Ascertaining Boat Number for Sails

[AndyKatonahNewYork]

I have an O'Day DS II and bought new sails from Intensity last Summer ('09). I couldn't understand what those numbers were that came with the sails (Duh!) . I foolishly threw out the old sails and did not take note of whether the boat's number (build number?) was on the old sails (Double Duh!). Since then, I've learned that every boat has a number (that's right, didn't know it) and that it goes on the sails (A-Ha!). Now, genius that I am, I would like to ascertain the number of my boat and put in on the mainsail so that I -- that's right -- can look like I know what I'm doing (seriously). Can anybody tell me how to ascertain the number that I should put on the sails? Presumably that is the build number? There is a long number that is stamped on the outside of the transom of the boat, but it looks too long to be the number.

[GreenLake]

Why don't you start by posting that long number here.

[Roger]

XDYD####0674 the last four numbers being the month and year of build, (your numbe may vary). The four or five number in the middle (####) will be your sail number.

[AndyKatonahNewYork]

Thank you Roger and Green Lake. Roger, you've been such a great resource in the past.

A little confusion though, Roger my number is a little different than what you put. {XDYD####0674)

My boat is a 1981 model, as per the registration.
My number, listed on the transom and also, I see, on the state's registration document as the hull number, is XDY10834M81K-D
So, it starts with three letters, not four, and what follows is five numerals, not just four, before the letter "M." So, (I'm probably missing your meaning) what's my boat/sail number? Any further help would be appreciated.

[GreenLake]

Your HIN is in the "Model year" format (identified by the "M") and the M81K mean that yout boat is a 1981 model and built in July ("A" is August).

[AndyKatonahNewYork]

I see, so, if I'm following you both correctly, my sail (build) number is 10834? That number just sounds high. Were there over ten thousand daysailer boats built before mine was built in 1981? That's what's confusing me. If so, I take it that is the number that goes on the sail, and no letters, right?

[GreenLake]

I think the assumption that sail numbers are assigned from 1 without gaps is one that's been violated in the history of the DS. That would be the explanation for your sail number.

Also, while the number does not contain any letters, you would have the DS logo (the D with the dropped S intertwined) above the numbers.

One set of numbers on either side of the sail, with the starboard side placed higher. So the order from the top is starboard logo, port logo, starboard number, port number.

That said, you only need the number if you intend to race in a DS Fleet or other event where they record sail numbers. The DS logo is another matter - it's a nice conversation starter "what kind of boat is this?".

Your old sails may have had the wrong number (unless they were the original set). Many people buy used racing sails for cruising and may not always bother to remove the (wrong) number.

My boat came with used sails like that (but with the number removed) and now has new sails, still w/o number, as I didn't have the handy hull number plate like you do and it took a lot of detective work to arrive at a likely number (which I then formally reserved with the DSA secretary - just in case I ever need it).

The weekly beer-can race I participate in couldn't care less whether my boat has any number in the sail, heck, they didn't even blink when I told them it has no name. Until the day I'll stumble into one of the first three spots, they won't even record I was there Because the race is not one design, that would be an unlikely event - there are usually more than three other boats there that are much faster by design and sail area than the DS.

[talbot]

<I see, so, if I'm following you both correctly, my sail (build) number is 10834? That number just sounds high. Were there over ten thousand daysailer boats built before mine was built in 1981? That's what's confusing me. If so, I take it that is the number that goes on the sail, and no letters, right?>

That's right. The DSII was built from 1971 to 1984. DSII sail numbers range from 4522 to 12943. My boat (built April 1973) has SN 6546. So it would be quite reasonable to have #10834 in 1981.

See http://forum.daysailer.org/tech_hullindex.php in this forum.