1978 Oday 20 keel question

[AJLajoie]

Hi. Just bought a '78 O'Day 20 footer. I have questions regarding the keel. Is the keel adjustable? I know that it comes down once we have it in the water, but is it adjustable for shallower water? Right now I see that it rests on the trailer and from the diagrams I have been able to find on line, it looks like it just swings down. Am I missing something? Thanks to anyone who can help.

Tony

 

[jepomer]

The O'Day 20 weighs 400 lbs. I expect you have a winch that you use to raise and lower the keel. A heavy keel should be locked in the down position for normal operation and stability. It can be raised temporarily for shallow water in light winds.

Please note the words "locked", "temporarily", and "light winds".

 

[AJLajoie]

Thanks John. I don't see a winch, but then I'm having trouble finding an owners manual. I want to put the boat in the water this Saturday. My brother is coming down from Holyoke, MA to help out. Tony

 

[Brian S]

Incorrect. The O'day 20 is not a swing keel, the way a Catalina 22 is. The O'day is spec'd with 400 pounds of ballast in a fixed shoal keel. Then, there is a centerboard that drops down out of the shoal keel, used primarily for sailing close hauled or close reaching. The centerboard is weighted inasmuch as it is heavy enough to drop down and overcome buoyancy - say, roughly 60 pounds or so if I recall.

There should be a rope pendant in the cockpit to manually raise and lower the centerboard, and no winch is necessary. On my 192, 222, and similarly designed boats such as Precisions, the pendant is at the forward edge of the cockpit, cleated to the aft face of the bridge deck. I have not been on board an O'day 20, but I don't expect it to be any different.

 

[AJLajoie]

Incorrect. The O'day 20 is not a swing keel, the way a Catalina 22 is. The O'day is spec'd with 400 pounds of ballast in a fixed shoal keel. Then, there is a centerboard that drops down out of the shoal keel, used primarily for sailing close hauled or close reaching. The centerboard is weighted inasmuch as it is heavy enough to drop down and overcome buoyancy - say, roughly 60 pounds or so if I recall.

There should be a rope pendant in the cockpit to manually raise and lower the centerboard, and no winch is necessary. On my 192, 222, and similarly designed boats such as Precisions, the pendant is at the forward edge of the cockpit, cleated to the aft face of the bridge deck. I have not been on board an O'day 20, but I don't expect it to be any different.

Thanks Brian. I did notice a rope in the cockpit right in front of the entryway to the cabin. I will have to look more closely at it. It just looks like it is tied to the rind at the bottom of the entryway. I will look more closely. Thanks again. Tony

 

[AJLajoie]

Does anyone have an electrical diagram for a 1978n O'Day 20 footer?