DS 20 performance

[AllThumbs]

Antone know or own this boat? It's a 20 foot, 1850 lbs displacement swing keel boat with 185 square feet of sail. It is said to be slow by some who have owned one. Just wondering how slow?

Also what makes a design slower than another? Is it mainly displacement vs. sail area? Does swing keel = slow? Hull shape has something to do with it I am sure too.

Thanks, Eric

[sailingdog]

looks like a cute little boat. swing keel does not becessarily equal slow.

[AllThumbs]

Here is a pic from the original brochure....

[bobmcgov]

PHRF average is 285, which puts it slower than the Balboa 20 or ComPac19, both famously pokey boats. But who cares? All sailboats are slow. You can pay $10 million for the latest canting-keel, carbon fiber racer and go as fast as ... a person on a bicycle. So once you get your head around that, it becomes a matter of HOW slow a sailboat is -- and more importantly, how slow it feels. A Hobie 14 is slow, a Sunfish is slow -- but they sure feel like they are ripping along. Helm response, acceleration, heeling, pitching all contribute to a boat's feeling of excitement. Hard to advise on that.

From the picture you posted, I'd say the mast is short and the mainsail very small, roachless. Can't even see the purpose of that first set of reef points. Long spreaders and jibsheets outside the shrouds suggest it's hard to get a fine slot between the sails; that'll rob your power. It's a beamy bugger that carries its width well aft, so it'll be stable but with some drag. Cockpit looks comfy, nice fat rails to sit on, looks like a recessed traveler mid-boom. Appears well set up and ready to sail. I like it. If you can arrange a test sail, see if it feels heavy or quick.

Edit: just noticed the red boat in your first post lacks the traveler; may be set up for boom-end sheeting. on this boat, I'd call that a demerit. Not a huge one, but still.

[AllThumbs]

The only other boat I have sailed (crewed really) close to this size was an Edel 540. How does this boat compare to it for speed?


Here are some more specs:

LOA: 20'5"
Beam: 7'7"
Headroom: 4'10"
LWL: 18'1"
Draft 22"
Sail Area: 185 sq. ft.
Displacement: 1850 lbs.
Ballast: 650 lbs

Another pic. The keel is a swing keel but I think it swings into this shoal looking keel.

Not sure about how the main is sheeted.

I am going to look at the boat this weekend. It's only $1500.00 but is supposed to be in good condition. We will see. I thinks it's been painted all over. I am not holding my breath.

Anyone know what the little blackboard on the right side of the transom is?

[bobmcgov]

Originally Posted by AllThumbs

The only other boat I have sailed (crewed really) close to this size was an Edel 540. How does this boat compare to it for speed?


Here are some more specs:

LOA: 20'5"
Beam: 7'7"
Headroom: 4'10"
LWL: 18'1"
Draft 22"
Sail Area: 185 sq. ft.
Displacement: 1850 lbs.
Ballast: 650 lbs

Another pic. The keel is a swing keel but I think it swings into this shoal looking keel.

Not sure about how the main is sheeted.

I am going to look at the boat this weekend. It's only $1500.00 but is supposed to be in good condition. We will see. I thinks it's been painted all over. I am not holding my breath.

Anyone know what the little blackboard on the right side of the transom is?

If the Edel 540 is the same as the Edel 5.4 OB, then this boat is faster. The Edel has an average PHRF of 309, which makes it the slowest sailboat I've ever seen. Slower than the Ensenada20. Slower than the Westerly Centaur. Slower, one thinks, than Thor Heyerdahl's waterlogged papyrus raft. No wait -- ComPac has a couple models at 318.

Perhaps the blackboard is for scrawling, "Help, I've fallen overboard and can't pull myself back in"? This RS looks much like the RK or Balboa20 in different dress. Down to the swing keel setup. Anyone know where those molds ended up?

[AllThumbs]

Where are you getting thos PHRF numbers? You have a link to a website?

[blt2ski]

http://www.ussailing.org/phrf/Tool_%...G%20Report.pdf

Here is US Sailings hi, low ae ratings for a number of boats. I have not looked to see if this boat is on the list.

To me anyway, this boat looks like it could be a good boat depending upon what it is your after. For $1500, you should be able to sell her for what you paid for, maybe a bit more if it needs some cleaning up on the inside. Outside, looks good, but as you mention, it may be new paint, which in and of itself, is not all bad either!

Marty

[AllThumbs]

It could be tremclad housepaint on her tho....

She is listed there as 288 average. Thanks for the link.

[AllThumbs]

Hey, my current boat is listed there. A Scirocco 15 (miss-spelled tho, it should be Sirocco 15). It is listed as a PHRF of 348. This means the DS 20 is the faster boat?

Eric