Holes In Boat

[BOB BOWEN]

I just "acquired" a 1973 O'Day Widgeon that has been stored for 12 years. Unfortunely the owner is deceased and there are no manuals or papers (other than registration).

My mystery is this: The mfg included boxesin the hull. One in the bow and another across the stern. Neither have any shelves or doors so I assume they were installed for flotation. There is a hole about 1 inch across in the lowest spot of the each box. There is no plug in either. But they look like the standard drain holes. I have stuck my finger and stiff wire into the holes and it seems there is some kind of flotation material.

But....I cannot find any holes in the hull to let water escape. Water put into the boat does not exit through the holes. They (the holes) were put in during manufacture. They must have a purpose. I hope someone can give me a clue.

 

[toddco]

Bob,
My 1975 Oday 20 has a self bailing drain. From my understanding, you are supposed to leave the transom plug out, and there is a check valve that would only let water out. If you check your drain, there should be a check ball inside a cage. I don't have a widgeon, so this might not be relevant.

 

[BOB BOWEN]

Bob,
My 1975 Oday 20 has a self bailing drain. From my understanding, you are supposed to leave the transom plug out, and there is a check valve that would only let water out. If you check your drain, there should be a check ball inside a cage. I don't have a widgeon, so this might not be relevant.

But where does the water go? I can not find any hole in the hull. Thanks

 

[Sunbird22358]

Bob, I missed something in your posting the first time...... If your boat has a seat/tank across the aft end of the cockpit.... I suspect that she is not a 1973 model, but is a 1970 or older model. I have added pictures below to help ID. (Red boats are 1973, yellow boats are 1968/9, but color doesn't determine model years, several colors were offered every year) 1963-70 had wood seats, 1971 and later had fiberglass, molded as part of deck.

As the former owner of a 1969 WIDGEON. I can honestly say that those holes are there to drain water out of the 2 flotation areas (and well, not too well!) The hull drain is located just aft of the CB trunk and is a little (about 1/2" dia.) threaded plug. Both flotation "tanks" are full of foam, one big piece in each on my old boat. You want those areas as dry as possible to prevent stinky growth inside..... mildew I guess?
The holes for draining the forward and aft flotation tanks are about 1" in diameter and my boat only had a plug for the aft one when I bought her in 1988. You "could" use a standard 1" brass and rubber stopper plug....but it really doesn't fit tightly since the plug can only seal against the fiberglass skin (not thick enough for a good seal). I tried various ideas..... but sold my boat in 1996 before I perfected a solution!

I have created an expanded version of the original O'DAY rigging guide sheet, making it into a booklet that now covers the entire 1963-2003 production run of the Widgeon. I also include the original Owners Guide for the early Widgeon (circa 1966, 6 pages) and the later (circa 1971, 4 pages). I have copies of the sales brochures for some years as well, and I include them with manual orders. Contact me direct if you want a copy, I do ask for $10 to cover the printing and postage. Might be willing to copy the 1966 pages for no charge. Let me know.