I am. considering buying a 1977 Daysailer II and am concerned about the stabiliy since I am 60 yrs old and don not want to capsize. Will b sailing in fairly calm waters. has anyone ever weighted the cenerboard? Thx
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Jim,
I've never sailed the O'Day Daysailers, but I did own an old O'Day Javelin which was very stable, but slow. I think that it had a 55 Lbs. steel centerboard and that's why it was pretty stable. Today the Javelins and Daysailers, or most any centerboard boat is going to be a little unstable when the wind kicks up and that's a given. You may want to try to install a little inside ballast. This is what they did in the old days. The only other thing to do is pick your days to sail and if you get caught out there when the wind kicks up you have a choice of reefing the sail or using the outboard. Also, lakes can be difficult to sail at times with cross winds, and sudden puffs, but I've even experienced that on my boat last summer on the river. I think that you're going to have more favorable days to sail this boat, but you'll have to make the call on whether to sail on those gusty days, or leave the boat at the dock. Last September, I took a friend out on my boat for a sail on the river. The winds were horrible. I reefed the sail and didn't use my Gennie. The wind would lull, then it would come up from a different direction with a force that wanted to capsize my boat. He loved it! I told him, "This isn't sailing!" If you have to fight the tiller and worry about getting everything inside of the cabin upset, it's not my kind of sailing. I immediately sailed into a protective cove on the river and anchored for a while. I made lunch for the both of us and when it came time to leave, I used my engine and motored back to the club. If I was by myself, I'd have either not gone out, or I would have gone to that little protected cove and spent the better part of the day hanging out on my boat with my dog. My boat is a keel/centerboard O'Day 222 with an 800 Lbs lead keel. All sailboats have there trade offs and limitations. I hope that I was able to give you a little insight and food for thought.
Joe
I have a 1979 Day Sailer II and LOVE it! I am a bit younger (44 yoa) than you, but my 71 year-old Dad comes with me often. I have found that the DS II is pretty stable, however...she IS a centerboard boat and MUST be sailed like one. Before my Dad sold his CAL 21, I used to sail singlehanded most of the time on windy Buzzards Bay near Cape Cod, the DS II handles those conditions pretty well, but I am careful. I added a tiller extension and that allows me to sit out on the side deck while sailing, putting my 200# (guess I need to lay off the sweets!) out there adds a lot of righting force, however it is not a problem sitting on the cockpit seats most of the time! The first VERY important tip is to ALWAYS keep the mainsheet in your hand! Use the camcleat to hold the tension, but keep the sheet in hand so that you can instantly release the sheet to spill the wind in a puff. Using that technique I have sailed my DS II for 13 seasons now without a capsize (and 7 seasons in a Widgeon before that!), I admit that I have had a couple of "close-calls", but other than a cockpit half full of water....I avoided going over! The DS II has a bailer that will drain out that water, slowly...but it WILL drain!
The other important tip is that like all of the small O'DAYs with a large mainsail and small jib, the DS II sails very well with just the main (raise the CB a bit to compensate). I often go out that way and it is more comfortable (and reduces my need to sit out on the deck!). The other big help was adding a set of reefpoints to the mainsail, that way I can reduce the sail area on a windy day and further reduce the heeling. The DS II comes from the factory with roller-reefing on the main, but it really doesn't work that well, especially since unless you have the optional roller-reefing claw.......you have no place to re-attach the mainsheet after rolling in a reef!
I am more than willing to answer any more DS II questions! Including supplying an expanded Owners Manual/Rigging guide.
The other important tip is that like all of the small O'DAYs with a large mainsail and small jib, the DS II sails very well with just the main (raise the CB a bit to compensate). I often go out that way and it is more comfortable (and reduces my need to sit out on the deck!). The other big help was adding a set of reefpoints to the mainsail, that way I can reduce the sail area on a windy day and further reduce the heeling. The DS II comes from the factory with roller-reefing on the main, but it really doesn't work that well, especially since unless you have the optional roller-reefing claw.......you have no place to re-attach the mainsheet after rolling in a reef!
I am more than willing to answer any more DS II questions! Including supplying an expanded Owners Manual/Rigging guide.
Since I cruise only, I added weight to the CB via led shot in the hollow cavity in the center and brought the weight up to 75#. big improvement in stability
If you add that much ballast to the CB on a DS II, you will most likely need to beef up the tackle that raises/lowers the CB. Although...I guess if the CB weighs 75#....you probably don't need the line that pulls the CB down<GRIN!>. Still, I would think that adding 45-50# to the DS II CB would make raising the board a bit tougher using the stock rigging.
I've heard of others that added ballast to the CB on a DS II ,but I've never felt any need to.
I've heard of others that added ballast to the CB on a DS II ,but I've never felt any need to.
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