This Old Boat

[Findlay]

Like "This Old House" I've been working on a restoration project of an old DS for many months. The identity plate on the stern coaming reads..
"Marscot Plastics, Type 1780, Hull 95, New Bedford, MA." Many of the fittings are, I beleive, the orginal Bronze (Cam cleats and Chainplates for example). It has wooden seat planks and the only flotation areas are a closed bow bulkhead and 12" across stern encloseure. If anyone has any information regarding this boat (like what year it was built) or the history of Marscot Plastics relative to George O'Day I would welcome the knowledge. Most of the history I've read about the DS never mentions Marscot Plastics or New Beford, Ma.

[Baysailer]

It sounds like a pretty early DS, possibly one of the earliest from the numbers (certainly pre 60).

Here's a bit on Odays history as I understand it.
Oday didn't start out as a boat manufacturer. George Oday started as an importer and distributor, mostly for Fairey Marine in England (Albacores, Fireflys and the sort). As Oday started developing and obtaining their own models (Daysailer, Rhodes 19, Wood Pussy) they farmed out the manufacturing part to Marscott Plastics. A fire at the Marscott plant forced them out of business and then Oday started manufacturing the boats themselves.

Going back even further. I'm not sure if Marscott was an off shoot of an earlier boat maker in New Bedford called Palmer Scott but they made most of the same models.

I'm sure others have more or better info than this. Somewhere once I saw a DS history but can't remember where.

Fred

[Findlay]

Fred,

Thank you for your comments

[Baysailer]

A search found a neat little article from Time magazine writen Aug 09, 1963. Just gloss over the desparging comments on the DS.

Might be worth adding to the archives here.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 26,00.html

[Bob Hunkins]

Marscot plastics did build the Day Sailer at the beginning. I recall some folks saying so, but don't have specific proof.

If you have hull 95, then you have something rare, one of the earliest boats. Please treat her well, or at least sell her to someone who will...

[algonquin]

A search found a neat little article from Time magazine writen Aug 09, 1963. Just gloss over the desparging comments on the DS.

Might be worth adding to the archives here.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/artic ... 26,00.html

Thanks for sharing that very interesting and historical article.

Although there were more than just a few disparaging remarks about our beloved DS in the article I know that I also have had a few similar observations of my own. Actually I’m glad they didn’t make any major production changes as the article indicates were needed. I love my old DS just as she is and now I have a little history to back it up.

Hmmm !! My old DS is just as quirky as I am. Brad

[shawn]

I take exception to those comments. The Rhodes 19, Daysailer and Woodpussy were all nice looking boats and great sailers (I've owned all 3). His later and larger boats were designed for space and not sailing qualities so on that I would agree.

Shawn
DS II 10542

[Curry]

I wanted to add a little note to comments on the Day Sailer by O’Day.

George O’Day began racing in Town Class sailboats out of Marblehead, MA and if you look at their design you will find a striking resemblance to our good old Daysailer (http://townclass.net/default.aspx). He raced the Town Class in the late 1930’s, and in 1941, his name appears as the winner on a 110 class sailboat. The 110 class is certainly a much faster boat, however, it is strictly for speed not for pleasure sailing.

My father and his brothers had the fastest boat in the Town Class fleet (called a Winabout from another builder) racing out of the Squantum Yacht Club in Quincy, Massachusetts. They raced as kids before the War and then after into the late 40’s and early 50’s. He recalls racing and occasionally beating George O’Day in races in Marblehead, and based on all the trophies and silver serving dishes with 1st and 2nd place listed, I assume that his stories are not all BS.

The key is that the Daysailer is fun family boat. It can be raced, but unlike many small boats, it can be enjoyed by more than two people. This is something that O’Day knew from his years on a Town Class and when he first designed the Daysailer, but had probably forgotten by the time the Time magazine article was written.

[DS 1858]

I think one has to consider the context of his statements. In the 50's wooden boats were still king and most yachtsmen considered wood the only thing to build a yacht from. I can imagine how the yacht club membership viewed plastic boats at that time. I don't think his comments were against the DS but probably more against new plastic boats with less traditional lines. My thoughts anyway.