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Cape Dory 14
Designer: Andrew C. Vavolotis  ·  Builder: Cape Dory  ·  First built: 1964
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About the Cape Dory 14

Designed by Andrew C. Vavolotis and built by Cape Dory from 1964 to 1973, this compact centerboard dinghy represents classic small boat craftsmanship from an era when fiberglass construction was revolutionizing recreational sailing. With 652 hulls produced during its nine-year production run, the Cape Dory 14 earned a solid reputation among sailing enthusiasts seeking a capable day sailer. The boat's gunter rig and traditional proportions deliver reliable performance for coastal sailing, protected waters, and sailing instruction. At 200 pounds with 50 pounds of ballast, she's light enough for easy launching yet stable enough for confident handling in moderate conditions. The centerboard configuration allows access to shallow waters while providing good upwind performance when the board is deployed. Cape Dory's reputation for building sturdy, seaworthy vessels extends to this smaller offering, with fiberglass construction ensuring durability and low maintenance. The boat's sail area of 85 square feet provides adequate power for her displacement, making her responsive in light to moderate winds. This design appeals particularly to sailors wanting a simple, honest boat for day sailing, teaching newcomers, or enjoying leisurely afternoons on protected waters without the complexity of larger vessels.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$4,000 – $4,000
typical asking price
Median $4,000  ·  2 listings used
All listings
$4,000 – $4,000 2
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 14.50 ft / 4.42 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
Beam 4.25 ft / 1.30 m
Max Draft 3.00 ft / 0.91 m
Min Draft 0.50 ft / 0.15 m
Displacement 200.00 lb / 91 kg
Ballast 50.00 lb / 23 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 85.00 ft² / 7.90 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Centerboard Dinghy
Rigging Type Gunter
Construction FG
Designer Andrew C. Vavolotis
Builder Cape Dory
First Built 1964
Last Built 1973
Number Built 652
Related Sailboats Skipjack 15 · Dolphin 15 Senior · Caprice 15 · Catalina 142 · Dc 14
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 39.8
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 25
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 32.54
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 3.17
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 2.91
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 5.01 kn
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 212.60 pounds/inch
How It Compares

vs. Caprice 15, Catalina 142, Dc 14, Dolphin 15 Senior, Skipjack 15

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cape Dory 14 ★
14.5 ft
Caprice 15
14.7 ft
Catalina 142
14.2 ft
Dc 14
14.2 ft
Dolphin 15 Senior
14.5 ft
Skipjack 15
14.6 ft
LWL
Cape Dory 14 ★
14.0 ft
Caprice 15
—
Catalina 142
13.0 ft
Dc 14
—
Dolphin 15 Senior
13.5 ft
Skipjack 15
—
Beam
Cape Dory 14 ★
4.3 ft
Caprice 15
6.0 ft
Catalina 142
6.0 ft
Dc 14
6.7 ft
Dolphin 15 Senior
5.1 ft
Skipjack 15
5.3 ft
Displacement
Cape Dory 14 ★
200 lbs
Caprice 15
250 lbs
Catalina 142
650 lbs
Dc 14
350 lbs
Dolphin 15 Senior
170 lbs
Skipjack 15
340 lbs
Ballast
Cape Dory 14 ★
50 lbs
Caprice 15
—
Catalina 142
225 lbs
Dc 14
—
Dolphin 15 Senior
—
Skipjack 15
—
Sail Area
Cape Dory 14 ★
85 sq ft
Caprice 15
—
Catalina 142
80 sq ft
Dc 14
100 sq ft
Dolphin 15 Senior
85 sq ft
Skipjack 15
—
Performance
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cape Dory 14 ★
39.8
Caprice 15
—
Catalina 142
17.1
Dc 14
32.3
Dolphin 15 Senior
44.4
Skipjack 15
—
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cape Dory 14 ★
25.0 %
Caprice 15
—
Catalina 142
34.6 %
Dc 14
—
Dolphin 15 Senior
—
Skipjack 15
—
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cape Dory 14 ★
3.2
Caprice 15
2.7
Catalina 142
6.9
Dc 14
3.4
Dolphin 15 Senior
2.2
Skipjack 15
4.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cape Dory 14 ★
2.91
Caprice 15
—
Catalina 142
2.77
Dc 14
3.79
Dolphin 15 Senior
3.67
Skipjack 15
—
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cape Dory 14 ★
32
Caprice 15
57
Catalina 142
132
Dc 14
89
Dolphin 15 Senior
30
Skipjack 15
79
Hull Speed
Cape Dory 14 ★
5.0 kts
Caprice 15
4.7 kts
Catalina 142
4.8 kts
Dc 14
4.7 kts
Dolphin 15 Senior
4.9 kts
Skipjack 15
4.7 kts
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