And so it begins

[25yearslater]

I was curious about the mast also jibes. It seems these were built with the one mast configuration. I bought Don Guillette's book and am practicing with twisting off the tops of the sails for less power. It is working quite well so far. This is taking some getting used to but I am getting more comfortable with it's sailing characteristics.

 

[SailingCal21]

Karma's mast is 47' as well.

Joe, I by no means a boat balance expert, however having the bow out of the water 6ft aft seems like a balance problem to me.

Karma has lead ingots strategically placed in forward areas of the hull. I've presumed that this was part of the manufacturing process to accommodate for variances due to hull layup methods and the installation of various fixtures and appliances.

 

[25yearslater]

I also wondered about that Scott. The stern is also sitting quite a bit higher which had me thinking it had been turned into a banana by a PO. The original boot stripe indicates this wasn't the case. Everything is inline with the water and quite even all the way along. I know I used the Okoume instead of a structural teak and shaved a good 180 lbs from her with the forward woodwork. The settees and galley also shaved more weight from the original design. This thing more resembles the the Ocean 70s than what I expected of an Oday. YOT surfs at the least provocation. Everything has checked out for integrity (the mast is still vertical) despite my pushing in less than mild winds. Been out with it blowing 29knots just to see. Had an Oday 30 chase me yesterday with his jib fully unfurled only to see him falling further behind. Not complaining but this is definately taking some getting used to.

 

[tfrench]

Hey Raj! I know I reduced the weight of YOT about 350 - 400 pounds through the use of different materials. It doesn't seem to throw a bow wave and does seem to lift the bow clear of the water under sail. Not sure why this is happening but the contact with the water is occuring 6 feet aft of the waterline at the bow. It also sits a full 3 inches higher in the water than it used to. Very bizarre to say the least. I may have to consider some smaller sails in the future. It is for certain the 140 and asym due in Tuesday won't be getting a great deal of use with the present winds blowing 15 or higher.

Hi Joe,
Did you replace water tank and if so how much and where? A friend who used to own Boomer has told me of the exceptional sailing characteristics of the 27. A couple of weeks ago I crewed on an Islander 36 (another Gurney des.). Very impressive! Also talked with a 27 owner in SF who had the 200# shoe installed on his and said it made a big difference in stability. He raced his every week......with excellent results.
I'm installing two water tanks under the port/stbd. bunks. ....25 gal. each. I'll see what that does.
Cheers,
TFrench

 

[25yearslater]

Hey there T. I didn't replace my water tank. One of only a few things original remaining. Glad to hear the 27 is a peculiar boat. I was beginning to think I was just another clown on the water who had forgotten everything I thought I knew. From my conversations with Rudy at D&R it seems the VP of Oday raced his out of Newport, RI and is alleged to have never lost. I suppose this will take some getting used to but so far I haven't experienced anything that I consider intimidating. More of a WOW what in hell do I have ahold of here. Lots of fun though. Thanks for the info.

 

[SailingCal21]

Joe, looks like you have a speedster on your hands.

Have fun learning her characteristics, she's no doubt rewarding your labors.

 

[25yearslater]

Thanks Scott. You have been following this from the beginning so I hope you enjoy the outcome as much as I am. Now if what I am doing wasn't sufficient enough to entertain, the addition of a 140 and an asym from SBO should provide the excess you have come to expect of 25yearslater. This promises to be quite a hoot. I will of course pick a day I feel I can survive launching these things. Remember, God loves fools or he wouldn't have made so many of us. But just in case I won't test the theory.

 

[tfrench]

Hey there T. I didn't replace my water tank. One of only a few things original remaining. Glad to hear the 27 is a peculiar boat. I was beginning to think I was just another clown on the water who had forgotten everything I thought I knew. From my conversations with Rudy at D&R it seems the VP of Oday raced his out of Newport, RI and is alleged to have never lost. I suppose this will take some getting used to but so far I haven't experienced anything that I consider intimidating. More of a WOW what in hell do I have ahold of here. Lots of fun though. Thanks for the info.

Yes Joe I think we've got an excellent design here. I'm beginning stbd. side after completing port (save the details). Two bulkheads and a stringer to go! Really enjoy your reports on YOT re boat speed and balance etc. Could you get a pic of the boat from the side? I'd like to see where she's sitting on her lines. I know the atomic 4 is pretty heavy.....used to have one in an old boat. I'm trying to keep "Boomer" balanced.....even though the captain ain't (according to wife).

 

[Panta Rei]

Panta Rhei sits low at the bow and very high at the stern. My Oday 39 pro says is typical of them all. I'm interested in seeing what it looks like when I add 110 gallons of water 40 gallons of diesel and add a garage load of SH#$ into the aft lockers.
It's a bit surprising the these boats don't sit on the original waterlines created at the factory.

 

[jibes138]

How a boat sits depends on where the center of gravity is located relative to the center of buoyancy. In other words the center of all the mass pushing downward due to gravity is opposed by the center of all the displaced water pushing upwards (in static conditions of course). You really don't have any opportunity to change the center of buoyancy so your only option is to adjust the center of gravity. How does it sit side to side? Some boats list to one side or another either due to interior weight or possibly tolerances in the mounting of the keel. A very small change in location of a several thousand pound keel might have a big impact by creating a rotational moment.

 

[25yearslater]

Here is some stuff you might enjoy. The 140 Genny makes light air windward work loads of fun (thanks for the input on that one jibes) while the Asym provides some real thrills for the downwind. The little engine now runs reliably thanks to new fuel pump, filter, carb rebuild, points, plugs, plug wires, coil, rotor, on/off switch and cap. Nuh, quit now bugger. The crew is gaining confidence and ability so the real fun is beginning.

 

[tfrench]

Here is some stuff you might enjoy. The 140 Genny makes light air windward work loads of fun (thanks for the input on that one jibes) while the Asym provides some real thrills for the downwind. The little engine now runs reliably thanks to new fuel pump, filter, carb rebuild, points, plugs, plug wires, coil, rotor, on/off switch and cap. Nuh, quit now bugger. The crew is gaining confidence and ability so the real fun is beginning.

Hey Joe,
Just curious how YOT tracks down wind. How about weather helm to windward?
Glad you're having a good time.......you sure earned it!!
Cheers,
Tim

 

[25yearslater]

So far so good T. Not much weather helm in the windward dept even with the 140. I can feel it but YOT just has no desire to round up no matter what the wind does. There is a definate feel on the tiller but nothing that I find strenuous. Downwind she is very light to control. A quartering sea is the trickiest as she will try to turn into the waves and this is where a substantial amount of force is required to hold her. I don't have weather helm so I am rather pleased at the balance. I was on a close reach last weekend and trimmed so that we sailed for 15 minutes without touching the tiller as the balance was just that good. No auto pilot just for clarification. Still a little intimidating. Reminds me of some of the girls I dated. Just ready to tear your heart out. Beggining to look like the kind of girl you spend your life with though. Thanks for the inquiry. So far so good and hope you get as much joy out of your 27 as I am of mine.

 

[tfrench]

So far so good T. Not much weather helm in the windward dept even with the 140. I can feel it but YOT just has no desire to round up no matter what the wind does. There is a definate feel on the tiller but nothing that I find strenuous. Downwind she is very light to control. A quartering sea is the trickiest as she will try to turn into the waves and this is where a substantial amount of force is required to hold her. I don't have weather helm so I am rather pleased at the balance. I was on a close reach last weekend and trimmed so that we sailed for 15 minutes without touching the tiller as the balance was just that good. No auto pilot just for clarification. Still a little intimidating. Reminds me of some of the girls I dated. Just ready to tear your heart out. Beggining to look like the kind of girl you spend your life with though. Thanks for the inquiry. So far so good and hope you get as much joy out of your 27 as I am of mine.

Just about what I figured based on other reports. Looks like R Jean will be sailing through on his way to Mex in a couple of months so we'll find out more on down wind performance. Be fun to check out how he's set his up.
Finally ready to put up the rig so next week Boomer will look a little more like a sail boat.
Cheers

 

[25yearslater]

As with everything I've done so far, check out my security system. Homeland Security and Sheriff are my dock mates.

 

[tfrench]

As with everything I've done so far, check out my security system. Homeland Security and Sheriff are my dock mates.

Very impressive! Doubt you'll experience any theft.

 

[25yearslater]

I have had some requests for information on the fold up table in YOT. This is an exact reproduction of the original table as supplied by Oday. If anyone needs the dimensions please contact me and I will measure all the pieces and post accordingly.

 

[25yearslater]

Some things make all the work worthwhile. A nautical sunset with your sons is one of them.

 

[Ionheaven]

A New Beginning

Your post enjoying the sunset with your sons is inspiring as we have much work ahead of us on the 1976 O'day 27 we are hauling from Maine to the Adirondacks in upstate NY this week.
She's a well traveled boat that has crossed the ocean from Greenland to Ireland, to the Mediterranean, Portugal and Africa, across to St. Lucia, throughout the Caribbean, and back to her home port in Maine. She is well worn and we can only hope to accomplish a fraction of what you did restoring your incredible YOT! We only have a month left to sail our lake due to fluctuating water levels, so we are going to put her directly into the water when she gets here. However, the cabin needs a major cleaning. I know your thread will be very helpful to us as time goes by. In the meantime, any sage advice on cleaning the inside the cabin while the boat is out on a mooring? Thanks!

 

[JonnyQuest]

Welcomed to the club Ionheaven. Your boat has some legs on it, having crossed deep water like that.