Difference between DS and Javelin

[metrounit9]

I am considering purchasing either a Javelin or DS and am trying to get a feel for the difference between the two boats.

I know there are physical differences such as the Javelin is about 3 feet shorter and has a steel centerboard.

What I don't know is which boat would be best for my situation which is as follows:

The boat will be used for family sailing (not racing)

The crew will be myself, my twin 8 year olds and a six year old (and occasionally my wife)

We don't live on the water so the boat will always be trailered

It will likely be sailed on a small lake near the house or in the protected waters of Long Island Sound

At least for the first year or two it will likely be stored outside

Based on the above, if anyone has a recommendation I sure would like to hear it.

Thanks,
Dan

[calden]

Dan:

I've only seen pictures of a Javelin, never sat in one, so my comments are speculative.

I would go for the Day Sailer, based on size alone. You've already got a family that will only need more space as they grow! Running and navigating a slightly larger boat won't be any harder, and certainly trailering it won't be tougher. I just don't think there's any advantage to getting a slightly smaller boat unless one is determined to go solo all the time.

Carlos

[Mike M.]

Never having sailed a Javelin, I won't comment other then to remind you there is a DS for sale in CT on this site. Look under 'For Sale." And it sounds like Dkorman wants to move it so he may want to make you a good deal.

I love my DS I and find it easy to load, trailer, setup and sail alone or with a crew.

Whichever you get, enjoy!

[spoefish]

I currently have a DS "I" (in quotes since it is a Spindrift and not quite the same as the earlier O'day version) - and have previously owned both a DS I and II, and sailed my mother's Javelin a lot. I think a lot depends on what you want to do with the boat and where you are keeping it. My mother sailed her javelin by herself until she was nearly 80. She lived in Florida and kept it on the beach near her house (N end of Sarasota Bay). She had a trailer winch mounted on a post and just cranked it up when she came in. I did all the maintence on the boat and she was hard on it. Florida with the sun and salt can be brutal on boats, and as she got older all she wanted to do was sail - that said, the boat held up well, and was easy for her to sail, either alone or with a friend.

The Javelin seems a lot smaller in the cockpit than a DS, and while it is ok to dink around in, I like a DS a lot better. If you get a DS I - any version - you will have all that space up front to throw your junk in, and the cuddy makes a shady spot for kids to get into. I fine that kids really like curling up on sail bags and seat cushons in the cuddy. A DS II or Javelin just won't let you do that.

As far as sailing, I find I am more comfortable with a DS when sailing alone, and easer to take a couple of folks along if that is what you want. All of my DS boats have had juffy reefing and if it is getting gusty I just put in a reef, and maybe use a smaller jib (my small jib is from a Blue Jay I used to have). In 30 years of saiing DS I have never dumped one - come close with water in the cockpit, but never completely over (hang on the the sheet always) - and that is with a lot of sailing.

There is not much difference in trailering and launching - the DS weighs only about 100 lbs. more than the Javelin and is not any more trouble to rig and launch. And these days there does not seem to be a lot of difference in prices - I bought my Spindrift DS I in NJ for about $1,000 and it has a nice trailer and good sails. Only thing that needed redoing was the woodwork, and there is not that much to do. I see cheaper DS around, and a good Javelin will be close in price - you get more for your money with a DS. I have also owned a Rhodes 19 and sailed a Widgeon that my mother had (she was a fiend for finding good deals on small boats). I loved the Rhodes, but it was to big to be fun trailering someplace and sailing for a day, and while the Widegon is a nice kids boat, it is just too small for me. A DS is big enough to keep in the water and small enough to trailer - sort of like the line from the three bears story, the DS seems "just right".

Hope this helps, and good luck with whatever you get.

Stepphen

[Bob Damon]

As many have noted the Day Sailer sails well, has lots of room, and you have a very active class association for support. As someone who has had a Day Sailer for 26 years one of my best memories is sailing with the kids and when they got tired or bored they would just go up into the cuddy and take a nap!! Can't do that on a Javelin!

[metrounit9]

Thank you all for the great info and stories. I have pretty much made up my mind to get a Daysailer. There are a couple of choices of DS II not too far away.

However, after hearing about kids enjoy the open cuddy of the DS I, I am wondering if I should hold out for one of those.

I guess if the right boat comes along at the right price I'll get it!

Thanks again,

Dan