After what turned out to be a really long day the DS is now home. Getting off of the trailer turned out to be a lot tougher than I had planned. I thought the boat was a lot lighter for some reason. Between picking it up today at the marina and now I have learned a few things about the boat and have a few questions.
1. The DS II will float in a puddle. The channel with the boat launch had about a foot and a half of water in it. I am surprised we got the boat on the trailer.
2. The current rigging on this boat all needs to be replaced. According to what I have read about being able to release the main and jib quickly doesn't apply to this boat. The cam cleats are all really stiff and getting a quick release is impossible. The blocks look old and fragile. The lines are about to become a series of dashes if you know what I mean. I expected this much though.
3. The hull had no bottom paint and was sitting in the ICW for 3 months. This thing is going to stink tomorrow. I am sure I will have to repaint the hull. I have read a lot of good things about rustoleum (if that is the spelling) and am willing to give that a try.
4. The top-side is a mess. Someone didn't believe in prepping the surface before painting. The newer paint is all flaking off. There is a lot of crazing around the chain plates. I may have to reinforce the area and replace the plates. New top-side paint and non-skid is on the way.
5. With the mast being made of "a source of money for crack" I don't dare leave it outside with the boat. It will disappear very quickly. The mast is a lot longer than it looks. It has a tabernacle conversion (not the best job ever, but it will work), so the mast is a bit shorter than it normally would be.
6. Those of you who have flipped the DS upside down to work on the hull, what method did you use to turn it over? Again, it is a lot heavier than it looks.
7. I have seen boom vangs go for a bit of money. Is it possible to make one up yourself for cheaper. If so, how would you recommend doing it?
8. I currently have the boat sitting on the ground. I really don't like that idea, but I have seen many of these beached, so I don't think it will hurt for a couple of days till I can get someone to help me block it up.
9. I need a trailer for it. Will any trailer work? What is ideal?
10. Is there anyone on this board from around the Daytona Beach area? When I am ready to sail I may need a quick tutorial (reminder).
11. I am not getting a kicker for quite awhile and I believe that if someone is going to learn to sail a boat this size they should learn to do it well enough to dock and get around with out a motor. If it was a larger boat I would feel differently. So here is to adventure and hopefully not having to wait for someone to tow me back to the dock.
Today is a great day for me. I used to live aboard and was planning on fixing up that boat and sailing all over until I learned that the swing keel was shot and I was out of money and signed over the title to the marina for the back rent I owed them. I was a kid at that time and since then I had a family and a house. I just assumed it was over and would think back to what might have been. That was until I found this little craft. I can do ICW camping trips and little raids. I can have my small piece of the sailors life. Perhaps I can someday get a bigger boat and cross the gulf and gunkhole the hell out of Abaco. Maybe I will have to stick to the keys, but hey, at least I am sailing.
Thanks for all the help.
1. The DS II will float in a puddle. The channel with the boat launch had about a foot and a half of water in it. I am surprised we got the boat on the trailer.
2. The current rigging on this boat all needs to be replaced. According to what I have read about being able to release the main and jib quickly doesn't apply to this boat. The cam cleats are all really stiff and getting a quick release is impossible. The blocks look old and fragile. The lines are about to become a series of dashes if you know what I mean. I expected this much though.
3. The hull had no bottom paint and was sitting in the ICW for 3 months. This thing is going to stink tomorrow. I am sure I will have to repaint the hull. I have read a lot of good things about rustoleum (if that is the spelling) and am willing to give that a try.
4. The top-side is a mess. Someone didn't believe in prepping the surface before painting. The newer paint is all flaking off. There is a lot of crazing around the chain plates. I may have to reinforce the area and replace the plates. New top-side paint and non-skid is on the way.
5. With the mast being made of "a source of money for crack" I don't dare leave it outside with the boat. It will disappear very quickly. The mast is a lot longer than it looks. It has a tabernacle conversion (not the best job ever, but it will work), so the mast is a bit shorter than it normally would be.
6. Those of you who have flipped the DS upside down to work on the hull, what method did you use to turn it over? Again, it is a lot heavier than it looks.
7. I have seen boom vangs go for a bit of money. Is it possible to make one up yourself for cheaper. If so, how would you recommend doing it?
8. I currently have the boat sitting on the ground. I really don't like that idea, but I have seen many of these beached, so I don't think it will hurt for a couple of days till I can get someone to help me block it up.
9. I need a trailer for it. Will any trailer work? What is ideal?
10. Is there anyone on this board from around the Daytona Beach area? When I am ready to sail I may need a quick tutorial (reminder).
11. I am not getting a kicker for quite awhile and I believe that if someone is going to learn to sail a boat this size they should learn to do it well enough to dock and get around with out a motor. If it was a larger boat I would feel differently. So here is to adventure and hopefully not having to wait for someone to tow me back to the dock.
Today is a great day for me. I used to live aboard and was planning on fixing up that boat and sailing all over until I learned that the swing keel was shot and I was out of money and signed over the title to the marina for the back rent I owed them. I was a kid at that time and since then I had a family and a house. I just assumed it was over and would think back to what might have been. That was until I found this little craft. I can do ICW camping trips and little raids. I can have my small piece of the sailors life. Perhaps I can someday get a bigger boat and cross the gulf and gunkhole the hell out of Abaco. Maybe I will have to stick to the keys, but hey, at least I am sailing.
Thanks for all the help.
