CAPE DORY 30C
Specifications
Hull
| LOA | 30.21 ft |
| LWL | 22.83 ft |
| Beam | 9 ft |
| Draft | 4.17 ft |
| Displacement | 10,000 lb |
| Ballast | 4,000 lb |
| Hull speed1.34·√LWL | 6.4 kn |
Rig & Sails
| Iforetriangle height | 35 ft |
| Jforetriangle base | 13.25 ft |
| Pmainsail luff | 31.5 ft |
| Emainsail foot | 13 ft |
| FLforestay | 13.3 ft |
| Mainsail | 453 sq ft |
| Jib (100%) | 231.9 sq ft |
| Spinnaker | 394.2 sq ft |
About the CAPE DORY 30C
Also available as a ketch. (CAPE DORY 30K)
Designed by Carl Alberg and built by Cape Dory Yachts (USA) from 1976–1987, the Cape Dory 30C is a robust cruising cutter with 363 hulls produced. Its full keel design and heavy displacement of 10000.0 lb reflect a focus on stability and seakeeping over speed.
- Best for:
- This boat suits coastal and offshore cruisers who prioritize safety, comfort, and ease of single-handed handling over high-performance sailing metrics.
- Bluewater capability:
- With a capsize ratio of 1.67 and a comfort ratio of 33.06, the 30C is well-suited for bluewater cruising, offering exceptional stability and motion comfort in heavy weather.
- Comparables:
- Comparable to other Alberg-designed Cape Dory models like the 33 and 36, as well as the Tartan 30, due to their shared emphasis on heavy displacement, full keels, and conservative cruising capabilities.
Direct variant of the CAPE DORY 30C
Near-identical models — same hull, builder and designer, re-badged or lightly changed. Specs and owner-reported issues are typically shared across the group, so a sister model's page may carry detail this one doesn't.
Performance
Estimated Value
Medium ConfidenceAsking price by model year
28 listings · boat years 1972–1988 · median $23,000
Each dot is one listing · hover for details · dashed red line marks the median · obvious data-entry outliers (top & bottom 2.5%) excluded.
Estimated Cost of Ownership
Based on 30.21ft LOA. Actual costs vary by condition, usage, and local rates.
Known Issues & Pre-Purchase Inspection
6 reported issues across 4 systems for the CAPE DORY 30C, compiled from owner reports in sailing forums and owner-association material.
Unlock the full inspection report
Thinking of buying a CAPE DORY 30C? This is an in-depth report on the faults this model is known for — so you know exactly what to check when you walk the boat. For the price of a coffee.
- ✓ All 6 specific issues — severity, symptoms & fixes
- ✓ Model-specific pre-purchase inspection checklist
- ✓ Downloadable PDF to take to your surveyor — yours to keep
One-time $2.99 · secure checkout by Stripe · instant access · 30 days online, PDF yours to keep
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