Choosing a trailer for an O'Day 23...

[James]

If you need more pictures .......

Skippercanuck - If you need more pictures let me know and I can try to get something this weekend.Good luck. You can tell I was looking at converting a trailer and was doing exactly what you are doing ... then I saw the trailer I purchased for sale on this web site and ..... rushed over and purchased. It was a great deal. I needed soemthing to give me flexibility of when I take the boat out and .... I also needed the assurance that I had a "remove" plan for hurricanes etc. The harbour-master requires that an emergency plan is filed indicating how/what you will do in the case of a hurricane.Last year we had a major storm - wind speeds of 50 knots + and huge seas, the tide was about 3 feet higher than normal ..... and I dragged my mooring about 100 ft. Luckily no other boats were in the way. Next time I'm pulling the boat.Goog luck James

 

[Skippercanuck]

Maintenance access to retractable keel problem

James and others have discussed the problem of how to get at the retractable centerboard of the Oday 23 for maintenance. I cannot think of anyway that it can be easily done while the boat is on a trailer. Usually that is a boatyard job, on a travel lift. It can be done with jackstands and such, but it would be a heck of a job, and fraught with peril. Murphy would definitely show up at some point, bringing O'toole along, probably. Scary stuff.Much is to be discussed, but perhaps the best approach is to simply build a backyard steel frame, with wheels, winches and slings, like a mini travel lift and just get it over with.What a big investment in time and money (and yard space). Ugly clutter, too. Wifey not happy, mebbe.I do not have access to a commercial marina tavel lift anywhere within 800 miles, but I do have a welder and several acres of level yard far from pesky neighbors. Tolerant wifey, too. I am thinking now about building myself a lift frame, but that is for another thread, and another day. Gotta shake my head a bit.Like James, I will procrastinate that awhile. Maybe there are some other sailors who have done it in a better way??? Lay it on us, if so, PLEASE.

 

[Skippercanuck]

Thanks, James... valuable photo of Keel guides

James, that is a very kind offer of more photos, if needed. I will contact you on this forum if those are required. Your last photo of the rear view of the boat on the trailer, showing the curved keel guides in clear detail, is truly worth a thousand words..and several really cold beer. >>>>Applause, bravo zulu!<<<<<

 

[Scott On Eagles Wings]

I also thank you James

I was on a much more complicated though process. The picture reminds me to KISS Keep It Simple Silly. Skip to bad your so far away I would love to see your work. As far as my winch handel I have this eloborate bow rest that pivots and always swings in the way durring retrival. I think I may just remove it and KISS with a fresh approach. That would alow me to move my winch higher up the post and solve my tilting problem. Be well at least at our slip we have only slush left on the lake.

 

[Skippercanuck]

Sometimes ya just gotta be patient...

James, I am all excited with wanting to get to work and modify my trailer according to your keel guide photos, this weekend... but the trailer dealer is getting ready for our boat show in Moncton this weekend and real busy, so I gotta wait till Monday for delivery, plus the new axle will be that late too.Now in such cases, when the wind is blowing the horns off a bull, and its cold outside, (brrrrr) you gotta find some way to channel all that useless energy...so,I have been drinking those extra cold beers that I set aside for you. I really got the candystore hots for some windy-day sailing and your beers are making it worse. No slush on the water here, just about 14" of ICE.More beer. Scott on Eagles Wings is pouring...we'll be sailing soon!

 

[Skippercanuck]

Wooden Trailer Guides on single axle..neat!

Nice photo, Stickman...Using wood like that saves weight and possible would allow a single axle trailer to carry an ODay 23 inside GVW rating. Really good set-up on the bunk height adjustments too. Can' really see the detail but I suspect that the center wood plank for the keel rest is nested inside some angle-iron, at each side, for the required bearing strength.