BoatsCape Dory 14

Cape Dory 14

Gunter · Centerboard Dinghy · 1964–1973

A 1964-era centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for responsive, spirited coastal sailing

Designed by Andrew C. Vavolotis.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

TrailerableBeam 1.30 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 91 kg of hull, so roughly 700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 91 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draft shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draftDraws 0.15 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a narrow beam gives 3 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 3
CoastalBluewater

At 2.91 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.91
LightHeavy

33 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 33
EasygoingPowered-up

39.8 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 39.8
TenderStiff

25% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 25%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Narrower than ~92% of boats her size on file

Compared with 384 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
25.0%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Gunter
Ratios
SA / displacement
39.8
Displacement / length
32.5
Comfort ratio
3.2
Capsize screening
2.91
Hull speed
5.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
213
Hull
Hull type
Centerboard Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1964–1973
Units built
652
Designer
Andrew C. Vavolotis
Builder
Cape Dory

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Several Under License 29er4.40 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing
Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
MacKay Boats Ltd. 49erfx4.88 mSame hull family0.5 m longerA high-performance skiff utilizing the 49er hull with a downsized rig specifically optimized for lighter crews
LaserPerformance 49er4.88 mSame hull family0.5 m longerAn Olympic-class high-performance skiff featuring a massive sail-area-to-displacement ratio for elite racing
CL Sailboats 144.32 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 109-kilogram fractional sloop built since 1980, offering a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively handling
Ilca 7 (Laser-International)4.23 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

Two ways to keep looking — both search what the fleet has actually recorded.

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