22
EJ - The O'day 22 is a great little boat. People tend to find them a bit better built than Catalinas of the same vintage, though they're heavier so a bit slower. Of course, its all relative anyway. Pull hard enough on anything and it will give, but you do want to have those decks checked where the chainplates were moving. The force you were exerting was enormous because of the leverage pulling perpendicularly on a line give you, but still . . . What you are probably going to discover is that there has been water into the core near the chainplates. This is not terminal, though I may be cost prohibitive if you have someone else do the repair. On the other hand, a few hours with the internet and a book or two and you'll be set to repair it yourself, at what will probably be a low price. Then, as you suggest, I would increase the load bearing area by putting a bigger backing plate under there. If this is going to be your first boat, I would really suggest a survey. It may be a significant amount of the price of an O-22 but it will teach you a great deal about the way boats are made and of course about this boat in particular. At the least, try and get someone who knows boats to go and look at it with you. I'd volunteer but its a long drive from Maine. Good luck Justin - O'day Onwers' Web
