O'Day 222 cockpit seating

[saildoc]

Hello..Can any 222 owners tell me about cockpit backrest comfort ? Are the stock stern rails located close enough to the coaming edge to allow a lifeline cushion to provide back support ? Any other way to help provide a bit more support above the low coaming height for someone with a tender lower back ?

Thanks !

Saildoc

 

[Mich222]

Cockpit backrest comfort

Hi Saildoc:
All of the 222s through model year 1986 and some of the 1987 models had a lower-profile stern rail (lower meaning lower than stanchion height) that did not wrap the corner to the transom.

Starting somewhere in the 1987 model year, the stern rail design was modified to have a higher profile (about the same height as the stanchions) and the rail wrapped the corner. A picture of a 1987 stern rail with lifeline cushions is attached. You didn’t give us your height or size, however I suspect the higher-profile stern rail would provide more options for fashioning a lower back cushion.

Hello..Can any 222 owners tell me about cockpit backrest comfort ? Are the stock stern rails located close enough to the coaming edge to allow a lifeline cushion to provide back support ? Any other way to help provide a bit more support above the low coaming height for someone with a tender lower back ?

Thanks !

Saildoc

 

[saildoc]

Hi Saildoc:
All of the 222s through model year 1986 and some of the 1987 models had a lower-profile stern rail (lower meaning lower than stanchion height) that did not wrap the corner to the transom.

Starting somewhere in the 1987 model year, the stern rail design was modified to have a higher profile (about the same height as the stanchions) and the rail wrapped the corner. A picture of a 1987 stern rail with lifeline cushions is attached. You didn’t give us your height or size, however I suspect the higher-profile stern rail would provide more options for fashioning a lower back cushion.

Hi Mich222...and thanks for the reply and pic. I see the difference in stern rails. Most of the boats for sale that I've run across seem to be earlier models with the lower style. In the photo, I see you have lifeline cushions. Do they work well sitting on the cockpit seat or do you have to perch up on the coaming to utilize them ? I'm 5'8" tall, by the way. I do like the curved contour of the seats themselves and the slight angled edge off the coaming. It seems like O'Day was trying to make the seating comfortable. I just need a bit more lower back support, if I can figure out a way to get it...

 

[Joe11688]

Hello..Can any 222 owners tell me about cockpit backrest comfort ? Are the stock stern rails located close enough to the coaming edge to allow a lifeline cushion to provide back support ? Any other way to help provide a bit more support above the low coaming height for someone with a tender lower back ?

Thanks !

Saildoc

I think that most of the older O'Day 222s had the small rails at the stern. I have an 86 OD 222 that has the higher full stern rail and I'm told that they only built about 20 boats that year with these rails. With that said, I've found that placing a regular seat cushion against the Port rail for my back, works great for me. A lot of times, I just sprawl out with my legs up, and sail for long periods of time in total comfort. You may be able to buy a low profile wooden seat with a backrest which is commonly used in canoes, or you can build your own from a set of directions and modify it to fit the curvature of the seat. Check out "Uncle John's Country Store" and Classic Pirogue. http://www.unclejohns.com/boat/
I love the pierogue chair kit on this site as much as the Pirogue kits. Here's a pic of my stern rail. I added a mast crutch holder to assist in mast raising/lowering.
Joe

 

[OdayDave]

Saildoc -

Mine has the smaller stern rails (85 version of the 222). For better comfort, I jam a cushion between the coaming and the stern rail (and usually put the strap through the pelican hook for the lifeline so I don't lose the cushion if I get up and forget it). It helps but I need a little more cushion to make it more comfortable. I've considered a building something but I'm open to ideas here.

By the way, today would have a been a great day for a late fall sail here in WI, at least temperature wise. Nothing like highs in the low 50's in late Nov. My boat has been stored for about 4 weeks now. However, last weekend, my buddy and I splashed his Precision 23 at McKinley in Milwaukee and sailed for 6 hours. We had the entire lake to ourselves after the fishermen pulled out. We sailed almost 25 miles. The wind piped up to 12-15 at the end and we almost needed to tuck in a reef. What a great way to end the season.

Now it's time to start thinking about some of those winter projects. I was thinking of upgrading to a 25 footer, but Joe convinced me that I don't need a bigger boat for the next few years. Good advise! Thanks Joe. Anyhow, I've got to get the mast support built (see an earlier thread that Joe responded to) since mine predated that improvement. I'm also thinking about getting a spinnaker made. If you need a good local sailmaker, I found a guy in Port Washington who has a little shop and does very good work. Finally, I may work on power management (bigger solar panel, led lights for the steaming light and the running lights, alternator off the engine, etc). I'm already looking forward to spring. Anyhow, good luck with the 222. It's a great boat.

Best regards,

Dave
O'Day 222

 

[saildoc]

O'Day Dave,

I missed your post from last month...sorry for the long delay..I kind of thought some sort of wedged cushion might help the back support and it's certainly the simplest way to tackle that issue, as long as it's reasonably supportive.

I envy your outing from McKinley; it's great when you can steal one from mother nature that late in the season.

I've been casually keeping an eye out on various web classifieds for 222's...and must say that I've seen a few O'Day 23's (later version) that are appealing, as well. I've been on that size boat before and my sense is that it's a much heavier boat with some additional privacy in the cabin, if you need that sorta thing..I like the little cockpit ice box (!) and it seems to have a bit higher coamings ??

Fair winds for the 2010 sailing season !

Regards,
Doc

 

[OdayDave]

Hi Doc -

There are also those hinged seats (see the store on this website, and I have seen other models elsewhere) that might provide a little more back support. I try to keep it simple if at all possible and the single cushion does a good enough job for me at this point.

I looked at a 77 O'Day 25 this summer and didn't like the layout. Due to the enclosed head, the v-berth was actually a little smaller, and it was darker as well since the hatch was not smoked plexiglass. The biggest problem from my perspective was the absence of a fuel locker so the gas tank had to sit in the cockpit. I concluded that the 222 was the best choice for me at this point since I single hand a lot and I have the main systems (mast raising; launching/retrieving; single-handed sailing) worked out pretty well. Plus, I have relatively new sails and a new autopilot. In addition, it's easier to add a few minor toys each year when you don't make major purchases (like another boat). So I've quit looking for the time being and will continue to tweak the one I have.

Anyhow, the boat is under its winter cover, and while the days are finally getting longer, winter will be here for quite a few months. I'll try to get some projects planned for the spring, and then launch sometime before June this year.

Best regards,

Dave
O'Day 222

 

[saildoc]

Hi Dave,

I think your point about the 222 being simple to singlehand is what's driving me to this boat. My experiences sailing a 26 ft schooner the last 4 years were fun, but I've lost my one steadfast crewmember to college life and single handing a schooner is exercise for a day outing as much as it is anything else. I gotta believe a well set up 222 with roller furling and possibly even a "Mack-Pack" style mainsail cover system, will be a piece of cake... especially if kept in a slip...

I like the size and seeming simplicity of the 222 in comparison with others also. She seems simple enough to pull out for an extended weekend getaway without a lot of hassle, too..

We'll see if I can find one relatively close...

Fair winds..
Doc

Hi Doc -

There are also those hinged seats (see the store on this website, and I have seen other models elsewhere) that might provide a little more back support. I try to keep it simple if at all possible and the single cushion does a good enough job for me at this point.

I looked at a 77 O'Day 25 this summer and didn't like the layout. Due to the enclosed head, the v-berth was actually a little smaller, and it was darker as well since the hatch was not smoked plexiglass. The biggest problem from my perspective was the absence of a fuel locker so the gas tank had to sit in the cockpit. I concluded that the 222 was the best choice for me at this point since I single hand a lot and I have the main systems (mast raising; launching/retrieving; single-handed sailing) worked out pretty well. Plus, I have relatively new sails and a new autopilot. In addition, it's easier to add a few minor toys each year when you don't make major purchases (like another boat). So I've quit looking for the time being and will continue to tweak the one I have.

Anyhow, the boat is under its winter cover, and while the days are finally getting longer, winter will be here for quite a few months. I'll try to get some projects planned for the spring, and then launch sometime before June this year.

Best regards,

Dave
O'Day 222

 

[OdayDave]

Hi Doc -

There are some out there and with the economy still weak, this should still be a buyers market. There is one listed on this site (I always monitor this site). You may want to check some search engines that search all of craigslist and other web sites (e.g., sailingtexas.com and also iheartodays.com) where I saw some listings. If you are patient, you will find one. If I come across anything local, I'll let you know.

Best regards,

Dave
O'Day 222

 

[motilaw]

222 seating

We, my wife and I find the 222 seats with thier angled edge and cocave surface extremely uncomfortable even with the use of standard floatation cushions. Does anyone have a source for affordable comfortable cushion sets?