins: 1

Calculations

Hull Speed: 6.2 kn
Classic: 6.32 kn

Sail Area/Displacement: 14.9
<16: under powered

Ballast/Displacement: 38.9
<40: less stiff, less powerful

Displacement/Length: 366.6
300-400: heavy

Comfort Ratio: 31.5
30-40: moderate bluewater cruising boat

Capsize Screening: 1.7
<2.0: better suited for ocean passages

Notes

The Cape Dory 28 is a rugged little cruiser often quoted as having a feel of a larger boat. She combines traditional looks, quality construction and well-mannered sailing characteristics into a package that is offshore capable. As testimony to her seaworthiness, we’ve seen at least one circumnavigation – in 2009 Fred Bickum completed his three year voyage singlehanded in his 1978 Cape Dory, FêNIX.

At her launch in 1974 the Cape Dory 28 marked the beginning of a fruitful twelve year partnership between Cape Dory Yachts and well respected designer Carl Alberg. Between 1974 and 1987, Cape Dory built 388 in their yard in East Taunton, New England, helping the company forge a grand reputation for producing sailboats that are well constructed with excellent sailing characteristics.

Taking a closer look at her hull shape a trained eye can see much of the classic Alberg form. A Swede himself, he was heavily influenced by the sleek Scandinavian folkboats of the early 20th century, and in that regard the 28’s hull is narrow, making for less accomodation volume belowdecks, but the long overhangs seen in earlier Alberg designs are only hinted at, instead they have been toned down in favour of a longer waterline and gaining back some space. The sheerline is graceful with traditionally low freeboard. Beneath the waterline is a full keel with a forefoot cutaway and ending in a keel-hung rudder which completes her classical profile.

Hulls are of solid fiberglass in polyester resin while decks are balsa or plywood cored fiberglass. The build quality is excellent throughout and the quality of her fittings are good. Bronze is used for the through hull fittings and the eight opening ports, though early boats before 1978 had lower quality plastic ports.

Under sail, they are sea kindly, stiff and capable in heavy seas, yet surprisingly quick in light winds. Nine thousand pounds of displacement, a modified full keel and a well-distributed sail plan results in a well balanced boat that tracks easily, is nimble through the tacks yet has enough momentum to push through choppy water.

In summary, if you’re looking for a small cruiser with classic looks and proven offshore potential, but don’t mind foregoing the interior room seen in more modern 28-footers, the Cape Dory 28 may be a good choice.

Buyers Notes

Decks are fiberglass with a plywood or in some models balsa core. Check for stress cracking which if neglected can allow moisture into the core. Particularly critical areas include the chainplates and mounting points for deck hardware
Check the fuel tanks. Most models have aluminum tanks mounted on wooden cleats that caused pitting in the aluminum, eventually leading to failure. Some models have steel tanks which can be prone to rusting. Note the tanks can be easily accessed via the port seat locker without difficulty.