“Cape Dory Yachts was founded in 1963 by Andrew Vavolotis in East Taunton, Mass. In the following 28 years, the company built over 2,800 sailboats ranging from 22 to 45 feet, and over 2,000 of the 19′ Typhoon and the 22′ Typhoon Senior, as well as the Cape Dory 10, which was the original Cape Dory dory. Most of the designs were by Carl Alberg. The boats are known for their sturdiness and ability to handle a wide range of conditions. By the late 1970s, Cape Dory was branching into powerboats. Initially, they produced workboats: a 38′ commercial dragger and a 42′ lobster boat. Around 1985, they began building pleasure powerboats, starting with the Cape Dory 28. Several larger models followed, and in 1992 hull #1 of the 40′ powerboat was built. In all, Cape Dory built over 300 pleasure powerboats. Three-quarters of them were the 28, which came in three configurations from open to flybridge. Around 1991, Cape Dory ceased operating in New England. The name and most of the powerboat designs were sold to Newport Shipyards Corp. of Amityville, New York, which itself reportedly ceased operations in 1996. The other molds were scattered among a number of boat makers, and some models are still being made, mostly on a semi-custom basis (see below). The remainder of the boatbuilding operation, and the marine hardware division of the company, Spartan Marine, were moved to Robinhood, Maine, where Andy Vavolotis is still building sailboats. The Robinhood 36 and 40 are being manufactured from the old Cape Dory 36′ and 40′ molds.”
Click to watch “The History of Cape Dory Sailboats” from Practical Sailor.