A trim question

[Mike M.]

I've seen pictures with wooden trim around the cockpit of the DS I. Mine didn't have any when I bought her and I just wonder if it had been removed by a previous owner or if wood was a factory option originally? Has anyone ever applied trim where there wasn't any before. I really like the looks of the ones I've seen.

[Bob Damon]

As far as I know all Day Sailers of your vintage came with the wood coaming and in fact it is required by the class rules for these boats unless a substitute for the structural integrity is provided. Without the wood or some form of support under the deck the deck area will eventually collapse. If wood was originally there you will likely have screw holes unless they were filled and painted.

[Mike M.]

It's got screws all the way around through the fiberglass into a wooden support underneath the edge.

Thanks for your reply.

[Mike M.]

I'll try to post a picture today.

[gary l. britton]

Hi Mike:

My DS I has wood combing around the boat, and I also have the wood slats for the flooring. I would be happy to show it to you if you wish to meet me at Hefner someday.

Fair winds

Gary
1966, DS I #3235
"Dancing Girls II"

[Roger]

DS I owners who race have been known to remove the wooden coamings to increase their sitting comfort while hiking. As others have mentioned however, the retrofit, required under the deck supports and filling of holes. Other modifications made to DS I's for racing were to remove the 'shelf cubbies' inside the cuddy. Some owners may also have modified the rudder head, as I don't believe it was controlled by class rules. All these modifications however, could not reduce the weight below 575# for class racing.

[Mike M.]

Gary~

Are you still going out Friday mornings? I could do it this Friday I think, (Weather permitting, of course).

Roger~ thanks for the info. Maybe somebody tried to turn mine into a racer, I don't know. I have posted a pic in my gallery, maybe you can tell from what you see there.

[gary l. britton]

Hi again Mike:

I just sent an e-mail to your address about meeting on Friday at Hefner. Just give me a call if you want to meet and check out the trim on "Dancing Girls II".

Fair winds

Gary
1966 DS I #3235
Dancing Girls II

[Roger]

Hard to tell if the po had tried to make a racer out of her from those two pictures. Are there other go fast options that appear to have been added by a po?

Removing the coamings may have just been a way of making the boat more comfortable to sit, or a po may have taken them off because they were past repair.

[Mike M.]

Being a 'newby' I wouldn't know a go fast otion if it came over the port side and bit me, Roger. Thanks for the help anyway. I'll just continue to fuddle along or wait until I get some better pics posted.

[Mike M.]

Gary~

Thanks for the 'tour' of the Dancing Girls II, she looks great. It was nice to meet you and get a chance to talk to another O'day owner face-to-face. It was a nice opportunity to look around the east yard for my next boat too!

Once I get into the making of the floorboards (which I am defintely going to do) I'll take you up on the offer to draw off patterns and meet you some other Friday when it's not too cold and we can lay them out on some butcher paper and make outline drawings. I'm still not sure if I want to replace the coamings...I think they really add to the looks and may consider just putting them in up to the top of the deck so they won't be too uncomfortable for hiking. Still not sure.

Thanks again for your time.

Sail on,

[gary l. britton]

Mike:

Glad I was able to help. Was fun, like you said, talking to another DS I owner, face to face. Yes, contact me anytime and I will be happy to meet with you and help trace out the patterns.

Fair Winds

Gary
"Dancing Girls II" #3235
1966 DS I