And so it begins

[25yearslater]

Thank you Sailing Cal. Today I'll be cutting still another toerail as the teak had a very pronounced section that was extremely dark internally and it won't lighten even using some potent oxalic acid lightener. It just throws of the 'look' I'm after and I still have quite a bit of board left over. On another note, there is quite a discussion about ethanol going on in Ask all Sailors. Personally I couldn't care less if it's rough on an engine or the fuel economy. What I do care about is the ability of ethanol to absorb water. Oday has been gone for quite a while and our fuel tanks are quite old. Mine is 35 years old and counting. What concerns me, is the tank is galvanized steel. Water and steel make for a very bad situation. Don't believe for a moment galvanizing protects steel. I have had more than my share of grief professionally with plant compressed air systems piped with galvanized steel contaminating machine components when the air dryers are inadequate. Another more familiar example are chainlink fence posts that are galvanized. So to that end on the to do list is replace the fuel tank. Remember, galvanizing is a zinc coating process and we all know what happens to zink in water. A sure sign of imminent tank failure is rust in the filter and I've got it. A 12 gallon bomb after all this work isn't something I'm willing to leave to chance.

 

[jibes138]

Is your boat a gasoline engine? Regardless I agree with your assessment. A diesel leak into the bilge subsequently pumped overboard is a big deal also. Now here's some food for thought. I have a 30 gallon tank (maybe 35) in my O'Day and I use maybe 20 gallons a year. I would much rather have a 5 gallon tank that I fill up regularly to keep the fuel fresh and then it would be very easy to replace the tank quite often. If you don't use the engine much (it is a sailboat after all) a much smaller tank might be a good alternative. I'm thinking of replacing mine with maybe a 10 gallon plastic tank, frame it up in the same location as the metal one but with removable panels so I can replace it easily or remove it for cleaning. A diesel tank needs a return line but that is easy to rig up, they sell kits for it. I can carry fuel in jugs and those in turn can be carried to a gas station for fill up.

 

[25yearslater]

Hey jibes. A fellow early riser. Yeah I've got the Universal Atomic 4. I'm looking at the poly tanks to replace the original. Smallest I can find is 12 gallon which is the size I currently have. A six would suit me fine if I could find one.

 

[SailingCal21]

When I got Karma, she had been sunk on land for several years, during that time her fuel tank corroded through on the leading edge with many pinholes. Her's is aluminium and is 30 gallons. Jibs, I'm sure that your's is the same. Turns out, that in the absence of air for oxidation, aluminum and water don't mix either. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/odayowners/photos/album/1430815320/pic/list

I had a new one built by Florida Marine Tanks, the original manufacturer. Today, they paint the tank and use a thicker gauge metal. I'm only using about half a tank each season and have wondered if I wouldn't have been better served by going with a smaller plastic tank as well. I'm always concerned that I'm going to end up with a tank of sick fuel. I do keep it topped up for the winter. The way O'Day 34/35s were designed there's no way to install an inspection port for cleaning.

Alas, I was young and naive at the time and thought that I'd need the tanks full capacity, but to date 6 seasons later, haven't.

 

[25yearslater]

Good point Cal and thanks for posting that as I was considering an aluminum tank. It looks like Moeller has upgraded their tanks to include a nylon inner surface that is compatible with up to 10% ethanol. It seems the original poly only tanks had an issue with permeation. The ethanol gas mix would leach vapors into the bilge. They say this was normal and just ventilate to remove the smell. Don't know about anybody else but I don't want any volitile vapor smell in enclosed spaces. Some years ago there was a boat explosion at the fuel dock at the marina I sailed from. 1 dead several others seriously injured. The store front was blown out as well. A very sobering scene to be sure. So anyway on to hatch weekend. I purchased a couple of 2" no hole hinges from Mcmaster/Carr for the forward hatch which gave me the play to center the foredeck hatch. In the picture the gasket can be seen which is quite a bit closer on one side than the other. Here I was thinking I had really screwed something up. Nice going Oday. I also found a prime use for the teak plywood I bought and tore back out. It makes really pretty hatch boards. I had to do something with it. And lastly, the mate who has been my right hand through this project. Probably thinking jeepers when are we finally going to sail this thing. He has been an indispensible part of this to say the least. So YOT is looking all cozy now and the interior work can get cranked up while the snow and cold are here.

 

[CPseudonym]

I admit to cheating. I still have 16 pages of this thread to read.

That teak hatch in the middle picture made me laugh though. I was just looking at my boat tonight and thinking, "I wonder what that ugly hatch would look like in teak?"

Now I know, great!

 

[jibes138]

Hey - no cheating!

If you cheat you have to go back to the beginning and start all over.

I keep trying to win by being the last poster on this thread but 25 years keeps coming back with more stuff. Let the game continue. Oh and be careful out there.

 

[SailingCal21]

Fuel Tank Material

Dunno what today's conventional wisdom is concerning aluminum and E10-15, but it may not be a bad choice. Karma's pushin' 30, the tank did last 25 years before failing. I believe that had the tank been installed properly and/or the wooden cradle not been always wet due to a chronic leak from the cockpit above, it would not have failed. The inside of the tank showed absolutely no signs of failure and was quite shiny.

 

[pipes111]

After spending 2 hours reading the 340 or so posts, I'm not sure what to think about you 25. Is it obsession, passion, genius, insanity, some of each? That is quite a project. Thanks for posting everything thus far.

I did notice somewhere in the later pics, it looks like you patched over where a speaker had been installed. I was thinking of installing a stereo and speakers in my 23. Did you remove yours permanently? Only to get back to original? Or are sounds systems not good manners on sailboats?

 

[Panta Rei]

are sounds systems not good manners on sailboats?

My two cents...
Sound systems are great on sailboats. It's more of an after sail back at the dock thing for some.
Speaker location will greatly effect the amount of sound leaving your boat, a big issue for your neighbors. I sail my 23 on an inland lake so I don't worry about my cockpit filling with water. I placed my speakers low in the cockpit and don't bother anyone and have the tunes loud at times. My experience has been automotive systems are fine. No corrosion issues on my 23 so far.

Does anyone know where to put a satellite radio antenna? They are intended to be placed on the roof of a car and would not likely hold up to being stepped on if placed it on deck. Will satellite signals penetrate fiberglass layup? I was planning some tests later this winter but I'm a bit concerned about any results I may have since I can not test the boat moving around or changing orientation.

 

[jibes138]

I doubt the satellite radio antenna will work indoors. I am able to get a GPS reception on my old Garmin hand held inside my boat but the satellite radio is a lot more sensitive to disruptions like driving under trees and so forth in the car. I f you have dorade vents you could mount the antenna on the dorade box and run the wire down the vent. You won't be stepping on the dorade box so it should be relatively safe.

 

[25yearslater]

First up pipes. Answer: all the above plus fear of having a very expensive lawn ornament as well as fear of having someone say' "What an ugly boat." Actually all I am doing is applying my machine repair experience to a new and infinately more enjoyable endeavor. What doesn't show in this thread are the hours reading technical publications and the calls to the material manufacturer's technicians. Then there is locating a reasonably priced supplier. The work behind the work is what yields a successful outcome. Of course there is the trial and error when mastering a new technique. The nonskid deck was a perfect example of that and it works a dream as some snow drifted under the tent and I didn't fall to my doom tonight. Then of course there is Odayowners.com who provide not only technical ideas and expertise but an ongoing source of encouragement. The folks here are simply the best. Now as to Sound Systems (booming commercial type voice). Sailboats are perfect as the din of roaring engines doesn't interfere with the music. My Oday 22 had a sound system that my brother, who worked for an automotive aftermarket audio place, designed and installed. With some pretty sophisticated stuff I was the envy of everyone who wanted stereo onboard. With the 500 watt booster, fish were often seen swimming belly up in circles in my wake. The only advise I would offer is choose your spot for mounting carefully. Look over the proposed area for it's contribution to the structure of the boat. One problem I encountered was the addition of so many gadget holes in the companionway bulkheads they had significantly weakened the bulkheads. The starboard side had been weakended enough that the cabin side had buckled inward. There were also stress cracks along the cabin/cabin liner joints at the companionway. Other than that I say go for it. I did leave a speaker in the cabin located under the port settee for some future listening enjoyment. And all the toerails and stantion bases are installed as of Monday. Now to the interior and the Iron Wind.

 

[pipes111]

Thanks Panta Rei and 25yearslater. I'm planning on putting 2 speakers low in the cockpit, about 1/2-way between the step and the transom. 2 more inside for those nights when we just want the tunes indoor.

 

[rajhnsn]

Back to the fuel tank for a second: I believe my tank is steel painted grey. I've had no indications of leaks. It does sit on wooden blocks. I'm not sure if the tank is original or was installed by a previous owner. SailingCal indicated his original tank was aluminum. Would Oday have used two different materials for the same boat? Regarding sound system, I installed two Bose speakers in cabin that sound very good. I have round 6" speakers for the cockpit but cannot decide where to install them. Any ideas?

 

[25yearslater]

Raj, long time no hear. Wishing you and all my fellow Oday owners a joyful and prosperous New Year. It is interesting that Oday used both aluminum and steel tanks. I posed this question to Maine Sail and he indicated that he was aware of the aluminum tanks that Oday had used. Judging from the box mine sits in it is a safe assumption the steel tank was the original. I am not surprised as many components were purchased parts from outside vendors. I'm not sure if Oday used them but I recall Tempo tanks were quite popular back in the early and mid seventies. Most of theirs were steel. My concern is the permeation issue with the new poly tanks. I don't care if it is only 1.5 grams/meter squared. It's still getting into an enclosed space. If indeed my tank is compromised as I suspect I will be looking at Cal's recommendations for an aluminum replacement in less than the current 12 gallons. I will also be looking over the filter and hose situation as the A1-15 hose standard is the one that is ethanol compatible and I haven't seen that on my fuel hoses.

 

[25yearslater]

Well OK then. This week I have been looking in to the fuel tank situation. Moeller Marine has developed an ethanol compatable poly tank that will fit in the existing cradle. The down side is it is an OEM tank. After an extensive conversation with their technical staff I learned the permeation issue has been resolved. The new line of tanks will allow no permeation of vapors that could reach the lower explosive limit. In fact they assure me no vapors escape at all. They did also provide me with a source for these OEM tanks. Oceanlinkinc sells these to the public. I have also been finishing up the galley woodwork and have definative examples of the difference between exterior and marine grade plywood. As the pictures show it comes down to voids. Those nasty little areas that moisture can accumulate and rot the panel from the inside out. These same voids also provide a weakness that in a structural component shave the safety factor down. Think chainplate bulkheads and the consequences of a void at the screw locations. Notice in the photo the voids in the exterior plywood (left) and a piece of true marine fir (right) when viewed side by side. Most of these voids will be a matter of luck finding when the piece is cut. Many will never show up as they are random. Just some food for thought!

 

[25yearslater]

Oh so close!!! Galley ready for installation with the last vestiges of outrageous orange eradicated. Couple that with the varnished plywood countertop relegated to a lovely bonfire and there it be. An Igloo Marine cooler in a petite 25 quart capacity is just perfect size to fit the original icebox opening with only removal of the top and a few L brackets to secure it to the countertop. Seal with foam weatherstripping and an icebox fit for an Oday only better. Now how about above 65 degrees for three days to bond the foam/fabric hull liner please.

 

[Panta Rei]

What a strange thing to say in Mid January. Hope you get it!

We had 50 today and it was warm in the boat.

Galley looks great !!!

 

[Panta Rei]

We've dropped to the twenties and 8 inches is forecasted for tomorrow. It looks like your bonding the hull liner is a ways off.

I just got the tinted gelcoat and Duratec HGA from Express composites. Thanks for the recommendation Great people!!

 

[jibes138]

Hey 25 or is it 26 now? You need to learn how to drink warm beer. My grandfather taught me how and it completely eliminates the need for ice and a cooler. A can of tuna fish, a can opener, a fork, and a warm beer and you are all set for dinner. No stove, no cooler, no ice no wasted space. As they say in Japan Bon Apetit