| Hi Brian -
The DN was promoted by the Detroit News newspaper, so you might
try inquiring there. I remember plans being published in Mechanix
Illustrated back in the late 50s - early 60s. It's a pretty simple
design. I recall one version using Sailfish rigging.
If you get stuck, let me know and I'll see if I can come up with
some drawings from memory, for your purposes, it doesn't have to
be exact.
- Bill
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| The DN is definitely still sailed and in large numbers. It is easily the most
popular ice boat, at least in N.E. Next most popular I think is Skeeters, but
in numbers and performance there is no comparison.
I see that you're located in Merrimack and I'll point out that Lake Massabesic
is an excellent ice boating lake and DNs are regularly found on the lake. Last
year I was in the market for a DN, but unfortunately never found a good used
one and I'm sure I can't justify new. I have sailed DNs and I did race
committee for a regatta once. You'll love it. I'm jealous.
I used to sail on Webster Lake in Massachusetts. Several members of my club
there had DNs that they had built and one was a sailmaker for DNs. I'm sure
they could help you with plans, sails and anything else you needed for your
DN. I have other contacts locally too. If you would like names and phones,
give me a call. I'd rather not post their names here.
- Bob
DTN 381-2830
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| Thanks for all the replies !!
I had no idea "DN's" were still popular..
As a little history on how I came by the hardware,,,,
My father built the boat back in the 60's. He bought the blades
and the control gear as a hardware kit someone put together back
then... The sail he had made at one of the local sailmakers...
The rest he built..
That was back in the period before my father regained his
sanity. (-: We used to sail in any weather.. I remember one
day we went out, the wind was so strong I had to sit up on
the nose of the boat to keep it on the ice when we would
turn into the wind.. When he finally decided it was to windy
and took the sail down a strong gust took the sail and boom
still attached to the halyard on the mast and flew it straight
out from the top of the mast like a flag... When I got off
the nose to help him the whole boat flipped over backwards,
landed on the mast,and broke it in two...
The end came after about four or five winters. We took
the boat up to Massabesic on another too windy day and put
so much pressure on it that the hull torqued in half...
It sounded like a cannon going off when it let go...
Fortunately my father has slowed down or I might not have
survived !!!
Also fortunate ,, my wife knows nothing about the above
escapades or she would NEVER let me rebuild her...
Brian...
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