SailNet Community banner
  • SailNet is a forum community dedicated to Sailing enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about sailing, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, repairs, reviews, maintenance, and more!

My Project Boat

100K views 576 replies 81 participants last post by  AllThumbs 
#1 ·
I bought a project boat. A 1973 DS 20. My plan is to fix her up and sail her for a couple years at least. I have a million questions, so rather than start a million threads, I am starting just this one. I plan on ask questions pertaining to the project here, and documenting the project here with plenty of photographs etc.

We will see how it goes. There may be times when little progress is made due to time/weather constraints, and other times where there is a flurry of activities.

I am hoping this thread serves as some motivation to others considering a project boat, and also as log/scrap book of the project.

I have posted this pic in the "buying a boat" area, but here she is again on the day we met. I have since towed her the 120 miles home. More specific pictures related to questions soon.

I paid $750.00 for her, so keep that in mind when you see the project unfold. :)

Eric
 

Attachments

See less See more
1
#530 ·
There are many places water can get in. Chain plates or leaky cabin ports to name just two. Get in the boat with a flash light next time it rains and look around. Water that gets in from the cockpit area tends to get into the bilge and not the cabin but I am not familiar with your boat.

Eric
 
#534 ·
Wow, I bet that is it. The guy who sold it to us didn't say it was a Santana
but I think that is probably it. It is a '72 and the cabin is laid out that way.
Thank you for taking the time to find that. I couldn't find out much about
the boat. Now I have a model to help with fixing some of the things that are wrong with it. Thank you again, Cassy
 
#538 ·
The picture of the keel on that Santana looks like it could be a different way
because the way it's drawn. Mine is on a trailer and there is a winch in the cabin floor and it is all pulled apart. I think it quit working and the PO tried
(not too hard) to fix it. We will probably have to get it to a boat yard or buy
some stands to get it off the trailer and see what is wrong with the keel. I
know that it is very heavy and it could be dangerous, too.
 
#540 ·
Yeah they did go through. In the first on you can sort of see the keel trunk and the winch mess. The second pic shows the square that was cut in the cockpit where the soft spot is. It gives if you step on it. The tiller is missing but the pipe (?) that holds the rudder to the tiller is broken.
 
#541 ·
Hello Ken, I'm a newbie also and know very little about sailing. On some weekends I jump down from central MS to North Shore to work on a sailboat just bought.The boat is a 1978 Creekmore 34 and I've been able to find some history.
Hull serial numbers are sometimes on plate inside cabin, but not on my boat. I found this information on paperwork that came with boat. The engine also has a serial number that can possible be run by manufacturer with tidbits of information. Also found more info on internet from article in Sail Magazine with pictures where original owner with Lee Creekmore was custom laying hull.
 
#542 · (Edited)
Well, I took my boat to a buddies house who has a boat hoist so we could inspect the keel and it's related hardware. I had images of the keel falling off somewhere on Georgian Bay, so an inspection was warranted.

Here is the boat on the hoist






The keel deployed.




Here is a view of her "privates" Always hidden from view under normal circumstances. I feel like a bit of a pervert just looking.


Cable disconnected from winch so we could lower if further


1/16" SS cable. It has a crimp fitting holding things together. It looked in good shape actually


Front pivot pin cover off and pin removed


Not bad for almost 40 years of wear. It's a very hard foam core and lead encapsulated in glass. It weighs about 100 lbs. Somehow, it has stayed in one piece. Some of these boats have been known to have swollen keels that don't come out of the slot anymore. Swollen by being water logged and frozen/split open I guess.


This doesn't look that great, but no time to fix, and it's lasted this long so it's going back in this way. I am pretty sure it looked like this when new.


Clean up


New cable 1/8" instead of the original 1/16".






I think the old cable had broken at the winch at one point, and then shortened and reattached to the winch. The new cable allows the keel to drop another 4 inches or so.


Now I can sail with peace of mind. I had visions of frayed cables and worn keel pin/holes.

Eric
 
#543 ·
It is nice to have access to a private lift. That saved you a boat buck or two right there.
I'd call that a swing keel or a center board as a keel is usually thought of as the lowest point of the hull that is naturally fixed to the hull. Some are cantilevered as well.
I'd also think about grinding out and re-sealing the top of your board above the pivot hole where it shows damage. You are lucky your swing keel/center board has not swelled as this damaged area clearly is below the water line and would allow water to intrude into the core.
Replacing the wire rope pendant was an important job to do though. The extra 4" of deployed center board may be useful, or it may not. Sometimes having the board only partially deployed results in faster sailing but it depends on the boat and point of sail. You are pretty clever so you will figure it out.
 
#545 ·
I'd also think about grinding out and re-sealing the top of your board above the pivot hole where it shows damage. You are lucky your swing keel/center board has not swelled as this damaged area clearly is below the water line and would allow water to intrude into the core.
I hear you. The thing has lasted 38 years tho. What ever water that gets in there obviously drains/drys out before winter has a chance to do any damage. I would worry about "fixing" it such that any opening is large enough to allow water in, but too small to allow it to come out or dry out. The core is a very hard foam, almost like bondo hard. If you look at the pic, you can see some delamination at the pivot hole. To seal it all perfectly may not be possible. There is a saying in the electrical trade that goes: "If you want to make something water proof, drill a drain hole in the bottom". Attempting a "fix" could spell disaster in this case. I'll try my luck as is.

Eric
 
#544 ·
My husbands boss has a hoist kind of like this and we were thinking we could
use it to check our swing keel and maybe fix whatever is wrong with it. Now
that you posted these pictures of yours it will make it a bit easier to get it
done. It has been a busy summer (painting our house) now cooler weather
is here and not easy to work on a boat outside. Maybe we'll have some more
nice warm days before the snow flies!! ;) Thanks again for the pics and info.. It's always appreciated and interesting.
 
#549 ·
Hey there All Thumbs.

I just finished reading the whole thread. You have really out in an extraordinary effort. I have recently bought a DS 20 sail# 72. Your thread has really inspired me, and just in time for weather to start cooperating with a project.

I will be trailer it back and forth to the Bay of Quinte while repairing/restoring/sailing her the summer.

BTW, where did you get the 1/4 " sheets of fiberglass?

Again great work and documentation.
 
#559 ·
So I too have undertaken a project boat. I bought a 1976 30' Lancer for $2800. The interior has been completely redone by the PO. They had an eclectic style and took a few shortcuts and did not go all out but I find the cabin to be very comfortable and accomodating. I don't have any pics to post as of now but here are the things which I need to do to get her sailing again.

1: The four-stroke 9.9hp outboard starts on a dime and sounds great but no cooling water coming out of the pee hole.

2: Haul out and bottom paint

3: Repair the Jib, replace a few hanks on the mainsail.

4: New standing rigging and running rigging

5: Elbow grease, elbow grease, and more elbow grease!

6: Port lights are foggy. I like the one peice smoked idea as I have 3 on each side and that seems like a more affordable and easier solution than replacing or repairing each one.

7: Fix or replace one hatch which leaks.

Anyways, I'll post some pics soon, I really appreciate everyones participation on this site. It has inspired me to take on a project which should allow me to be sailing within a couple of months. The best thing is that I am using this boat as my office (answering phone and booking jobs for my contracting business) as I complete the work so I am writing off the slip fees, utilities and repairs!
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top