Sold Mariner, now looking for daysailer

[mjp83]

So I reluctantly sold my beautiful Mariner! Two main reasons: lake is too small i had her docked in, and I got tired of all the work rigging it up to sail on a bigger lake.

Now looking at a Daysailer 2, but can it be that the mast is just as tall and heavy as the Mariner mast?? I have a lower back issue, and can't step a very tall mast.

Looking for something smaller than the Mariner (no cabin, lower mast), good stable lake sailer with some storage up front.

Thanks!

 

[Sunbird22358]

The DS II has a lighter mast that the MARINER, but I'd look for one with the hinged maststep option (standard starting in 1981 or '82). A hinge can be added to the mast just above the top of the cuddy if you found a DS II without the hinge. D&R Marine sells the parts or a local sparmaker can sell you the parts (and do the work if needed). Because the DS II has less rigging on hte mast, it weighs about 2/3s that of the Mariner mast. The 24'3" mast legth on the DS II includes the part below deck, if I recall the hinged mast will be about 27" shorter (that 27" stays in place with it's foot on hte cuddy "floor", pinned to the step). The last picture is of a 1984-5 model where the hinge was now attached to the deck instead of being spliced into the mast.

Funny, but my present "dream" is to find a MARINER owner ready to move down to a DS II when I'm finally ready (financially) to move up to a MARINER......and who considers our boats close enough in value to do an almost direct swap. Someday! Right now, I enjoy my DS II VERY much! You should find a Day Sailer to be a good fit for your sailing area, maybe not as stiff as the Mariner, but I've found her pretty stable as long as I sail her like hte centerboard boat she is. Still, the DS II will handle a decent breeze, just sail without the jib if it is windy, and consider adding a reef to the sail (don't be fooled by the claim that the DS II has roller-reefing on hte boom, it really didn't work for me so I added reefpoints and use them often.

 

[mjp83]

Thanks sunbird! Also thanks for the detailed replies you give to others and me when I had the mariner. Just FYI, I sold my boat for $2000, and it was in very good shape, with fairly new sails and a 1998 mercury 6 hp outboard. I see most daysailers are running about 1500 here in central nc.

I will look for the newer mast step type, or follow your advice and install the kit.