This fall I acquired a 1976 DS II, #8039. By way of quick background, I have experience sailing a sunfish – the DS II is my next step up and a chance to get the family sailing together. I’ll have my boat on the water for the first time this spring with the help of someone from the local sailing club. I’m working on winter projects to get it ready and have a few questions. I have a few pictures of the boat, mostly before I did anything to it, at this link: https://picasaweb.google.com/100194009344180115029/DSII?authkey=Gv1sRgCPHA2bDHh7yOBw#
1. Softscrub? - The boat sat out for several years in a backyard. I tried several methods to clean the hull after removing the leaves and a few appliations of a powerwasher, particularly to remove the last of the mildew in the cockpit. The product that seems to work best is Softscrub. Are there any reasons NOT to use it? My gelcoat is fair - a bit chalky. I plan to polish the outer hull this spring.
2. Stock boom vang attachment or bail? - My boat did not come with a boom vang. I got a bargain on a Ronstan 4:1 boom vang. I’ll attach the lower block to the mast with line. My boom is set up for the stock DS boom vang with the swaged ball on wire. It seems that my options are to source the swaged ball/wire component (I found a source that will make it if I can't get just that part from DR Marine) or drill out the 6 rivets on the boom and install a bail. Other than the obvious more sturdy attachment using a bail, are there advantages to either set up? If it matters, the boat didn’t come with any blocks, so I also got a good after-market mainsheet block, etc. for the centerboard trunk and will run mid-boom sheeting.
3. Paint? - The prior owner repaired the drain at the back of the transom, and the resin/fiberglass has a mustard yellow color to it (shown in one of the pics). If possible, I’d like to grind the rough repair smoother, and apply some form of whiteish paint to at least make it blend better. I know it won’t match the gelcoat. I also know that area will lie wet at times. Any product recommendations, or should I leave it alone? (I’ve done some research on hull repair techniques, paint, gelcoat, etc. – I’m looking specifically for recommendations for this area and exposure to water).
4. Leave ballast in? - The prior owner customized the boat a bit, including raising the mast about 2’ (see the second pic, when we raised the sail before I bought the boat), for better clearance under the boom (so I was told by the seller). At the advice of a local sailor and shop, I removed the pipe and hardware and restored the mast to stock height. When I went to inspect the bilge, I found two trash bags full of heavy 1.5” pieces of metal of some sort that he used as ballast (one is shown in a pic). As an experienced sunfish sailer but new daysailer sailer – is there an advantage to leaving the ballast in for now? I was inclined to remove it to get a better look at the bilge area and the centerboard bolt. Once I dig it out (piece by piece, through the inspection port), it’s not going back in. If it might help me in the early learning stages, I’ll leave it for now. Also, does anyone have any idea what he used for ballast? I’m stumped.
5. Cabin color? - Finally, the cabin is painted a dark green, and some of the paint is flaking. Would the cabin have been white from the factory?
I’m sure there will be more questions, but that’s enough for now. Thanks in advance for the advice.
Kevin
P.S. My application to the Day Sailer Association will be in the mail shortly.