2 Questions on 1979 O'Day 20

[Looking4Wind]

Greetings all, my first post, and just wanted to say I've really enjoyed reading this forum tha past couple of months in my search for a first sailboat.

I am a fairly newbie sailor. I have been taking lessons on a dinghy the last two summers.

I am considering the purchase of a 1979 O'Day 20 and have two questions.

1. The boat itself is in great shape and seller is original owner. The boat though doesn't come with a motor which I think as a newbie I should have. the owner says that he used to use an 8hp normal 'shortshaft' with it, which would be easy to obtain at a reasonable price used. From the research I've done, in most of the pictures I see of these boats, there always appears to be a motor of the "long shaft" variety. Will a short shaft work on this boat? Long Shafts seem hard to come by used in my vicinity (Central Alberta - motor boat central it seems)

2. The boat itself is 600km (372miles) from me so I will have to trailor it home should I purchase. Unfortunately, my Jeep Patriot's max tow capacity is 2000lbs. I believe the O-20 is 1600lbs and a trailer would be probably another 600-700? This would put me about 200-300 lbs over the limit. Do you think I could get away with one 600km trip? Boat would then be kept in slip at lake and stored at lake in winter. Or should I look at maybe renting or borrowing a vehicle? The land between origin and destination is very flat.

Any comments would be appreciated!

Thanks,

L4W

 

[Carver13014]

L4W,

My first boat was a 20. I had a long shaft Evinrude sailing on Narragansett Bay in RI. Swells can get big enough here that I'd feel much safer with a long shaft but if you're on a relatively calm lake, you might be able to get away with a short shaft motor. Biggest issue you're looking to avoid is having the prop out of the water as you are motoring over waves.

As for towing home, I used a Toyota 4Runner a number of times to tow the boat and only had a problem going up one steep hill. Not sure the specs on your Jeep, but if you're taking it home on a flat ride and you drive conservatively, you may be able to get away with it.

Good luck if you do purchase. It's a good solid boat.

Carver

 

[Joe11688]

I'd get the long shaft engine for this boat. As far as a towing vehicle goes, I used my 1983 Chevy 6 cylinder column shift pickup truck to tow my O'Day 222 home when I went to pick it up about 50 miles away. I was able to get my boat home with no problems. I don't see why a jeep would have any problem pulling that boat. My Chevy pickup just wasn't a suitable vehicle for pulling it up a boat ramp. I wound up getting rid of our Plymouth Horizon and buying a Delta 88 Olds to pull my boat.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Do you have any pictures of this boat? Either she is not an O'Day 20 or the seller is giving you the wrong model year, The last year for the 20 was 1978.
You "might" be able to get by with a short-shaft outboard, Carver had good advice about that, but as he says.... if you encounter any waves (and any body of water with powerboats WILL have waves) the short-shaft will be very likely to pop out of the water a lot which causes loss of thrust and can eventually ruin the waterpump impeller. Also, I'd say that a 4-6HP outboard will be plenty for the 20, unless you plan on a lot of long-distance powering (then it may be better to sail anyway?). The extra weight and cost of the 8hp vs a smaller motor, plus the added fuel usage wil add up. I think most 20s had a 6hp outboard (a friend of mine used a 4.5hp Merc.)

 

[nightowle]

Do you have any pictures of this boat? Either she is not an O'Day 20 or the seller is giving you the wrong model year, The last year for the 20 was 1978.
You "might" be able to get by with a short-shaft outboard, Carver had good advice about that, but as he says.... if you encounter any waves (and any body of water with powerboats WILL have waves) the short-shaft will be very likely to pop out of the water a lot which causes loss of thrust and can eventually ruin the waterpump impeller. Also, I'd say that a 4-6HP outboard will be plenty for the 20, unless you plan on a lot of long-distance powering (then it may be better to sail anyway?). The extra weight and cost of the 8hp vs a smaller motor, plus the added fuel usage wil add up. I think most 20s had a 6hp outboard (a friend of mine used a 4.5hp Merc.)

Could it be a '78 that was sold in '79. That seems to be the issue with my 27 footer. Licensing docs say '75 when in fact the HIN number refers to '74.

 

[Looking4Wind]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I think it would be prudent if I purchased this boat to hold out through the winter in hoping that a reasonably priced longshaft comes available. The lake I will have her on is pretty tame, so I could probably get away with the short shaft, but I'm sure in a couple years, as my sailing experience grows, I would probably want to get her out on a bigger lake with more challenges.

As for my Jeep Patriot towing, I think there are many people who would not consider the Patriot a "Real Jeep" as it is a 4cyl. Up until now I probably disagreed with this! I think it "looks" like more of a Jeep that the Liberty but with the 4-banger certainly is a little on the weak side! I'm kicking myself because I traded in a bigger Jeep Cherokee to purchase it a couple of years ago when gas prices started nearing $1.25/ litre! I think if I do purchase the boat I think I'll chance it though.

It is a challenge in my area finding a reasonably priced sailboat. I've looked at a couple San Juan 21s, and a Edel 540, but have really taken to the O'Day 20, it seems to have a great balance of cockpit and cabin space.

And I believe this is the case:

Could it be a '78 that was sold in '79. That seems to be the issue with my 27 footer. Licensing docs say '75 when in fact the HIN number refers to '74.

Come to think of it, the owner only told me he bought the bought new in 79, so I assumed it was a 79. Thanks for the heads up, I will look into this.

L4W

 

[25yearslater]

Morning Looking. Two considerations. Engine and drive train = pull. The problem isn't engine power, you can go to a lower gear, it will be a slower journey. The drive train is more the concern. That would be the transmission, universal joints or cv joints with the transverse engine or a differential. Those are the weak links with regard to towing. Best wishes.

 

[Looking4Wind]

Morning Looking. Two considerations. Engine and drive train = pull. The problem isn't engine power, you can go to a lower gear, it will be a slower journey. The drive train is more the concern. That would be the transmission, universal joints or cv joints with the transverse engine or a differential. Those are the weak links with regard to towing. Best wishes.

Good morning 25yearslater! I understand. That said, if it were you in my place, would you make the trip?

L4W

 

[25yearslater]

If it were me? I would rent or borrow a vehicle. I tend toward caution. My question to myself usually involves cost. Were I to pop a Ujoint or cook the tranny, how would I get to work and what would the repairs cost? How would I get the car and boat home if it lets go halfway home? Sometimes knowing how something works can scare the jeepers out of you. Again best wishes.

 

[kpgraci]

Just my .02 cents...I have a lot of confidence in a Jeep's powertrain...this is why they cost as much as they do. A few hundred pounds over on a flat run I think would be no problem at all. Just make sure all your fluids are topped off, including transmission, differential and transfer case.

 

[25yearslater]

You may be very right KP. Something you bring up is the few hundred pounds. If he were to haul at max trailer weight rating that would include the towing vehicle being loaded to its' max weight. Tuck 3 extra people in the jeep at 150 lbs and he'd wind up with the 450 lbs. he is over on the trailer. Thanks again KP.