Emma — 1977 Cape Dory Cutter 30

Overview

A good, well-equipped and proven boat offering years of coastal Maine cruising capability. Recent enhancements include engine replacement, modern electronics, updated sanitation systems, and enhanced safety equipment.

Hull and Deck Construction

Solid hand-laid laminate built up with alternating layers of fiberglass-mat and woven-roving impregnated with polyester resin. All structural members are encapsulated in fiberglass and bonded to the hull through permanent attachment methods.

The deck, cabin trunk, and cockpit are molded in one piece with an encapsulated end-grain balsa core. This sandwich construction reduces weight while increasing stiffness and providing insulation. Unidirectional fabrics reinforce high-stress areas, with molded tan non-skid patterns integrated into the deck gel-coat.

The deck-hull joint uses an inward-facing flange with chemical and mechanical bonding, capped with a 2-inch solid teak toe rail. The 4,200-lb lead ballast casting sits low in the keel cavity, with voids filled with thickened polyester and glassed over. The fiberglass rudder features a 1½-inch stainless steel stock mounted via cast-bronze pintle and gudgeons.

Deck Hardware

• White gel-coat decks with light gray non-skid areas
• Varnished teak bowsprit/anchor plank with bobstay
• Varnished teak toe rails, taff rail, cockpit coamings, cabin eyebrows, dorade box, and hand rails
• Stainless steel bow pulpit, stern rail, and stanchions with upper/lower lifelines
• Gate stanchions with lifeline openings on both sides
• Bronze docking chocks and cleats
• Stainless steel thru-deck fittings for water, fuel fill, and shore-side waste pump-out
• Bronze head stay fitting, staysail gooseneck pedestal, chain plates, and backstay tang
• Aluminum mast step on cabin top
• Stainless steel cabin heater exhaust (charlie noble) with varnished teak base
• Opening hatches above forward cabin and main salon
• FRP sliding companionway hatch with sea hood and varnished teak trim
• Bronze opening ports with screens (4 per side)

Interior Layout

Forward Cabin: Chain locker with forward-bulkhead access leads to the forward sleeping cabin accommodating two persons in a V-berth configuration. Storage below berths with shelving above and outboard. The cabin sole features white FRP pan construction with varnished teak insert for bilge access. Varnished teak joinery contrasts with white overheads. Brass reading lamps flank the berths; bronze opening ports and overhead hatch provide light and ventilation. A full-sized door ensures privacy.

Passageway and Head: A central passageway contains a starboard hanging locker and port head area. The head includes a manually operated marine toilet, stainless steel sink basin, and manually supplied fresh water. Bronze opening ports and a dorade vent provide ventilation. A door ensures privacy.

Main Cabin: The aft section comprises the main salon, galley, and navigation station. Cabin sole uses FRP pan construction with varnished teak-and-holly overlay. Varnished teak dominates joinery, doors, drawers, trim, and cabin sides. Port and starboard settee berths offer storage above and outboard.

Galley: Twin galley areas flank the aft cabin — port and starboard — with a well-insulated ice box to starboard and stove/sink to port. Storage lockers occupy upper spaces; chart storage sits above the ice box.

The main cabin receives natural light via brass reading lights, overhead dome lights, bronze opening ports, and overhead hatch. Companionway stairs (removable for engine access) sit off-centerline to starboard.

Galley Equipment

• Gimbaled Origo 3000 two-burner stove
• Stainless steel sink with manually supplied fresh water
• Large, well-insulated under-counter ice box
• Under-counter and overhead storage lockers

Spars and Rigging

• Masthead-rigged cutter configuration
• Deck-stepped, single-spreader anodized aluminum mast
• Anodized aluminum main boom and staysail club boom
• Whisker pole
• Stainless steel wire standing rigging with bronze turnbuckle adjusters

Sail Trim & Handling

• Genoa sheet winches: Lewmar #40 bronze 2-speed self-tailing (port/starboard)
• Main-sheet/reefing winch: Lewmar #14 bronze 2-speed self-tailing (port cabin top)
• Halyard winches: port and starboard mast mounting
• Staysail sheet traveler; staysail sheet lead aft to cockpit (port)
• Genoa sheet tracks on toe rails with adjustable cars and leads
• Main-sheet traveler with lead aft to cockpit
• Reef lines leading aft to cockpit
• Rope boom vang; winch handles; masthead Windex

Sails & Canvas

• Rolly Tasker mainsail
• North #3 roller-furling jib (2001)
• North staysail (2002)
• Anson Sailmakers cruising spinnaker with deployment/snuffer sock
• Sail covers, cockpit dodger, custom-fabricated cockpit awning tarp, cockpit cushions

Electronics & Navigation

• Ritchie bulkhead-mounted helm compass
• Standard Horizon Eclipse GX1400 VHF radio (2023)
• Furuno 1st Watch DRS4W wireless radar (2024)
• Garmin GPS Map 441 chart plotter
• Signet depth sounder; Signet knot meter / log
• Seth Thomas ship’s clock

Auxiliary Propulsion & Fuel

• Beta Marine Model 16, 2-cylinder, 16 HP, fresh-water cooled (280 hrs as of March 2026)
• Beta Marine ignition panel with tachometer, engine temperature gauges, and status alarms
• Single-lever throttle and transmission control
• 7/8” stainless steel prop shaft; bronze flax-packing stuffing box
• Fixed three-blade bronze propeller
• Groco raw water filter/strainer; water-lift muffler
• 20-gallon aluminum fuel tank; Racor/Parker fuel filter

Steering

• Edson steering pedestal with stainless steel Destroyer-style wheel
• Edson cable and quadrant; stainless steel and FRP keel-hung rudder

Electrical

• 12-volt DC ship’s system
• Separate engine-start and ship’s-system battery banks; two heavy-duty 12V batteries
• Guest rotary 4-position battery selector switch
• Bass Products 12-volt DC panel; Prowatt 1000 inverter
• Device charging ports; engine alternator battery charging

Fresh Water & Sanitation

• 40-gallon freshwater capacity; manual supply to galley and head sinks
• Jabsco manually operated marine toilet (2023); plumbed for overboard discharge or holding-tank pump-out
• 24-gallon black-water tank

Ground Tackle

• Varnished teak bowsprit/anchor plank with chain chafe protection
• Stainless steel bow anchor roller
• Lewmar low-profile electric windlass with forward foot controls and aft rocker switch
• Primary anchor: Spade (20 kg) with chain and rode
• Back-up anchors: Bruce and Danforth with chain and rode
• Anchor wash-down system with hose and nozzle

Dewatering & Safety

• Rule electric automatic bilge pump with float switch (2023); Whale Gusher manual bilge pump
• Three Type II PFDs; Life Sling; jack lines and harness
• Bronze ship’s bell; deck-level navigational lighting; radar reflector
• Three fire extinguishers; first aid kit

Additional Equipment

• 8.0’ fiberglass dinghy / tender
• Varnished teak pedestal-mounted cockpit table; varnished teak pedestal-mounted drink holder
• Tools and spares; bosun’s chair
• Companionway and hatch screens; opening port screens
• Force 10 cabin heater; swim ladder; dock lines and three fenders