#818 on the Mainsail

[algonquin]

Bought a Daysailer in July 07 that has #818 on the mainsail. Seller thought it was built in 1963. Has fiberglass seats, no motor well, and a lot of bronze hardware. Does 1963 seem like a reasonable build year for this boat ?

Fun boat to sail but very tender in a moderate wind.

[jpclowes]

A friend of mine has one built about the same time (I think he said it was 1963, I'll ask him later.) His is number 1128. He has replaced most of the hardware, so I can't say if it had bronze or not. But I know it doesn't have a motor well. His has 3 fittings on the stern to attach a slide on motor bracket. (I've never seen him use a motor, so I don't know exactly how it works.)

[algonquin]

My #818 also came with the three fittings and the drop in outboard motor bracket. Not sure but most likely an option rather than standard equipment. It seems difficult to date the DS1s as they were ever evolving.

[thomas]

I have sail #766, with molded seats, I think she's '61. has both bronze & stainless fittings, and the original sheaves and blocks, when not stainless, are an odd sort of cloth & resin or plastic, reddish brown in color, which seem to have stood up very well. who knows what this stuff is?

thomas

[navahoIII]

A friend of mine, who is a long time sailor, told me the sheaves are made of modified linen!! Hard to believe, but on close inspection the "weave" is perceptible.

[woodstoc]

I have sail #378 and I was told by the previous owner that my DSI was middle fifties. I still haven't been able to accurately date my boat.

[thomas]

OK, here's what I know...my ds1 #766 has bronze, SS and tufnol , an early synthetic made of phenolic resin and reinforced with linen. reddish brown, created in britain during ww2 for aircraft fittings. lightweight for the time, it was revolutionary high tech, cutting edge go fast gear. apparently has a very long life, as my fittings, nearly or over 40 yrs, are almost like new. sounds similar to your boat. i had #766 at 1961 but am unsure...so somewhere between 61 and 63 seems reasonable.