Cape Dory 31
Description
The Cape Dory 31 is a 31-foot, 3-inch monohull sailboat designed by Carl Alberg and built by Cape Dory Yachts from 1983 to 1985. Known for its classic design and sturdy construction, it features a full keel with an attached rudder, providing stability and excellent handling in rough conditions. With a long keel hull type and a length overall (LOA) of 9.55 meters, it’s considered a heavy displacement boat, slightly underpowered with a sail area/displacement ratio below 16, but it boasts an excellent righting capability if capsized. Its ballast/displacement ratio of 40% or more ensures stiffness and stability, making it suitable for offshore cruising and liveaboard use, particularly in challenging environments like the Caribbean or Central America. The boat’s traditional lines, narrow beam, and high-quality fiberglass construction contribute to its enduring value and popularity among enthusiasts. It’s well-regarded for shorthanded or singlehanded sailing, especially with a cutter rig and autopilot, though its full keel can make close quarters maneuvering tricky without practice. The Cape Dory 31 is celebrated for its seaworthiness, with a solid reputation and a devoted owner base, often praised for long cruising vacations and offshore passage making.
Construction Details
| Designer | Carl Alberg |
|---|---|
| Length | 31.000 ft |
| LOA | 31.330 ft |
| LWL | 23.250 ft |
| Beam | 9.750 ft |
| Displacement | 11500 lb |
| Max Draft | 4.750 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 41 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 13.50 ft |
| p | 35 ft |
| e | 13 ft |
| p2 | 19 ft |
| e2 | 7 ft |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 ft | 13.50 ft | 35 ft | 13 ft | 19 ft | 7 ft |
Blueprints
Sails
| Sail Type | MAINSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | * 35 ft - (10668 mm) |
| Foot | * 13 ft - (3962 mm) |
| Leech-AftHdBd | * 36.63 ft - (11165 mm) |
| Tack Ang | * 88 ° |
| Diag (clew/head) | * 36.91 ft - (11250 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in |
| Area (no Roach) | * 234.98 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 37 ft - (11278 mm) |
| Foot | 15 ft - (4572 mm) |
| Leech | 29.75 ft - (9068 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 85.48 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 11.54 ft - (3517 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 21.47 ° |
| Area | * 213.53 ft² |
| Sail Type | JIBSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 36 ft - (10973 mm) |
| Foot | 16.5 ft - (5029 mm) |
| Leech | 31 ft - (9449 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 105.04 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 14.18 ft - (4322 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.52 ° |
| Area | * 255.27 ft² |
| Sail Type | GENOA |
|---|---|
| Luff | 41 ft - (12497 mm) |
| Foot | 21.75 ft - (6629 mm) |
| Leech | 38.67 ft - (11787 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 149.7 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20.21 ft - (6160 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.45 ° |
| Area | * 414.35 ft² |
| Sail Type | ASYMMETRICAL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 41.25 ft - (12573 mm) |
| Foot | 22.5 ft - (6858 mm) |
| Leech | 38.75 ft - (11811 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 696 ft² |
| Sail Type | STAYSAIL |
|---|---|
| Luff | 30.75 ft - (9373 mm) |
| Foot | 10 ft - (3048 mm) |
| Leech | 26.5 ft - (8077 mm) |
| Length Perpendicular | * 8.3 ft - (2530 mm) |
| Area | * 127.56 ft² |
| Sail Type | STORMJIB |
|---|---|
| Luff | 20.5 ft - (6248 mm) |
| Foot | 10.5 ft - (3200 mm) |
| Leech | 16.5 ft - (5029 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 62.22 % |
| Length Perp | * 8.4 ft - (2560 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 18.64 ° |
| Area | * 86.11 ft² |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite.