36' Cape Dory 36

A rare opportunity to own a true bluewater cutter from one of the most respected names in American yacht building.

This 1987 Cape Dory 36 has spent her life protected previous winters stored indoors in Maine, and every season since 2019 sailed exclusively in the fresh waters of Lake Ontario and wrapped under a custom Genco cover through winter. The result is a boat that presents and performs far beyond her years.

Classic Cape Dory pedigree meets a thoughtfully upgraded electronics suite, rebuilt systems, and a level of care thats increasingly hard to find on the used boat market. Whether youre planning coastal cruising or dreaming of longer passages, this is a solid, seaworthy, and beautifully finished platform ready to go.
Highlights
Freshwater sailed since 2019, indoor winter storage for years prior
Full Sails inventory: spinnaker, genoa, staysail, and full-battened mainsail
Furlex roller furling on the headsail, hank-on for the staysail for heavy offshore weather
Modern Raymarine electronics package (e97 MFD, AIS, autopilot, i70 instruments)
Marine head, holding tank empty since 2019 (marina stored thereafter)
Upgraded battery bank, monitor, and charging system
Custom dodger
Awlgrip topsides paint, ablative bottom paint below waterline

Accommodations

Step below into a warm, traditional teak interior designed for comfortable cruising. The main cabin features an L-shaped dinette to port with a drop-leaf table, and a convertible settee to starboard backed by a proper navigation station and quarter berth ideal for offshore watch-keeping. Seven opening bronze ports and an overhead skylight keep the space bright and ventilated, while 12-volt Imtra LED lighting throughout brings the electrical system into the modern era.

The U-shaped galley is safe and functional underway, with Formica counters, teak cabinetry, twin deep stainless sinks, a Force 10 three-burner gimbaled propane stove and oven.

Forward, the V-berth comfortably sleeps two on a custom mattress, with teak and holly soles underfoot and its own skylight (rebedded 2023) and opening ports. A private head compartment offers a stainless sink, hot and cold pressure water, hand-held shower with teak seat and grate, and manual marine head.

On Deck

The cockpit is protected by a custom dodger with a stainless frame. Teak cockpit table, tan vinyl cushions, and a stereo make for pleasant time on the water, while Spartan bronze hardware throughout cleats, seacocks, opening ports speaks to the boats original build quality and ongoing maintenance.

Ground tackle includes a 35 lb Spade anchor on 75 of BBB chain and 175 of rode, and safety equipment is comprehensive: Life Sling, float strobe, fire extinguishers, and flares all aboard.

Rig and Sails

An all aluminum keel-stepped mast and boom carry a well-maintained North Sails inventory spinnaker, genoa, staysail, and full-battened mainsail with a Stack Pack and lazy jacks for easy handling. Furlex furling gear on the headsail, along with a Doyle asymmetric cruising spinnaker, round out a rig ready for everything from a daysail to a passage.

Engine and Systems

Power comes from a fresh-water-cooled Perkins 8.108 diesel.

Estimated usage has been light roughly 10 hours per year since 2019 though total hours cannot be verified.

The electrical system has been substantially modernized, with a Blue Sea Panel, an AGM battery bank, battery monitor, Charles smart charger, and parallel switching all installed in 2014, plus a galvanic isolator added in 2017.

Electronics

This Cape Dory carries a capable, integrated Raymarine navigation suite: an e97 multifunction display with radar, GPS, and chartplotter; an integrated autopilot; an AIS 650 Class B transceiver; and dual i70 instrument displays. A Standard Horizon GX2150 VHF with DSC and AIS.

400 watts of solar connected to a 2000 Watt Renogy inverter complete the DC/AC system.

Request a Boat History Report and I will email you a copy with this finding:

Congratulations! Your Boat History Report came back showing a clean history the best possible outcome! We have checked through thousands of government and independent agencies for any negative events in this boat's history, and none have been reported. One of the many benefits of a clean history is that you should feel more comfortable with this watercraft.

Watch Liberty under sail:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkwQIdQevJo

and

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrjN10TmE2w