A few noted problem areas in the 22 design.

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Jun 19, 2011
15
Oday 22 Hudson, WI
I just thought I'd mention some simple things to check after taking apart 2 oday 22's. I've noticed that on both boats the drain tube that goes from the cockpit to the transom had cracked. This was allowing water to go into the foam under the cockpit which then drains forward into the keel under the cabin floor.
The '72 had the tube replaced once already and it was glassed in nicely, unfortunately they chose too brittle a plastic and it cracked again. The '76 had it replaced with modern thicker PVC, which is holding nicely, but it was glassed in like crap and poorly sealed so it leaks now.
The other thing I noticed is Oday used the cheapest crap foam they could find on both boats, it gets eaten by just about any chemicals it looks like, plus its open cell foam so it absorbs and retains water amazingly well and then molds. On both boats I had to throw away the bottom 2 layers of foam under the cockpit which seems to be the wettest area in them. They were totally waterlogged and never dried. I will be eventually replacing all the foam with closed cell (non absorbing) probably of the sort used in residential construction sold in 4x8 sheets. I will be making sure there is an open drainage channel down the middle on the bottom too. I'm poor enough that I will likely only replace the bottom few rows below the cockpit for now since that was the only problem area.
Both boats had keel damage from water intrusion. Long story short its a rather crappy design, water gets in above the keel easy by design. The keel is supposed to be sealed to prevent water getting into it and doing damage, but with age and keel flex or even one freeze thaw cycle of the water on top, it breaks the seal and then you have water in the keel which is extremely hard to get out of there. On the 72 the lead weight was only in the forward 50% or so of the keel and the rear portion was all hollow except for the bottom sole of the keel which was about 4" consisting of a thick fiberglass layer with a butt-load of epoxy or resin poured in on top of it. The rear area filled completely with water, and the previous owner had cut through the sub-floor below the cabin floor to pump it out.
The '76 seems to be designed somewhat different as the keel top seems to be an epoxy layer rather than a fiberglass sub-floor pan, I will be drilling a test hole to see if the keel is hollow underneath at a later date. There is a crack running down both sides of the epoxy cap where it separated from the fiberglass keel sides, and that allowed water into the keel which has already caused some freeze damage. I can't get it properly dried enough to even repair it and the cracks appear to extend forward most of the length of the keel so the whole interior floor would in theory have to come out to fix it which is basically impossible. I will be posting more of the pictures I have taken so people can see exactly how the keels are put together, but basically the most important lesson is to use that hole in the aft cabin floor area to keep the under floor bilge always dry or all hell breaks loose in the keel. Or better yet keep all the water out to start with.
 
Jun 12, 2010
936
Oday 22 Orleans Marina, NOLA
On the 72 the lead weight was only in the forward 50% or so of the keel and the rear portion was all hollow...
That is interesting. Let's say I were to fill the empty space with lead shot and epoxy, does anyone here think this would cause a balance problem (weight to far aft)?

The '73 keel is 600#, I know some have added 200# lead shot in the bilge, seems to me a better place for it is in that void in the keel.
 
Jan 24, 2005
4,881
Oday 222 Dighton, Ma.
I just thought I'd mention some simple things to check after taking apart 2 oday 22's. I've noticed that on both boats the drain tube that goes from the cockpit to the transom had cracked. This was allowing water to go into the foam under the cockpit which then drains forward into the keel under the cabin floor.
The '72 had the tube replaced once already and it was glassed in nicely, unfortunately they chose too brittle a plastic and it cracked again. The '76 had it replaced with modern thicker PVC, which is holding nicely, but it was glassed in like crap and poorly sealed so it leaks now.
The other thing I noticed is Oday used the cheapest crap foam they could find on both boats, it gets eaten by just about any chemicals it looks like, plus its open cell foam so it absorbs and retains water amazingly well and then molds. On both boats I had to throw away the bottom 2 layers of foam under the cockpit which seems to be the wettest area in them. They were totally waterlogged and never dried. I will be eventually replacing all the foam with closed cell (non absorbing) probably of the sort used in residential construction sold in 4x8 sheets. I will be making sure there is an open drainage channel down the middle on the bottom too. I'm poor enough that I will likely only replace the bottom few rows below the cockpit for now since that was the only problem area.
Both boats had keel damage from water intrusion. Long story short its a rather crappy design, water gets in above the keel easy by design. The keel is supposed to be sealed to prevent water getting into it and doing damage, but with age and keel flex or even one freeze thaw cycle of the water on top, it breaks the seal and then you have water in the keel which is extremely hard to get out of there. On the 72 the lead weight was only in the forward 50% or so of the keel and the rear portion was all hollow except for the bottom sole of the keel which was about 4" consisting of a thick fiberglass layer with a butt-load of epoxy or resin poured in on top of it. The rear area filled completely with water, and the previous owner had cut through the sub-floor below the cabin floor to pump it out.
The '76 seems to be designed somewhat different as the keel top seems to be an epoxy layer rather than a fiberglass sub-floor pan, I will be drilling a test hole to see if the keel is hollow underneath at a later date. There is a crack running down both sides of the epoxy cap where it separated from the fiberglass keel sides, and that allowed water into the keel which has already caused some freeze damage. I can't get it properly dried enough to even repair it and the cracks appear to extend forward most of the length of the keel so the whole interior floor would in theory have to come out to fix it which is basically impossible. I will be posting more of the pictures I have taken so people can see exactly how the keels are put together, but basically the most important lesson is to use that hole in the aft cabin floor area to keep the under floor bilge always dry or all hell breaks loose in the keel. Or better yet keep all the water out to start with.
I have two questions for you: Do think that your boat really needs this foam? The later model 222, 192, and 240s don't have foam.
Why can't you use a regular large diameter reinforced vinyl hose for your self bailing cockpit? You may need to replace the two thru-hull connectors so that you can secure the hose with stainless steel hose clamps. That's what I would use. I understand that the foam is purely for floatation, but I'd rather have a good bilge pump on board and depend on that rather than foam. Not only that, but you'd save money and gain space without the foam.
A vinyl hose gives, and is not likely to break on you unless you get a raw gasoline leak in your cockpit which can eat out any hose in time.
I'll probably have some guys on the forum admonishing me for bringing these two ideas up, but who the heck wants to smell mold in a boat?
 
Jun 19, 2011
15
Oday 22 Hudson, WI
Considering that the port side bunk, everything under the cockpit and most of whats under the forward berth is foam, the amount for this size boat is enormous. Without it I wouldn't dare take the boat on the great lakes or the ocean though since If a large wave ever came up from the stern and swamped the cockpit completely it might lower the stern enough to cause cabin flooding, and with a 600lb lead weight in the keel if the cabin starts to fill this thing would sink so fast you would be lucky to escape in time if you were in the cabin. That is why you should always sail with your hatch boards installed and the hatch slid closed if the weather or waves are even questionable.
As far as that void behind the lead goes, it may or may not be there on the '76. in the 72 the lead keel is literally the size and shape of the keel starting at the triangle pointed tip where it meets the hull and then expanding as it goes back like the keel does. As far as adding weight I think the boat would be a tad heavy with all that weight and a bit saggy in the butt if it were all behind the front weight especially considering the human cargo in the cockpit, but I suppose if you want more sail area without laying the boat over you do what you have to and there's really nowhere else to put it.
Here are some pics, don't have any pics of the non rotten 76 boat up yet, and the keel pics of the 72 i have aren't very helpful without knowing what you are looking at. Basically some were taken before the keel was removed through the hole in the cockpit floor that i made much bigger, and you can see where the previous owner bashed a hole in the fiberglass bilge pan under the cabin floor which used to cover the void in the keel. The same area on the 76 seems to be a bilge pan of resin at about the same height, im not sure how thick it is or what is under it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64362863@N05/
 
Jan 24, 2005
4,881
Oday 222 Dighton, Ma.
Considering that the port side bunk, everything under the cockpit and most of whats under the forward berth is foam, the amount for this size boat is enormous. Without it I wouldn't dare take the boat on the great lakes or the ocean though since If a large wave ever came up from the stern and swamped the cockpit completely it might lower the stern enough to cause cabin flooding, and with a 600lb lead weight in the keel if the cabin starts to fill this thing would sink so fast you would be lucky to escape in time if you were in the cabin. That is why you should always sail with your hatch boards installed and the hatch slid closed if the weather or waves are even questionable.
As far as that void behind the lead goes, it may or may not be there on the '76. in the 72 the lead keel is literally the size and shape of the keel starting at the triangle pointed tip where it meets the hull and then expanding as it goes back like the keel does. As far as adding weight I think the boat would be a tad heavy with all that weight and a bit saggy in the butt if it were all behind the front weight especially considering the human cargo in the cockpit, but I suppose if you want more sail area without laying the boat over you do what you have to and there's really nowhere else to put it.
Here are some pics, don't have any pics of the non rotten 76 boat up yet, and the keel pics of the 72 i have aren't very helpful without knowing what you are looking at. Basically some were taken before the keel was removed through the hole in the cockpit floor that i made much bigger, and you can see where the previous owner bashed a hole in the fiberglass bilge pan under the cabin floor which used to cover the void in the keel. The same area on the 76 seems to be a bilge pan of resin at about the same height, im not sure how thick it is or what is under it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64362863@N05/
That very same thing could happen to my boat and the O'Day company never designed it to have foam flotation but you just answered my question with the most logical answer that any good skipper would do, and that's batten down the hatches before hand.
I've sailed my boat to places like Block Island and Martha's Vineyard which are areas that can kick up, but I picked my days to go there. Lately, I just sail in protected bays in my area and I know of a lot of safe coves to enter if I know the weather is going to turn fast.
One of my forum friends had some concerns with sailing his O'Day 222 on Lake Michigan and he decided to sell the 222 and buy an O'Day 25. He wanted to sail across the lake to the other side and didn't feel comfortable doing it in an O'Day 222. I can't say as I blame him. I don't think I'd attempt it either. It really depends on where you are planning to cruise with your 22. I can't stand seas with deep swells. It makes me noxious.
 
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Jun 12, 2010
936
Oday 22 Orleans Marina, NOLA
I've read accounts of oday 22's sailing in unintended heavy weather and in each tale the skipper is surprised as to how well the boat handled it. Surprised I suppose because all the specs of an oday 22 indicated it is best suited for protected waters, but she is apparently of competent design none the less.

I'm not suggesting the oday 22 be used for coastal cursing but like most sailboats she can take more than the crew would want to.

As for the extra keel wt, the 72-73 had 600#, then oday added to 700#, then to 800# - granted with consideration for placement as the engineers saw fit, but that they increased the wt indicated to me they were addressing a slight design flaw. I've got no problems with stability at 600#, and my sail area is right at 200 sq ft, with more sail and in the sometimes rough lake p more wt may a good idea. Some have said that the extra wt slows the boat too much.

As for foam, I like the idea of an unsinkable boat. Where have i heard that before?
 
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