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Identify my boat

7K views 37 replies 13 participants last post by  RichNH 
#1 · (Edited)
Hi, I'm a brand new member here. I have a bit of a problem. I was given a daysailer and have no clue as to who made it or how old it is. It is old enough so that it doesn't seem to have a HIN or any other identifiable markings. I'm curious if anyone knows of a web site that would allow me to deduce it's manufacture by entering in characteristics.

Rich

PS I just noticed that I put a thumbs down icon where I meant to put a question mark. This is *not* a good beginning....
 
#2 ·
Once you get to 10 posts, I would recommend you post a photo of it...

Also, read the post in my signature, since that will give you some help on how to post photos more easily and such.
 
#4 ·
PS I just noticed that I put a thumbs down icon where I meant to put a question mark. This is *not* a good beginning....
:D :D Don't worry about it. We like self-deprecating humor.

There is a completely inane thread over in the "Off-Topic" forum, the thread is called "The Song Thread" or something equally ridiculous. New folks use this thread to quickly build up their post count to 10 which then enables the other Sailnet features (it's an anti-spam precaution). You'll be able to post a photo of your boat (host the photo at Flickr or similar and embed the link here).

We have some ace boat i.d.-ers that will probably help you out pretty quickly, if only you can show them a photo. Welcome to Sailnet!
 
#6 ·
Thanks, I do plan to post a photo soon, but I was hoping that someone would know of a web site that allowed you to work your way down a list a questions to at least identify the type of boat you have and perhaps the manufacturer or at least class/design. There is something similar in biology called a key which, by working your way through the questions allows you to identify a plant or animal down to the species. I had searched this site looking for something similar and didn't find it so I figured I'd try and see if anyone knew of one. Just trying to be a good, newbie I guess...

Rich :)
 
#7 · (Edited)
There is something similar in biology called a key which, by working your way through the questions allows you to identify a plant or animal down to the species. I had searched this site looking for something similar and didn't find it so I figured I'd try and see if anyone knew of one. Just trying to be a good, newbie I guess...Rich :)
The closest thing we have to something like that is JeffH, Faster, and a few others who are aces at i.d.-ing boats. But they usually need to see a photo...:)

Also, there is an old thread called "What boat is this" or something along those lines. It was a little trivia game where folks posted a photo of a boat model and others guessed the i.d. Man, there were a lot of boats posted in that thread, many of them pretty obscure. Maybe worth a look:

http://www.sailnet.com/forums/general-discussion-sailing-related/38864-what-boat.html
 
#8 ·
Ok..so lets narrow you down a bit. Then when you post a picture we can really get to the nitty gritty! Give us clues... length, trailer, keel retractable or not, bowsprit, glass, wood, height of mast, tiller, wheel, cabin or no cabin,
and do you have a logo on the sail?
 
#9 · (Edited)
It is a 16' boat. Has a draw up centerboard. The mast goes through the deck and fixes in the bottom rather than being deck mounted. There is no HIN or identifying marks that I can see and I've been all over it. I've made my quota so here it is. Hitting the sack now...

After uploading it, I'll have to futz with the photo editor for a bit more in order to maximize the size of the photo. i really was hoping there was some sort of program available that allowed a person to drill down and come to a close answer rather than this being another "what is this boat?" thread. But what the heck, at least I'll get to know more. later...

Next morning: Well, finally got the sizes under 97.7 KB. The pics of the interior of the boat are from a few weeks ago before she was cleaned up, but I wanted to post some shots of the cockpit (if you'd call it that) as I assume it'll help identify the boat. Time for work. Thanks for any help you can offer.

Rich
 

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#10 ·
Rich, It reminds me of some of the offerings from Newport, but we'll have to hear from others for a positive i.d.

I took the liberty of embedding your photos here, so folks don't have to follow a link:





 
#16 ·
Huh.

I knew my O'Day was missing something back when.

I owned one of the original Daysailors and had a ball with it. I even took it to
Catalina from Long Beach a couple of times. (Picked my weather REAL carefully!)

Sweet little boat. When you got her up on a plane, her centerboard would hum. That was my speedometer. When the board hummed, I was hauling mass! :D
 
#17 ·
Mmmmm... Had a Daysailer too... I don't think that's a Daysailer. The bow was more plumb, I think.....

Could be wrong...

Do you have a picture of the insignia on the main sail?

David
 
#18 ·
I don't have a picture of the insignia, yet. I did find a web site that matched mainsail insignias with manufacturers but didn't see mine in it. It'll be tomorrow evening before I can post that as we have a function at the house tonight.

Re: the rock. I know its a poor substitute, but until I find a carbide deck gun that's all the armament I have...

I had thought to look up the NY registration not only on the bow but also on the registration sticker, alas to no avail. But if anyone knows of the web site that has such data I'd be most grateful.
 
#20 ·
Rich-

Go the the local bookstore or libary. There is a book available called the" Field Guide to Sailboats of North America". You should be able to figure out what it is that way. If I remember correctly the boats are arranged from smallest to biggest. If someone doesn't pop up with the answer soon, that would be a quick easy way to identify the boat. (Will also give you all the specs for the boat as well as background info.)
 
#24 ·
Who made the flying tern? Could this be a related boat???
 
#25 ·
I have a question, I have two sets of sails, both with the same logo, both from the same retailer. Is it customary that a sailmaker will sell sails with the logo of the manufacturer of the boat they are destined for? I mean, it seems to me that maybe the sails aren't indicative of the maker of the boat.

Too, the two mainsails have different ways of attaching to the mast and boom. One set uses an embedded rope to anchor the sails to the mast and boom and the other uses plastic attachments that ride up the slots. I guess in my mind, it's possible that neither of these sail sets is original and the logo on both sets may possibly be misleading.

Rich
 
#26 ·
Yes, it is fairly normal for a sailmaker to put the logo of the boat manufacturer or model on the sail when they're being made. The difference between the sails is pretty typical, with the bolt rope probably being the older of the two. The sail with the slugs was probably bought afterwards and the owner wanted sails that were easier to hoist.
I have a question, I have two sets of sails, both with the same logo, both from the same retailer. Is it customary that a sailmaker will sell sails with the logo of the manufacturer of the boat they are destined for? I mean, it seems to me that maybe the sails aren't indicative of the maker of the boat.

Too, the two mainsails have different ways of attaching to the mast and boom. One set uses an embedded rope to anchor the sails to the mast and boom and the other uses plastic attachments that ride up the slots. I guess in my mind, it's possible that neither of these sail sets is original and the logo on both sets may possibly be misleading.

Rich
 
#27 ·
That hooked beak had me thinking the sail logo represents a bird of prey.

At first the wingspan reminded me of the Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) because it appears to be hovering, but another bird of prey that also hovers like that is the Osprey (Pandion haliaetus).

I did a quick search and came across a reference to an older 16' O'Day model called the "Osprey". Could only find one photo:

O'Day Osprey

Unfortunately, the photo does not seem to match, nor the sail logo.

The hook in the beak is very pronounced --artistic license, or deliberate? It reminds me of Kites, like the Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis). Another search came up with a reference to "Kite Sailboats", but no photos:

Re:Re:Kite Sailboat

Just tossing around ideas here....
 
#28 ·
I agree about the Osprey, the mast is not located correctly. And thanks for the info about the sail logo. It meshes with what I understand the history of the boat is. My brother-in-law obtained it for free from someone who, shall we say, did not have to sweat car inspections (old European money).

Well, perhaps this will be an unsolved mystery. I googled O'Day Sailer and there was a lot of data out there, much of which seems applicable to my boat. I suppose that as long as the thing floats and I figure out how to rig and sail it, I'm GTG.

Rich
 
#31 ·
Well, from what I understand, the boat originally belonged to a well-to-do person who has ties back to Germany, is it possible that the boat's of European manufacture?

I will take more pictures this Saturday which give better views and I will load them onto an external web site so as to retain their size. Any particular shots that would be helpful?

Rich
 
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