New DS I, at last

[spoefish]

Well, looks like luck might be on my side and I am back in business with a Day Sailer again. In the past I had a DS II (did not like it – just too much of a plastic boat), and then restored a nice red DS I – 3550. Replaced the transom, re-did all the mahogany including floorboards, added lots of details, new Thurston sails, etc. and had it for about 10 years. Sold it a while after I moved from Nebraska (lakes) to Maryland (the Chesapeake) and moved up to a Sailmaster 22, then down to a Cape Dory Typhoon. The Typhoon has been a lot of fun, but I do miss being able to take my boat with me and have a little more variety in my sailing.

Tonight got the high bid of $1025 in on an 83 Spindrift DS I with what looks like a decent trailer on the auction site. Looks nice, and fingers crossed that there are no water logging or structural problems. I live south of Annapolis so it is a 200 mile trip to pick up the boat. Still, the price seemed good enough to gamble on. The spindrifts I have seen seemed to be a nice evolution on the O'Day DS I boats. Luck came in with the power going out 10 minutes after the auction closed – a little earlier and I would have missed getting in that bid with 6 seconds to go. On top of that, over the weekend I was at a garage sale and found a new Dwyer tabernacle for $15 – I put one in my last boat and it made putting the mast up much simpler.

Really excited – and a little apprehensive – about picking up the boat next week. Any advice about Spindrift boats would be appreciated – mine is RRR11670M83J. Pictures are at http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4650432875 if you are interested. Now time to do some search on Spindrift boats and hope for the best.

Cheers, and dream of fish,

Stephen