What kind of Daysailer should I buy?

[djmeaney]

After taking about 15 years off from sailing (got married and had a few kids) I finally repaired my 10' 10'' Mirror Dinghy and got back on the water. I have been bitten by the sailing bug again!Now I want to get a little larger boat.Here's my situation:My wife is not big into sailing so it usually be me with up to three kids (two 8 year olds and a 6 six year old) or me by myself.We don't live on the water so it'll be stored and transported on a trailer each outing.Will be sailed on a local lake in Connecticut or on Long Island Sound.So far I have given serious consideration to either an O'Day Javelin or O'Day Daysailer, but don't know a whole lot about any other possibilities and don't want to narrow my choices unnecessarily.Also, when is a good time to pick up a used boat? Is it in the fall when people realized they haven't used thier boats much or in the spring for the upcoming season?Thanks,Dan

 

[Jim Brousseau]

Daysailers Rule

I owned and sailed a Daysailer I (#358) from 1971 through 1996. It was sailed locally at a state Park in Hopkinton, MA and for two weeks of steady wind sailing off Brewster, Cape Cod Bay.It has a roomy cockpit, cuddy for dry storage, etc. and withe the right wind and wave conditions can be made to plane.It is easy to trailer and get on and off the trailer. If you find stepping a mast difficult get a tabernacle.If you are looking for a used boat, the Daysailer I is preferred. The new builder is Cape Cod Shipbuilding, Wareham Massachusetts and they are a quality boat builder.If you have any question, feel free to e-mail me.Good luck and happy sailing.Oh, an added thought. By its design and size, the Daysailer is more stable than the Javelin, which is also a fine boat.

 

[djmeaney]

Why are DS I's Preferred?

Jim,Thanks for advice.I do have one question, why are DS I's preferred over II's or III's? (Just trying to educate myself a little bit).Thanks,Dan