Gunwales

[bluem27]

What gunwale guards were used on the ds1 with wooden coamings.
I have simulated molded in planks on foredeck and interior floor
Was this boat designed with spreaders. None are on my mast.
Do you know what year these boats were made?
Thanks, Bob

[wharfside]

I am a novice on the line, but anyway here goes, any idea what year your boat is?

[bluem27]

Do not know year. On my last chat I posted all the info I could to determine the year. Do you know what gunwales were used on the early models or From the 70"s?
Thanks, Bob

[Roger]

The HIN will give you an idea of when it was built.

[bluem27]

Thanks,
Where can I find that? Not On Stern that I can find. Thanks, Bob

[Roger]

If it was built prior to November 1972 it may not hav a Hull Identification Number.

[Phill]

Hello Bob,
The only DS1's with molded in plank lines on the foredeck that I have seen are the oldest '3 digit' boats built in the early '60's. If that is what you have, don't dispair, more NA Championships, including this years, have been won with this series of DS's. Many of these are difficult to get numbers from. As to your question about spreaders, YES, there should be spreaders on the mast! If you have a mast that was originally from the manufacturer for your boat, there should be some brackets or, at least, holes in the mast where the bracket and the tangs were located. If you look at the Handbook portion of this site, you can find the designed locations for these fittings.
Good Luck

phill

[Bob Hunkins]

Other ways to identify the old three digit boats that I can think of:
- Does the mainsail have a number on it (obvious)
- Is the space below the combing in the cockpit covered over, unlike the four digit O'Days? That change came about and some argue the boat is less easy to right after a capcize.

I have an old boat which I believe to be class # 1795. The plate is gone so I got that number from the previous owner by word of mouth. There is, however, a serial number molded into the fiberglass on the starboard bow just below the hull to deck joint. It won't tell you the class number but if you need a number for registration purposes it should answer.

good luck!

[bruce cornell]

your boat may also have a second pair of spreaders above the regular ones, stays start at the mast head and run to a pair of 6 inch spreaders and then back to the mast. small spreaders face forward on the mast, at about 30 degrees each side of center of mast.