Parts for my inherited Daysailer

[mjspencer01]

I've inherited my dad's 1992 O Day Daysailer. I did not inherit much documentation or as it turns out, all the parts. I don't even know which type of daysailer I have. Can anyone point me in the direction of figuring that out so I get the right hardware list if I can find one?


I'm going to be keeping it on land and rigging/de-rigging regularly and would like to be sure I have all the hardware in appropriate sizes etc. plus spares just in case. I've got a box of extra pins and cotter pins but how do I know I'm using the intended size in an attachment?

I discovered I'm missing a little piece between the boom and the mast. Is there a parts list available to ensure I can get that and all the right size pins and so forth? My rigging instructions are rather vague as well.

All help is MUCH appreciated for getting acquainted with my boat.

[calden]

Have no worries! You stumbled onto the right boat! Although the DS is an older model boat, it is still popular and there is a wealth of information and parts available.

1) Check out the "Technical Information" section in the menu at the top of this forum's page. You'll find all the information you need including manuals for the DSI and DSII. You can identify your boat from that.

2) go to Dwyer Mast's website and look at the page for the mast that is on many DS boats. You can see all the attendant fittings to check what you have and might be missing (assuming your boat has this kind of mast - mine did.)

http://www.dwyermast.com/items.asp?cat1 ... 2D275+Mast

3) Then call Rudy at D&R Marine. He used to work for O'Day and his place has all the hardware and anything else you might need for your boat.

http://www.drmarine.com/categories.asp?cat=64

Good luck, hope this helps.

Carlos

[mjspencer01]

Thank you, this is a great start. I believe I've got a DS I. After reading through some of the other messages I'm really fired up about getting this boat in the water.

I've determined that I'm missing a piece of the gooseneck connection and I'm looking at replacing a bent/cracked spreader.

My mast is a little different than any of the pictures or fittings I've seen. I have a rectangular fitting at the foot that goes into an extrusion in the hull at the bottom and then there are holes for pins fore and aft of it. Have you seen that before? It appears to be an adjustable position fore/aft. Do I seat it in the track and then put pins fore and aft? Can I leave those pins in for the next time as the mast lifts out vertically to de-rig?

[calden]

I haven't seen the type of mast step you're describing. Maybe you can post a photograph. It's very easy to create a photo album for yourself on this forum, post pictures, and share them in a post.

In any case, don't be shy about asking questions. I got tons of information on this great boat when I first signed on a few years ago. Owners love to share what they know. My personal theory about the Daysailer is that this particular boat attracts very intelligent and erudite people with high levels of social skills.

Carlos

[Adrift]

I've inherited my dad's 1992 O Day Daysailer.

<snip>

I believe I've got a DS I.

<snip>

Not that it really matters, but I think you have a DS I built by Sunfish/Laser, not O'day. O'Day wasn't making any DS's in '92, they were out of business by then. What are the first 3 characters of the hull ID #?

If I remember this boat correctly, your transom is very deep (like an old style DS I), but the opening into the cuddy is very small (smaller even than a DS II)? Triangular chain plates and tapered spreaders? (Some of this may have been extra cost options.)

There don't seem to be a whole lot of sunfish/laser built daysailers so you may have small differences that are not well documented. But the owners of those boats speak highly of them.

I've got a box of extra pins and cotter pins but how do I know I'm using the intended size in an attachment?

The clevis pin should be the biggest diameter that fits the clevis opening without binding and a length that lets you insert the cotter pin (AKA cotter key) or ring easily through all the attaching parts ... any extra length will just snag a line or a toe.

Similarly, the cotter pin also should be the largest diameter that fits the hole in the clevis pin without binding, and at least 0.5" longer than needed to pass from one side to the other to allow a nice tail to be bent.

For often removed clevis pins, use a ring instead of a cotter pin. Save the cotter pins for places not removed more often than once a season and discard one after removing it to avoid a nasty surprise from metal fatigue.

[Curry]

I have an older DS 1 with a Proctor mast. The heel plug / mast step sounds similar to the one that you describe. Check out this web site for pictures:

http://shop.ldcracingsailboats.co.uk/in ... el%20Parts

On my boat the heel plug has 3 sheaves that needed to be replaced and like your boat, many of the parts (probably cam cleats for the halyards) were removed. I'm still looking for the correct place to mount a block for the new cleats.

Good luck.

Chris

[mjspencer01]

The lights are coming on now. Yes, I believe it’s a Sunfish/Laser according to the technical data on the site. Plus the limited documentation I have has their name on it. I thought O’Day Daysailer was the design made by Sunfish/Laser rather than thinking O’Day made the boat. Its getting clearer. The hull number (on the stern) is SLI14028F292.
I happened to take a bunch of pictures of hardware and stuff I though I might want to look at from home while figuring all of this out so I’ve posted some that were relevant to the feedback I’ve gotten. You’ll find marginal pictures of the transom and cutty but good pics of the mast bottom and step, triangular chainplates, spreaders (note one spreader is bent/cracked)

gallery/search.php?user_id=920

Thank you for the guidance on the pins. I feel better now!

Ok, cam cleats for the halyards…block for the cleats…the halyard hoists the sail right? (pardon my ignorance, I’m learning) so one for the jib goes through a block on the front of the mast just below where the stays attach, then the main halyard goes through the sheaves on the mast and both tie off on a cleat near the bottom of the mast. I think this calls for another visit to my boat and I’ll take some pictures of what I’ve got in case I can actually help someone else.

By the way, now I'm looking for replacement spreaders. I'll try D&R, I'm assuming I should buy a pair if theyare at all different.

Thanks so much, my confidence is building!!!

[Roger]

Your HIN indicates that your boat was the 28th built by Sunfish Laser. It was built in June 1992 if I am interpreting the HIN correctly. Your sail number should be 14028.

Sunfish started manufacture in 1991 with hull number 14000 and built 149 boats althogether, ending in 1994 when Cape Cod Shipbuilders started production.

As for the rigging, I think you have figured it out correctly as to the jib and main halyards. The jib cleats on the left (port) side of the mast, and the main on the starboard (right side of the mast. The jib and main sheets have a variety of rigging patterns. Each model had its variances. Some had the jib cleats on the cuddy roof, others on the CB trunk or combings. Some had the mainsheet end boom rigged, others mid boom rigged.

Yours looks like it was mid boom rigged for the main, with the jib sheets cleated on the combings. Run the jib sheets outside the sidestays, (shrouds), then tie a figure of 8 knot in the end so that you don't loose the sheet while sailing.

A good beginner book for the getting the names of the thingmajigs and whatchamahoodles is Dave Seidman's The Complete Sailor. Each chapter is no more than a couple of pages and he has great line drawinds explaining all matters of sail. Its a great book to get you started. Meanwhile, keep asking questions here. We are always happy to facilitate another addict!

[mjspencer01]

So Rudy at D&R says I need to contact Sunfish/Laser for my gooseneck. Are they still around? Does anyone have a good source for parts for my Sunfish/Laser Daysailer?

[Sean McGuire]

You may want to try Layline. I have been able to find items for my Dad's Sunfish there. www.layline.com There are probably generic gooseneck assemblies out there as well.

Sean McGuire

[foredek]

I have a Cape Cod DSI but it has the same mast step. Leave the pins in the piece attached to the heel of the boat. When you understand the boat a little more, you can move the two pins forward or aft to adjust the rake of the sail. Cap Cod Shipbuilding manufactures Zephyr Spars with parts that might fit yours.

[mjspencer01]

Thanks all for your help. Now that I'm convinced my boat is a Sunfish Laser Inc. DS I I've been posting my questions under the DS I category.

Your help is much appreciated!

Melanie