New Member Seeks Advice

[UCanoe_2]

Hi everybody!

I have been looking at this forum for a while. I'm impressed with all the helpful advice and the high regard everyone has for their Daysailers.

I have been looking at DSs off and on since I realized my wife and 4 dogs would not fit in my old Finn.

I now have my eye on a DS that overall is in average shape. The hull has some wear and tear, but no major damage. The sails are in good shape and it has a spinnaker. The mast is tabernacle mounted. The starboard chainplate has been pulled off the deck. It was attached with screws, when I would think it should be through bolted. The port turnbuckle is bent. The original cuddy door has been replaced with a crude homemade one.

The boat has been out of the water for 2 or 3 years. I don't know about leaks, especially between the double hull walls. I did not pay attention to the trailer tires when I looked at the boat, but I expect sitting for a long time has not been good for them.

The seller put the boat on Craigslist at the beginning of the summer asking $2700 -- way too high! Then he went down to $1600, then to $1500. He just e-mailed asking me to make an offer on the boat "as is."

Do y'all have any advice about surveying this boat, and any estimates of a fair price? Thanks for your help.

[jdubes]

This is what i would do in three stages.

1. Review this rigging guide, member pictures and rig measurements to understand how DS's are setup and configured. This will help you recognize how DS's are setup today and what areas are either not there, incomplete or broken. This will directly relate to what you'll need to purchase $$$. Sailboats can nickel and dime you to death.
http://daysailer.org/tech_rigguide.php
http://daysailer.org/tech_rigmeas.php

2. Then read the forum to understand some of the areas of concern on DSII's. flotation, hull problems, keel levers and equipment etc... This will help to inform you on things you might need to fix or check with the boat your looking at. Search for "problem" "broken" "fix", you'll start to see consistent themes. These are one design boats, we all have the same baggage.

3. Post some questions.

Good luck!

[Bob Damon]

I saw this DS II on the Charlottesville Craigslist. Check the hull for any cracks, etc. Try to get the boat in the water to assess how much water it takes on. DSII's often take on water and most need the CB pin gaskets replaced. As a comparison, one in Richmond sold for $1000 recently. Good Luck.

[Cal]

I am a week or so ahead of you having bought this DS2 last weekend.
http://forum.daysailer.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2991

The damage noted was accurate but the Highlander trailer was a concern because of its age and builder out of business. The seller said it had new bearings, tires, and winch, and had made the trip from NH to southern Maine.

Then I went to DR Marine and got the price of parts needed. About $1000 if I don't cut some corners with a used main or making my own rudder. So for $1400 or less I would have nice looking DS2 with a new main and rigging. Plus the seller was willing to deliver half way which increased my confidence in the trailer.

If $1500 is a reasonable asking price for a late season sale, what would it cost to get the boat AND trailer up to average condition? By all means do a float test, how warm do the bearings/wheel feel after a drive, will it make it to your house?

Good time to be buying a boat.

Cal

[UCanoe_2]

Thanks for all your helpful advice. I have e-mailed the seller asking if we can put the boat in the water.

Here is my latest sailboat nickle-and-dime-you-to-death project from this summer:
http://www.woodenboat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=101096

[UCanoe_2]

I have received no reply from the seller, so I have posted on the WTB section of this site.