Buying a DS II for $1,000

[psness]

I am interested in getting into sailing and a sailer friend has a DS II along with a brand new trailer he would sell me for $1,000. The boat needs work such as re-painting the hull and probably new CB cables, but he is a seasoned sailer and says all the rigging is there and looks operable, spars ok, fiberglass looks ok structurally, and plugs, tiller, rudder, are all there. Sails are not the best but probably ok for the first season of learning. He never sailed it but bought it originally from a sea scout group with the intention of practicing hull painting on it before painting a 35' boat he recently upgraded to - which he is not now going to paint. Hull isn't bad, just orange and chalky! I'll get some lessons from him on rigging and sailing, and consult with him on the renovation work. What do you all think? Is this a good deal?

[Guest]

Without actually seeing the boat it is hard to judge price (or value), but I paid $1400 for my 1979 DS II in 1996. My boat needed only minor work before launching, replacement of the self-bailer, replaced the bilge drainplug, and one spreader. The trailer was usable, but 2-years later got a new axle, new tires, rims, and hubs. I think $1000 is a little high for this boat, but then if the trailer is brand new and is the proper size....maybe the price is right.

You mentioned that the hull is not all that bad, just chalky? If it is just a bitt faded and chalky, I recommend trying some rubbing compound and a buffer/polisher before you decide to paint. My DS II was a bit faded and chalky when I bought her (previous owner never waxed hull) but she looked showroom new after a couple of hours work with compound and a buffer. Now all it takes is a bit of hand buffing with liquid (mild) rubbing compound each spring, and a few coats of paste wax and she looks brand new! I moor my boat for the full season (May-October) in saltwater.

Rod Johnson, "SUNBIRD" (rjohnson24-at-juno.com)

[Roger]

Another fellow on the same lake that I sail on is selling his DS 2 with trailer, good paint job, a suit of sails and spinnaker for $2600 Canadian, so your $1000 sounds like a pretty good deal.

A new set of sails will set you back $600+ but you may be able to get a set of good used from a racer for significantly cheaper.

I repainted mine using Tremclad paint (2 quarts) plus a half pint for the waterline and a pair of auto trimline decal type strips for the boottop all for about $40. I pulled it off the trailer and careened it to one side to paint half the hull, then careened it to the other side the next weekend to paint the other side. If you are interested I can send you before and after pictures.

[psness]

Thanks for your replies. The new trailer cost my friend $450, so I think I'm getting a decent deal. I've thought about compounding - and the deck and cockpit are also chalky. I have one of those 7" Black and Decker car buffers that would work great. Do I also put wax on the hull then? It's mainly a color issue with the hull (original orange with some sort of thicker dark blue stuff along the lower third - I wasn't going to do anything to the dark blue area) I'd would rather go with a white hull, but maybe for the first year I'll skip the painting. Also - I thought of doing it on the trailer, just moving it down to get the other sections..any thoughts on that? This boat will be fresh water exclusively - a lake initially and perhaps the extreme northern Chesapeake after I gain some experience.

[Guest]

Paul,

You go sailing and make sure you love the boat before you worry about painting. If you decide to paint, just pull the boat off the trailer and turn it over. When rolling and tipping paint, this will allow for a seamless finish. A quick note on wax. Paste wax sucks for a boat that is dry sailed. A better choice is liquid "teflon" based "polish". Worth at least .2 of a knot. Happy sailing.

Collin

Collin (gybe-it-at-houston.rr.com)

[Guest]

It sounds like the part of the hull below the waterline has been painted with antifoulant (Bottom) paint. As far as waxing the topsides (part of hull between waterline and gunwale [deck edge}), if you intend to paint, I'd say sail her as is for this year, don't wax. The problem is that if you wax the surface this year (especially with that Teflon-base wax!) you will need to remove all traces of the wax before you sand and paint. Even if you don't wax, it will be advisable to de-wax the hull before you sand and paint. You need to remove all traces of any wax or else the paint will not adhere properly. I'd still try thwe compounding to get rid of the fading and chalking, if it looks good....go ahead and apply 3-5 coats of a good boat wax which will seal the gelcoat. If the boat still looks "so-so" after the compounding, then leave it for this year and over the Winter paint the boat. If you do paint, follow the instructions of the paint manufacturer for proper application. I have used Interlux "Brightside Polyurethane" to paint fiberglass boats and it worked very well. Interlux puts out a great handbook (free at most marine stores) with directions for proper painting.
If you do paint the whole hull, use care removing the bottom paint, it contains toxic elements (to repel barnacles and such), so a dust-collection sander (with vacuum attached) is a good idea. A sometimes better idea is a chemical paint stripper made for use on fiberglass.

Rod Johnson, "SUNBIRD" (rjohnson24-at-juno.com)