New O'Day Boat Owner

[pjburke]

I purchased a 1979 22ft O'Day sailboat last fall and am now getting ready to put it into the water. However, the line that lowers and raises the centerboard is badly frayed and needs replacement. The previous owner used a forklift to raise the boat off the trailer and he lowered the centerboard enough to access the connection point and tied the new line to the keel.

I don't have access to a forklift and plan on replacing the line using my scuba gear. Has anyone ever done it this way? Does it seem reasonable and is the connection point easily accessible with the centerboard down in the water?

 

[RECESS]

As long as there is a line of some kind already in there it sounds reasonable. If you are trying to feed a line through without there being one there to tie on to, you may need to send a wire through first to attach and pull the new line back through. It is not a hard job but best if you have one person in the cockpit and one under the boat to make sure it goes through at the right entry angle so it does not bind.

 

[Joe11688]

I purchased a 1979 22ft O'Day sailboat last fall and am now getting ready to put it into the water. However, the line that lowers and raises the centerboard is badly frayed and needs replacement. The previous owner used a forklift to raise the boat off the trailer and he lowered the centerboard enough to access the connection point and tied the new line to the keel.

I don't have access to a forklift and plan on replacing the line using my scuba gear. Has anyone ever done it this way? Does it seem reasonable and is the connection point easily accessible with the centerboard down in the water?

I think it's doable. I would attach a strong twine to the end of the old pendant line from in the cockpit, tie the other end of the twine off to something so you don't pull it all the way through. Then pull the old pendant line out from the keel slot and use the end of the twine to pull the pendant line up into the cockpit after you connect the shackle to the centerboard. I've always used a sailor's palm and needle whipping on all my halyards and lines. For connecting twine to the centerboard pendant line, I shove the needle through the whipping with the twine connected, and tie it on that way. There's no way it will pull out when you go to pull the new pendant line up into the cockpit. Hopefully, the previous owner routed the pendant line that he replaced, through the sheave in the centerboard slot, if their is one. I know that mine has this sheave. You should be able to see the small stainless steel back up strap along with the nuts and bolts that hold it, from inside the cabin where the pipe enters the keel slot. Good luck!
Joe

 

[1977oday22]

Congrats on the 22, I have the same problem only mine fell through, I'm just waiting till the lake warms up and I'll be diving in to replace it.
I love my 22, went out yesterday and had a blast! Enjoy!
Let us know how it goes.

This should help motivate!!!! (yesterday, Lake Erie, about 6 miles off the coast of Cleveland)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbeL3yZyQCIhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbeL3yZyQCI

 

[pjburke]

I'm motivated!

Great video. I appreciate your response and I'll let everyone know how my scuba fix works out. I plan on doing it this Saturday.

Thanks again.

Pat Burke

Congrats on the 22, I have the same problem only mine fell through, I'm just waiting till the lake warms up and I'll be diving in to replace it.
I love my 22, went out yesterday and had a blast! Enjoy!
Let us know how it goes.

This should help motivate!!!! (yesterday, Lake Erie, about 6 miles off the coast of Cleveland)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbeL3yZyQCI

 

[pjburke]

Centerboard Fix

Thanks Dave. I'll take your advice and have someone in the cockpit. There is a badly frayed line but it should be adequate to pull a smaller line through. Just in case, I'll have a fishtape with me.

Pat Burke

As long as there is a line of some kind already in there it sounds reasonable. If you are trying to feed a line through without there being one there to tie on to, you may need to send a wire through first to attach and pull the new line back through. It is not a hard job but best if you have one person in the cockpit and one under the boat to make sure it goes through at the right entry angle so it does not bind.

 

[pjburke]

Centerboard Fix

Thanks Joe,

I will definitely use you advice.

Thanks,

Pat Burke

I think it's doable. I would attach a strong twine to the end of the old pendant line from in the cockpit, tie the other end of the twine off to something so you don't pull it all the way through. Then pull the old pendant line out from the keel slot and use the end of the twine to pull the pendant line up into the cockpit after you connect the shackle to the centerboard. I've always used a sailor's palm and needle whipping on all my halyards and lines. For connecting twine to the centerboard pendant line, I shove the needle through the whipping with the twine connected, and tie it on that way. There's no way it will pull out when you go to pull the new pendant line up into the cockpit. Hopefully, the previous owner routed the pendant line that he replaced, through the sheave in the centerboard slot, if their is one. I know that mine has this sheave. You should be able to see the small stainless steel back up strap along with the nuts and bolts that hold it, from inside the cabin where the pipe enters the keel slot. Good luck!
Joe

 

[Joe11688]

Congrats on the 22, I have the same problem only mine fell through, I'm just waiting till the lake warms up and I'll be diving in to replace it.
I love my 22, went out yesterday and had a blast! Enjoy!
Let us know how it goes.

This should help motivate!!!! (yesterday, Lake Erie, about 6 miles off the coast of Cleveland)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NbeL3yZyQCI

I just put this link in my "Favorites" and will check out all the Youtubes in it when I get a chance. I'm really impressed by the way these keel/centerboard O'Day 22s sail. You guys were very fortunate to have found these boats. These boats are truly "keepers."

When you guys replace the centerboard pendant lines, check to see if there is a sheave up inside the centerboard slot. They may or may not have designed these boats with the sheave. I really don't know. If it does have a sheave, the rope is going to need to pass through it. Good luck with your boats guys and smooth sailing!
Joe

 

[1977oday22]

Thanks Joe, You've helped alot!

 

[pjburke]

Replacing the line went very smoothly. I did it on the boat ramp in water about chest deep. I let the trailer bow strap out as far as it would go but left the bow tied to the tailer and dropped the anchor from the stern to keep the boat steady. This position allowed the centerboard to drop about two feet below the boat until it hit bottom. I layed the scuba tank on the bottom and could easily stay under during the fix but could also remove the regulater from my mouth and stand by the edge of the boat to talk the the person in the cockpit that helped feed the line down to me.

There was no sheave up inside the centerboard slot. The centerboard had a small hole (about 3/8") drilled from the edge to a larger hole (about the size of a quarter) which was about two to three inches from the edge. The old pendent line went through the small hold and then the end was tied into a larger knot that fit into the quarter sized hole. The knot kept the pendent line from slipping out and was small enough to stay within the planes of the thickness of the centerboard.

I taped a new 5/16" line to the old pendent up in the cockpit and pulled it down to the centerboard below the boat. I removed the tape and old pendent line and inserted the new line through the small hole and grabbed it in the larger hole. I used a synthetic line so I pulled it out of the water (I had plenty of exess) tied a knot in it and melted it somewhat to ensure the knot stayed tied then pulled it back to the centerboard from the cockpit. Once I pushed the knot into the quarter sized hole, we pulled the centerboard up and tied it off.

All in all, the job went very smoothly and with no mechanical parts to fail, future replacements should be just as easy. Hope this helps others.

Pat Burke

I just put this link in my "Favorites" and will check out all the Youtubes in it when I get a chance. I'm really impressed by the way these keel/centerboard O'Day 22s sail. You guys were very fortunate to have found these boats. These boats are truly "keepers."

When you guys replace the centerboard pendant lines, check to see if there is a sheave up inside the centerboard slot. They may or may not have designed these boats with the sheave. I really don't know. If it does have a sheave, the rope is going to need to pass through it. Good luck with your boats guys and smooth sailing!
Joe

 

[1977oday22]

So PJ, was it basically a matter of tying a knot and sending it up through the pendant pole? Thanks!

 

[1977oday22]

I dove under my boat last Sunday.

Well. I did it. Dove under the boat with some goggles and unfortunately found out that I'll have to wait till I outhaul the boat. I have the same set-up as Trinkka. I don't think I can hold my breath long enough to mess with it. It has the strap and looks like a pin/eye, set up. I'm guessing when I pull out and put her onto the trailer, the keel will fold into her. Then I guess it's a matter of jacking her up. Does that sound plausable?

 

[pjburke]

I know from my experience, holding your breath would be extremely hard during the fix. Maybe you could borrow a scuba tank and regulator and a mask. It went smoothly for me because I could stay underwater long enough to complete the repair. Other than that, you would have to jack it up above the trailer because the frame of the trailer holds the centerboard up inside the boat. There is a picture in the FAQs section of this website that shows the same repair being done from boat stands in someone's backyard. That might be your best option if you can't do it underwater.

Best of luck,

PJ Burke

 

[RECESS]

Just an idea. With just being 3 feet under the surface of the water, you can use a 3/4 inch tube that is tied off on a cleat on the boat. You just have to make sure you do not blow back into the tube to exhale. When you are ready to take a breath, just blow the air out of your nose, the air will escape from your face mask. Draw in another breath from the hose. As long as you do not blow out your spent air into the hose, you will be alright.

 

[Joe11688]

Thanks Joe, You've helped alot!

I don't think that there is a sheave inside the centerboard slot on your O'Day 22s. I may be wrong about that though but the pipe for your pendant line come right straight down to the centerboard slot and they probably didn't have a need for the sheave. So this makes it easy for you guys to replace the pendant line. I don't see why you couldn't attach it to your centerboard with SCUBA gear on as long as you don't drop the rigging pin or cotter pin while your doing it. Good luck guys!
Joe

 

[Joe11688]

Well. I did it. Dove under the boat with some goggles and unfortunately found out that I'll have to wait till I outhaul the boat. I have the same set-up as Trinkka. I don't think I can hold my breath long enough to mess with it. It has the strap and looks like a pin/eye, set up. I'm guessing when I pull out and put her onto the trailer, the keel will fold into her. Then I guess it's a matter of jacking her up. Does that sound plausable?

Kevin,
Is your trailer a roller trailer or flat bunk trailer? Do you have access to four 36" sailboat stands? If you have a roller trailer, all you need to four sailboat stands to put under the stern, some wood blocks, rope, and block and tackle set up. It can be dangerous though.

 

[1977oday22]

Hey Joe, Thanks for the tip. I was thinking that's the way to go. I have a roller on the trailor, so getting it on should be no problem. It's on my to do list this fall.

 

[Joe11688]

Hey Joe, Thanks for the tip. I was thinking that's the way to go. I have a roller on the trailor, so getting it on should be no problem. It's on my to do list this fall.

If you have a fully complete roller trailer, that boat can be taken off and put on boat stands just the way I described. To get the boat back on the trailer is even simpler. You just line the trailer up with the bow and keel and use your boat winch to winch your trailer right under the boat without the tow vehicle. That only takes about 20 minutes. The trailer tongue will rise a little but it will soon come down as you crank more of that trailer under her hull. It takes me several hours to take my boat of this tandem bunk trailer that I have now. It involves using my boat stands, wood blocks, and hydraulic jack. Like I said, when you're dealing with a couple of thousand pounds of weight, it can be dangerous and every precaution needs to be taken so no one gets hurt.