I just bought a boat!

[sgtPluck]

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry, but after many years of armchair cruising I've made this first significant step in getting out there myself.
It's funny, I started out looking for 44's then 42's, 40's, 38's..... I ended up with a 33 footer.
It's a bit smaller than I'd like, but it's a good old boat.
Reading this forum over the years has been very encouraging in this big undertaking. There's a lot of knowledgeable and helpful people here. It is much appreciated by someone like me who still has the training-wheels on.
So I hope you'll all put up with some daft questions from me over the coming times. Once I'm a bit saltier myself I'll pitch in to share my erudition with the newbies.

sgtPluck

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by sgtPluck

I'm not sure whether to laugh or cry,

LOL good to see! Glad we are not the only ones.
Congratulations, I'm sure it will be a great boat!

By the way, sailing is not rocket science! I fact its been around since before rockets. Even before planes! If a bunck of sweaty Danes with bulls horns out of their hats 4,000 years ago could sail, then you have no problems

Mark

[sgtPluck]

Thanks Mark!
True enough about the sailing, in fact that is the least of my worries. What is scaring me most right now are the thoughts of electronics, plumbing, bottom paint, insurance, registration, diesel maintenance... oh my

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha Sgt,
Welcome aboard and congratulations! Good boat and the right size. Well done!
Kind Regards,
JohnL

[David_Old_Jersey]

Good stuff.....says me from my armchair

[dcstrng]

Welcome… congrats on the new boat… don’t see how you can go wrong on an Alberg design, not to mention Cape Dory enjoys a respected position in the food chain…

[cburger]

If this is your first sailboat you made a fine decision with the Cape Dory. A good friend of mine lets me sail with him regularly aboard his CD27. Tracks like she is on rails (Due to the long full keel), very seaworty and can take you well on your journy towards becoming the best mariner you can be. Good luck and fair winds!

[By Invitation]

Cape Dory's are great boats, you made a good choice. Just keep in mind that when working on any boat, somebody put it together one peice at a time. Which simply means that no matter what you have to fix or repair that there is really no mystery to it at all, it's just "one peice at a time".

[sgtPluck]

Thanks for the encouragement. This is my first boat, up until now I've had the luxury of being on 'other people's boats' and bareboat chartering. So there's a lot of stuff that was always someone else's problem - I didn't give it much thought. As by_invitation says though, it isn't a mystery, or at least I should be able to figure it out after some head-scratching moments.
I am happy with the boat, and I was actually a little surprised at how fast she sailed in the sea trial in 12K of wind. I have mostly sailed on Benetau's, Hunter's and J-24s. I was expecting her to feel sluggish, but while the acceleration wasn't that quick she picked up a good speed and held it very well.
I look forward to the first time I get the drifter out and see what I can get out of her in light air.

[swagman]

G'Day Sgt Pluck,

And congratulations to you!! Our first boat was 21 foot - and it felt huge when we took it out for the first time - so feel proud of your ship and ENJOY!!

Cheers
JOHN

[Sailormann]

Congratulations ! You chose a good design and I am sure you'll have many fine adventures on her.

[GordMay]

Congratulations on your new boat.

The Cape Dory Sailboat Owners Association has a wealth of valuable information:
Welcome to the Cape Dory Sailboat Owners Association's Home Page

Cape Dory 330: CDSOA, Inc. -- CD330

1983 CD33 Owners's Manual: http://www.capedory.org/manuals/CD33%20manual.pdf

See also Jack Hornor’s review of the 330:
BoatUS.com: Boat Reviews by Jack Hornor, N.A. - Cape Dory 33

[sgtPluck]

Thanks again.
The existence of such an active community of Cape Dory owners was a factor I considered in the purchase.
I'm printing that CD 33 manual now