DaySailer.org Forum

Hi all!

New guy here.

I've been cruising this forum for a few days now, and have learned a great deal! Thank you!

Recently "adopted" XDY10099M79L-D, which we've christened "Red Witch" (red hull, white deck). She has been sitting outside on and off for some years. I've sailed her before on the St. Johns River in Palatka, Florida (great big wide river there - more like being on a big lake).

Years ago I had a Larsen scow. This is the only other boat I've ever sailed (other than crewing on the "She God", a 60-footer in the Great Lakes, and later on a cruise to Trinidad and back).

The Red Witch is on a tilt trailer, has a keel-stepped mast (no tabernacle , is missing her spreaders, has no topping lift, has no spinnaker or rigging for one, and has a curious thru-the-hull drain in the stern that appears to be made of white plastic plumbing? Yes, it leaks ...

I have a million questions, which I'll get to in good time, but let's start here:

There are two small cleats just inboard of the sidestay chainplates. Anyone know what they are for?

Also: sails are in pitiful shape. They are workable, but barely. Jib is better off than main. Main has holes, probably chewed by rat(s) who subsequently had their first swimming lesson in The St. Johns (long story - I'll let Suzie tell it. She's better at that than I am anyway!)

The main has the DS on it, but no large numbers. There are numbers stenciled on the heads of both sails: 87195 on the main, and 75617 on the jib. Can these numbers be used to spec new sails?

What is the best way to clean the "window" in the jib?

What makes a good sea anchor for this boat?

The jib sheet travellers are loose. The screws unscrew most of the way and then stop. Are there wood blocks behind them like there are for the sidestay chainplates?

Has anyone rigged up a standing 12-volt system on their DS2? Anyone tried any kind of solar panel charging system? We use a small electric trolling motor to get in/out of crazy hectic FL boat ramps. Usually when we put in/out, there's a million bass fisherman in overpowered shiny boats looking at us like we are crazy! Other 12-volt niceties would be cigarette lighter type sockets here and there for cd player, light, etc. After all, we gotta have our Jimmy Buffett blaring!

Speaking of motors, there is some kind of motor mount on the transom that looks original. It's just a frame, tho - no way I can see to actually mount any kind of motor directly to it. Anyone else's DS2 have this? It's a kind of upside down half circle thing that looks like it would take 2 carriage bolts at the upper right and left, and a slotted part at the bottom ... ?

And last but not least: can this boat be fitted w/ a mast tabernacle? I can step the mast by myself, but it ain't fun. I generally have to coax it into a vertical position right next to the gunwhale, then take a deep breath and hoist it up above the hole in the cuddy deck, and lower it down to the base in the cuddy sole. Most times I miss! I'm 6'2", 165, and I've actually had people ask me if I was entering the pole vault competion!

So, there it is. Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

- TIm

You will find many visual answers to your questions at this site:

http://groups.msn.com/RogerConrad/shoebox.msnw

The numbers on your sails indicate part of the hull number. If neither of them match a part of the number on the outside bottom of your transom, both your sails are replacement sails. If one of them matches, then it is original. They cannot be used to spec new sails. See D and R marine for original DS II parts.

http://www.drmarine.com/

The screws in the jib track embed in wood encased in fiberglass. If they are loose, you need to replace the screws with bolts and nuts (ss). You will need to create an inspection port from the cuddy to reach the back of the jib tracks. See my pictures on my website for details.

I just installed a 12 volt system with nav lights, interior light, and switched cig lighter plug. I don't think I would use it enough to discharge it over the season, but may consider a 1.8 or 5 watt charger, if I do discharge it over the season. I have a wind up Grundig radio for tunes.

The rest of your questions should be answered by the notations in the three pages of pics of my DS II on the above website. Let me know if you have any other questions. I have made many revisions on mine to make it more comfortable.

Welcome Tim, I also have a 1979 DS II (see my photos elsewhere on this site). This site has been invaluable to me over the past year after I bought my DSII I had a zillion questions. Here is some help for some of your questions.

I think your sail number should be 099 based on your serial number. I have correct sail measurements at home and can post them here tomorrow, but I think you might be able to find them somewhere on this site. My boat came with a much smaller main that was in bad condition, but I was fortunate enough to find a used one the correct size at Bacon Sails in Annapolis, and we drove there to get it. I have since bought the DS sail lettering via the internet and plan on putting it on this weekend. Will eventually get sail numbers on too. Go to D&R's web site for a tabernacle. I don't have one, and hate raising/removing the mast. Fortunately I can leave it in place year round at my lake.

I have no motor, but it sounds like your motor mount may be home-made. You're going to need spreaders, and can get them at D&R also. The small cleats amid ships by the chainplates are likely not stock, but were probably added for bumpers or dock lines I'm guessing.

I'd love to see a picture of your boat. Mine was a pasty orange color with some very visible dings and scratches, so I re-painted the hull and topside last year. It came out fantastic, better than I thought. This year I'm slowly removing the anti-foulant bottom paint and will be re-painting that.

We're hoping to get her in the water this Sunday for the first sail of this season. One of my on-going hassles has been water in the bilge. I've done a few things to try and stop it, we'll see.

Paul

Tim, Your sail number is actually 10099. The Day Sailer Class Association publishes a handbook with the measurements of the boat. Click under Day Sailer Assoc and go to handbook. This has all the info. Consider joining the Class. Good Luck, Bob Damon

Thanks for the feedback guys!

I've been to the DR site, and already have an extensive shopping list started.

The sails are Neil Prydes. Did O'Day ever use that brand as OEM?

This jib traveler project is gonna be no fun. Even by opening up an inspection port from the cuddy, I don't see a way to get at the back of that area where they are. I may want to relocate/reconfigure them for easier solo sailing anyway ...

I'll try to get a picture of that motor mount posted soon.

- Tim