I'm a new owner of an older fiberglass 12' daysailer. Since I am just learning how to sail with this boat my question is: If this boat is turtled is there a chance that it will sink?
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I have had a Javlin in our family for 20 years and no one has sunk it yet, It has turtled many times
Both the O'DAY Widgeon and the O'DAY 12 had sufficient floatation to keep them afloat if swamped or capsized. However, with proper sailing technique you should almost never capsize. ALWAYS sail with the mainsheet in your hand, the WIDGEON (at least the 1969 and later ones) had a camcleat for the mainsheet and you can use that to hold the tension but ALWAYS keep the mainsheet in hand. That way, if you get hit with a gust of wind you can instantly release the sheet and spill the wind before you come close to a capsize. I also added a tiller extension to mine that allowed me to sit on the side deck on a windy day, it is amazing how that made the boat more stable!
In the 7 years that I sailed my WIDGEON, the only time that I capsized was the time that I stood up on the seat that the mast steps through in order to remove a piece of seaweed on the spreader (long story!) and the boat rolled over on the mooring. Luckily, I had already taken the sails down and bagged them (and put them in my dinghy). As soon as I fell overboard, the boat instantly righted herself, half-full of water, but upright! The previous owner had gone over at least once, but I have a feeling that his 80-year old reflexes may have hurt his chances of a quick enough recovery to avoid capsize.
The seaweed on the spreader came from the boat filling up with water and rolling over in a tropical downpour about a week earlier. I suspect that the foam inside the mast of most small O'DAYs will help to prevent turning turtle (might not completely prevent, but should reduce likelyhood). O'DAY did offer an optional turtle-prevention device for a awhile on the Widgeon, Javelin, and Day Sailer. It consisted of a balloon housed at the masthead that would inflate like today's inflatable lifejackets. My Godfather had one on his Javelin, and I guess it worked fine....except it did not deflate after you righted the boat! Not sure if he replaced it afterwards, or what.
In the 7 years that I sailed my WIDGEON, the only time that I capsized was the time that I stood up on the seat that the mast steps through in order to remove a piece of seaweed on the spreader (long story!) and the boat rolled over on the mooring. Luckily, I had already taken the sails down and bagged them (and put them in my dinghy). As soon as I fell overboard, the boat instantly righted herself, half-full of water, but upright! The previous owner had gone over at least once, but I have a feeling that his 80-year old reflexes may have hurt his chances of a quick enough recovery to avoid capsize.
The seaweed on the spreader came from the boat filling up with water and rolling over in a tropical downpour about a week earlier. I suspect that the foam inside the mast of most small O'DAYs will help to prevent turning turtle (might not completely prevent, but should reduce likelyhood). O'DAY did offer an optional turtle-prevention device for a awhile on the Widgeon, Javelin, and Day Sailer. It consisted of a balloon housed at the masthead that would inflate like today's inflatable lifejackets. My Godfather had one on his Javelin, and I guess it worked fine....except it did not deflate after you righted the boat! Not sure if he replaced it afterwards, or what.
RE: Oday Floatation
My first sailboat was a cat rigged O'day Day sailor, a 12 footer. I was taking kids out for a sail and when coming about they didn't slide over, water poured over the gunles....swamped the boat...me and 4 6 to 10 year-olds...sailed right to shore. I wish I still had that boat!
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