Replace mast for DS1

[nojudge2000]

I am the owner/captainess of the lovely DS 127, minted 1959. I was born in Jan. 1961, and my father bought it later that year; I took my first boat trip on the lady when I was a year old. Fast forward to today, and out of my five siblings (my twin and me being the youngest), the boat finally came to me about 15 years ago and every time I sail her (named the Merry Mac, for the Scottish surname of my father) I am filled with fond memories of sailing with my now deceased dad.

I am determined to update the old girl and make her easier to sail as much as possible. Much has been replaced on the boat, but my real need now is for a mast, boom, and the fittings that go with it (shrouds, halyards, etc.). Actually the boom is cracked at the stern end resulting in the mainsl not being able to be stay fully put on the bottom stern edge. Stay spreaders really need replaced, as do the wire shrouds, and I'm worried about the halyards since they are the Merry Mac's originals.

OK. Enough background. I would like to replace the mast and boom and all the stuff with it.
***Question***
Could I use a mast/boom with lines from a DS2 or a DS3 - would they fit on my DS1?

Reason: the original mast and boom as SOOOOO heavy. I was thinking as timed advanced, that the materials were updated and improved, and I am trying to make my boat as easy to rig and launch as possible (mooring in water is pretty expensive around here).

My thinking it it would actually just be cheaper/easier to buy a Day Sailer, and take the mast and boom and whatever else I wanted from it (could use a clete or two), and that's how I can fix up my beloved DS 127.

Can anyone offer advice? I haven't sailed for some 5 years, and it is killing me. I really want to get a solution for my mast and boom this summer. (Dare I dream of getting her in the water this year?). If I can do this, I can work out all the other stuff worked out (painting, re-varnishing seats and coamings, etc.)

Thanks for any advice and help you can give.
Bonnie in PA

[Moose]

Hello,
I believe the origionalmast/boom were foam filled aluminium, which most replacements would be. You can buy a new mast fitted out with stays for under $880 and a fitted out boom for $350 so for about 1250 you can be on the water hassle free.
you could also buy the extrusion and fittings and put them together yourself.
either of these are available from D&R Marine or direct from dwyer(D&R's supplier).
Personally I dont reccomend buying a boat just for the mast because you never really know what youve got until you take it home and get down to the nitty gritty.
there are also some tricks you can use for stepping the mast like using the winch on your trailer and the main halyard. if you have a tabernackle(hinge in the mast)

Check out:
http://www.drmarine.com/products.asp?cat=123

hope this helps

[K.C. Walker]

Hi Bonnie,

I love the background story! You definitely need to get this boat in the water and go sailing!

Okay, we are kind of flying blind here. I think you could get a little better advice from this forum if you were to snap some pictures and post them. I think if you could take an overall picture and then some detailed pictures of your problem spots you would get plenty of advice.

Do you know what brand mast you have?

Replacing or repairing the boom won't be bad, but replacing the mast could slow down getting you in the water. Unless you are sure you need to replace the mast it may be more effective to update what you have.

I'm 10 years older than you and I set up my boat by myself quite regularly. The original one-piece mast is much more difficult to set up than a cut mast with a hinged tabernacle. You might consider this alternative. I do have one of the lighter Allspar masts but I don't know how much heavier some of the other brands are. I doubt they are that much heavier.

If you do happen to have a Proctor mast, that one is desirable for racing and you could probably trade it for another mast that would be less desirable and cut that or one that's already cut and hinged.

Good luck on this project!

KC

[ChrisB]

Bonnie,

I'm not sure you would save much weight by replacing the mast. I would explore other options: mast tabernacle as previously mentioned, dry storing the boat in a marina where you can leave the mast rigged, or a gin pole. A good explanation of a gin pole rig can be found here.
http://www.sailsaratoga.org/content.asp ... e_id=67958

I have an '80 DS II and have (in the last year) replaced the spreaders, stays, and halyards. Parts are readily available from DR Marine, Intensity Sails, etc.

-Chris

[nojudge2000]

Wow, your posts are so helpful. A cut mast with a hinged tabernacle (now there's a new term for me) is really what I would love to have b/c I think it would be so much easier to erect. I'm going to do a little more research based on everyone's input and maybe I can get a pic or two up here. Thanks again.

More later!
happy sailing - Bonnie DS 127

[nojudge2000]

By the way, it's a Proctor mast.

[Kleanbore]

I have a spare DS I mast with tabernacle, and a spare boom. Maybe we could trade?