25' O'Day Swingkeel

[SDL]

I have purchased a 1979 25’ O’Day swing keel. It is in excellent condition but unlike my Catalina 22’ swing keel I see no place to put a zinc plate other than on the fiberglass casing that the keel resides in and I'm not sure that would work. In 44 years the boat has never been in salt water but it will be soon. I have read that the pivot pin is not made of metal so… are zinc plates needed?
I also would like to check the condition of the pivot pin and the release mechanism (the rope on the release mechanism makes me a bit nervous as to the strength of the material) but I see no way to do so. Can anyone advise where to place the zinc plates if needed and how to check the condition of the pivot pin and release system?

 

[Ward H]

The Oday 25s have a swing centerboard that’s all fiberglass. No metal to protect with a zinc plate.
The keel of the Oday, where the ballast is located, is part of the hull. It has encapsulated lead for ballast so again no zinc is needed.
The pin is plastic, delrin sp? I believe.
There are brackets holding the pivot pin to the CB trunk that need to be removed to drop the CB and inspect the pin. The CB weighs about 65 lbs.
On my 1980 O25 a line was shackled to the CB. It ran up a tube to the front of the cockpit and was held with a horn cleat. Very simple system to raise or drop the CB.
Enjoy. The O25 is a great boat.

 

[SDL]

Thank you. That is very helpful. One more question: I don't see where to access the brackets holding the pivot pin. Where would I be able to see them. Thanks again.

 

[Ward H]

Only if the boat is out of the water. They are under the molded in keel where the centerboard retracts inside the keel, towards the front. There's one on each side. You'll probably have to dig out years of bottom paint to find the screws but the brackets should be visible.
Unless you have a reason to pull the centerboard, like excessive wobbliness, I wouldn't mess with the brackets. The Delrin pin is something like 1" or more in diameter. On my 80, the pin showed very little wear.
The screws holding the brackets probably have been in place for 44 years and could be a mess to pull out.

What I would do is drop the centerboard down and replace the control line. Be careful with the shackle. The trunk narrows near the top and a shackle and clevis pin have very little clearance. My board kept getting stuck in the up position until I finally figured out that someone had cut a clevis pin 2mm too long. I ordered a new shackle from D&R Marine, an O'day specialist to ensure I had the right size.

 

[SDL]

Thank you once again. Most helpful!!!

 

[Timm R Oday25]

Welcome . We also own a 25 Oday . You might get more help if you posted your questions on the Oday Owners part of this forumn . I will say all the advice you've been given thus far has 100% accurate . If you are replacing the centerboard pendant . Take the few extra minutes and examine the slot where the centerboard fits into the keel . I have found that it doesn't take very much algae, mussel , marine growth to cause the centerboard to get pinched when pulled in tight . I can barely get a long thin bread knife in either side when the centerboard is retracted.

 

[SDL]

Welcome . We also own a 25 Oday . You might get more help if you posted your questions on the Oday Owners part of this forumn . I will say all the advice you've been given thus far has 100% accurate . If you are replacing the centerboard pendant . Take the few extra minutes and examine the slot where the centerboard fits into the keel . I have found that it doesn't take very much algae, mussel , marine growth to cause the centerboard to get pinched when pulled in tight . I can barely get a long thin bread knife in either side when the centerboard is retracted.

Thank you. That's good information. I appreciate it.