DS 847 lives!

[MrPlywood]

After many a question answered by many a patient forum member, rigging changes (I'm using Phill's traveler arrangement after ditching the wire traveler), trailer refurb and other tasks that seemed endless, including a trailer hitch installation that resulted in a piece of rusting metal embedded in my eye (all good now) – I finally got my boat on the lake! I'm quite happy with it. It does exactly what I had hoped for.

It sails nicely. My wife and daughter can stay put on opposite sides, taking turns manning the jib until the wind really kicks up and all three of us sit comfortably on the same side. We're not big people so it has been great. I really like the CB and kick-up rudder - makes for easy beaching. I've already received lots of comments from other boat owners... theirs might be faster, but mine is really versatile.

I love having the motor (4HP '83 Evinrude - cranked on the 3rd pull after 3 years of sitting before I bought the boat) so I'm not totally reliant on the wind to get where we're going. It's great to be able to motor-cruise back home at the end of the day if the wind has died down.

Next season we plan to sail it in the ocean around Victoria, BC, perhaps overnighting on some nearby islands like Discovery Island park.

So thanks again to anyone and everyone that weighed in on any question that I posted - your help is greatly appreciated. And I'm sure there's more to come

Cheers!

[algonquin]

Congratulations Captain !! You have certainly earned your wings, oops I mean sails.

Your DS looks pretty nice as do the surroundings you sail her in. Seems like two-three years is a long time to get her sailable but considering all that you have accomplished, and that you most likely didn’t spend 40 hours a week on her, you have made some great progress. Now you are definitely ready for a lot of water time next season.

How about a few more recent pics ? Brad

[MrPlywood]

Hey Brad,

It wasn't quite that bad.

I brought it home in Sept 2006. The boat had been sitting for at least 3 years before that. I had spotted it on more than one trip past a backyard about 20 miles from me, but I never checked it out. After looking in vain for a boat to buy, I decided to take a flyer, drove out and just knocked on the door. It took some doing, but I ended up with the DS at a good price. The former owner was a mechanic, so the outboard was in great shape, and I got a ton of extras including a brand new boom tent.

I did miss the '07 season due to many reasons. It's amazing how weekends can disappear, but I have to admit that I'm guilty of waiting until everything is just right. The trailer needed a lot of work, and until that was ready I couldn't get the rigging squared away, etc. I have a tabernacle but I haven't cut the mast yet. I left a few other things undone and just put her in the water this summer, which has worked out great. I pulled some strings at a summer camp that I do a lot of volunteer work for and I've been able to keep the boat docked there, so I've been sailing with an intact mast.

I refinished the coamings and the floorboards, and the gelcoat is in pretty good shape overall. The sails aren't the greatest, but fine for now. I need to get some good shots of the cockpit and while sailing. (I'm hoping we have a few good sailing days left.) I'll be sure to post them.