I am taking possession of a '76 Oday 23' with a detached cable to the swing keel. Looking for advice to re-attach while in boat yard up on a lift.
Thanks, John
Thanks, John
Swing keel cable
- Thread starter jjclynick
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John,
I'm somewhat familiar with the 1975 O'Day 25 having sailed one up from Cape Cod to our club on the Taunton River. These boats like your O'Day 23, have what is known as keel/centerboards which is very different from a swing keel. The keel on your boat is lead and the centerboard is housed in a slot in the keel and is made of fiberglass. The swing keels are generally made of cast iron or lead, and are very heavy. Both have either a metal cable or in the case of the later model O'Days, a braid centerboard pendant line.
The O'Day 25 that I sailed, had a metal cable coming off a hand winch located on the galley table pedestal. I had talked to a guy named Rudy Nickerson of D&R Marine back then about a replacement for this cable and he told me that a braid line will work on these boats just as well as a metal cable because the centerboards are pretty light. http://www.drmarine.com/ The later model O'Day keel/centerboards have braid centerboard pendant lines that are accessed from the cockpit in front of the companionway. So I don't see why you couldn't use braid. I'm not sure what size you would need, but if you call Rudy he could probably fix you up with a braid pendant line complete with a shackle for your O'Day 23.
I have a centerboard on my O'Day 28 and had problems for several years with the metal cable. I have used the same 1/4" Spectra line for about 17 years now with no problems (sounds like it's time to change it...wouldn't ya say?).
John, I have a 78 ODay 23. I had my boat pulled and saw the pendent was looking ruff so I deciced to replace it. This was a while ago 10 years! but I had a SS shackle and a line made up by a sail maker in Hampton. Only thing I did wrong was made the line to heavy. Make sure you go back in with the same I beleive 3/8". I put to big and it expanded and froze in the tube one winter. The Keel with the swing out Board is very light on the 23 and the 222 and is lifted by hand simple is good... ? Is that Ocean Pines MD or NJ My 23 is NC
I remember someone on the forum mentioning that they were able to eliminate the winch and convert the pendant line over to something similar to the later models whereas the pendant line is lead aft to the cockpit via sheaves. You're right though. The centerboards in these boats are light and you really have no need for a winch. I'd much rather pull the board up by hand myself.
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