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Cape Dory 28 Flybridge

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About the Cape Dory 28 Flybridge

Researched from public sources for this model. Any individual boat may have been modified or repowered — confirm before relying on any figure.

Illustration of a Cape Dory 28 Flybridge
Illustration, not a photo of this model. AI-generated illustration of a typical express cruiser.
Builder
Cape Dory Yachts
Designer
Carl Alberg
Length
27.92 ft
Beam
9.92 ft
Draft
2.75 ft
Displacement
9,500 lb
Hull / keel
semi-displacement
Propulsion
inboard
Fuel
120 gal
Water
71 gal
Holding
25 gal
Bow thruster
often added later
Tank capacities — where the figures come from
  • Fuel 120 gal
    No builder document could be checked. Two broker listings support 120 gal: a 1987 boat with 120 gal in an aluminum tank, and a 1990 boat whose listing may copy the HMY powerboat guide. An owner's ad describes twin 64 gal replacement tanks fitted in 2017.
  • Water 71 gal
    There's no builder source, and listings vary: 71 gal (1990), 90 gal in a polyethylene tank (1987), and 60 gal after an upgrade (an owner's ad). The 71 is shown, but no brochure has confirmed it.
  • Holding 25 gal
    Listings show a 24 gal polyethylene tank under the V-berth (1987) and 30 gal (an owner's ad), consistent with about 25, but there's no builder source.
  • Water heater unknown
    “Hot water heater” — broker listing (1987), knot10.com
    One 1987 boat for sale lists a hot water heater with no size or brand; no builder or review source was found. The HMY powerboat guide gives production as 1985-91, though its text also says the boat lasted a decade.

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 often added later
    “2021 Vetus bow thruster 5512 with controls at both helms, installed by NE Bow Thruster in Mystic, CT.” — broker listing (1987), bluewateryachtsales.com · “Well equipped with new Maxwell windlass,autopilot,bow thruster,etc” — search excerpt (1989), capedory.org
    No builder equipment list was found. Two separate boats (1987, 1989) have bow thrusters: the 1987 one is an aftermarket Vetus 5512 installed in 2021, and the 1989 sale post doesn't say when its unit was fitted. Treat it as a retrofit, not factory.
  • Stern thruster unknown
    No source mentions a stern thruster.
  • Steering unknown
    No builder, review or association source states the steering system. One 1987 listing describes SeaStar hydraulic dual-helm steering, which may not be original.

Thrusters and steering are often replaced — check the units on your boat before ordering parts.

Sources disagree on first year, last year — left blank rather than guessed.

Carl Alberg-designed Downeast-style cruiser (Flybridge and Open versions, some commercial) introduced in the mid-1980s with about a decade of production; over 220 built, mostly flybridge. Upgraded in 1990 with a retooled flybridge. Most have the optional 200 hp Volvo diesel (about 14 knots cruise) rather than the gas engine (Soundings: 275 hp Chrysler). Over 220 built (HMY).

Engines fitted

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.

Model sources (6)

hmy.com · soundingsonline.com · curtisstokes.net · trawlerforum.com · knot10.com · bluewateryachtsales.com

Other Cape Dory models

Researched from public sources. Spotted an error? The sources are listed above — tell us what they got wrong.