Another newbie DS1 owner

[Peterw11]

I recently became the latest owner of a 1968 DS1, after many, many years away from sailing. I've spent the past few days appraising the boat's condition and trying to address the myriad little problems with the boat, motor, and trailer.

Overall, the hull appears to be in pretty good shape, needing cosmetic attention more than anything else.

One of the first things it could use is a good cleaning, cockpit sole under the floorboards being particularly gnarly, the seats and transom well have quite a bit of dirt and mildew as well. There also seems to be quite a bit of loose and peeling paint in the cuddy and around the CB trunk.

I'd love to get after it with a good cleaner, scrub brush, and pressure washer, but there doesn't seem to be any way to drain water from the cockpit. After a heavy rain the other night, my only recourse was to tilt the boat back on it's trailer, jacking up the tongue and get after it with a bucket.

Is using a pressure washer the way to go? Do you folks have any recommendations for dirt and mildew cleaners, and what do I about the water removal?

I'd love to add a drain or bailer of some kind. Any recommendations as to type and where it should be located?

There'll be a lot more questions ahead, but I'd like to address these first so I can get her cleaned up and in the water in the next few weeks.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[GreenLake]

As long as you don't have any openings in the boat, use a length of hose to syphon out the water. Just make sure one end of the hose is at the lowest point and can be fixed there, e.g. held by a weight, and that the other end hangs lower to the ground on the outside. Fill the hose with water, plug the holes, put in position and open both ends. The water should drain in a few minutes. Definitely beats working with buckets.

[seandwyer]

Peterw11,

Are you sure there isn't a drain hole just aft of the center board trunk? My DS-1 is a 1968 as well and there is a small drain hole in this area. It must have been original since the floor is sort of built up a little around it to give the threaded insert a bit more strength.

Guys - is this common - no drain hole? I was getting really irritated that the hole wasn't bigger or further back towards the transom - but at least I have one!

[Peterw11]

Sean:

No plugs in evidence aft of CB trunk. There is a black plug of some sort just forward of the trunk on the left side of the keelson (?), but there is no obvious exit on the underside the boat, unless it's in the CB trunk somewhere.

From what I've read on this site (and I think I've read just about every thread over the past few months) some earlier boats have drains of some sort, and others have none. Mine appears to be the latter.

Whether mine had one originally and somebody eliminated it, I couldn't say. It is 40 years old and God knows how many hands it's passed through.

As I said, I would like to add one or two, one adjacent to the CB trunk and one in the transom. I've seen daysailers and similar dinghy style hulls with both.

But before I do anything, I figured I get some real world input from DS owners, as you guys know the boats better than anyone.

I'm also considering installing inspection ports of the forward wall of the seats, the ones facing the cuddy. One plug is missing from that area and there is some moisture in there, and I'll bet the foam could stand being replaced.

[kokko]

The drain plugs are all standard and can be picked up from any hardware. THe one on the keelson forward of the cb trunk drains the forward chamber. Your foam in the flotations chambers is certainly shot and should be replace. See my previous posts. I added Edson inspection ports on the seats and forward chamber, then repacked with swim noodles.

I'm surprised you do not have a drain aft the cb trunk. It is a 1/4 npt. I replaced mine, but I don't use it to drain the hull. It's in the wrong place. THe lowest point of the hull is between the mast step and cb locker. While on the trailer just tilt it way up and open the transom plug.


Peeling paint. I used a pressure washer and it did strip a lot of the paint. You can use an epoxy primer then epoxy paint, but I used exterior latex. I called West Marine and they recommended their interior boat paint. I looked at the MSDS for that paint and it's just a high quality exterior latex. I primed with KILZ exterior, then painted with an exterior latex (Valspar brand). To recreate the dappled pattern, I sponged on a contrast color. It has held up well this season and last.

[Peterw11]

Thanks for the reply, Kokko.

Is the keelson drain designed to empty the cockpit of water while underway? If that's the case, I can understand the location, being on the lowest part of the hull, but it's gotta be a tough spot to reach, especially when you're sailing singlehanded.

On my boat, the keelson plug is there, as I said, but I can't find an exit hole, unless it's up inside next to the CB itself. I would think I'd see a hole somewhere in the hull, no?

Also, the plug has is flat, with no obvious way to remove it, (no slots for a screwdriver, no knob or handle of any type).

Do you just pry it out with a screwdriver blade? I think I'd be inclined to just leave it alone, fearing hurting rather than helping the situation.

As far as a new transom or hull drain, I'm looking for a complete system , so to speak, one that includes a housing of some sort, as well as the drain plug itself. I've seen them from various suppliers (West Marine, etc). I'm just wondering whether there is a specific one I should be looking for.

Also, you mention installing your inspection port in the seat area. Did you mean in the seating surface itself? I'd think that might be a bit uncomfortable to sit on, as well as weakening a flat, load bearing surface, and that the sides or front wall of the seating area would be a better choice.

[kokko]

No - the keelson drain does not have an exit from the boat. There is a sealed floatation chamber forward - v-shaped underneath the cuddies at the bow. When you cut a hole in to the panel, you will be able to feel the opening from the forwad flotation chamber back to the keelson. Mybe even see it with a mirror.

I was able to get replacement drain plugs from my local True Value hardware - the local place. How to describe? They look like a black rubber stopper that has a nut and bolt that passes through the center. By tightening the nut, it squeezes the stopper, causing it to expand radially until it is snug in the hole. THere is something similar with a small lever instead of a nut to squeeze the stopper.

Here's a link to the one from West Marine.
http://www.westmarine.com/webapp/wcs/st ... assNum=698


The only drains on the boat is the one aft on the transom, and the 1/4 npt just a few inches aft the cb locker.

I cut a holes for the inspection ports with a Dremel. The one for the forward flotation chamber is centered on the face. The two for the seats on on the surfacing facing the bow.

THere are bailers that would work. Check this site for "self bailer" THey are through hull and only work by siponing the wate while underway. I do not have one. I have a mooring cover for Truelove and it keeps the water out. I keep a hand pump on board and a sponge, and keep the floorboards on the seats when moored.

[seandwyer]

I must say - now I'm confused as well. I don't have any sort of drain on or near my transom. The only drain on my DS-1 is just aft of the center board trunk. What am I missing?

[kokko]

I am surprised to hear it. I have a 1" drain on the transom, just above the sole. It has a stopper in it so the boat can be tilted transom down and drained. It's not the best system, since the transom drain is below the waterline and must be kept plugged while on the water. Further, the drains for the seats will only drain with the bow down.

[seandwyer]

It sounds to me like drains were something that not a lot of consistent thought went into with these boats of his era. My boat - 3203 from 1968 has one drain through the floor by the centerboard. The transom and floor near the transom are solid with no holes or drains of any kind. Kokko has a drain in both locations and Peterw11 has neither. It feels like the three bears, too hot, too cold, just right.

[GreenLake]

My setup is (possibly) like Kokko's, with a transom drain plug as well as something right behind the centerboard. The latter was painted over at one point, and I only use the one in back. Tilting the trailer after washing the boat is not an issue, and I don't have issues with needing the drain while on the water. Transom drain plugs should be easy to retrofit.

[Peterw11]

I guess the differences in our individual hulls could be a combination of production runs and modifications made be previous owners. I do like the idea of a cockpit drain of some sort, more for maintenance than anything else. The transom drain appeals to me for some reason, although cutting a hole in the hull is a bit intimidating.

I intend to trailer sail most of the time. I do have an opportunity to moor at a small lake near my home and have a cockpit cover to keep most of the rainwater out while she's tied up at the mooring as well as on the trailer.

I've also got a hand pump and a bucket for the occasional water intrusion while sailing.

As a new boat owner, I'm already beginning to experience the well known "hole in the water" syndrome. Since last Saturday, I've already hit West Marine, a local trailer supply store, a tire store and Ebay to the tune of about 500 bucks.

The old Johnson outboard that came with it goes to the shop on Monday. I guess there really is no such thing as a cheap boat.