O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE

Our 1971 O'Day Daysailer II CYANE. She has been in the family since 2000, the Father In Law picked her up from Alabama. We got the Skipper's Knife in 2011 and Capn Jack ships on as crew now. Previous DSII was in the family from 1996-2000. A lovely collaboration between Uffa Fox and George O'Day, she'll fly if you turn her loose.


From Sailing

From Sailing

17 Sep 13:

The flat hull aft on the Day Sailer makes it tricky to get back on the trailer, so we added some trailer guides to assist. Our local trailer manufacturer Eddie English in Milton, FL sells a nice trailer guide kit that comes with trailer brackets, steel guide posts and PVC rollers.

From Sailing

From Sailing

From Small Boat Restoration 2013

The guide brackets bolt onto the trailer frame. In order to get the right size guide it is important to know the size of your frame, the width of the frame and the beam of the boat.

From Small Boat Restoration 2013

The guide bolts into the frame and the PVC roller fits over the guide. These guides are pretty tall, but now I can see where the trailer is when backing up without the boat loaded. Before it was too low to see.

From Small Boat Restoration 2013

From Sailing

17 Mar 13:

Ordered a new self bailer for our ODay Day Sailer II. It is the same as a Sunfish bailer except it has a longer neck. And it was more expensive. So if the bottom part of the bailer on you O'Day gets damaged, just buy a Sunfish bailer and scavenge the bottom part.

From Sunfish Sailboat

From Sailing

01 Mar 13:

CYANE is getting a new Loadrite galvanized trailer:

From Sunfish Sailboat

From Sailing

Back in May 2013 we added a topping lift to our Day Sailer mast. We wanted to keep the sail on the boat, wanted to use the boom to support a rain tarp and also wanted to keep the boom from dropping into the cockpit when the sail comes down. Most of the time we sail with a smaller main on sail slides, so that allows us to keep the sail on the boom.

Added a Harken micro cheek block to the top of the mast, secured with stainless screws.


Every time I get around line, my Navy ancestors like to mess with this Marine and here's what happens with the line. That's why the Marine Corps emblem's Eagle Globe and Anchor has a fouled line around it, to signify our maritime skills :)





50 feet of New England Rope's 1/8 inch nylon line, 2000 pound test. Sold in 50 foot packs at West Marine, usually hidden in a basket back with the other line.


Nylon cleat at base of the mast.


Used a small shackle to secure the lift to the boom. Also that say we added a small block for the outhaul so it will rig and adjust easier.


Topping lift makes a good place to host a yacht ensign. You can see the smaller main that we use, it has sail slides and we can get it up and down easier.


Dolphin following CYANE in the Bay. We tried out a smaller mainsail on sail slides and liked it for our mess abouts, haven't gone back since to the DS main, maybe some day.

From Sailing

15 Mar 14: Changed bunks on O'Day Day Sailer trailer to 2x6, moved them out and made them longer.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

Next we will put in bunks to support the keel.

From SBR 3: Jan 2014-

22 Jun 2014: Took the Day Sailer out for a few hours, explored Chimney Cove and practiced ghosting.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

CYANE insisted on going wing and wing for a bit.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

Capn Jack sailing CYANE.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

Skipper and Capn Jack, 2 generations of sailors on CYANE.

From SBR 4: Jun 2014 -

16 Nov 15:

Made a rudder uphaul for launching and beaching. Also got a picture of the repaired centerboard, it had swelled from water intrusion. The repair involved removing the delaminated plywood, replacing it, sealing with epoxy and fiberglass, fairing sanding and bottom paint.




2015: Breaking in the Suzuki 4 stroke 2.5 hp. Quiet, pushes the boat over 5 knots at 1/2 throttle.



https://youtu.be/OYQd76MigLM

27 Dec 16:

Nice day, light wind, 72F, so why not go for a motor/sail/paddle/stand up paddle? One of the great things about the Daysailer, she will float in a teaspoon of water with her centerboard and pop up rudder. We were able to launch and recover from the beach with no issues. As you may notice, over the Summer we had Zern Rigging change the jib over to roller furling, and added rigging for a spinnaker. Also had a mainsail cover made so she can live on the strap lift.



Skipper drove and we flew the spinnaker!



23 Aug 17:

Here's our dock wagon, we use it to carry out the rudder, outboard, life jackets, lunch bag and tool box.


Our checklist, with revisions.


24 Aug 17:

CYANE on the strap lift.


05 Sep 17:

Downrigged CYANE so we could take her over to Eddie English and get her fit to her new old trailer. During the evolution the bow eye snapped due to corrosion and the clamp holding the lower mast in place snapped as well.





Discovered that the inspection ports leaked, used the wet vac to remove about 50 gallons, probably came in during the 35 inches of rain that we had in July and August.


Checked out the bilge and bow compartments, they are in good shape. Centerboard bolt and nut are in great shape.


Drain tube that lets water drain past stringer to the bilge is busted out here, needs to be replaced.


Forward bilge.


Aft bilge.


Video tour.



Bow Compartment flotation foam removed to access bow eye nut.




Lots of room up here!


30 Sep 17:

Got some trailer work done to fit CYANE to her new trailer. New rollers, axle, springs, hubs and tires. Eddie English does great work for us!

Boat was moved aft just a bit to set a good tongue weight. I couldn't lift it before and now I can, so I'm guessing it is around 80 pounds.


Eddie's crew replaced all of the rollers with HDPE non marking rollers. The new brackets are galvanized and fastened with stainless hardware, shiny!


New 1500 pound axle, new springs sized for the trailer/boat combo. This roller is set to support the centerboard and keep it in the case.


8 foot carpeted bunks and LED lights. Skipper says leave ONKAHYE's name on there, CYANE kind of like it.


Eddie has sold us 2 trailers, repaired 4, and built us 2. Plus helped us upgrade several more with trailer guides. We always enjoy visiting his business and seeing the wizardry in progress. If you need a trailer, give him a call and tell him Small Boat Restoration sent you.




A few of the mast fittings. Cheek block for the topping lift.


Spinnaker halyard, roller furling and jib halyard block for regular jib.


Spinnaker pole line block.


Preparations to raise the mast.



After the mast went up we installed the new bow eye. Upgraded to U bolt style, located spot for second 3/8 inch hole. We bedded the new eye in TotalBoat thickened epoxy to fill in the chipped area.


Opened inspection port to bow compartment and removed a few foam blocks. Bow eye bolts coming through the stem backer strip, it's wooden for some reason.


Tightened down the nuts.


Foam blocks returned to the bow compartment and inspection port closed up.


Faired the bow eye plate with some TotalBoat THIXO.




Mast up, 8x10 cockpit cover installed.


20 May 18:

Took CYANE out for a day sail, ran the Suzuki 2 1/2 for a bit after we got a new carb.


Had a little traffic in the bay.









We like that we can run the Day Sailer right up onto the beach.


15 Aug 18:

Took the first few steps to get the name redone on CYANE's transom, part of the vinyl peeled off in the car wash oh just a few years back, maybe like 7. As usual the Cobbler's children have no shoes, all the foster boats get attention first and we get to our Fleet on an erratic basis. 30 plus boats have come and gone and we have some time for our boats now, while we take a breath before working on a couple of wooden Alcorts.

So what we did first was move CYANE from the boat lift to her trailer. I planned to do it all but Skipper couldn't stand it and she did the Sea Tow duties to get CYANE from the dock over to the ramp. Her best African Queen impersonation.


I barely got the trailer positioned before CYANE and Skipper showed up. We keep telling people on a shoal, but I don't think they get it. Maybe this picture will help out, they are about 200 feet offshore, water just over knee deep. That's why we love our muck about centerboard boats and Sunfish..


So right now CYANE thinks her name is Cjane, we thought about changing it because Skipper has an ancestor named Catherine Jane. But we will stick with CYANE, named for one of the ships that Lt Benjamin F. B. Hunter served aboard during his time in the Pacific Squadron.


Our buddies at See Level Graphics are working on new vinyl. At a minimum, we will sand the transom and repaint Pettit Ice Blue. But most likely we might freshen up the entire paint job while she is ashore. Summer sailing here in the heat lends itself more to short jaunts on the Sunfish and Penobscot, longer trips are best in the Runabout so we have a nice breeze.

24 Nov 18:

Hurricane season is coming to a close and the temps are more enjoyable, so we launched CYANE to put her back on the strap lift. Paint and graphics will have to wait, we pressure washed her and she still looks pretty good! Weather should be nice for a day sail over the next few weeks.


01 Dec 18:

Upgraded the trailer with LED post lights. Read our article on Small Boats Monthly.


25 Jan 19:

From the web archive for The American Sailboat Hall of Fame:

In 1956 George D. O’Day’s day job was selling insurance in Boston. At night he was importing sailboats designed by Uffa Fox, the famous British designer who had earned a worldwide reputation for innovative dinghy designs including those for the developmental International 14 class. O’Day, who was an enthusiastic International 14 sailor, had met Fox a year or so earlier and the two had started a friendship and a collaboration that would last for many years.

Not long after the two had met O’Day told Fox about his concept for a 17-foot fiberglass boat that would appeal to the emerging family market in America. O’Day envisioned a centerboarder that would have a beam of about 6 feet, flotation fore and aft, a small cuddy cabin, and an aluminum mast and boom. The two traded ideas and plans back and forth across the Atlantic and then, early in 1958, the two finally agreed on the lines and the general layout for the boat that O’Day would call the Day Sailer.


The boats were built in a small facility in Fall River, Massachusetts, and O’Day marketed them from his office in Boston.


Even though Fox never did accept O’Day’s cuddy, O’Day was equally adamant that it was a crucial part of whatever success the boat would have. “That enclosure was the perfect answer for cold kids and new sailors,” O’Day would say later.


But there were other features, many of them revolutionary at the time, that helped make the boat an immediate success. It had an outboard bracket, a spinnaker and reasonably comfortable sleeping arrangements for two.



O’Day also placed the boom almost three feet above deck, which made it possible to put a canvas tent over the boom and create even more living space.


The Day Sailer was built for more than 20 years by the O’Day Corporation, and is currently being produced by Cape Cod Shipbuilding Co. And even though there were minor modifications along the way and a name change from Day Sailer 1 to Day Sailer 2, the planing hull that Fox had created and the cuddy cabin and special features that O’Day had insisted upon remained essentially unchanged.

More than 13,000 Day Sailers have been built since hull number one rolled out of the Fall River plant almost 45 years ago (1958), and today there are more than 60 active Day Sailer fleets in North America. Each year, the class hosts more than 30 regional and national regattas that emphasize family participation for the boat’s two-person racing crews. The Day Sailer has more than delivered on the promises put forth by its creators so many years ago. It is a boat that is spirited but also forgiving enough so that it can be sailed easily by beginners of almost any age. And it has been a favorite for generations of families who want to experience the pleasure that comes when a design is matched perfectly to the wind that brings it to life.

-Text Credit: Charles Mason. 2003.
-Images: Small Boat Restoration

Editor: We have enjoyed Day Sailers since the late 1990s, our 1971 DSII CYANE is a good sporty compliment to our Drascombe Lugger ONKAHYE and our Sunfish fleet. Easy to trail, easy to rig and store. We added a mast tabernacle, roller furling, a topping lift and spinnaker rigging. She is the dolphin's favorite, they show up every time we take her out.








03 May 19:

Our poor 1971 O'Day DaySailer Cyane has been Cjane for 8 years now after a mishap at a car wash. We have been wanting to get her fixed back up, but you know the saying, the cobbler's children have no shoes. So we did some serious yak shaving, started off thinking we'd just sand the transom and repaint it. Skipper noted that the previous decal had been damaged at a car wash, so why not use the pressure washer to take the rest of it off? By the time we were done we had pulled out 350 feet of hose and the pressure washer, sprayed the transom and bottom, removed the gudgeons, sanded the transom and bottom, rolled and tipped a coat of Pettit EZPoxy Blue Ice, reinstalled the gudgeons, painted the boot stripe with TotalBoat WetEdge Oyster White and applied the new vinyl name decal.

















The Big Reveal.







04 May 19:

Put our 1971 O'Day DaySailer II CYANE back on her trailer so we can sand and paint. Pumped the bilge, had some rain water from recent deluges leak inside. Sanded the deck and topsides with 120 grit on a DeWALT random orbital sander. Uncovered an artifact on the stern, didn't realize that the boat used to have an O'day logo just forward of the transom. Covered her back up until the rain passes through.






05 May 19:

Used a Mighty Mini Roller kit from Jamestown Distributors with a 2 inch angled sash brush from Lowes to roll and tip the deck of CYANE with Total Boat Wet Edge Oyster White, thinned 5% with TotalBoat thinner. Rolled and tipped the sides with Pettit EZPoxy Blue Ice. Did the top first so we didn't drip on the sides.






Sprayed the cuddy wit Rustoleum Semi Gloss White.






'Merica!


08 May 19:






15 May 19:

The centerboard uphaul cleat on CYANE was loose and too small. We replaced it with a cam cleat. Drilled a small pilot hole and installed with marine grade stainless screws.





While we had the tools out we replaced a worn cleat that is used for the roller furling line.




We changed the main sail from the small Petrel main back to the Day Sailer main, then rigged the boat so we could take some photos for an article in Small Boats Monthly.

She launched easily from her trailer.


Skipper snapped some photos. We love how the Day Sailer can glide right up onto the beach.


Sail number 4624. 1971, one of the first DS IIs.


Mast tabernacle.


Our boat was converted over to roller furling. We left the jib halyard block and also added a halyard for a spinnaker.



Spinnaker pole block.


Attachment point for spinnaker pole.


Spreaders.


Roller furling drum.


Furling line routed through fairleads back to the cockpit cleat.


Beach life.


Back on the lift to watch the moon rise.


26 May 19:

Capn Jack drafted a sailing checklist for the family's Day Sailer II a few years back, we took it and transcribed it in our new fangled Mac computer, and printed it out. He kept it handy at all times.

CYANE started off as an Alabama boat, then she went to Texas and then to Florida. When the checklist was digitized she was a Texas gal, registration TX 3305 KB.

O'Day SAILING CHECKLISY

PRELAUNCH CHECKLIST

Make Coffee
Check Weather Wind and Tide
Call Skipper
Sailing knife (spare)
U.S. Flag

SAFETY GEAR
Life jackets (#__)
Throwable device cushion
Visual Daytime Signal (VDS)
Fire Extinguisher (if gasoline onboard)
First Aid Kit
Cell phone
Weather radio
Compass and charts
Sunglasses
Deck shoes
Sunscreen
Towels
Trash bags

GALLEY GEAR
Water and ice in Aladdin jug
Snacks

SAILBOAT GEAR
Registration
Tool kit w spare parts
Tie ties
Drain plugs
Dock lines
Bow line
Fenders
Boom Rudder
Tiller (spare)
Paddles
Bailer
Anchor and rode
Motor with gas or battery
Stepstool

TRAILER
Lights
Bearings
Tires
Chocks
Tie down straps

RIGGING CHECKLIST
Drain plugs - In
Boat strap - Off
US Flag - Hoist
Halyards - Check
Mainmast - Step
-Roller Furling - Rig
-Forestay - Secure
Boom - Rig
Boomvang - Rig
Sails - Bend
Jibsheet - Rig
Mainsheet - Rig
Sails - Check
Centerboard - Up
Rudder - Rig
Tiller - Rig
Stow SAFETY GEAR
Stow GALLEY GEAR

RAMP CHECKLIST
Secure kids
Ramp recon
-Powerlines, ramp sides and end
Drain plugs
Boat strap
Rudder up

LAUNCH CHECKLIST
Centerboard down
Rudder down
Tiller free and clear
Unfurl jib
Raise main
Get under way








21 Jun 19:

The boat that built a company....from a 1981 advert by Bangor Punta Marine...

1981: "Olympic Gold Medal sailor George O'Day had a vision. a swift, easily sailed boat that could be built efficiently and at modest cost of low-maintenance materials. He went up to Uffa Fox, a versatile small boat designer with his parameters and the Day Sailer was born.


That was 25 years ago, and the Day Sailer II still has the same hull and sailplan as the original, but a superb boat has been made even better. The mast is now stepped on a tabernacle for easier rigging off the trailer. Cockpit and deck are designed for high buoyancy for self-rescuing in the event of a capsize. The cockpit has a built in ice box, provision for an outboard engine fuel tank, and a self bailer.

Both deck and cockpit colors are a soft, non-glare cream. And the hull and sail stripe are color-coordinated.


But what made the O'Day Day Sailer an instant success over 25 years is the soundness of her now classic design. This is the boat that quite rightly claims to have started American families daysailing.

Her handling is responsive without being skittish. Her powerful rig offers wonderful opportunity for speed, yet the novice will feel comfortable with her as sailing skills develop.


There's the safety of built-in permanent foam flotation, and a non-skid surface molded into seats, deck and cockpit sole. And she's remarkably stable, even in a stiff breeze.

You see Day Sailers everywhere, there are over 12,000 of them and they can be taken anywhere. And launched in less than a foot of water.

If you'd like to get together with other Day Sailer owners, you won't have any trouble finding them. At last count, there were 89 organized Day Sailer fleets across the country."

Standard Features:
Pleasure Group -
All hardware non-corrosive or stainless steel
Boom crutch
Built in icebox
Cockpit drain plug
Kick up rudder
Main and jib
Mooring and trailing bow eye
Storage locker
Transom designed for outboard
One year warranty

Accent Group -
Multi color coordinated sail and stripes
Anodized mast and boom

Safety Group -
Mast is filled with flotation
Non-skid deck and seats
Positive foam flotation
Roller reefing gooseneck (*needs reefing claw)
Self bailing cockpit
Self rescuing
Stainless steel rigging with swaged terminals
Thru bolted mooring cleats
Cockpit inspection/bailing ports

Performance Group -
Adjustable jib sheet leads
Best dacron running rigging
Quick relese cam cleat for mainsheet and jibsheets
Stainless steel turnbuckles

Options -
Block action outhaul
Boom vang
Cowl vent
Tabernacle
Tiller extension - adjustable length
Wood cuddy enclosure - lockable

Editor's Note: Bangor Punta Marine was one of 8 builders of the Day Sailer through the years. The first builder was O'Day Manufacturing, other builders include Can-AM Sailcraft, Rebel, Spindrift, Precision, McLaughlin, Sunfish/Laser Inc. The current builder is Cape Cod Shipbuilding Company, give Wendy a call and order your new Day Sailer!

1971 O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE


Log of CYANE.

Image and Text Credits: Bangor Punta Marine

21 Jun 19:

CYANE has a tabernacle mast, and the lower mast section that goes through the cuddy down to the mast step needs to be secured so it does not come loose when raising or lowering the mast. Capn Jack had an ingenious solution, he put a rubber washer and hose clamp around the mast, just under the cuddy top, that way it could not be pulled out. But clamps not being what they used to be in the saltwater environment, it rusted out after only 19 years. We replaced it with a new marine grade stainless clamp.

Here is the clamp and the rubber washer. The washer insulates the stainless clamp from the aluminum mast, preventing dissimilar metal corrosion.


Working in the cuddy, we found it easier to put the clamp and washer on loosely down low, then slide it up to underneath the cuddy top.


Once the clamp was up at the top, we tightened the nut with a socket on a nut driver, easier than using a screwdriver.


The DS II mast step is about 1 inch high and affixed to the floor, the mast nestles over the top of it. We saw no indication of fasteners to secure the mast to the step.


Ready for the next adventure




01 Sep 19:

Hurricane Season in full swing, Dorian is crushing the Bahamas, and we are hauling the fleet to move North. First out was CYANE, followed by WILLOW. I positioned the trailer on the ramp next door while Skipper lowered the boats off the lifts, then I walked them over to the ramp. WILLOW snuck under the dock, the tide was low enough :)




03 Sep 19:

Set up the mast crutch for CYANE in prep to unstep her mast. Capn Jack designed v1.0, it rotted and I used it as a pattern to cut v2.0 out of a nice piece of tiger oak.



04 Sep 19:

Lowered CYANE's mast to get her ready for the road trip. First we hooked up the trailer so it wouldn't tip, then we took the boom and mainsail off and my little pirate disappeared with it.


Loosened the turnbuckles and took the forward pin out of the tabernacle.



Tied the bow line to the furler, ran the line through a shackle on the bow tang and cleated that line. Then we removed the clevis pin from the jib stay, loosed the line and slowly lowered the mast. One hand for the line and the other hand to keep the mast centered over the mast crutch.





(L-R) Spinnaker halyard block, jibstay/furler, jib halyard. CYANE can be set up with either a jib furler or her stock hanked on jib.


Skipper skippervising.


Used our Porter Cable cordless shop vac to get some rainwater out of the bilge. We keep the cuddy and ports covered with a tarp, but the rainwater got in there by running down the mast, out the cuddy drains and onto the inspection ports. The ports are original and need to be replaced, sealant failed also. New ports are on order.




Some detail shots of how things are secured for the road trip.













Ready for the road trip!


23 Nov 19:

We painted CYANE in the Spring with TotalBoat WetEdge Oyster White, gave her a rinse today and the paint is holding up well to sun, dirt and grime. She spent about 3 months out on the boat lift, direct sun, saltwater environment and several months on the driveway.




24 Dec 19:

We had 5 yards of Sunbrella and one scrap in Skipper's fabric stash, so we crafted a cockpit cover for our O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE. It works as both a mooring cover and a mast down cover, it drapes over the boom when the mast is up. We had used an 8x10 plastic tarp for many years, it kept the big chunks of pine needles, tree bark, bird poop and leftovers from osprey meals out of the cockpit. Those tarps would last maybe a year, we expect to get many years out of this cover.

5 yards of Sunbrella plus some scraps, cut up to make a cover measuring approximately 8 foot wide x 10 foot long. It would have been better with about 6 yards in one piece.


We had 2 5 foot wide panels that were just under 8 feet, so we sewed them together to make an athwatships seam, then used the scraps to make port and starboard doubled strips for grommets. Skipper sewed a single straight 1/4 inch seam, then flipped the fabric over, folded the seam under and sewed that down with a zig zag on her Sailrite LSZ-1.


These little clips work great to keep the fabric edges together.




Lining up the seams.


1 1/2 seam on the bow and stern edges, because we might add grommets there. The iron presses a nice seam to use as a guide when stitching the fabric.


Bow and stern edges.


We used a #2 cutter to cut the holes for the #4 grommets, eased out the hole with a few tiny scissor cuts. With that 3 pound mallet it only takes 2-3 hits to cut 2 layers of fabric. The self healing pad is an essential part of the grommet installation system. All parts sold by Sailrite.


#2 grommet hole cutter.


For marine applications we buy spur grommets, they have teeth that grip the fabric better.


4 faces of the #4 spur grommet, note the teeth on the outer ring. Spur grommets feature metal spurs inside the rim to grip the fabric so they won't easily pull out. A spur die set is necessary for setting spur grommets, different from regular grommets.


Male part of grommet goes onto the anvil.


Be careful to not to cut the hole too big, the fabric should fit tight.


Outer ring placed.


Insert the mandrel and give it two whacks with the Barry King 48 oz mallet. The nylon head, leather handle and rubber mat absorb most of the impact vibration so it is easy to set a lot of grommets.


Inside face of grommet, the Not As Pretty Side.


Outer side of grommet, the Pretty Side.


Spoiled.


Will probably switch over to soft lines for tiedowns, run side to side.





1971 O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE. She's been in the family since 2000, Capn Jack and Miss Adrienne snagged her over in Alabama. She came into our fleet in 2011.


Suzuki 2 1/2 outboard pad on the starboard transom. Capn Jack designed the trailering mast crutch.


10 Apr 20:

Spring of 1994, playing with Capn Jack's first O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE, hull number 5709. Skipper has always been the Dock Commander and Dock Wench, she is a pro at handling lines and keeping the boats calm at the ramp. Capn Jack dropped the centerboard, shipped the rudder, raised the main and loosed the jib. They were quite the team, poetry in motion, unspoken efficiency demonstrated by two old salts.


09 Apr 20:

It's the time of year that local yokels like to burn stuff, and Pine Pollen Season, so CYANE can get pretty grimy pretty fast. Gave her a fresh water wash down today, no soap, just water, also wanted to see how the 2019 paint job is holding up. Satisfied overall.


When CYANE is in storage it is important to check that the bailer plug stays open and and the drain stays clear. We've had her fill up with enough water to tip stern down. That was one of Capn Jack's favorite things to do, was to pick pine needles out of her.



Here's a shot of the elusive inspection port. It opens into the flotation compartment, there is one on either side of the centerboard case. The flotation compartment is under the cockpit and also goes up under the cuddy floor. That compartment is one of the major design upgrades of the DSII, to meet new Coast Guard standards in 1972. The centerboard bolt can also be reached through the port(s).


Capn Jack designed this mast crutch for storage and trailering, it keeps the mast from resting on and possibly breaking the top lip of the cabin cuddy. It also supports the mast in a better spot while raising or lowering the mast using the tabernacle.



19 Apr 20:

Replaced the tabernacle on our O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE, the old one was bent from a tangle with a tree in 2011. The old tabernacle was bent and patly straightened, which made it hard to insert and remove the hinge pins. The new tabernacle came from D&R Marine, who specializes in O'Day parts. For those considering switching over to the tabernacle, check to see if you'll need the mast step as well, some boats will. The tabernacle also comes with 6 screws to attach the upper and lower hinges to the mast, and installation instructions.

But first, which hat to wear? I don't have an O'Day hat so I picked Drascombe instead.


Here's the old upper mast hinge, it is held on by 5 screws. 3 are normally required, but our mast has a cheek block added on both sides to route the main and jib halyards aft to the top of the cuddy opening, versus cleating off on the mast. So there are 2 extra screws on the bottom of the cheek blocks that have to come out. I used an impact driver to get the screws out, they backed out easily.


There is some evidence of bending from the tangle with the tree. Okay, time for the tree story. We had just moved in to our new place in 2011 and rigged the boat in our driveway. Spoiler alert, funny story, no one got hurt. Our neighbor offered to let us use his boat ramp and we hooked CYANE up to his lawnmower. He headed across his yard, direct to the ramp, and we found out he wasn't familiar with sailboats as he went right under a pine tree. I hollered to try and get him to stop but he couldn't hear me over the motor and the Canadian Mist. The forestay tang pulled out and the mast came down, the tree just kind of pushed it over. The tabernacle bent a little, then the upper mast section pulled out of the upper hinge plate, leaving the screws behind. Not much damage overall, mostly a bent tabernacle and 3 small bits of upper mast gone. It was supposed to be our maiden voyage and as it turned out it was a good thing we didn't go, while repairing the forestay tang I discovered that the previous owner had used silicone sealant to hold in the forward screw, we call that a "rubber nut," the screw was stripped. So only one of two screws was holding on the forestay tang, the aft screw. I tried a screw one size up for the repair and luckily it snugged down nice. We bent the tabernacle mostly back into shape. I also trimmed off about the bottom 1/2 inch of the upper mast and drilled new holes for the screws. For some reason still unbeknownst to me, the mast actually fit better afterwards, we no longer needed a spacer on the forstay tang and the side stays snugged down with more turns on the turnbuckle. I wonder if the gent who cut the mast for the forestay in 2000 just made one cut and did not cut out the representative section of mast that the tabernacle replaced?


Old section of upper mast hinge.


Upper mast. Yes, that's flotation material.


Fit test for new tabernacle.



We used our old stainless machine screws, the drill size for the new pilot holes was 5/32". The screws that come with the new kit were a couple of 32nds bigger. For the basic installation there is one screw on the forward edge and a screw on either side about 135 degrees around. The forward screw has already been installed in this photo.


Halyard cheek block screws to go.




Upper hinge finished. At this point I realized that we had just installed the larger outer hinge plate on the upper mast, but the old hinge we just took off was the smaller inner hinge. Hmmmm, did I need to change it around or does it matter? I went to find the instructions to double check, and interestingly the instructions show the outer hinge plate installed on the upper mast, like I had just done but opposite how it had been. So the old tabernacle was upside down, not sure why or if it mattered, it had worked just fine for 19 years. From my perspective though, the "right way" gives the upper mast a bigger foot and it is easier to get the the hinge pins started on the wiggly upper mast.



On to the lower mast hinge. It couldn't be easy, could it? A stainless rivet had been used, so I had to drill that out. I hate stainless rivets, especially in aluminum masts.


The old hinge plate is noticeably bent.


New hinge plate installed with 2 old screws and one new screw where the rivet had been. The two centered tangs are where we connect the boom vang. The tang to the left is used to tie a lanyard to the hinge pins. Capn Jack made those, he was an Aviation Structures Mechanic (Hydraulics) in the Navy, and he knew a thing or two about metal, and fabric for that matter.



The two blocks are used for the spinnaker and spinnaker pole halyards, led aft.


Look close at the hinge pins, one end is chamfered, which makes it a little easier to insert. We put that pin forward, it will be in use at the most critical times of raising and lowering the mast. We were playing around with the forward pin here, it needs to be removed before the mast comes up. Aft pin is inserted with upper mast pinned.


Capn Jack's dummy cord aka lanyard to keep track of the hinge pins, we don't want those to go missing at a critical time. I wonder if there is a story behind that cord, do you think a pin rolled away one day while he had the mast verical? He attached keeper rings to the cotter pins and dummy corded the keepers to the extra tang. Another thing we did was flatten down the ends of those cotter pins, lest they snag a jib sheet or a finger. Speaking of jib sheets, that is the only issue we have had with the tabernacle, sometimes a jib sheet gets caught under the forward lip of the hinge. Not letting there be a lot of slack in the sheet helps prevent that, and a quick flick of the sheet usually pops it free.


Mast in crutch, aft hinge pinned, ready to raise mast. Before we raise the mast though, look at that crusty topping lift line! It has lichen growing on it. "A lichen is a composite organism that arises from algae or cyanobacteria living among filaments of multiple fungi species in a mutualistic relationship." That doesn't sound good, we do know that ospreys perche on top of the mast periodically, and the inconsiderate ones poop before they take off. Wonder if that has anything to do with lichen?


Anyway, it was a good time to replace the line with new 1/8th inch diameter Dacron cord from New England Ropes. We keep 50 foot packs of it handy, a little more than we need today but we'll get it trimmed once the mast is up and the boom is on. We added the little cheek block at the top of the mast about 9 years ago, the topping lift keeps the boom out of the cockpit when the sail is down, and makes it easier to gather up the sail and secure it to the boom. Then we can put a cover on our sail, which we have on slugs, and keep the sail on the boat. The horizontal boom then makes a nice ridgepole to put a cockpit tent over or a storage cover.


Small cleat towards the base of the upper mast for topping lift.


Mast up, hinge pins in and keepers ringed.



Yay, done for the day, let's put the tools away....annnnnnd that's how the cookie crumbles...My Uncle's tool kit from 1995, the plastic hinge finally broke. Amazingly I found all of the pieces. Too bad Skipper wasn't nearby to see this, she loves the look on my face when this kind of thing happens. A facebook buddy saw this and commented he had the same thing happen to him, but over water.


One last thing, we need to move over the mast step dime over to the new tabernacle and then we'll be ready for the raise the mast.



Materials:
Tabernacle


and Mast Step.


21 Apr 20:

1:30 to raise and pin the mast and jib.



Raised the mast on our 1971 O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE, singlehanded, it took 1:30 to get the mast up, pin the tabernacle, get out of the boat and pin the furler at the bow. Rigged the furler jib, boom, topping lift, main, mainsheet, boom vang and sorted the spinnaker lines. Found out that the cockpit cover fits over the boom as well and makes and nice sun shade. One of the design features the George O'Day incorporated was the high boom, so sailors would not have to duck during tacks.

Mast raised. We got it up the first 30 degrees or so with the Armstrong Method then pulled it the rest of the way with a line from the furler, to a bow block and back to the cockpit. Once mast was up we pinned the forward holes in the tabernacle and installed the keeper ring.


Pinned and keeper ringed the furler to the forward hole on the bow tang. We leave the small shackle on the aft hole of the tang to remind us where to connect the mast raising block, but we take the block off. The 1/8th inch Dacron cored in the background is the furler drum line that runs back to the cockpit, and the first fairlead for that is on the foredeck.


Turnbuckles snugged down and stop nuts tightened. Second fairlead for the furler drum on the side deck.


When the jib sheet is pulled the furler drum takes up the furler line.


Furler line routed through side deck fairlead. The little hook is for the spinnaker line (sheet or guy, depending on tack).


White furler line cleats just above the ice box...that's tight, the Day Sailer II has an icebox. Jam cleat on outside of the coaming is for the spinnaker line. Red line is the jib sheet, run through a block on the sliding car.


Jib sheet is then held in teeth, never cleated, lest the Skipper launch into salty sailor talk. Hands kept free to tend to the main sheet. :) Blue line along boom is the main outhaul.


Furler demo.



G&G Sails, Fairhope Abalama.


G&G Sails, Fairhope Abalama, USA. They are at least 20 years old and still look good, Capn Jack stored them under his bed when not in use.


CYANE is Hull Number 4624, 1971 vintage. SHe'll be a Senior Citizen next year. 4624 was one of the first Day Sailer IIs, self bailing and self righting. Positive flotation compartment under the cockpit and cuddy, another flotation compartment in the bow. DS II transoms were thinner, which makes mounting a little kicker easier, we added the wooden pad on the starboard transom to protect it from the outboard bracket and mount screws.


Capn Jack's preferred mainsheet bridle, 2:1 purchase. DS IIs had mid boom sheeting, led to the aft end of the centerboard trunk. Note the nice scuppers along the outer edge of the cockpit seat and along the sides of the cockpit floor.


Mainsheet block below the boom. On top of the boom is the topping lift shackle and we added a micro block for the main outhaul. The topping lift keeps the boom from dropping into the cockpit when the sail is down, and it also keep the boom up while the main is raised, making it easier to get the main all the way up.


Mainsheet swivel cam cleat. Icebox built into port side seat.


Red lines are jib sheets. White line is centerboard uphaul, blue line is the cb downhaul. Inspection port for the flotation compartment are also a DSII feature.


Main halyard on starboard cleat. Spinnaker halyard and spinnaker pole halyard on portside cleat. I think we need one more cleat. Blue line is boom vang.


Our cockpit cover also fits as a basic boom tent.



Cut new 1/8th inch diameter Dacron cord for the cockpit cover, used for storage.


Outfitting next, maybe Yard Sail a spinnaker?

22 Apr 20:

Launched CYANE from the beach, pushed the trailer down, shoved the boat off and used a strap and our van to pull the trailer back up the beach.


Skipper towed the boat over to the lift while I lowered the straps, one of favorite things to do.


Our strap lift video: https://youtu.be/FlwYTUvPd98



She's ready for the Spring.



13 Jun 20:

Paddled by CYANE and checked out her hull, don't often get to see that. Looks great and we have always liked her hull shape. And the strap lift has been working out great.



12 Aug 20:


Here is one example of how the DS II centerboard is rugged, there is a downhaul attached to the inside of the top of the cuddy, and the uphaul works off of a block set just behind the mast on the floor of the cuddy.



23 Jan 21:

We downrigged CYANE in prep for her homeport change, here's a few photos of what had to happen along the way, mostly for us to reference when we put her back together. 

The first thing to do is hook up a tow vehicle, so the trailer will not tip the boat on her stern when working near the transom. Ask me how we learned about this :)

But first, a look at the little pads we made to support an outboard motor, they prevent gouges in the gelcoat and spread the outboard clamp pressure out over a larger area. The pads are 1/4 inch marine grade plywood, attached with double sided tape.



There is no set order to downrigging, we tend to start at one end of the rig (stern) and work forward.


First thing to do is get the mainsail and boom off of the mast. The mainsheet rigging is 2:1 how Capn Jack had it, a block with a becket arrached to the boom and another block attached to a bridle on the transom. We release the mainsheet and usually leave it attached to the becket block.


Next we wandered forward and undid the sail cover so we could get to the various lines.


Here is the cleat for the topping lift. The topping lift helps keep the boom out of the cockpit when the main is down.


Capn Jack put a quick release snap shackle on the forward end of the boom vang.


The downhaul is released.


Mainsheet gets released.


Mainsheet released and tied. The boom now swings free.


The topping lift shackle gets released next. The other lines there are a sail cover tie and the outhaul.


Main halyard gets released. And then it is time to remove the boom and sail.


Time to tackle the main halyard, spinnaker halyard and spare jib halyard (the one we use if we don't rig roller furling jib.) We should lable these like Webb does, and add a third cleat. Wow, Skipper's boat sure is dirty, it appears that the opsrey likes sitting on the top of the mast...she needs to get out here and clean this up.


Forward tabernacle pin keeper ring is released.


Furler line gets released and pulled up to the furler.


Side stays loosened. 


Furler line tied up.


Remove jib furler pin keeper ring. Go find Skipper, who will control the jib stay while the mast is lowered. If lowering the mast single handed, the jib stay can be released at this time, and line attached to the jib stay that runs through a block attached to the little shackle, and run back to the cockpit. That line can be cleated off over the cuddy until time to release the tabernacle pin.


Here's a video of raising the mast using the line.


Capn Jack made this nice mast crutch.



Time to release the jibstay pin and forward mast tabernacle pin and lower the mast. We had already lowered it partway here, then put the mast back up for glamor shots. Skipper walke the jib back while I lowered the mast.


1971 O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE 23 Jan 21 Mast Lowering Tabernacle: https://youtu.be/e9bXrJsGxwA


Next up, we release the upper jib furler drum for long road trips. For short trips we leave the jib attached.


Capn Jack's diddy bag.


Mast is slid forward as far as you like, keeping in mind clearance of the tow vehicle hatch. We wrap old hand towels around the mast at the crutch and over the tabernacle for padding, and cushion the base of the mast where it may contact the tow vehicle hatch. We also tie everything down, including the side stays and pad where needed to prevent metal from rubbing on the deck. The boom tent also works as a storage cover, but we will not trailer with that attached. For long trips we rmove the main from the boom and stow the boom poking out of the cuddy, with the mainsheet tucked into the lazarette. Last thing to do is check the trailer lights, CYANE's trailer is set up with LED lights on the trailer and the trailer guides. More info on those great LED lights upcoming in the Feb 2021 issue of Small Boats Magazine.



Check bearings, tires, safety chains, coupler lock and hit the road. Tires should be less than 6 years old, more info about how to check and why in our Small Boats Magazine article June 2018.

Ready to roll!

04 May 22:

CYANE did indeed make it to Virginia, and she has a nice spot on the back patio, right in the middle of our courtyard and all the family activities. Since CYANE's shrouds, forestay and turnbuckles are of uncertain age we should replace them soon, in case Webb wants to circumnavigate her. We made some calls and located our new rigger, in Deltaville, VA. I planned to tow CYANE over for him to do the work but he suggested I just remove the rigging if I was comfortable with that, and bring just the rigging. Darn, CYANE was excited about a ferry ride across the James River. 

So we'll undo the turnbuckles...



...and we'll take the spreaders as well to be checked out. 


 04 May 23:

Our 1971 O'Day Day Sailer II CYANE has been guarding the back porch for about a year as we get settled, so it was time to rinse of some dirt and pollen that had accumulated on the foredeck. We used a Greenworks electric pressure washer and a little bit of TILEX. Most of the grime came loose with just water, but the hull required a light wipe with a damp cloth before the final rinse. The mast and exposed lines got sprayed off as well.


Video link: https://youtu.be/4zvogpOvrcA


She scrubbed up real nice. We also pressure washed the patio and luckily I got CYANE rolled back into place before Skipper could do donuts on the concrete.


26 May 24:

Poor CYANE, our 1972 O'Day Day Sailer II, was turning kind of green in her shady porch spot, so we pulled out the pressure washer and gave her a 2000 psi fresh water rinse. The porch is getting hosed off as well.  


We are still scouting for a good spot to rig and launch. In the Old Timey Days we had enough pep to rig (step 22 foot mast), sail and downrig all in one day, but that didn't leave much time for sailing. So our 2024 Plan is to spread the rigging, sailing and downrig over at least a 2 day period, maybe even find a slip to leave the boat for a couple of weeks. If you have some ideas around Southside VA, leave a comment please.

Cheers,
Kent and Audrey

to be continued...

References:
Cape Cod Shipbuilding Company
Day Sailer
Day Sailer Association
O'Day Manufacturing Corporation

24 comments:

  1. What size trailer is your new one?


    ReplyDelete
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    1. It is a Load Rite 14F1000W. 1,000 pound capacity, 14' 6" maximum bow eye to transom, 4.80x12B tires, overall width 64” , width between fenders 49”, overall trailer length 16' 4" It held a Bucaneer 18 before, I have the bunks extended about 2 feet off the back of the trailer, and it is balanced well. It tows great. Load Rite also makes a 16 foot 1200 pound capacity trailer that should work as well.http://www.loadrite.com/GalvanizedTrailers-Bunk-Single.php

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    2. Update 30 Sep 17: We got a new drop frame trailer for the Lugger Onkahye so Cyane got assigned to Onkahye's previous trailer, which has been in the family 25+ years. It is longer than the LoadRite so Cyane will ride a little more balanced aft. Our trailer guy Eddie put on a new tongue and everything else but the main frame, so it is ready to roll for another 25 years.

      Delete
  2. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

    ReplyDelete
  3. A week ago I bought a 1978 Daysailer 2 which is in decent condition. I appreciate the time and effort you put into your blog as it has answered some questions that I had and also has pointed out a few modifications that I had not considered. What is the pressure rating on the washer that you are using? I have a 1200 psi that is not getting the bottom crud and paint off however I am afraid to use more pressure.
    Thanks, JW

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Congratulations on your new boat! Our Greenworks electric pressure washer puts out 2000 psi, and I think we used the "Turbo" tip. Sold at Lowes. Keep an eye on the finish, but you should be fine. I never had any indication of damaging any gelcoat, it was barely removing any 20 year old flaky paint in just one or two areas. You can find us on facebook Small Boat Restoration as well.

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  4. I recently picked up a 1984 (25th anniversary) version Daysailer II, not too far from where she was born in Massachusetts. She was ready to splash with the purchase of a few accessories, we love it! I really appreciate this blog, and the video you have posted on painting Cyane’s hull. I too want to paint the hull and I think we’re leaning towards Blue Ice also, I’m anxious to paint now but the sailing days are limited here on Cape Cod and I’d better wait until fall, and I know it’s all in the preparation. Would you recommend priming before topcoat for a first time paint?

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    Replies
    1. Yes, the primer will be the bridge that ties the new paint to the old gelcoat.

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  5. Hi again folks, the center board of our DS II is very hard to up haul (literally must pull with everything you’ve got) and I’m wondering if the prior owner has it rigged incorrectly or there is a better way to rig it. I have jacked her up and operated it to see if it was another factor was binding it up but it is all clear. Any thoughts? Or pics of how yours is rigged would be extremely helpful, thanks. Oh and I am a Marine also, EAS was 25 years ago. Semper Fidelis.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Actually today is the 31st anniversary of graduation day on Paris Island!

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    2. Ooohrah! Send me photos of how yours is rigged at lewis dot kent at gmail dot com And there are a couple of ways the centerboard is rigged. See 12 Aug 20 post above.

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    3. Hello again Clark…I was wondering if you could tell me what font Cyane is in? Is it a named font? (seems like there’s millions out there!) Anyway if it is a custom font, no big deal just thought I’d ask. Hope all is well with you all.

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    4. I'll find out what the name of the font is, it should be a stock font.

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    5. That font is called Zapf Chancery Medium Italic BT.

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    6. PaulieD, we have the same issue, last time out the old rope CB uphaul snapped from the force. We find heading up to take the lateral pressure off the board helps a lot. I'm told the old fiberglass centerboards can swell and expand over the years, and combined with some oilcanning of the CB trunk can make for a tight fit. Solution is to sand some thickness off the CB. We haven't yet tested this theory as we can't access the CB when the boat is on the trailer, but plan to careen it and have a look. Lots of good info here: https://forum.daysailer.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=5104&p=39397&hilit=rakozy#p39397

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  6. Very helpful blog. I'd like to add similar cam cleats to the centerboard trunk for the jib lines as you have. How did you secure them to the centerboard trunk? I assume you cannot get underneath the trunk to add bolts, does a simple pilot hole and screw do the job? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The factory did that. I'm not sure how they are secured. You might contact the current builder Cape Cod Shipbuilding Company and see if they know or the Daysailer Association. Good luck!

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  7. Loving your blog - 1st sailed a DS when I was 13. Now 60 yrs later, have DS II from 1975.

    One question (of many) Is your Suzuki outboard a short or long shaft model? And did you have an electric motor I saw in another picture? (oops, that's two).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Howdy, congrats on your new boat! The Suzuki 2 1/2 is a short shaft, and it is plenty deep on the short transom of the Day Sailer II. We did have a MinnKota trolling motor but it was only good for calm water, minimum current. Plus it had a 60 pound battery compared to the 29 pound Suzuki. The other big deal with the electric is that we never knew when the battery was going to conk out. I think folks have been happy with the Torqueedo around 42 pounds, it can be set up with solar panels to recharge the batteries.

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    2. Thank you for this fast reply. Now I have three auxiliaries, the 4hp Merc, 6hp E-rude from 1975 that's way too big, but a 2cyl sio its; smooth and a 2hp little old E-rude.

      I refurbished an old DePersia bailer on my boat, but it turned into a barnacle haven again. I'll be hunting for the longer version of the Sunfish bailer next.

      But first, replace the broken Lil-Dude Trailer. Nothing holding it together but rust and paint.

      Any and all suggestions welcome.

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  8. Hi Kent and Audrey,
    What trailer are you using on the DSII?
    I see your mods in the blog, but what model is it?

    Thanks!
    John in VA Beach

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah! Just saw it in comments from 10 years ago!

      Thanks,
      John

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    2. Please elaborate on "...Update 30 Sep 17: ...Cyane got assigned to Onkahye's previous trailer, which has been in the family 25+ years. It is longer than the LoadRite so Cyane will ride a little more balanced aft. Our trailer guy Eddie put on a new tongue and everything else but the main frame, so it is ready to roll for another 25 years."

      Thanks!
      John

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    3. Our Drascombe Lugger got a new custom fit trailer by Eddie English in Milton, FL, so we took the old Lugger trailer to Eddie and he custom fit it to the Day Sailer. He reused the box frame and fenders, everything else was swapped out for new, most importantly the axle and bunks and a little bit longer tongue so we can launch easier from shoal ramps.

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