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Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2018 2:54 am
by GreenLake
We've had conflicting information about the use of foam, so it's not clear that there was a single point where O'Day switched to foam. Or they left it out on some boats for unknown reasons. But yes, all design details are of interest; especially for early boats that can be well dated or have a well-established sail#.

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Tue Oct 23, 2018 9:46 am
by tomodda
Cliff and GL:

OK, here's some sexy foam and forward bulkhead pics....

I finally refinished my forward bulkhead planks and put them up. Was halfway thru when I remembered that I wanted to show y'all a close-up of the foam blocks filling the forepeak:

IMG_20181021_140755-800x600.jpg
Styrofoam
IMG_20181021_140755-800x600.jpg (89.15 KiB) Viewed 21543 times


These are just big styrofoam blocks, cut to fit (more or less) and held in place by planking. There are three "cleats" glassed onto the interior for holding the planks in place - the white one under the deck, for a vertical center plank, and the two grey cleats in the bilges for holding a crosswise-plank, right below the shelf. Everything else screws to those. No attachments to the styrofoam itself, those just sit there. Here's the finished product, it was getting late/dark so I boosted the photo exposure, don't take these colors literally:

IMG_20181021_183539-800x600.jpg
Forward Bulkhead 1957
IMG_20181021_183539-800x600.jpg (84.55 KiB) Viewed 21543 times


For what it's worth, my floorboards are original and just this side of unsalvageable. I gave them a quick once-over with the orbital sander, will think about repairing, rebuilding, or replacing over the winter. Depends on my tolerance for actual work (very low, let me tell you!). We shall see.

Tom

P.S. Yes, GreenLake, those "cleats" might be "stringers," especially the one under the deck which is long enough to be a structural reinforcement rather than merely there to hold the center plank.

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 4:10 pm
by Flutterby
What do you mean my "Floor Stringers" is that just wood slats or is it something moulded into the boat.
Thanks
Garry

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Fri Nov 23, 2018 5:10 pm
by tomodda
Something molded into the boat. Apparently wood that's been glassed onto the inside of the hull. My DS1 (from 1957) has a forward bulkhead made of wood planks, covering the foam flotation blocks. These planks screw into "stringers" along the hull and under the foredeck, you can see those in the photos up above, they are painted grey.

Tom

Re: Whale logo

PostPosted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 10:43 pm
by RobH912
So when I was filling out the spread sheet for # 2444 there is a field asking about “Whale logo on gear?”. I answered no, but then found this block on the main sheet traveler set up.

What is the significance of the whale logo a it relates to DS design changes / production year?

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Tue Oct 08, 2019 10:51 pm
by GreenLake
Probably some old-timers would know best, but the "whale logo" relates to original equipment for a certain production period.

Mine is a '63 (based on the reasonable guess that state registration #1404 is actually the sail number and corroborated by design features). It has a number of original fittings with the whale logo.

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 12:59 pm
by Cliff
Whaling City Marine Co. Inc 56 Prospect St New Bedford MA. Current list of streets for NB does not include a prospect st. May have been removed in the 60s or 70s during urban renewal. I found they had a loan from the Small Business Association for $45,000 in 1952. They advertised in Boating Mag into the 60s.

Yes I'm procrastinating.

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Fri Dec 06, 2019 1:49 pm
by GreenLake
Well, you are doing a great job of it!!

Impressive.

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 8:07 pm
by RobH912
Cliff wrote:Whaling City Marine Co. Inc 56 Prospect St New Bedford MA. Current list of streets for NB does not include a prospect st. May have been removed in the 60s or 70s during urban renewal. I found they had a loan from the Small Business Association for $45,000 in 1952. They advertised in Boating Mag into the 60s.


Cliff thanks for doing some research and sharing info on the whale logo. NB certainly was a "whaling city" back in the day, great name for a company from there.

Thanks

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Mon Dec 09, 2019 10:29 pm
by GreenLake
There still is a Whaling City Iron Co. there, but they are into bulk materials, sheet metal, etc. and also dare from 1965. The WCMC is still listed as the orginal manfuacturer of certain parts with a "national stock number". Don't know whether that means some some of their original stock in those parts still exists, or whether it's something that is now being reverse engineered. Got curious and tried to find some old map for NB to look for Prospect St, but no luck

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 5:15 pm
by tomodda
Hi Folks:

Well, another off-season has arrived, we had our first hard frost here in the Piedmont on Sunday, and we're here talking about DS history instead of sailing! All good - I've got a number of winter boat projects that I'm eager to get started, including finally rigging my spinnaker. I ordered a bunch of rope and parts from R&W Rope up in New Bedford (yes, here's where we get back on topic!) and I took the opportunity to ask them about Whaling City Marine....

So, here's the story, as near as I can make out. First, New Bedford is nicknamed "Whale City," just like Baltimore is "Charm City", Seattle is "Emerald City", etc. But there is no Prospect St in NB, it's over in Padanaram, which is pretty much a suburb of NB. Padanaram was originally a small whaling town then became the local yachting center early on (NB is more industrial), so it makes sense that a yachting parts store/company was over there. Also makes sense that they'd be using "New Bedford" in their mailing address, as it's the nearest city of any size. As a parenthesis, I did some internet sleuthing, and the Whaling City Marine Co. changed to a NB Post Office Box (instead of 56 Prospect St) in mid-1966. Also, on google maps, that address is a residence-type building, so maybe it was their office? My favorite parts manufacturer nowadays is run out of a private house near Cleveland (Racelite), so why not? Anyhow, the folks at R&W Rope tells me that there is not and as far as they know never had been a Prospect St in NB itself.

But, they did tell me something fascinating - they've just bought the original Marscott Plastics building when they expanded their warehouse! They are quite familiar with the DS and were happy to hear their gear was going onto one. Anyway, hopefully will put a smile on my face as I'm fiddling with my new rigging project. Cripes, I've gotta call Rudy and order new stays too... projects never end.....

Fair winds!

Tom

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 6:55 pm
by Paddyt
I was able to locate a Prospect St. Could this be where you are talking about. 56 would’ve been on the first full block at the north of the street.

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 10:55 pm
by GreenLake
Love it. Great little details.

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 5:28 pm
by tomodda
PaddyT:

Great find! You're absolutely right, there was a Prospect St in New Bedford up until 1967-68, when the whole area was redeveloped and Mass Rt 18 (JFK Expressway) was pushed through there. No wonder the folks at R&W Rope didn't remember the street at all, been gone for over 50 years. I have to admit that amateur historical sleuthing is one of my favorite hobbies, especially about early American industries. Following your lead of looking at the Library of Congress maps, I think I actually found a photo of the building that housed Whaling City Marine Co. The company itself was bought out by Schaefer Marine in 1967. So for all of us who use Schaefer parts (I do, when i can find it cheaply), we are indirectly touching back onto original O'Day heritage. But we're getting way off topic here (DS1 Design changes), so I'll post what I've got over to the history section of this forum. When I got a handy round tuit available, of course... hopefully later tonight.

Tom

Re: DS1 Design Changes

PostPosted: Wed Dec 11, 2019 9:01 pm
by Cliff
Great find Paddyt--What a shame so many great neighborhoods and buildings disappeared during those years. Boston lost the the west end with Scollay Sq and the Old Howard burlesque house. We now have what is recognised as the ugliest city Hall in the country here. It was pretty convenient to O Day having a marine supplier just a hop skip & jump away.