Cape Dory 27
Built 1977–1985 by Cape Dory Yachts (East Taunton, MA)
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About the Cape Dory 27
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1977–1985
- Builder
- Cape Dory Yachts (East Taunton, MA)
- Designer
- Carl Alberg
- Length
- 27.08 ft
- Waterline
- 20 ft
- Beam
- 8.5 ft
- Draft
- 4 ft
- Displacement
- 7,500 lb
- Ballast
- 3,000 lb
- Hull / keel
- full keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Water
- 24 gal
- Number built
- 277
- Bow thruster
- not fitted
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- tiller
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel unknown
“8-gallon fuel tank” — review, cruisingworld.com · “10 Gallons” — broker listing (1981), cd27.org · “just a tad over 15 gals” — search excerpt (1977), capedory.org · “49 L (13 US gal)” — search excerpt, sailcentral.comFour different figures (8, 10, 13, 15 gal) and no builder document could be checked. Our earlier 13 came from a spec database; an owner-written Cruising World piece says 8, a 1981 boat's own spec page 10, and a forum owner measured about 15 on a 1977 boat. The tank may have changed over the run; worth confirming on your boat.
-
Water 24 gal
No builder source could be checked. There's indirect support: one 1981 boat's own spec page lists 48 gal after an added bladder that doubled capacity, implying about 24 gal as built, and a forum post describes two water tanks (V-berth and port settee).
-
Holding unknown
The only figure seen is a 15-gal owner-built replacement tank on one boat, not a factory figure. Forum posts describe a mix of bag tanks and an integral tank under the engine, so the original fitting varied.
-
Water heater unknown
No builder, owners' association or review source found mentions a water heater on the Cape Dory 27; owner pages discuss only cabin heat and water tanks.
Tanks are often replaced or added on older boats — check the tank labels or a survey for yours.
Thrusters and steering — where this comes from
-
Bow thruster not fitted
No source mentions a thruster either way; our earlier figure of none has no source and looks like a guess for a 27-foot tiller boat.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Nothing was found either way; our earlier figure of none has no source.
-
Steering tiller
“The rudder stock is capped by the tiller head on most boats, although pedestal steering was an option.” — review, goodoldboat.com · “I have a copy of the 1983 Cape Dory 27 brochure. All of the photos show a tiller. I see no mention of a wheel option.” — search excerpt (1983), capedory.org · “CLASSIC PEDESTAL STEERER ... PULL/PULL CONDUIT W/END FITTINGS ... OFFSET MANGANESE BRONZE QUADRANT” — spec database, edsonmarine.comTiller steering is standard. Good Old Boat says pedestal wheel steering was an option, and Edson keeps a Cape Dory 27 data sheet for a Classic pedestal with pull-pull conduit to a bronze quadrant, so the wheel option was Edson pedestal cable. An owner reading the 1983 brochure found no wheel option listed.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on fuel tank — left blank rather than guessed.
Full keel with attached rudder; ballast molded inside the keel (no keel bolts). Bronze hardware by sister company Spartan Marine.
Engines fitted
-
Yanmar YSM8 / YSB8 (single-cylinder) — 8 hp, diesel, single
standard
sailboatdata lists a Yanmar diesel (1977-85). Owners on the Cape Dory Board and SailboatOwners describe the original 8 hp single-cylinder Yanmar (YSM-8); Good Old Boat's review boat has a Yanmar YSB8.Sources: sailboatdata.com · capedory.org · forums.sailboatowners.com · goodoldboat.com
-
Westerbeke 13 hp — 13 hp, diesel, single
standard
Cape Dory Board: late 27s (and the 270) were fitted with a 13 hp Westerbeke; also used as a repower.Sources: capedory.org
- Yanmar — diesel standard
-
Yanmar YSM12 — 12 hp, diesel, single
factory option
A Cape Dory Board member lists the Yanmar YSM-12 among original CD27 engines.Sources: capedory.org
-
Yanmar 1GM10 / 2GM20F / 2YM15 — diesel, single
common repower
Owners report repowers with Yanmar 1GM10 and 2GM20F (Cape Dory Board) and a 2YM15 (SailboatOwners).Sources: capedory.org · forums.sailboatowners.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Known problems for this model
-
Mild-steel mast-step beam and chainplate reinforcement (1970s boats) hull
On 1970s Cape Dory 27s and 28s the mast sits on glassed-in mild steel tubing and the bronze chainplates are backed by mild steel bar; water intrusion (often through the mast wiring hole) rusts the steel, which swells and cracks the glass around the step.capedory.org
Engines & parts
Yanmar 2GM / 2GM20F parts: good
Factory common repower engine — you entered “Yanmar 1GM10 / 2GM20F / 2YM15”
Well supported by Yanmar dealers and aftermarket; stainless mixing elbows that replace the OEM part numbers are widely sold.
Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), HDI Marine (stainless exhaust elbows), Parts4Engines
Common problems (2)
-
Nearly blocked mixing elbow exhaust
Owners find the exhaust port of the mixing elbow almost completely blocked while the engine still runs; a failed U-elbow has also let water into a cylinder and cracked a piston.sailnet.com · practical-sailor.com
-
Noise and vibration from soft mounts engine
Worn soft engine mounts are a common cause of the vibration owners complain about; better aftermarket mounts are available.practical-sailor.com
Maker’s service schedule (2)
| Fuel filters & water separator | 250 hrs | “The normal replacement interval for the element is 250 hours ... Filter cleaning First time 50 hours Filter element repl” — manufacturer, c320.org |
| Air filter / intake silencer | 250 hrs | “Washing period Every 250 hours” — manufacturer, c320.org |
Service part numbers (10)
| Oil filter | Yanmar 119305-35170 Replaces 119305-35151, 119660-35150 |
“2GM20F Basic Service Kit ... 119305-35170 FILTER ASSY, D68XL65” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “Suitable for: ... Yanmar 2GM, Yanmar 2GMF, Yanmar 2GM20, Yanmar 2GM20-YEU, Yanmar 2GM20F” — dealer, marinepartsystem.com |
| Fuel filter | Yanmar 104500-55710 | “Fuel Filter Element 1 104500-55710 / Fuel Filter O-Ring 1 24341-000440” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “2GM20F Basic Service Kit ... 104500-55710 ELEMENT, FUEL FILTER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller Japan-built 2GM / 2GM20(F) (serial not starting with E) |
Yanmar 124223-42092 | “Impeller 1 124223-42092 / Impeller Gasket 1 124223-42110” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “2GM20F Basic Service Kit ... 124223-42092 IMPELLER, PUMP” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller European-built GM-YEU (serial starting with E) |
Yanmar 128990-42570 Replaces 128990-42200 |
“Impeller & O-ring Kit-128990-42570 For the GM series engines with serial numbers beginning with an E” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “(Supersedes part number: 128990-42200) ... GM-YEU series engines:(Serial number begins with an E)2GM20-YEU” — dealer, palmerpower.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 25132-003700 | “Alternator Belt 1 25132-003700” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “2GM20F Basic Service Kit ... 25132-003700 V-BELT, A37” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 104511-78780 | “S/W Pump Belt 1 104511-78780” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “2GM20F Basic Service Kit ... 104511-78780 V-BELT, M/19” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Air filter | Yanmar 128270-12540 | “Air Filter Element 1 128270-12540” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “2GM20F Basic Service Kit ... 128270-12540 ELEMENT, AIR CLEANER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Zinc / anode raw-water 2GM / 2GM20; also sold for the F (heat-exchanger) versions |
Yanmar 27210-200300 | “27210-200300 Yanmar Engine Zinc Anode For 2GM(D), 3GM(D), 2GM20, 3GM30” — dealer, zincsforboats.com · “It fits Yanmar 2GM, 2GM20F, 2GM15, 2GM20, 3GM30F, 3GMF, 3HMF, 3GM30H engines.” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Thermostat 2GM20F / 2GMF (fresh-water cooled) |
Yanmar 121750-49800 | “Thermostat 1 121750-49800 / Thermostat Gasket 1 129350-49541” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “Thermostat for Yanmar 2GMF, 3GMF, 3HMF, 2GM20F, 3GM30F, 3HM35F / REC121750-49800” — dealer, marineparts.eu |
| Thermostat 2GM / 2GM20 (raw-water cooled) |
Yanmar 105582-49200 | “Replaces Yanmar Marine 105582-49200 ... 1GM, 2GM, 3GM, 1GM10, 2GM20, 3GM30” — dealer, repowermarine.com · “1GM10, 2GM20 & 3GM30 Thermostat to fit raw water cooled engine versions ... equivalent to 105582-49200” — dealer, parts4engines.com |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Model sources (8)
sailboatdata.com · capedory.org · capedory.org · forums.sailboatowners.com · goodoldboat.com · cruisingworld.com · cd27.org · edsonmarine.com
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Other Cape Dory models
- Cape Dory 28 Flybridge
- Cape Dory 30 (ketch / cutter) 1976–?
- Cape Dory 33 1980–1985
- Cape Dory 33 Flybridge 1988–1994
- Cape Dory 36 1978–1990
Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.