by Guest » Mon Jun 04, 2001 8:17 am
I have a Day Sailer II that I sail singlehanded on Buzzards Bay, and would say that a Day Sailer would be a very good boat for your needs! You did not say what part of Narraganset Bay you plan to sail, but with proper care and caution.....you will really enjoy the Day Sailer. I would recomend that if the boat you buy does not have it already, add a reef to the mainsail, this has added great peace of mind to my sailing trips. A reef will allow you to reduce the area of the main if the wind is blowing over about 15 knots, and this will make sailing under those conditions more comfortable. Also the boat should have a boom-vang to control the tendency for the DS boom to lift especially when sailing off the wind, the vang will flatten the sail and reduce heeling (tipping) and reduce (but not eliminate) the chance of an uncontrolled jibe.
You should also think about getting a small (2-4hp) outboard for the boat, many will brand me as a "heretic" for this suggestion, but it is a good addition to the boat. I have met a fellow DS owner who lives near where I moor my DS in Wareham, Ma. and he has a 3.3hp Mercury on his DS I. This allows him to easily motor out of the creek where he lives, and to furl the sails and power in if the sailing gets to be too much for his family. I often use my 4hp Johnson to just go out for a ride under power if the wind is too strong for sailing, or too light. Sure, I prefer to sail.....but the motor is still nice to have!
So, if you have any questions about the DS, just let the people on this discussion forum know...and you will get a good cross-section of answers!
Rod Johnson (rjohnson24-at-juno.com)