Hello! Buying a 22...

Sep 25, 2016
88
Oday 22 Lake Arthur
Hello, everybody.

New here, thought I'd say hi.

I'm acquiring an O'Day 22 on a trailer, for very cheap. Almost nothing cheap. It's not in the best condition, but it's all there, and I'm assured that it's ready to sail. I'll haul her home next week. (It's about a 90-mile tow.)

No, I haven't had her in the water. No, no one professional has had a look at her. I figure the worst case scenario is that the 600 lbs of lead in the shoal keel is worth more than I'm paying for her. Not to mention the trailer, the sails (in surprisingly good shape), and other bits and pieces. So, even if she sinks on day one, I'm still getting a good deal.

The hull appears to be in great shape, except for a poorly-finished but apparently strong repair on the bow. There is a similar messy previous repair on the rudder.

I've not seen her rigged, but the mast and boom appear to be straight and strong, and the standing rigging is in adequate shape. The blocks and such appear shiny and new.

The deck is dirty. Needs cleaned, scraped, and painted. Looks like a powder blue coming out under a white paint job.

The deck is weak around the lifeline stanchions. I suspect a core replacement will be required there. So far, that's the biggest problem I've identified. I've never done fiberglass repair, but I am not afraid. I've watched every West System video there is deciding whether that's something I could actually do, and sure, yeah, I can do that.

The rubber "bumper" around the edge is old and in rough shape. Needs replaced.

I believe that the interior is somebody's custom job, and that none of the bulkheads or benches or the table are original. All of the interior pics of O'Day 22s that I've seen look the same and nothing like this. (Although the fiberglass is identical in all cases.) A complete rebuild of the interior to the original design (more or less) is on my "Not necessary, but let's do it anyway" list.

Builders plate says hull # 3099, class # 306. Seller says it's a 1972, but I have not confirmed this independently.

Name painted on side is "Manifest." Current owner inherited it, doesn't understand why either. I will have a conversation about that with Poseidon, over a bottle of Dom, at some point.

My game plan here is to get it home, clean everything, rig it in the back yard, and assess more fully. Minimally fix enough (definitely the deck issues, plus whatever else I may find that's desperate) to make it lake-worthy by April. In a perfect world, I'd make her shine like new, but budget and time may not allow that.

Questions:
1) what should I watch out for that I have not thought about or covered here yet?
2) was there ever an interior sold without floor-to-ceiling bulkheads behind a sink/stove counter and with the table on the port side?
3) Were the lifelines original equipment on these boats? I suspect my deck issues are the result of poor install of aftermarket stuff. I may not reinstall them once deck is fixed, unless someone gives me a real good reason why I should.
4) I've seen lots of pictures of 22s with a hatch forward of the mast. Mine does not have this. Was it a feature on later models? An option? Or a third-party add on that lots of people did?
5) I will need a motor, only for in and out of marina and/or emergency. What's the smallest horsepower that will move the boat? I don't want to spend a lot here. If I thought I could row her safely, I'd do that instead and claim the energy-free high ground.

Thanks for reading. Any help and or comments appreciated.


weird interior
 
Dec 27, 2012
587
Precision Precision 28 St Augustine
Congratulations, looks like a good winter project.

I had a 1980 O22. Mine and everyone I've seen has the forward hatch. I seem to recall someone else in the past posting that there's did not have one. I guess the earlier ones didn't have it. Mine also had factory lifelines. I believe they all did but not sure. If your in non tidal water you should be fine with a 4 hp outboard. Mine had a 6 hp 2 stroke and later a 5. It was used in tidal water and 3 knot water flow is common in my area. Your cabin interior was definitely altered. Not necessarily a bad thing. I'm guessing one of the previous owner was a bit girthy and decided to change it to open up the limited space.

Enjoy your new toy and welcome to this site.
 
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repawn

.
Jul 28, 2014
73
Oday 22 Milwaukee
Hi - I have an 1973 O'day 22 that required a ton of work - so I know what you have ahead of you. Your interior is different - but not bad - looks like the bulkhead is still there as is the compression post. Makes the boat feel a little more open. The early models didn't necessarily have a forward hatch - I wish mine did not. The deck may have some rot - mine did under the stanchions - the cabin sole also still needs to be redone on mine - but it sails just fine as is. My recommendations - do enough to make sure it is safe and won't sink - then go sailing - you can continue to do repairs and you will find things that may need work you hadn't even thought of. For motoring I have a 5hp 2-stroke that is more than adequate for Lake Michigan - whatever motor you end up with make sure the the shaft is long enough to stay in the water.
 
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Jun 2, 2004
1,923
Oday Day Sailer Wareham, MA
Yes, your interior has been altered, but not as much as you might think! The original layout of the cabin In 1972 had a small "dinette" style table In place of the port-side quarterberth and no galley against the main bulkhead. It appears tat your main bulkhead has been cut In a custom shape, it was originally full height to the overhead. As far as I know, O'DAY changed to the interior layout that most 22s have sometime late in the 1972 model year, or at the start 0f 1973 production. (1972 was first model-year for the 22, production started sometime in late 1971 at beginning of 1972 production).
The forward hatch was an option until about 1975, standard after that, the hatch design was changed during the 1977 model year to be flush with the cabin top, earlier models had a hatch coaming (frame) that was added as a separate molding and hatch was mounted on top of the cabin top.
I've added a few pics of the early 22 showing original bulkhead and table design.
 

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Sep 25, 2016
88
Oday 22 Lake Arthur
Yes, your interior has been altered, but not as much as you might think![...]I've added a few pics of the early 22 showing original bulkhead and table design.
Wow, so that table and bench setup IS original!

I had no idea. Thanks for those pics!

Ultimately, I plan to do something about the interior. Exactly what, I'm not sure, and I've plenty of time to think about it first. Restoring this design is one more option :)

Congratulations, looks like a good winter project. [...] Enjoy your new toy and welcome to this site.
Hi - I have an 1973 O'day 22 that required a ton of work - so I know what you have ahead of you. [...] whatever motor you end up with make sure the the shaft is long enough to stay in the water.
Thanks for the help and encouragement.

I'll keep everyone updated on the interwebs here :)
 
Sep 25, 2016
88
Oday 22 Lake Arthur
I've added a few pics of the early 22 showing original bulkhead and table design.
Okay, I've been doing some research, but I haven't found a whole lot about he original interior. Maybe you can help, since my bulkheads have been greatly altered. In this pic, which I stole from your post:

I have circled shiny things which may be bolts, snaps, etc. Are they original? What's going on there?

Also, did the "optional galley" slide in and out like on the 23?

I may try to reconstruct the original interior, since the "dinette" seats and table are still in place.

Or I may attempt to convert it to the later more common design.

Or I may choose door number 3.

But if I do #1, I may have some more questions.

Thanks, everybody!
 
Jun 2, 2004
1,923
Oday Day Sailer Wareham, MA
Actually, there was no optional galley on the early 22, just the option of a sink with water tank and pump located forward of the main bulkhead, to starboard, where the later boats had a hanging locker. You can see this in the pic that you re-posted. I suspect those shiny fittings are owner added? The ones on the Port side bulkhead might have secured a backrest cushion for the forward dinette seat? Said cushion would most likely be unsnapped and laid on the lowered table to be used while sleeping.
 
Nov 6, 2018
4
O'Day 22 Corpus Christi
here are a couple of pics from my "new O'Day 22" showing the sink and cabinet for a 2 burner stove.
IMG_20181031_155118.jpg
IMG_20181031_155123.jpg
 

Will D

.
Aug 22, 2018
41
O'Day Daysailer Pueblo Reservoir
I've never done fiberglass repair, but I am not afraid. I've watched every West System video there is deciding whether that's something I could actually do, and sure, yeah, I can do that.
You can do it! I would like to hear about it if you tackle the damaged core.
 
Oct 13, 2018
21
venture 222 georgia
WOW!!! Congrats!!! I just got a Macgregor Venture 22 that I am re-working. Keep me updated on your project
 
Jan 19, 2019
34
Helsen 22 Waquoit Bay
Hi,
One thing I would look out for is the bilge. I bought a 1976 Helsen 22 a few months ago and was so caught up in getting the boat in the water, I forget to check and make sure it actually had a working pump. Thank goodness it didn’t rain to much over the summer, but the lesson is that you must know how you are going to get the water out of your boat.
 
Jan 19, 2019
34
Helsen 22 Waquoit Bay
By the way have fun with your new boat. Trailer Sailers are really great, fun, and pretty easy to sail boats. I hope you enjoy!