After looking for a DS for the past year, I finally pulled the trigger this week on a 1973 DSII. While I've been stalking this forum for the past number of months, my only real experience with a sailboat of my own is a Sunfish. So needless to say I have some questions, mostly about a few things I think I need to address now before I put it in the water. Any chance anyone can take a look at some of these questions and images I have below? Thanks in advance!
The mast below the tabernacle hinge is straight, but above it the mast leans a little to the port side. Also it appears to be slightly twisted, so when you lay it down, the mast points to starboard corner of the stern. Should I replace the tabernacle immediately, or should I just tighten the stays and straighten it for now?
There is some fiberglass cracking on the deck around where the mask goes through. Is there a lot of pressure on this part of the deck when sailing, or is mainly carried by the stays and the mast step (the part the mast goes into)? Is the boat unsafe to use until this is addressed?
On the starboard jib track, the 2 screws on the outside edges of the track don't seem to be biting into anything. I'm assuming there is some kind of backer behind the fiberglass that is not catching the screws. Is there a safe solution for me to fix this at least for now that doesn't require me to make cut an inspection hatch?
There's a ring on the bottom of where the boom meets the mast and a cleat below that. Should these 2 be connected? If not, what keeps the boom from sliding up and out of the mast when sailing?
There's 2 holes, one on either side of the the centerboard that are between the cockpit and the cuddy cabin. I'm assuming they are there to drain any water that gets into the cuddy. However, there is a little but of separation between the 2 sides and I can see bare wood. Is there a piece of plastic or something I should seal the edges with at least to prevent water from getting into the bulkhead?
Is this a hole that is supposed to be here, or should I be filling it?