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Look under cuddy floor?

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2018 9:23 am
by LakeCochitDS
First post - I have been reading for a while after buying a 1984 DS2 in April.

I assumed the tightly-screwed-down plywood in the cuddy floor was original until I read an earlier post. At the same time, the tongue weight of the trailer after a recent rain storm increased by about 100#, so I decided to look inside. Thought you all would enjoy, speculation welcome!

I am planning to sail on Lake Cochituate in Natick, MA to start.

Re: Look under cuddy floor?

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2018 9:27 am
by LakeCochitDS
Two More Pics

Do the Mast base and centerboard trunk look OK?

Everything seems to work - before launching, I worry that the centerboard is seized given that it doesn't wiggle at all. Thanks

Re: Look under cuddy floor?

PostPosted: Fri May 18, 2018 11:52 am
by Alan
It all looks original except for the hatch. The compression post (mast) photo is upside down (either that or the installation is very unusual :) ).

On the side of the centerboard trunk, the bulge looks like it has a chunk of fiberglass missing. The bulge is a pocket that encloses one of the centerboard mounting wedges. It's hard to imagine how it could have been damaged by direct contact, but it might have been subject to torsion if the centerboard hit something. That could explain why it doesn't move in the trunk (I'm assuming the centerboard isn't resting on a keel roller or bunk). It could also explain why the hatch was installed, to provide a better inspection port than the two small ports aft of the cuddy bulkhead.

On the bottom of the boat below the centerboard pivot point there should be two stainless steel plates, each with two screws in it. These secure the mounting wedges. It would be a good idea to see if the gelcoat around the plates is cracked. This could be another sign of damage.

Re: Look under cuddy floor?

PostPosted: Sun May 20, 2018 9:14 pm
by LakeCochitDS
Thanks Alan,

I took her out today for the first time and centerboard lowered fine. Nice surprise.

Does it look like there has been a hull repair between the centerboard trunk and the mast base? - seems to be extra pieces of cloth laid down.

Re: Look under cuddy floor?

PostPosted: Mon May 21, 2018 2:45 am
by GreenLake
I would expect possibly some extra layers centered right around the mast base - that's where most of the load will go. On the DS1, the mast does not rest on the bare hull, but there's a 3"x3" square U channel (upside down) that's glassed along the crease in the hull and distributes the load very nicely. They must have gained some experience and decided that was over built (originally patterned on the keelson in wooden boats, I would think). But I can't believe that there wouldn't be some reinforcement at all.

Is that what you are seeing (it's hard to tell from the pictures).