Is this 16' Daysailer worth the time?

[LandLockedNewf]

Hi All,

I was recently given a 16' O'Day Daysailer. My brother's in-laws bought it and the trailer about 10 years ago and it's been in storage ever since. As the pictures show, it's in desperate need of some fibreglass and wood work (and soap!). The hull number is 1985, class 249.

As far as I can tell I've got most of the major bits and pieces. The mast, boom, daggerboard and rudder. I've got the sails but they were just stored in a garbage bag, and I've yet to give those a good inspection.

Structurally, the hull looks to be in pretty good shape. There's some stress cracks around the opening to the cuddy. There's going to be some fibreglass work to do.

I think the 'gelcoat' (I'm not even sure if it's gel coat or just multiple layers of paint) on the hull will have to me all sanded down and new gel coat applied.

All the interior wood will have to be redone. I read that extra floatation was added to later models of these boats to make them easier to right after capsizing. I'm a bit concerned when I look at most pictures of Daysailers and see the fibreglass bench seats. Is there additional floatation under there and should that be a concern to me.

If I wanted to get a little outboard motor to put on this, any suggestions as to the size and type of motor.

I'm wondering, when you guys look at this, what would be your main concerns or recommendations? Do you think it's worth the time? I'm in no big rush to get it on the water, I'm approaching it more as a nice project to keep me out of the wife's hair!

Although I've grown up around boats, I've never sailed but the idea really appeals to me... especially after watching some of the YouYube videos people have posted. It just looks like too much fun.

Any input would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Kermit]

Looks like your finished project will be just like the axe I have that belonged to Abraham Lincoln. Except for 2 new heads and 3 new handles it's the same axe!

 

[Brian S]

First of all, the fiberglass will be fine. Nearly indestructible. The gelcoat might be a different story, but polyurethane paint can fix that. You'll be looking at a lot of wood work, which is cool, because you can upgrade all that ugly painted plywood to something nicer, maybe sapele. And the coamings can be brand new mahogany, with beautiful brightwork.

You're probably going to need new sails, but there are plenty of Daysailers out there, so sails are probably reasonable, and about $1100.

As for a motor, anything gas will push that along fine. You might want to go with the 2.5hp Lehr for propane. Or the little Honda 2hp air cooled, if you don't mind that it's noisy. Or the 2.5hp 4stroke Tohatsu/Nissan/Mercury. Or get really spendy with a Torqeedo. They are popping up all around our marina, and folks seem to love them. Have even spotted Troqeedos on a Precsion 21 and Com-Pac 19.

If you want to restore a boat, go for it. Just expect it to be time consuming and expensive. But time-wise, you've got the right idea: you don't much care when you've got it finished, so you can take all kinds of time to do it right.

Brian

 

[jimmyb]

Sailing is absolutely a blast and a nice Oday daysailor is a great boat to start sailing. I was hooked on sailing the minute I took the helm and main sheet in hand. Having said that...

Restoring old stuff like cars, motorcycles or boats can be rewarding but my advise is not to mix the two together until you find out if sailing will be your thing. You can pour a heck of a lot of money into that project and it may easily never be recovered or you can pass and pick up a nice used boat ready to sail that you can detail along the way.

So you find out you don't like sailing and you sell the boat along to the next guy and your losses are minimal or you even make a few bucks if you start with the right boat. If you spend a few years working your fingers raw restoring that boat and you find sailing is not your gig...well that would really suck.

If you are a sailor at heart and it stirs your soul like it does for so many I can tell you with out a doubt you will want to be sailing instead of wishing you were. There cannot possibly be anything worse than driving by the lake or seaside and seeing others sailing while circumstances have you wishing you were. Honestly if you want a project to stay out of the Admirals way get another boat to sail right now. There is ALWAYS some kind of maintenance to be done aboard and my guess you will be out sailing a lot more than working on that newly acquired project.

Best of luck to you and fingers crossed you get a chance to sail and it stirs your soul too,

jimmyb

 

[Brian S]

What jimmyb said.

I remember talking to a kayaking friend once, who used to do sailboat reviews in Wooden Boat magazine. I told him I wanted to build a sailboat (at the time, I was very enamored of the Stevenson Super Skipjack.) He asked me, "Do you want to build a boat, or do you want to sail?" HIs reasoning is that if you're trying to build a boat to get into sailing cheap, then you should go find an inexpensive used boat with minimal needs (as much as "inexpensive" and "minimal needs" have an inverse relationship...) and then go sailing. But if you're into building boats more than sailing, then, build a boat.

As jimmyb points out, if you're into restoring boats, enjoy yourself, it can be a very rewarding experience. But if you're into sailing, pass on that Daysailer.

Brian

 

[Sunbird22358]

Well, the only thing I'll add at this time is that Hull# 1985 CLass# 249 would be a 1959 or maybe 1960 DAY SAILER. In other words, built during the first or second year of production....... fixed up, she is worth something! Fixed only enough to go sailing.... she is still priceless to you. If you were to lose interest....... an ad on the Day Sailer Class Web Site will bring many inquiries.... www.daysailer.org

The early boats had wooden seats and you may notice that the sides of the cockpit extend to the hull bottom, unlike later boats.... that area contains the foam and was meant to trap air as well for flotation, one concern might be the hatch cut into the section under the after deck, but that could be resealed or maybe a watertight hatch fitted. I have added a few pictures of 1958-9 models to help explain what I'm refering to. The seats on the later DS I boats did have flotation foam under them, but they did not have the foam under the side decks like the 1958-9 models. The Day Sailer II model (introduced 1971) has the closeable cuddy and molded-in cockpit that is "self-bailing" these changes were made to allow much easier self-rescue from a capsize, the DS I may be harder to recover fro ma capsize, but that would not stop me from owning one! There is plenty of flotation in even the early DS I to float the boat and ocupants, although check to be sure it isn't waterlogged.... if so, replacing hte foam is a good idea (just not easy to do!) Installing inspection ports that can be sealed to allow access to those under-deck areas wil lhelp to dry out any dampness.

The best way to recover from a capsize is to not go over in the first place. When sailing the DS I, it is a good idea to only use the mainsail if it is windy, the boat will sail fine without the jib (just raise the centerboard a bit to balance the sail area to the postion of hte CB), also; ALWAYS hold the mainsheet in your hand while sailing! Yo ucan use a camcleat to hold the tension, but keep the sheet in hand ALWAYS... that way you can let the sail out quickly if a gust hits and prevent a capsize. Sitting on the windward (high) side while sailing keeps these boats up and a tiller extension is a great help.

 

[jack egan]

Jack's Boat, Old & Retored

It's definitely worth it if you have the time.We restored an Oday wildfire about the same size, but it takes some time & ingenuity.:dance:

 

[centerline]

is it sailable right now? are all the parts and pieces there, rudder, rigging and sails?

sailing a small boat is a lot of fun, and if you can work on it a bit at a time while you get some time sailing with it also, then its worth it.
but if you have to spend $1000-2000 and a years labor on it before its usable, then NO..... 'cuz you can buy a fixer upper about that size that is ready to sail for that price....
and never underestimate the cost that it will require to get the boat in the condition you would like it to be, or the time, because even small boats are voraciously hungry for both...

 

[tricyclerob]

"and never underestimate the cost that it will require to get the boat in the condition you would like it to be, or the time, because even small boats are voraciously hungry for both..."[/QUOTE]

Truer words were never spoken. That being said, you can spend a lot making her as close to "perfect" as possible, or spend the minumum to make it useable and safe. Many parts of the "safe" you may have to do the same things regardless of the condition.
The big thing is, You have to enjoy the process of resurection.

I spent waaay too much restoring a 1970 O'Day Mariner, but I fell in love with her "at first sight" and really enjoyed doing the work.
So to me it was worth it but I can't stress you have to "enjoy the work" - too much.
Before and after.
robj

p.s. How do you make a $600 boat worth $3000?

Spend $6000 on it!

 

[jepomer]

"Is it worth the time?"

I just bought a $600 1973 29-foot sailboat. Paid $1,000 to have it hauled to my home. The hull and deck are solid. The hardware and rigging were recent and good quality. The sails were still crisp. It came with quality stands.

The inside needs to be redone. In fact, the previous owner started redoing it and had most things disassembled before sadly dying.

Since it cannot be sailed at the moment, the price was very low. I enjoy the maintenance and refurbishing portion of ownership as much as I enjoy sailing.

A friend looked at the boat and said it needs "a lot of work". She was looking at the interior which in my opinion can remain very spartan for a long time as long as the hull, deck, and rigging are functional and to spec. But her comment reflected her concept of what was important.

Many people will discourage you if the boat does not look sailable. You get to choose whether you want to make it safe and sailable (not too costly if the hull, deck, and rigging are in decent shape) or whether you want to do a full restoration (very expensive often with little payback).

From your pictures, you will probably need to replace the wooden benches. It is not a difficult task if you have any woodworking and epoxy/fiberglass skills.

Styrofoam blocks can be used for added floatation under the seats. Attach the blocks to the underside of the seats, not the floor of the cockpit so they won't absorb water. Do things in small steps. Don't try to redesign the boat but do make incremental changes that make sense since technology and materials have changed since this boat was designed.

I think it would make a fun project and have some "historical" value since it is an early hull number.

 

[thinwater]

First, I'd point the trailer into the wind, rig the mast and sails and confirm that everything was there and mechanically worked (rudder and center board solid). If so, hose it out, spend 15 minutes cobbling together some sort of seat, and I would take it to a local safe spot on a light air day and try her out near shore.

Then, if I liked it at all, I go after tier 1 projects. New seats. Sail repairs and a light cleaning (some stains are permanent and removing them can destroy an old sail). Any repairs to the rigging and such that became evident. Let a sailor look at it and tell you what matters for safety; there are many things that would be nice but 90% are cosmetic.

Finally, if the above is all fun and a second sail is good, figure out the winter projects. Beats watching TV.

Worry about a motor in the spring or in a year. Sail a place where it is not needed (there will be other no-motor trailer boats. I sailed my first boat (16') for 8 years with no motor.

 

[bellnier]

what thinwater said

 

[tricyclerob]

Like Thinwater suggested, rig the mast, sure all the parts are there, same for rudder, etc..

New lines will probably be needed as the old ones, are well, old. You don't want to get out somewhere and find out the lines looked good but snapped with strain.
Same with the rigging which can be a safety issue. You really don't want the mast coming down on your head. Check the stays for "meat-hooks", strands of the wire sticking out. If you find that, the rigging really should be replaced.

D+R Marine has tons of parts for O'Days with reasonable prices, and Rudy is a great guy to deal with.

http://www.drmarine.com

It looks like the floors are plenty good enough for patterns, so your cost there would be a sheet of plywood and some paint, as long as the stringers are solid enough to screw to.
Same for the seats. If you are not looking to "restore", nothing says you couldn't use plwood with some limber holes for drainage for the seats as well.
That, and a gallon of paint would go a long way. [Google "house paint for boats" if money is an issue]

As far as the appearence of the hull, if it's been painted I would not worry about trying to remove old paint and re-gelcoating, just sand, primer and repaint.
If it's not been painted, it's pretty amazing how well old gelcoat can be restored. I think way too many jump right to paint when there's plenty of life left in the gelcoat.
There's a bunch of discussions of this in the "Ask All Sailors" forum.

If you do the minimal, seats, floor, paint and general clean-up, and decide it's not for you, it would make her much more sale-able so you would probably get most of your money back.
It's looks like a very do-able project to me.
robj