Floatation on 19 foot oday

[lp_gilbert]

Just pulled out my boat for the season. I power washed the bottom and used muric acid to remove the scum line. Although the boat is 30 yrs old it looks pretty good. I've owned the boat for three years. It's always bugged me that the bottom paint line is a few inches below the water line. This is the first season the boats been in salt water and there were a few barnacles in that bare area. I'll have to move the line up this spring!
After cruising thru this forum and some others I'm pretty sure that there is a leak in the sealed chamber in the bow of the boat. I haven't found any inspection hole and I know it's sealed for a very good reason. After 30 yrs of being of being yanked and racked on a trailer I understand that a leak(s) would happen. A visual inspection of the hull doesn't show any obvious crack, etc.
My first inclination is to enjoy the boat as is.
My second idea is to put a water tight inspection hole probably in the anchor well and use a hand bilge pump to empty it occasionally. I'm not even sure if that will work because I don't know how the interior is constructed.
I don't see me tearing out a pristine cabin and do harm to its safety features.
Does anyone have any experience with this problem?
Thanks.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Well, first question.... is this boat an O'DAY 19, or a 192?
I guess that the comment about the boat being 30 years old answers that, 2014 minus 30 years = 1984 and that was the last model year for the 19 before the 192 replaced it in 1985 (possible that a few 19s were built in 1985 before the 192 was phased in). (O'DAY stopped building the Rhodes 19 and Mariner in 1978, so I assume you do not have one of either of those)

I have a few pictures of how other owners installed an inspection port at the forward end of the V-berth to access the bow-eye for repair/replacement, that may help. But. That won't give access for bailing out the water. Also, I'm confused what part of the boat you are refering to when you mention the "anchor well" as a location for the inspection port..... I don't remember any of the 19' O'DAY models having an "anchor well", so I can't comment on whether that would be a good idea.
If you need to bail out under the V-berth, I would think that you could install an inspection port on the top of the V-berth, although I don't think that area is actually sealed off from the rest of the bilge and should water get in there it should drain aft to the area under the cockpit. You would then be best to install the inspection port in hte cabin sole (floor). I know another owner mentioned water collecting there. That would seem to be about the lowest point in the bilge with the boat floating normally, and so the best place to bail from. Perhaps anohter O'DAY 19 owner could comment.

 

[lp_gilbert]

Thanks for your input.Its a 19 weekender 1984. They have an anchor well in the v berth covered by 1/4 plywood. An awkward place for an anchor! I'm a little hesitant about cutting a hole in the sole. It flexes now when I walk on it and I'm concerned about making it even weaker with a hole. I'll probably use the anchor well. It's out of the way, etc.

I was hoping that someone with a 19 or had a 19 could tell me about the underlying structure of the cabin so that I could pick the best place to put an inspection port.

 

[Sunbird22358]

Under the V-berth is a pretty odd location for a dedicated anchor well, most boats would have the anchor well compaertment on the foredeck. Does your boat match the pictures that I posted? I didn't think there was any stwage compartments under the V-berth on those boats from the factory. Perhaps your anchor well was added by a previous owner. Especially since under the V-berth is the last place I'd want to stow my primary anchor, 1) hard to access if I need the anchor in a hurry 2) I don't want to have a stinky anchor and rode under the berth as I'm trying the sleep..... PEEUH! Fresh or saltwater, it doesn't take much mud or such to produce an odor.

 

[jepomer]

This past year I investigated many parts of my O'Day 19's construction while doing repairs.

The trapezoidal storage compartment in the V-berth under the cushions is an appropriate size for a small anchor. But it is not a convenient location. It is a dry compartment with no drainage.

I needed to access the bow eye and pulpit bolts. First I cut a round access port. Later I cut out a large section to give me encumbered access to the bolts. I like the access and will later cover it with a plywood panel similar to the one on my Capri 22. (I like easy access to all mechanical and electrical parts.)

The compartment was full of styrofoam chunks. I removed these pieces. It is just a small part of the whole floatation foam.

There are large blocks of styrofoam glued to the underneath of the cockpit so it does not sit in the bilge water. I usually store my anchors (should carry two) here in the bilge

It was interesting to see foam between the cabin and the hull not unlike the Boston Whaler construction when I routed wiring for a lighting switch panel.

Much of the deck is sandwiched end grain balsa or plywood between two layers of fiberglass. The wood appears to be mostly under the anti-slip areas (which is most of the deck but may not be everywhere). If the wood gets wet, the deck can get "spongy".

The cabin top on mine had a poor repair after (I assume) the original mast fell. The chain plates pulled out and a second set were installed more outward. A mast compression post was installed to strengthen the failed cabin top's internal bracing. I cut off the cabin top "T" support skin, removing the filler material, then replacing it with multiple layers of fiberglass and 3/4" plywood. I decided to keep the compression post (a nice aluminum one) since it doesn't get in the way and adds a greater level of strength to the cabin top.

Hopes this information helps.

 

[lp_gilbert]

Thanks. The anchor was in there fro the PO. It also had hardware to fasten the rode. He showed how to run the anchor thru the forward hatch. This never made sense to me. I've only used the anchor once so it never became an issue. I sure would like to know how O'Day expected an anchor to be used on the boat.

The boat rides about 2-3 inches above the painted waterline at the bow. It's almost where it should be at the stern. The hull below the cockpit is always bone dry. I am hoping ...really really hoping that after I put an inspection plate in the anchor well (or whatever it is) it will be above any water in the forward compartment and that a simple use of an occasional hand bilge pump will keep the area dry with only a small ..probably unseeable crack...during the sailing season. I'll let you know. I may need your advise about how to run a wire through such a sealed up area

thanks