DaySailer Marketing

[seandwyer]

jdubes - I second that motion!

[jeadstx]

Besides the DS that was recently in the Florida 120, there are two registered for the Texas 200, and there was a DS that recently completed the Everglades Challenge (he also rescued the crew of a Sea Pearl). There were several comments from the Everglades Challenge that said the DS was a good looking boat ( http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/10/rep ... /index.htm ). Some of these events might provide good videos of the Daysailer.

The most current issue of Small Craft Advisor also has two articles featuring the Daysailer. A couple past issues (2009) had cruising articles featuring Daysailers also. Yet, with several DS articles in this publication, I haven't seen any ads for the DS. I've seen the for the Mariner which also originally built by O'Day.

John

[K.C. Walker]

Sean,

The conditions were perfect while I was watching the Buccaneers and it seemed like they were planing to wind. I asked one of the guys and he said yes, under the right circumstances they will plane on a close reach.
I guess they claim to be the fastest boat that doesn't use a trapeze.

KC

[K.C. Walker]

jdubes, that sounds like an excellent idea! I wonder if it's possible to pull that off?

KC

[K.C. Walker]

John,
It does seem like missed opportunities for marketing. It's interesting that the guy that was in the 300 race was single handing as was the guy in the Florida 120. It shows the versatility of the Daysailer, for sure.

KC

[K.C. Walker]

Okay, I'll post a picture from last summer when I was having fun. Excitement for geezers!? I was up for an early morning sail just after sunrise.

KC

[seandwyer]

KC - that's gorgeous.

Now we need one with you hiking out, waves pounding, salty droplets dripping from your beard as you round the third bouy. How soon can you post that one?

[jeadstx]

seandwyer,

Might have one of those type pictures after the Tx200. They say the wind averages 20-25mph. With two DS's (maybe a third), I'm sure there should be a few pictures under sail. I know I'll be taking pictures. I got a waterproof housing for my camera specially for this trip. If I get someone to crew with me, I'll take a lot of pictures and videos, if I'm singlehanding it, probably not as much.

John

[K.C. Walker]

John,

Now what I'm looking forward to seeing is the video of you hiked out in 25 kn breeze chasing down another DaySailer with your camera in hand!

KC

[jeadstx]

KC,

Doubt I'll be hiked out very much, if I was younger maybe, but not anymore. I would like to get some good videos tho. My camera can take videos at 1024x768 resolution. I'll take pictures as much as I can till my batteries (3 battery packs) run out or I use up my digital cards.

John

[Jett]

This is certainly a thoughtful discussion and many of the points already made cover some of the reasons why the two brand new Daysailers remain unsold. So, I'll just add two thoughts here that, at least, fit my own circumstances.

1. I own a DS1 that, like many of you explained, didn't cost much to buy but did require some fix-up get into decent shape. But I also own three other older sailboats (one a 26'), and though all needed some fixin' to get back to good sailing condition, I'm still way below the $16,000 in cost for the new Day Sailer racing edition. So, price point is a major issue when it comes to springing for a new sailboat (and I'm sure others in other classes understand this all too well, too, including manufacturers). A new Day Sailer would be nice, but frankly I can't see it when I can get out and buy an old boat for next to nothing, read forums like this one to learn how to fix it up, and get back on the water. The DaySailer class will likely keep going, but not because there will be a bunch of new members who just bought a bunch of new boats.

2. I'm not sure I'd be entirely happy with a brand new Day Sailer: there would be nothing to tinker with! And while I love to sail, I also like old boats. Small Craft Advisor exists not because it features new boat models each issue (more often than not it features yesterday's models), but because it appeals to those of us who really enjoy messing 'round with old boats. I learned how to fix my DS1 on this forum, but I also enjoy reading about what all you guys do with your boats, and that keeps me tinkering.

That picture K.C. of your morning sail sort of says it all. Look what you get to do with a boat that probably cost a fraction of the price of a new one. You're out there, on the water, sailing! Lots of us geezers find that plenty appealing.

[algonquin]

There are many good points that have already been stated.

Good advertising or not, I know very few sailors (actually I don’t know any sailors) that would be eager to spend $16,000 on any open sailboat in the size range of our DS . The used boat market has much more to offer dollar for dollar for the average boat owner .

As for DS used prices being pretty low it isn’t really the job or goal of Cape Cod Shipbuilding or any other company to advertise their new boats in a way that would drive up prices of the existing older models. That it would seem would be up to the current owners and class associations to make their particular boat so extremely desirable that they would be well sought after. That doesn’t appear to be happening with the DS. Even though the Cape Cod advertisement seem to lack a little pizzaz you have to admit that they are trying to make a boat that came out in the 50s still be desirable 50 plus years latter and it doesn’t have many updates in the way of modern technology.

Like many other sailors on this site I found my DS for sale in a neighbors front yard. I liked the design and the price and bought it. It was only after I got it home that I starred surfing the internet to find out the details of what I had just bought. Brad

[jdubes]

So back to my main point about additional events / get togethers? Anyone interested in picking a day this summer to sail around buzzards bay? There are numerous places were we could hold up for the night. Maybe we could coordinate with CCSB at the same time. Thoughts? Date suggestions?

[seandwyer]

Jdubes and others,

I think it sounds like fun. July would be best for me - but then I'm not to the point of promising. First I need to figure out how far away this is. I'm in Ohio - I'll have a look. I think it would be interesting to do this, but maybe a few every year in different regions so distance doesn't keep some people singled out. Maybe a Great Lakes, North East, Florida, TX, Mid Atlantic, and West Coast sort of format. I'm going based on where I see most people seem to be from.

But, yea, if I can make it, I'm in.

[K.C. Walker]

jdubes,

I think it would be great to get together on Buzzards Bay. I don't know the area but it's Cape Cod so it's got to be sandy, right.

I would think June could still be cool and rainy at least early in the month. Of course, one never knows. I would think anytime after the Fourth of July and before the end of August could be pretty great. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of people already had scheduled a lot of this summer, though.

If someone picks a date I would certainly try my best to make it. Sounds like fun to me. Would launching from ccsb be a good meeting place or are there other ramps and/or clubs that would be good to organize around. How about campgrounds, hotel/motels, or B&Bs close by to meet up place?

The Wayfarer Association has been doing an annual rally on the St. Lawrence River, it looks pretty cool http://www.uswayfarer.org/index.php?opt ... &Itemid=35 . It's not like doing the Florida 120 or the Everglades Challenge, it's more of a meet up where they takeover a campground and do daily expeditions. That might be a fun way to do it. Of course, I'd have to buy some camping gear or rent an RV.

There is no question that it would be good to have someone who knows the local area to get going with something like this.

Again, this could be a good way to boost participation in the Daysailer Association if we made it a sanctioned event.

KC