Hi All,
Just purchased Dart 22 on Pittwater Sydney. Have always been aware of the class as my father had Camille the 37 ft canoe stern Admiral Cupper so had eye for Swanson design.

So lots of stuff on interweb re Swanson Yachts and heritage but only scant mention of 40 Darts built after requests for day sailers..
The boats in pretty good shape but would like to restore to original specs as much as possible;

- any info, plans, history & pics would be appreciated?
- maybe look to a register of active boats with view to sailing days & such?

Thanks in advance,
Norsemann

It's a boat that for some reason never got much publicity, although the people I know who have had them were delighted with them and they did sail well. The only fleet was at Vaucluse Yacht Club and they may be the best source of information.

I have been tempted several times. I particularly like the hardtop versions and think they would be the perfect pensioners boat for bay sailing.

I'm guessing you bought the one off eBay. That boat was a real gift. The alloy toe rails are a later addition. I could never understand why daysailers are not more popular in Australia, 99% of yacht owners day sail!

The Swanson Dart was a scaled down Swanson 36 .The rumours is ? the mould was sent to Melbourne back in the early 80's and was lost !

Select to expand quote

Ramona said..
I have been tempted several times. I particularly like the hardtop versions and think they would be the perfect pensioners boat for bay sailing.

Warwick Rooklyn and David Hodgson ( son of Ron Hodgson /motors) used to race one competitively out of Vaucluse. Don't know about Warwick but David was a good guy, worked with him. If you could track either down some info could be had. David reckoned it was a tougher and stiffer boat than Warwicks fathers boat.
Like Chris said, start with the Vaucluse club people.

Hi Norseman,
I just purchased a Swanson Dart 22 myself. Did you have any luck re specs on the boat.
Cheers.

The one for sale down at Moruya on eBay is a gift!

Select to expand quote

Windancer said..
Hi Norseman,
I just purchased a Swanson Dart 22 myself. Did you have any luck re specs on the boat.
Cheers.

Some history here. Best bet would be to find someone who hoards Seacraft magazines from the sixties and get a hold of one with a test sail.

www.boatsales.com.au/editorial/details/swanson-yachts-a-buyers-guide-8381/

Select to expand quote

Norsemann said..
Hi All,
Just purchased Dart 22 on Pittwater Sydney.

Great purchase! Contact Jim Nixon C/- Manly Yacht Club if you want more information or a sail; he's owned "Melody" for years.

Select to expand quote

Ramona said..

Windancer said..
Hi Norseman,
I just purchased a Swanson Dart 22 myself. Did you have any luck re specs on the boat.
Cheers.

Some history here. Best bet would be to find someone who hoards Seacraft magazines from the sixties and get a hold of one with a test sail.

www.boatsales.com.au/editorial/details/swanson-yachts-a-buyers-guide-8381/

Thanks,
Hard to get info on.

Select to expand quote

Ramona said..
The one for sale down at Moruya on eBay is a gift!

Yeah, I saw that. Thought it was an old Ad.

Select to expand quote

sydchris said..

Norsemann said..
Hi All,
Just purchased Dart 22 on Pittwater Sydney.

Great purchase! Contact Jim Nixon C/- Manly Yacht Club if you want more information or a sail; he's owned "Melody" for years.

Thanks,
May just do that.
Now I have the logistics of getting the boat from Yamba to Mooloolaba. Thinking of pinching a flat bed truck from work and
bringing it up. It should lay flat on her side supported by a few truck and car tyres. An Etchells trailer was also a thought. So of course
is doing a 5 to 7 day trip up the coast. Sailing in the day and finding shelter in the evening. Yamba to Ballina,Brunswick,Tweed,Southport,Morton bay and up to Mooloolaba. Any thoughts? I'm using an average speed of 3.5 Knots.

Hello Dart followers - add me to the list! If anyone is in the Broken Bay / Pittwater region & wants to sail while admiring a mirror image of your own boat I would be happy to oblige. I bought a Dart mid 2017 to be a sailed mooring minder, as opposed to a bit of floating junk. I'm having a lot of easy fun sailing about the small shoaling water between Pretty Beach & the Rip Bridge at lunch time when work gets to dull/hard/repetitive or its just too good a day to not sail. In fact having so much fun my actual boat has a real competitor for affection.
BTW Porta-Slip were very good to deal with & got my boat out at Port Stephens on the high & back down to Woy Woy on the same high - there is a pretty long lag for highs at Woy Woy.

Select to expand quote

dart22 said..
Hello Dart followers - add me to the list! If anyone is in the Broken Bay / Pittwater region & wants to sail while admiring a mirror image of your own boat I would be happy to oblige. I bought a Dart mid 2017 to be a sailed mooring minder, as opposed to a bit of floating junk. I'm having a lot of easy fun sailing about the small shoaling water between Pretty Beach & the Rip Bridge at lunch time when work gets to dull/hard/repetitive or its just too good a day to not sail. In fact having so much fun my actual boat has a real competitor for affection.
BTW Porta-Slip were very good to deal with & got my boat out at Port Stephens on the high & back down to Woy Woy on the same high - there is a pretty long lag for highs at Woy Woy.

Hi dart 22 a belated welcome. Apologies as I haven't been on here for a week. Looks like we are starting up a little Dart club on here. What a great little sail boat they are. Still haven't sailed mine yet as doing some work on her. I have a blog on here and will up date soon. Tell us about your little boat.
Cheers

Hi Windancer - I see you fly gliders too - I let my licence lapse, but still have the glider. Thinking about getting the rating back now the kids are older & I live close to a launch now.
You'll see a post from me confirming it aint no dart after all! Its clear when I look at the www.ajax23class.co.uk/class_information.htm website that it is an Ajax 23. Somewhere in its history the story got muddied. Any way its still a fine sailor, & now I have a trove of reliable current information.

Best,
Charlie