Hi, I just bought an O'day 23'. It has no electronics and no battery. I'm going to be working on it thru this year and get it ready for next, but I need help with battery and electrical systems. What's the best battery recommended, should I install two batteries? Where is a good location on a 23' to install switch panels and other commonly used panels and electrical gear in the cabin? And how is shore power hooked up? Heck, even silly questions like re-charging is on my mind. I know i have tons of other questions, but that'll come with more postes in here! I look forward towards each and every feedback, even pics would help me gain an idea of how to install. Thanks Mark Reiland
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Electricical system
I have also recently purchased an O Day 23, however my boat had a battery and switch panel factory installed. I was going to add a second battery and shore power, however after much thought decided against it. As far as a battery is concerned mine is installed under the port seat in the cockpit. The switch panel is also on the port side right next to the compaion way above the stove area. I recently replaced the switch/breaker panel with one from West Marine. The original only had 4 switches and was full of corosion. I also installed a bus bar for all of the negative connections. I have a 9.9 outboard with electric start, and have found the alternator though small supplies enough to keep the batteries charged. If this was not the case I would consider a solar charger. The boat is well designed, but small. Finding room for the shore connection in the cockpit is a problem. Also, finding room for an AC breaker box and room for outlets will be a challange. I was very close to making the investment and had even put a parts list together. After having the boat in the water for the last two months I am very glad I did not follow through. The boat is too small to spend much time on at the dock, and while anchored or under sail I just do not use that much power. I would suggest a good marine battery, small electrical panel and either use your engine or purchase a small solar charger. I have seen some nice units that go right over your mainsail cover while at dock or mooring. Good luck and save your money for a bigger boat. I love my 23 however for a family of 4 it is just to small.
I have also recently purchased an O Day 23, however my boat had a battery and switch panel factory installed. I was going to add a second battery and shore power, however after much thought decided against it. As far as a battery is concerned mine is installed under the port seat in the cockpit. The switch panel is also on the port side right next to the compaion way above the stove area. I recently replaced the switch/breaker panel with one from West Marine. The original only had 4 switches and was full of corosion. I also installed a bus bar for all of the negative connections. I have a 9.9 outboard with electric start, and have found the alternator though small supplies enough to keep the batteries charged. If this was not the case I would consider a solar charger. The boat is well designed, but small. Finding room for the shore connection in the cockpit is a problem. Also, finding room for an AC breaker box and room for outlets will be a challange. I was very close to making the investment and had even put a parts list together. After having the boat in the water for the last two months I am very glad I did not follow through. The boat is too small to spend much time on at the dock, and while anchored or under sail I just do not use that much power. I would suggest a good marine battery, small electrical panel and either use your engine or purchase a small solar charger. I have seen some nice units that go right over your mainsail cover while at dock or mooring. Good luck and save your money for a bigger boat. I love my 23 however for a family of 4 it is just to small.
Shore Power location
I have also just purchased an Oday 23 (1982 model). The after-market shore power connection on mine is located in the port cockpit seat upright (right where the back of your legs hit the fiberglass). It has a 12V "cigarette lighter" outlet above the shore power socket - handy for early morning coffee or blended sundowners if you have 12V appliances. My next purchase will be a solar charger which plugs into that lighter outlet so I can charge while on the hook. West Marine has them for less than $30. My switch panel is also located on the port side, just inside the companionway. My galley is on the starboard side and I think one would be well served to keep those two items away from each other. Happy sailing.
I have also just purchased an Oday 23 (1982 model). The after-market shore power connection on mine is located in the port cockpit seat upright (right where the back of your legs hit the fiberglass). It has a 12V "cigarette lighter" outlet above the shore power socket - handy for early morning coffee or blended sundowners if you have 12V appliances. My next purchase will be a solar charger which plugs into that lighter outlet so I can charge while on the hook. West Marine has them for less than $30. My switch panel is also located on the port side, just inside the companionway. My galley is on the starboard side and I think one would be well served to keep those two items away from each other. Happy sailing.
electrical
I am having that same difficulty. Where in the world do you ground the battery? If you find out will you let me know? thanks bswager@fbsblood.org
I am having that same difficulty. Where in the world do you ground the battery? If you find out will you let me know? thanks bswager@fbsblood.org
Electrical System
I have owned an Oday 23 for quite a few years.I purchased it second hand and the battery and panel were installed. The boat is wired with a two wire system so no further ground is needed.I also have a 7.5 electric OB. I purchased a solar charger from Boats U S for about $100 five years ago. I wired that directly to the battery and fastened the charger directly behind the mast step. It came equiped with a diode to keep it from overcharging. I always have enough power to start the engine. If I expect to be at anchor overnight I use a small oil lantern. I also installed a marine radio and extra outlets for portable search light. The panel, outlets and radio are mounted on the port side just inside the cabin. Install a small bulkhead near the port lazerette for the radio. The battery is under the port cockpit seat. All wiring is concealed. The 23 is a great boat. Have fun
I have owned an Oday 23 for quite a few years.I purchased it second hand and the battery and panel were installed. The boat is wired with a two wire system so no further ground is needed.I also have a 7.5 electric OB. I purchased a solar charger from Boats U S for about $100 five years ago. I wired that directly to the battery and fastened the charger directly behind the mast step. It came equiped with a diode to keep it from overcharging. I always have enough power to start the engine. If I expect to be at anchor overnight I use a small oil lantern. I also installed a marine radio and extra outlets for portable search light. The panel, outlets and radio are mounted on the port side just inside the cabin. Install a small bulkhead near the port lazerette for the radio. The battery is under the port cockpit seat. All wiring is concealed. The 23 is a great boat. Have fun
existing system
Some additional thoughts on this matter. I have to assume the boat came equipped with some basic electrical components. I have not seen an O'Day 23 without running lights, steaming light or cabin lights. Once you find these wires it should be simple to hook up a good quality marine battery and find these existing wires.On my 23 the negative wires are white, while the other wires are various colors. As I had stated in a previous response, I have replaced the switch panel and cleaned up most of the visible wires. I also ran all of the negative wires to a common bus bar. This is an easy and relativly inexpensive project. Good luck.
Some additional thoughts on this matter. I have to assume the boat came equipped with some basic electrical components. I have not seen an O'Day 23 without running lights, steaming light or cabin lights. Once you find these wires it should be simple to hook up a good quality marine battery and find these existing wires.On my 23 the negative wires are white, while the other wires are various colors. As I had stated in a previous response, I have replaced the switch panel and cleaned up most of the visible wires. I also ran all of the negative wires to a common bus bar. This is an easy and relativly inexpensive project. Good luck.
O23
Just bought a 23, hooped into the port lazarette, saw the spaghetti wires in there, noticed that all my lights didn't work so I rewired the whole thing. This meant replacing the dead Perko fixtures with new ones (the holes through the deck were the same), and putting in a new panel from WM (the only panel that came w/ instructions). All the negs are attached to the ground bar, which in turn is attached to the negative terminal of the battery. I also installed a 11.5 amp uni-solar panel (flexible) over the forward hatch. That's also direct to battery. It actually is pretty amazing, I sail all weekend, use the running lights pretty extensively, power the Autohelm 800, the depth system and my Horizon CP150 GPS. It's self contained. Beware of going the "Cheap" route with a 30.00 solar system. I tried it and it didn't recharge the system after the heavy workout I gave iit each weekend.
Just bought a 23, hooped into the port lazarette, saw the spaghetti wires in there, noticed that all my lights didn't work so I rewired the whole thing. This meant replacing the dead Perko fixtures with new ones (the holes through the deck were the same), and putting in a new panel from WM (the only panel that came w/ instructions). All the negs are attached to the ground bar, which in turn is attached to the negative terminal of the battery. I also installed a 11.5 amp uni-solar panel (flexible) over the forward hatch. That's also direct to battery. It actually is pretty amazing, I sail all weekend, use the running lights pretty extensively, power the Autohelm 800, the depth system and my Horizon CP150 GPS. It's self contained. Beware of going the "Cheap" route with a 30.00 solar system. I tried it and it didn't recharge the system after the heavy workout I gave iit each weekend.
What I have
I bought an O'Day 23 this summer. But the electrical system system is a mess. I can't blame O'Day because I know they couldn't have built it with the spider's web wiring it has now. What I have is a cover that appears to be sized for shore power at the rear of the port seat, but it has nothing in it, it's only a hole with a cover. I have a VHF radio that seems to work ok, but where I sail there isn't anyone to talk too, I'll keep it for future adventures.
She has 2 sets of bow nav. lights, 1 set on the deck (they work) and a set on the pulpit (they aren't even wired up). I have a stern light on the pushpit that works and a mast light that works (after replacing the $5.00 bulb) The interior lights (4 each) work well too. There is a depth/speed/water temp device that works too (very useful). Someone has added an extra light to the starbord corner of the cockpit area that provides just enough light to see with without blinding yourself. For this extra light the installer simply drilled a hole and put in a new switch below the breaker panel. The breaker panel in my boat like has been reported by ohers is also just inside the hatch on the port side. I have an electric bilge pump and I added a small fan just above the panel to move the air around inside. The boat did have a small solar panel when I bought it but it failed after a short while. I did some research and found that a small cigarette lighter style solar panel won't charge a hefty marine battery. It will only keep it from naturally leaking away its power over time. That is why it plugs into a lighter instead of a regulator. I also found that a solar panel with a 1 amp capacity seems to be the minimum for charging a single marine batery, unless you want to wait for weeks to get a full charge. I'll have to ask Santa Claus for a bigger, better solar panel this Christmas. Everything seems to be well thought out in its placement but the current wiring is a mess. I don't seem to have a common ground wire. What I have is 23 years of spliced up wiring with more crimp-on connections than I can count. I bought a dual bus bar from West Marine and plenty of wire and plastic "conduit" to help protect the wiring from being damaged by ropes, lifevest and the like. As soon as the weather cools a little bit, I'll crawl around inside and solder and heat shrink (not crimp) new wiring in place. As it is now, if I turn on the running lights my depth meter goes dead and all the lights dim. I know it isn't the battery because the battery will run the meter or the lights all night. But not both at the same time for even a second. My best guess is I have a bad and/or corroded crimp connection. I'm going to run seperate "+" and "-" wiring from each device to the dual bus bars which will be mounted under the port seat near the battery. If anyone has any warnings or better ideas I'd like to hear them. I've wired cars before but never a boat.
I bought an O'Day 23 this summer. But the electrical system system is a mess. I can't blame O'Day because I know they couldn't have built it with the spider's web wiring it has now. What I have is a cover that appears to be sized for shore power at the rear of the port seat, but it has nothing in it, it's only a hole with a cover. I have a VHF radio that seems to work ok, but where I sail there isn't anyone to talk too, I'll keep it for future adventures.
She has 2 sets of bow nav. lights, 1 set on the deck (they work) and a set on the pulpit (they aren't even wired up). I have a stern light on the pushpit that works and a mast light that works (after replacing the $5.00 bulb) The interior lights (4 each) work well too. There is a depth/speed/water temp device that works too (very useful). Someone has added an extra light to the starbord corner of the cockpit area that provides just enough light to see with without blinding yourself. For this extra light the installer simply drilled a hole and put in a new switch below the breaker panel. The breaker panel in my boat like has been reported by ohers is also just inside the hatch on the port side. I have an electric bilge pump and I added a small fan just above the panel to move the air around inside. The boat did have a small solar panel when I bought it but it failed after a short while. I did some research and found that a small cigarette lighter style solar panel won't charge a hefty marine battery. It will only keep it from naturally leaking away its power over time. That is why it plugs into a lighter instead of a regulator. I also found that a solar panel with a 1 amp capacity seems to be the minimum for charging a single marine batery, unless you want to wait for weeks to get a full charge. I'll have to ask Santa Claus for a bigger, better solar panel this Christmas. Everything seems to be well thought out in its placement but the current wiring is a mess. I don't seem to have a common ground wire. What I have is 23 years of spliced up wiring with more crimp-on connections than I can count. I bought a dual bus bar from West Marine and plenty of wire and plastic "conduit" to help protect the wiring from being damaged by ropes, lifevest and the like. As soon as the weather cools a little bit, I'll crawl around inside and solder and heat shrink (not crimp) new wiring in place. As it is now, if I turn on the running lights my depth meter goes dead and all the lights dim. I know it isn't the battery because the battery will run the meter or the lights all night. But not both at the same time for even a second. My best guess is I have a bad and/or corroded crimp connection. I'm going to run seperate "+" and "-" wiring from each device to the dual bus bars which will be mounted under the port seat near the battery. If anyone has any warnings or better ideas I'd like to hear them. I've wired cars before but never a boat.- Status