Cape Dory 300 MS Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The 300 MS centers on a pilothouse with real-glass forward visibility, originally open aft to the cockpit via a lockable companionway that forms the forward bulkhead. Most boats on the market have had that aft end enclosed with canvas or a solid partition, separating the helm from the weather. Below, the beam of over 11 feet runs almost to the stern to create an expansive starboard galley with a two-burner stove, large icebox, and 75-gallon water capacity, opposite a port dinette that lowers into extra berthing. A forward V-berth with a starboard hanging locker and a functional port head round out a layout that feels larger than the LOA suggests. Narrow side decks are the trade for that interior volume.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

A bimini is commonly fitted, and many listings show air conditioning, a chartplotter, and a short-handed sail-handling setup as often-seen additions that suit the boat's casual cruising role. Less uniform are the sometimes-seen upgrades: solar, an inverter, a furling main, electric winches, a swim platform, radar, or autopilot. For a buyer, the meaningful clusters are power and energy — solar and inverter supporting the 50-gallon fuel and 75-gallon water reserves on longer hops — and sail handling, where a furling main and electric winches reduce the need to work forward, a sensible nod to the many boats whose owners have led all controls back to the pilothouse. Navigation and comfort additions like chartplotter, radar, and air conditioning speak to her air-draft in the mid-40-foot range and her pilothouse living.

What to Inspect

Pilothouse windows are a known discussion point among owners and usually indicate potential for leaks or aging seals, so check the frames and interior bulkheads closely. The steering system should be inspected carefully, including confirming the emergency tiller is present and usable. The full keel that helps her track straight also produces less than stellar maneuverability in marinas or tight anchorages, so observe her handling during any survey sea-trial rather than treating it as a defect. Otherwise, owner discussions show an absence of widespread structural concerns across the fleet.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

These boats turn up in the United States market, and given the 47-unit production, patience is the rule. A practical buyer's checklist: confirm the Westerbeke 46's service history and any rebuild receipts; test the pilothouse window seals and cabin ventilation; verify the emergency tiller and steering linkage; and assess whether the pilothouse aft enclosure and led-back sail controls match your short-handed plans. A well-kept 300 MS is a sheltered, steady companion, provided you accept her slow feet in light wind and her full-keel pivoting limits.