Bought a Widgeon....

[sharps4590]

to sail on little local lakes when I don't have time to get to My Cat-22. It's in remarkably good condition for a 1969. Could someone give me some info on this cute little boat or direct me to where I can learn about it? It appears to be a well thought out dinghy. Thanks!

Vic

 

[Joe11688]

to sail on little local lakes when I don't have time to get to My Cat-22. It's in remarkably good condition for a 1969. Could someone give me some info on this cute little boat or direct me to where I can learn about it? It appears to be a well thought out dinghy. Thanks!

Vic

Hi Vic,
One of my friends in the YC I belong to started out with an O'Day Widgeon and he had a blast with it on the lakes and rivers.
Rudy Nickerson of D & R Marine http://www.drmarine.com/ has all the parts for these boats. In fact, he bought all the original molds from the factory after O'Day folded up and was actually having these boats built again several years ago by a builder in Bristol RI. Rudy would install all the hardware on them himself. I think that he's gotten away from that though For more info on this boat, check out the "I love O'Days" web site.

 

[sharps4590]

Thank you very much! I haven't sorted through everything yet but it appears most of the stuff is there. Kinda anxious to get the little thing on the water and see how it does. I read something that said the Widgeon will get up on plane in moderate winds. Now that sounds like a hoot!!!

Thanks again.

Vic

 

[Joe11688]

Thank you very much! I haven't sorted through everything yet but it appears most of the stuff is there. Kinda anxious to get the little thing on the water and see how it does. I read something that said the Widgeon will get up on plane in moderate winds. Now that sounds like a hoot!!!

Thanks again.

Vic

Years ago I had an old O'Day Javelin that would get up on a plane. I used to sail it in Bristol Harbor in RI and I had a lot of fun with that boat. Have fun!
Joe

 

[Sunbird22358]

I used to have a 1969 Widgeon and can answer most if not all questions. I also have a pretty good collection of pictures of the boat. I also have created an expanded version of the O'Day original owners manual/rigging guide. I added a lot of diagrams to my booklet, and include scanned copies of various brochures (including 1969, wish I'd had that when I owned my Widgeon!). Contact me direct for info on the manual (cost is $10 to cover printing and postage.)

 

[sharps4590]

Thanks Sunbird! The only thing I don't understand is what the assembly of smallish blocks and a line are on the centerboard tower on the starboard side. The rest is self explanatory. Almost needless to say is that my boat didn't come with a manual.

 

[Sunbird22358]

I'm confused too!
What you describe sounds like the lines to raise/lower the CB, but that was not used until the 1971 and later models (well, Rudy changed back to the lever-operated CB on the boats that he built in the 1990's), the 1969 had a lever-operated CB and I'm not sure what those lines and blocks are that you describe. Perhaps the reason that your boat is in such good shape for a 1969 is that she is really a 1971 or newer? If 1973 or newer (some 1972 models as weel) there will be a 12-digit HIN on the outside of the transom, the last 2 numbers in that HIN will be the last 2 digits of the model year.
Earlier boats had a 2-part "serial number", there would be a Hull# and a Class#. Hull# showed how many total O'Day sailboats had been built (my 1969 Widgeon was H# 22698) and Class# was the number of that class (in the case of a widgeon, how many widgeons, mine was #1791).

Does your boat have a foredeck? or is there just a flotation tank that is about 12" +/- below the gunwale? Are the side seats molded in or are they wooden? 1971-82 has a foredeck and the cockpit seats are molded as part of the deck, 1984-present is open bow to stern with molded-in seats along the sides with a seat-level platform forward of the mast. 1963-70 models have wooden seats, a flotation tank in the bow, a flotation tank (seat-level) across the stern and a molded "seat" across the boat that the mast steps thru.

I'll include a diagram of the later model CB control lines below anyway.

 

[sharps4590]

Mine has a foredeck with two....door covers(?), for lack of a better word, in the bulkhead and molded seats. There is nothing on the the transom regards flotation. From your apt description it appears my Widgeon is not a 1969 but newer.

My centerboard lines are similar to the ones you posted except that the one to pull the board down is farther aft, just about above where the up line is anchored in your photo, unless someone has previously modified it, but I don't see any signs of modification. The down line has no block assembly on it....just give it a hard pull and down the board goes. Perhaps that is incorrect.

I have the boat covered up for the winter but perhaps I can remember what the "other" lines were. I believe there were two small blocks, one about 1/3 of the way aft of center of the centerboard tower and another about the same distance forward, both on the starboard side, with a line running between them and going nowhere, just kinda looped between the blocks. If I have time this weekend I'll uncover the boat and take some pics. I left a wool shirt in the boat I should get out anyway.

Thanks a bunch.....they are fun little boats!

 

[Sunbird22358]

I'd say your boat is probably an early 1970's model, possibly 1971-73. Does she have a small compartment molded into the portside seat? If so she is a 1971 or 1972. If not then she is 1973 or later and will have a HIN molded into the outside of the transom, last 2 numbers in that HIN will be model year.

 

[sharps4590]

Sorry I didn't get the boat uncovered and photos taken....busy, busy weekend. There is no compartment molded in the port seat and the VIN is indeed molded into the transom. As soon as I post this I'm gonna go check the VIN. Thanks again Sunbird and I promise I'll get the photos as soon as I can.

Edit: Alrighty Mr. Sunfish!! According to all your helpful information I believe my Widgeon is a 1974. I have to uncover it this weekend as the next weekend starts our deer season and ain't nuthin' gonna happen then....but put venison in the freezer....hopefully!

Vic