Here I go down the rabbit hole.

[rsdtr1600]

Hi all,

I am new to this site and just brought home my new O'Day DS1. After doing a lot of research and comparisons between the Lido 14 and the DS1. I decided on the DS1 for its size and stability. This boat is in pretty good condition for a 1966 the hull number 3877. The previous owner had done quite a bit of work on the boat but there still some issues that need attention. I plan to sail it this season after attending to a few of the immediate concerns and then restoring the boat this winter.

I am not sure if some of my concerns are valid or worth worrying about until this winter's restoration project. Any assistance I could get from anyone on the site would be greatfully apperciated.

First concern is there is no foam flotation in the seat tanks or in the bow. I plan to buy some pool noodles and stuff these areas full with them. There is a very small hairline crack down the length of both seat tanks where they transistion to the hull.

Also there are holes on either side of the centeroard trunk just foward of the centerboard. I poured some water down them but did now see it come out anywhere. There used to be a plug in the transom but it has been removed and filled. May have been the angle of the boat on the trailer also. Also in the bow area of the boat under the floor boards just foward of the trunk there is a spot that I can see light through the fiberglass. It is not a hole it just looks like it may be thin. There no cracks anywhere around this area and there does not appear to be any damage inside or outside the hull in this area. At first I thought this may have been from repeated beaching but no visible indications of such.

Any assist anyone could give me would be greatly apperciated

Thanks so much

Steve

[kokko]

I just purchased hull 3395 and am in much the same position.

Let's see - where to begin?

Foam flotation. There should be a 3/4 plug in each cockpit seat. How you will stuff pool noodles through there is no apparent. I would not bother. With the plugs in the seats should have sufficient bouyancy without the foam - unless water can enter from somewhere else.

The transom plug is a serious concern and it should nevbr have been plyugged. This allows water to drain from the cockpit so the boat will not sink at a mooring or fill up like a bathtub. The plug should be inserted when launching and perhaps underway, but is otherwise unplugged.

The see-through on the hull is not a gbig cocern. THe paint has worn away and eposed the fiberglass. I have the same problem and plan to repaint the cuddy soon.

[rsdtr1600]

Thanks Koko for the info.

The previous owner installed the 4" access ports in the seats and to the bow. I have seen them on other boats on this site. That is how I will install the pool noodles. I feel better about light on the bow. You are probably just paint thin.

The transom plug is a worry though. The original was below the deck level. I have seen other boats with a plug above the deck level on the transom for draining at morring. The only plug I have is directly behind the center board trunk and it is threaded and goes straight down.

Thanks

Steev

[algonquin]

Welcome aboard Steve !!

Most of your upgrades can wait till your winter retrofit. I would put some silicone caulk on the seams around the seats where you said there was a slight crack where the seats meet the hull.

Many do add noodles for flotation but the air locks will work. The noodles are added insurance. Really, if you do turn turtle it is highly unlikely this boat will sink even if the air locks do leak a little.

To put your mind at ease I would do a detailed inspection of the out side of the hull and test for any weak spots. Use something like a rounded ended dowel and poke away at any areas in question. They can be addressed in the short term with a little fibreglass repair patch.

Hey ! The season is soon upon us. Yaa Hoo !! Brad

[Bob Hunkins]

rsdtr1600,

A previous owner of your boat took the foam out. You definitely need to install replacements . I would not assume that the fiberglass is airtight and watertight. In all likelihood it is not.

The cracks in between the seat tank and the hull might be indicative of separation of the seat tank from the hull. Keep an eye on it and see if you notice air or water coming in and out of crack while you sail. You might need to lay down another layer of fiberglass glass to reseal it. The trailer support might also be stressing the hull and causing the cracks.

Take a look at it in the water to see if the size of the crack changes to see if the trailer is doing anytihng.

[Phill]

+! for what Bob said

Do not trust the seat or bow tanks to stay watertight.
The two hardest DS rescues I have been a part of were because of partially flooded tanks. One caused by one small 3/16" hole where a fittiing had been removed.

Class rules require that all three of those tanks are as full of foam floatation as you can fit in. Floatation bags are nice, but leak and would probably not be inspected often enough when hidden in the tanks.

If you still have only the 1" or so hole in the bottom of each of the three tanks, it is very likely that the factory white styrofoam is still in there. However, most likely it is very very waterlogged and useless as floatation.
My 1966, #2543, had 45lbs of soaked foam when I removed and weighed it. I cut holes for the 6" size of Beckson inspection ports to get the foam out, and then reinstall fresh foam.

Sorry if I am coming accross a bit strong. Saftey on the water is MOST important. Our families deserve our best. We have heard too many stories here about scary first capsizes in the DS. The DS is self rescuing, but it is not a Laser. It has lots of room for lots of water, and will most likely turtle if you do not get over the high side on onto the Centerboard before the mast starts to sink. If you are light weights, it will take two to get it back up. Make sure you have a couple of 3 -5 gallon buckets tied in to bail with.

Hope this helps phill

[Thomas P. Bews]

What the Daysailer is not a Laser??? I managed to snap a mast on my old daysailer about 20 years ago. It broke at cuddy level and it sure looked like a windsurfer with all the sails laying in the water. In all seriousness, check your floatation and make sure it is in good condition. The previous owner of my DSI told me that the boat sank once. He left the bailers open and the floatation was out of the tanks and over a couple of hours, at anchor, the boat settled to the bottom. Fortunately it was only in a few feet of water. What a bummer to have a couple of beers and come back to find your boat imitating the Nautilus. So much for the second race, a DNS.

Tom

[calden]

Look around for pool noodles on sale.

When I bought my Daysailer a few years ago I had resigned myself to purchasing noodles at something like 2.99 each. I stopped by my local K-Mart and found them on sale for .99 each. I bought the entire box and have oodles of noodles left over. I'll use them for something or another. I stuffed the seats (after doing the access port retrofit) and the enclosed bow section. I'm sure I won't sink.

Carlos

[rsdtr1600]

Thank you so much everyone for your thoughtful replies. I have located pool nooldles at the dollar store and will be putting them in the boat soon. Definately before I take it out. I could not agree more that the positive flotation is very important.

I still cannot figure out what the holes on either side of the centerboard trunk are. Also I have looked at all the restorations on this site and they are very impressive. I hope mine comes out as well. But I did not see a drain hole in the transom. I did read that if there is a drain hole it must be off centerline of the hole. I am wondering if this drain is really necessary.

Thanks again for everyone's assist I truly appreciate it very much

Steve