Trying to figure out what I've got

[Guinness]

I have inherited my father's old sailboat. It has been stored in a barn for many years and is in need of some restoration.

The only number I could find on the hull was fairly chipped and faded, but appeared to be RRR110296586. I'm assuming the boat is a 1986 O'Day daysailer, but if anyone could help me nail this down, I'd greatly appreciate it.

Secondly, the trailer upon which the boat is sitting, is in extremely rough shape. What's the general opinion about re-building a trailer versus starting out with a new one? If the best option is to buy a new one, is there a particular brand/model that is recommended for daysailers?

Thank you in advance for any and all advice.

-Guinness

[John Stevens]

The RRR stands for Rebel. You might want to check the 86 at the end, it is probably 80? I just bought one today.

What part of the axle needs repair?

Can you post some pictures of it?

John

[Roger]

The rebel DS I was manufactured between 1981 and 83 although I have another document that states 1979 to 81. Hull numbers started at 11000.

Used light trailers can go for as little as a few hundered dollars which is what I bought mine for. You are looking for capacity of 1000 to 1500 pounds, and preferably rollers rather than bunks. If you are doing a lot of highway driving, go for the larger 13 inche wheels, but if you have a shallow lake and no long distance driving you can get away with the smaller 8" wheels.

[Guinness]

Thank you for your responses. I will try to get a better reading of the serial number when I next work on the boat.

Of course, this information now begs more questions; what does the "rebel" designation stand for? If the serial numbers in the rebel series began with 11000, and the number on my boat is 11029658?, does this then mean that I've got hull number 11029, manufactured in 1981-83? What does the number 65 indicate? I have located the sails for this boat and will have an opportunity to inspect them this coming weekend. Are the sails, assuming they are the ones that came with the boat, marked with a serial number(s)?

As to the trailer, my first endeavor will be to get the boat out of the barn where it is currently being stored and into an area where I can work around it and clean it off. I will have a more detailed analysis of the trailer and whether or not it's salvagable at that time.

Thanks again for any and all advice. This is a terrific website and is providing me with the enthusiasm and confidence to undertake the restoration of this boat.

-Guinness

[Roger]

Indeed you hull number would be 11029. The next numbers 658 baffle me, although they may indeed be the sail number although the last three numbers are month and year of manufactur. Recall that yours was 6586 which implies May of 86. These numbers are often confusing at best. Some numbers in some HIN's are actually letters. The middle 6 for example may be a G which signifies that it was manufactured in July, but then it still leaves a mystery regarding the last 6.

My documents show that the beginning hull numbers with Rebel start at 11,000 but no end numbers. Spindrift who bought out the molds started manufacturing in 1982 with hull number 11596, and although it would be a good assumption that yours (029) is an early Rebel, the 29th, it would be a reach to say that 11595 was the last Rebel built before Spindrift started manufacturing. HINs are not serial. For example the manufacturer prior to Rebel was Can Am Sailcraft. They built hulls 6960 to 7000 in 1974, (only 40 hulls) So the mystery then is where are hull numbers 7001 to 10999? A few theories abound. Some manufacturers who built multiple models have the hulls numbered serially, so if for example Can Am or Rebel had other boat hulls that they were building, these may have those missing HINs. Another theory is that some manufacturers arbitrarily started their series with an even thousand. eg Rebel started with 11000, Precision with 13000, Sunfish with 14000, so indeed some HIN just do not exist.

I honestly am quite aware that this did not help you any! Most HIN's if they are legible clearly tell the story of the boat. Less legible HINs only add to the mystery. Then you have those metal plates with the HINs attached. Some owener moved those from boat to boat, just to add to the confusion.

[Bob Hunkins]

Spindrift actually bought out Rebel industries entirely. The HIN's on Spindrift boats still have the "RRR" designation.

Your boat was built by Rebel Industries, who was the first company that built the Day Sailer I after O'Day sold the rights to the boat and the existing molds to the Day Sailer Association, who now are the sole owners of the rights to build the Day Sailer. The DSA has contracted with boat builders since then manufacture the boat. The builders ahve been Rebel industries, then Spindrfit, then Precision, then McLaughlin, then Sunfish-Laser Inc., and now Cape Cod Shipbuilding. The reasons there have been so many builders is a long drawn out soap opera, not worth the telling. If you really want to know, I recommend joining the class association and reading the story in the handbook you'll get.

[Guinness]

After much digging through my father's records I have found the original bill of sale for his Daysailer. The number listed is RRR11929G585.

So, if I understand correctly, the boat was manufactured by Spindrift. The RRR is a carry-over from Rebel Industries. The boat is number 11929. Would the G585 signify July 5, 1985?

As to sail numbers, there are no numbers on the mainsail. The only number is written on the original sailbag, which is 1929. Would this be the sail numbers, or would numbers be assigned upon joining the Daysailer Association.

-Guinness

[algonquin]

After much digging through my father's records I have found the original bill of sale for his Daysailer.

1985 ! Would you mind sharing the purchase price ? Brad

[Guinness]

Upon further research, I found a section of the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission's Boating Handbook, that details the breakdown of the Hull Identification Number (HIN)/.

My HIN is RRR11929G585

The first three letters are the manufacturer's ID code. In my case the RRR stands for Rebel Industries.

The second series of letters/numbers stands for the production or serial number. In my case the number would be 11929.

The next letter and number indicate the Month and year of production. "A" through "L" stand for January through December respectively. In my case G stands for July, and the 5 indicates 85.

The last two numbers indicate the model year. In my case 1985.

Apparently, my father purchased the boat new in August of 1996. The cost of the boat at that time was just over $3,600.

Thanks to everyone who replied to my original post. This is a great site for information and I plan to continue to make use of it as I restore my Daysailer.

Cheers,

-Guinness