Cape Dory 33
Built 1980–1985 by Cape Dory Yachts (East Taunton, MA)
Own one? Keep her maintenance, manuals and checklists here — free for a week
Shopping? Find the right used boat
Looking at one? Sea-trial scorecard
About the Cape Dory 33
Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.
- Built
- 1980–1985
- Builder
- Cape Dory Yachts (East Taunton, MA)
- Designer
- Carl Alberg
- Length
- 33.04 ft
- Waterline
- 24.5 ft
- Beam
- 10.25 ft
- Draft
- 4.83 ft
- Displacement
- 13,300 lb
- Ballast
- 5,500 lb
- Hull / keel
- full keel
- Rig
- sloop
- Propulsion
- inboard
- Fuel
- 21 gal
- Water
- 74 gal
- Water heater
- AC + engine
- Number built
- 124
- Bow thruster
- not fitted
- Stern thruster
- not fitted
- Steering
- pedestal cable · Edson
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
-
Fuel 21 gal
No builder document could be checked. Wikipedia repeats 21 US gal but cites sailboatdata and Sherwood's Field Guide, so it isn't independent. Two single-boat sources differ: an owner's spec page lists a 27-gal aluminium tank and a broker listing gives 24 gal; neither can correct the spec figure.
-
Water 74 gal
Wikipedia gives 74 US gal (taken from sailboatdata and Sherwood's guide). One owner's page lists three polyethylene tanks of 20 + 40 + 25 = 85 gal (possibly replacements); a listing says 30 gal. No builder source was found.
-
Holding unknown
“40 gallon holding tank in keel” — broker listing, pauldanicic.wixsite.com · “Holding Tank: 17 Gallons (64.35 Liters)” — search excerpt, curtisstokes.netOnly single-boat figures, and one owner's page gives both 36 gal (fiberglass) in its tank list and 40 gal in the keel elsewhere. Not enough to set a figure.
-
Water heater AC + engine (Raritan)
“Raritan 6E hot water heater (AC and engine heated)” — broker listing, pauldanicic.wixsite.com · “I replaced my Raritan 6 gallon water heater with a Torrid 6 gallon model” — search excerpt, capedory.orgTwo separate Cape Dory 33s (one on an owner's web page, one in an owners' association forum post) have a 6 gal Raritan heater; neither says whether it was factory-fitted, and no builder list was found.
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, so our earlier figure of none has no source.
-
Stern thruster not fitted
Nothing was found either way; our earlier figure of none has no source.
-
Steering pedestal cable · Edson
“CLASSIC PEDESTAL STEERER/TAPERED ... DISHED DESTROYER WHEEL ... CHAIN & WIRE ROPE KIT W/HARDWARE ... BRONZE QUADRANT” — spec database, edsonmarine.comEdson's steering data sheet for the Cape Dory 33 (the maker's record of the original layout) shows a Classic pedestal, destroyer wheel and chain-and-wire to a bronze quadrant, and one boat's web page also lists an Edson pedestal and destroyer wheel. No builder document says whether a tiller was ever offered.
Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.
Sources disagree on holding tank — left blank rather than guessed.
Lead ballast; also available as a cutter. Some boats delivered with a Volvo diesel.
Engines fitted
-
Universal 5424 — 24 hp, diesel, single
standard
Sailboatdata: Universal 24 hp diesel as original equipment; Cape Dory owners identify it as the Universal 5424.Sources: sailboatdata.com · capedory.org
-
Volvo Penta MD11C — 23 hp, diesel, single
factory option
Sailboatdata: some boats were delivered with a Volvo diesel. A 1980 CD33 is listed with a 23 hp MD11C, and the owners' board describes the MD11C (2-cyl, 23 hp) in the 33.Sources: sailboatdata.com · boattrader.com · capedory.org
- Volvo Penta — diesel factory option
-
Yanmar 3GM30 — diesel, single
common repower
Owners on the Cape Dory board discuss replacing the Universal 5424 with a Yanmar 3GM ('3-30'); a Cape Dory buyer's guide says Yanmar 2GM/3GM repowers are common in older Cape Dorys.Sources: capedory.org · keelindex.com
Boats of the same model can differ — check which engines yours actually has before ordering parts.
Known problems for this model
No well-sourced problem reports found yet.
Engines & parts
Volvo Penta MD11C/D / MD17C/D parts: limited
Factory optional engine — you entered “Volvo Penta MD11C”
Produced 1975–1984 and developed from the MD2B/MD3B, sharing many internals but with cylinder liners. European specialists (Poseidon Marine) sell overhaul kits, liners, piston rings, bearings, gaskets, water pump kits and fuel parts; genuine parts are listed by Volvo dealers. Some items, such as original injector fuel lines, are discontinued.
Parts sources: Poseidon Marine (MD11/MD17 parts), Power Products Systems (genuine Volvo Penta parts), US Boatworks (NLA Volvo parts)
Common problems (2)
-
Leaking injector lines with discontinued replacements fuel
Owners find the high-pressure lines from injection pump to injectors leaking and genuine replacements no longer available, forcing custom-made lines.facebook.com
-
Saildrive parts hard to find running gear
MD11C engines paired with early saildrives have parts that are difficult to locate.cruisersforum.com
Maker’s service schedule (9)
| Engine oil & filter change | 50 hrs | “skall oljan bytas första gången efter 20 driftstimmar och i fortsättningen var 50:e driftstimme” — manufacturer, albinmotor.com |
| Engine oil filter change | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Oljefiltret skall bytas första gången efter 20 driftstimmar under inkörningstiden och sedan vid vartannat oljebyte.” — manufacturer, albinmotor.com |
| Transmission fluid change Reverse-gear (non-saildrive) installations | 200 hrs | “Oljebyte i backslag (var 200:e driftstimme)” — manufacturer, albinmotor.com |
| Valve clearance check / adjust | 50 hrs | “ÅTGÄRDER VAR 50:e DRIFTSTIMME: ... Ventilspel. Kontroll och justering” — manufacturer, albinmotor.com |
| Air filter / intake silencer | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Luftfiltret bör demonteras och rengöras var 100:e driftstimme, eller en gång per säsong.” — manufacturer, albinmotor.com |
| Drive belts inspect / replace | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “ÅTGÄRDER VAR 100:e DRIFTSTIMME ELLER MINST EN GÅNG PER SÄSONG: ... Kontroll och byte av kilrem för generator” — manufacturer, albinmotor.com |
| Raw-water pump impeller | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “ÅTGÄRDER VAR 100:e DRIFTSTIMME ELLER MINST EN GÅNG PER SÄSONG: ... Kontroll av kylsystem (Kontroll och byte av pumphjul)” — manufacturer, albinmotor.com |
| Fuel filters & water separator | 100 hrs or 1 yr | “Finfilterelementet i bränslefiltret skall bytas minst en gång per säsong.” — manufacturer, albinmotor.com |
| Injector test / service | 3 yrs | “Vart tredje säsong bör insprutarna inlämnas till dieselverkstad för rengöring och kontroll” — manufacturer, albinmotor.com |
Service part numbers (6)
| Oil filter | Volvo Penta 22057107 Replaces 834337 |
“p.90 "MD5, MD11" block: Oil filter — 22057107” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “Volvo Penta genuine oil filter to replace old model 834337 … MD11C/D … MD17C/D” — dealer, foxschandlery.com |
| Fuel filter spin-on filter |
Volvo Penta 21492771 Replaces 829913, 3825133 |
“p.90 "MD5, MD11" block: Fuel filter, spin-on — 21492771” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “Brandstoffilter Volvo Penta 21492771 (vervangt 829913) … MD11,MD11D,MD17,MD17D” — dealer, bakker-ijlst.nl |
| Raw-water impeller MD11C/D with sea-water pump cover plate held by 4 screws |
Volvo Penta 21951342 Replaces 3586496, 875583 Also: Johnson 09-808B |
“p.90 "MD5, MD11" block: Impeller kit (cover plate with 4 screws) — 21951342” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “Impeller kit for Volvo Penta RO: 21951342 3586496 875583 MD5 MD6 MD7 MD11 09-808B” — dealer, poseidonmarine.eu |
| Raw-water impeller MD11C/D with sea-water pump cover plate held by 6 screws |
Volvo Penta 3586494 Also: Johnson 09-806B, Jabsco 4528-0001, Sherwood 9979 |
“p.90 "MD5, MD11" block: Impeller kit (cover plate with 6 screws) — 3586494” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “MD5A* MD6A / MD11C*, MD11D* … Volvo Penta: 875807-0 803729 3586494 876689” — dealer, poseidonmarine.eu |
| Raw-water impeller MD17C/D |
Volvo Penta 22222936 | “p.90 "MD3, MD17" block: Impeller kit — 22222936” — manufacturer, volvopenta.com · “IMPELLER KIT … Denne delen passer til... MD11C,MD11D,…,MD17C,MD17D” — dealer, volvopentaparts.shop |
| Thermostat | Volvo Penta 876080 | “Compatible with the following engines: … MD Series: MD11C MD11D MD17C MD17D MD1B MD2B MD3B” — dealer, marinepartsystem.com · “Thermostat Kit 876097 / 876080 suits Volvo Penta MD1B, MD2B, AQD3B, MD3B, MD11, C,D, MD17, C,D” — dealer, marineenergy.com.au |
From the engine maker’s parts lists, or two independent parts dealers. Numbers change with serial number and get superseded — check yours before ordering.
Yanmar 3GM / 3GM30F parts: good
Factory common repower engine — you entered “Yanmar 3GM30”
Very popular (used 3GM30Fs sell for $3,000+) and supported by a strong parts network. Cylinder head overhauls (valve seals, lapping, injector service) are a common, parts-supported repair.
Parts sources: Mack Boring & Parts (Yanmar distributor), HDI Marine (stainless exhaust elbows), Parts4Engines
Common problems (2)
-
Overheating at cruise rpm cooling
The 3GM30F has a known overheating tendency linked to its heat exchanger; owners also trace it to coked elbows, worn impellers, scaled heat exchangers or air in the raw water circuit. Some heat exchangers were replaced under warranty.forums.sailboatowners.com
-
Mixing elbow corrosion exhaust
OEM elbows corrode internally and should be inspected or replaced with stainless versions before they let water into the engine.practical-sailor.com · facebook.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 |
“3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 119305-35170 1 FILTER ASSY, D68XL65” — dealer, oldportmarine.com · “Maintenance kit Yanmar 2GMF, 2GM20F, 3GMF, 3GM30F ... Yanmar 119305-35170 Oil Filter” — dealer, marinedustrie.com |
| Fuel filter | Yanmar 104500-55710 | “Fuel Filter Element 1 104500-55710 / Fuel Filter O-Ring 1 24341-000440” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 104500-55710 1 ELEMENT, FUEL FILTER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller Japan-built 3GM / 3GM30(F) (serial not starting with E) |
Yanmar 124223-42092 | “Impeller 1 124223-42092 / Impeller Gasket 1 124223-42110” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 124223-42092 1 IMPELLER, PUMP” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Raw-water impeller European-built GM-YEU (serial starting with E) |
Yanmar 128990-42570 Replaces 128990-42200 |
“(Supersedes part number: 128990-42200) ... 3GM30-YEU, 3GM30C-YEU 3GM30F-YEU, 3GM30FC-YEU” — dealer, palmerpower.com · “It fits Yanmar 2GM20F, 2YM15, 3GM30F, 3GM30FC, 3TN30F, 3YM20, 3YM30, 3YM30AE engines. Cross Reference: 128990-42200” — dealer, deltadieselparts.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 25132-003700 | “Alternator Belt 1 25132-003700” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 25132-003700 1 V-BELT, A37” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Drive belt | Yanmar 104511-78780 | “S/W Pump Belt 1 104511-78780” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 104511-78780 1 V-BELT, M/19” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Air filter | Yanmar 128270-12540 | “Air Filter Element 1 128270-12540” — dealer, ellebogen.com · “3GM30F Basic Service Kit ... 128270-12540 1 ELEMENT, AIR CLEANER” — dealer, oldportmarine.com |
| Zinc / anode raw-water 3GM / 3GM30; 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 3GM30F / 3GMF (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 3GM / 3GM30 (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.
Steering
Edson — Pedestal chain-and-wire steering parts: good
Edson (New Bedford, MA) still sells service parts: chain-and-wire kits, sprockets, idlers, pull-pull conduit steering and internal pedestal parts, and keeps steering data sheets by boat model, many decades old.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (service parts)
Common problems (3)
-
Old or slack steering wire steering
Edson advises replacing steering wire about every five years, checking tension with the wheel locked, and inspecting under load annually; owners often find decades-old stiff wire.usna.edu · youtube.com
-
Lubrication and fastener checks steering
Chain, wire, sheaves and pedestal bearings need regular oiling or greasing, and clevis/cotter pins and bolts should be checked monthly to avoid failures.usna.edu
-
Replacing engine control cables in the pedestal steering
Swapping throttle/shift cables inside an Edson pedestal is a common owner job requiring removal of the wheel shaft sprocket pin.forums.sailboatowners.com
Edson — Traditional geared steerers (worm / rack-and-pinion) parts: good
Edson says its traditional wheels and geared steerers are still available, now built with modern materials; rack-and-pinion steerers are offered for transom-hung and inboard rudders.
Parts sources: Edson Marine (traditional steerers)
Model sources (7)
sailboatdata.com · capedory.org · boattrader.com · capedory.org · keelindex.com · pauldanicic.wixsite.com · edsonmarine.com
Own a Cape Dory 33? Add her to your boats, then share a photo — names, numbers and faces are blurred before it appears.
Other Cape Dory models
- Cape Dory 27 1977–1985
- Cape Dory 28 Flybridge
- Cape Dory 30 (ketch / cutter) 1976–?
- 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.