Gudgeon for O'Day 25?

[DharmaBum]

Hi,

Anyone have any ideas where I can find a transom-mounted gudgeon for my O'Day 25 tall-rig? The old one was made by Schaefer, about 4" long, had two thin shelf like plates at a 90 degree angle to the transom, each with a hole for the rudder-mounted pintel, and about 1-1/2" wide.

The Schaefer heavy-duty pintel they're selling now is more of the strap design. I haven't seen the two-shelf variety in any of the usual catalogs. The new type would probably work, but I'd then have to replace the top gudgeon, as well, and the mounting holes look different, so I'd have to plug the old holes and drill in new ones. It will be hard enough to talk my wife into crawling to the inside of the transom to hold the nuts while I'm outside turning the bolts for one gudgeon, much less two.

 

[RichBone]

I got a set from Rudy at drmarine.com
http://www.drmarine.com/products.asp?cat=182

I do most of the installing etc by myself. I've got a bunch of standard and small vise-grips to hold the nut or the bolt head while I work on the other side. Involves a lot of climbing and squirming.

Rich

 

[Joe11688]

Hi,

Anyone have any ideas where I can find a transom-mounted gudgeon for my O'Day 25 tall-rig? The old one was made by Schaefer, about 4" long, had two thin shelf like plates at a 90 degree angle to the transom, each with a hole for the rudder-mounted pintel, and about 1-1/2" wide.

The Schaefer heavy-duty pintel they're selling now is more of the strap design. I haven't seen the two-shelf variety in any of the usual catalogs. The new type would probably work, but I'd then have to replace the top gudgeon, as well, and the mounting holes look different, so I'd have to plug the old holes and drill in new ones. It will be hard enough to talk my wife into crawling to the inside of the transom to hold the nuts while I'm outside turning the bolts for one gudgeon, much less two.

The smartest thing I ever did to my boat several years ago was to install an 8" Beckson Deck Plate in the center of the inside transom on my O'Day 222. I was able to remove both of my gudgions, re-caulk them and reinstall them all by myself. It also came in handy to replace my self bailing cockpit hose. A friend of mine gave his outboard bracket this past summer and I was able to access the nuts washers and backup blocks through the deck plate to install the bracket. The holes lined up perfectly and I was able to do this job by myself. I'm not sure if it would be applicable to an O'Day 25 but it's worth looking into.

 

[DharmaBum]

Great advice from both of you, thank you. I know what you mean about climbing and squirming. Last year I had to replace the cockpit bailing hose. I take my cell phone, lunch and a couple of bottles of water with me when I crawl in back there in case I get stuck. Don't you love it?

I've been thinking of installing an access port in the cockpit below the tiller or to one side or the other. Now you guys have me convinced. As the boat approaches her 32nd year, it's looking like a better idea. I also considered putting in a transom backing, particularly since I'll never know when my old Saildrive will finally give up the ghost and I'll need to mount an outboard.

On a totally unrelated issue, the starter fried on my OMC Zephyr Saildrive early last summer. (I think it was a lightening strike when she was docked -- in addition to the toasted starter, my main sail had unexplained burn stains where it wrapped around the boom and the battery switch had melted.) You'll never guess where I found a replacement -- Amazon.com. And it was half the price of any of the others I found, brand new and free delivery. I was surprised. If you own a Zephyr, or even an old O'Day without one, you have to get pretty creative in finding parts.

 

[Joe11688]

Great advice from both of you, thank you. I know what you mean about climbing and squirming. Last year I had to replace the cockpit bailing hose. I take my cell phone, lunch and a couple of bottles of water with me when I crawl in back there in case I get stuck. Don't you love it?

I've been thinking of installing an access port in the cockpit below the tiller or to one side or the other. Now you guys have me convinced. As the boat approaches her 32nd year, it's looking like a better idea. I also considered putting in a transom backing, particularly since I'll never know when my old Saildrive will finally give up the ghost and I'll need to mount an outboard.

On a totally unrelated issue, the starter fried on my OMC Zephyr Saildrive early last summer. (I think it was a lightening strike when she was docked -- in addition to the toasted starter, my main sail had unexplained burn stains where it wrapped around the boom and the battery switch had melted.) You'll never guess where I found a replacement -- Amazon.com. And it was half the price of any of the others I found, brand new and free delivery. I was surprised. If you own a Zephyr, or even an old O'Day without one, you have to get pretty creative in finding parts.

Years ago I tried to access my self bailing hose from the Lazarett hatch and I got stuck with my feet hanging out of the opening. I was very lucky to be able to wiggle my way out of there. The O'Day 222 has less room in that opening than the 25 and I could have died in there.
Every year I use that deck plate access to run my charging wire from my outboard in through a small receptacle on the inside transom and around to an electric terminal block mounted on the rear bulkhead just under the lazarett hatch. There is another #10 stranded two wire duplex on the other side of that block that leads to my house battery. So I'm using this deck plate twice a year just to get at this wire. I'm able to run this duplex wire in through the receptacle hole and put a couple of beads of tape around it so it doesn't pull out, then I add a little caulking on the outside to keep the water from coming in around the receptacle.
I just recently mounted a 4" Beckson Deck plate in my fuel compartment to gain access to a jam cleat that I mounted on my combing near my stern rail for my furler drum control line. I can also get at my stern cleat nuts and washers now where I couldn't before. Deck plates are great.

 

[Ritdog]

Dharma: reference the transom backing, there should be a 3/4" plywood backing on the starboard side already, along with the king plank, all glassed in. If there isn't, or if it's rotted out, you have quite the nasty job ahead of you. We bought our 25 in 2010, and found that it had been rear-ended at the motor mount. The glass was OK, except for a 12" crack in the gelcoat at the very edge of the transom about the 4 o'clock position. Not too bad outside.
BUT, the plywood was cracked through, right down the middle, inside!
I had to get in there with a 4.5" grinder and 16-grit disks, and just grind all of that out. It was one of the nastiest jobs I've ever done. It's very tight, especially in the space between the cockpit wall and hull --it's all one-handed work up in there, and you have to lie in the fall of the material coming down. You WILL need a full bunny suit, respirator, goggles/mask, ear protection, and gloves. Try not to do it at 95 degrees in the sun, like I did (had to get it done....)
Putting it back in involved making a cardboard pattern to fit within 1/2" , and building it back up to 18mm with 3 sheets of 6mm marine ply, epoxied one sheet at a time (to maintain the curve) with 9oz mat in between ( Prior to that I built up the edge all around with more mat and resin, 3 layers, then sanding, in addition to FIRST putting in a new king plank too).
I made the three sheets up first in the garage, setting and epoxying the motor mount holes 1 inch dia., and used them to clamp the sheets in place with 1/4"-20 bolts and fender washers. The edges were braced with 3 2x4s cut EXACTLY to fit against the cabin wall 6.5 feet away. They get shorter with each layer.
Each sheet will go in just ONE way, so practice that. The epoxy will hold the bolts unless you oil them first (I had to heat them with a torch, and then twist out).
Aftetr the whole thing was in, I went back in and filled the space between the board and the chine with thickened epoxy, then glassed it over with resin and more 2 mats, then tabbed it all in some more. It's a rock now. Totally solid.
You will laugh after it's all over, but in process, oh, boy.

 

[RichBone]

What are you calling the king plank?

 

[DharmaBum]

Hokey smokes, Ritdog! I'd sooner paddle in and out of my harbor every trip than go through what you describe to put on an outboard motor mount. Seriously, though, I've never noticed any additional planking glassed on the starboard side. If I ever have to do it, I was hoping to put the mount on the port side so I wouldn't have to move my transom ladder. Next time I'm back there, I'll check it out.

Trinkka, you got me convinced. The next time weather permits, I'm putting on a deckplate similar to your set up on your 22. It will help me getting to the cockpit drain hose, gudgeon bolts, gas tank and fueling hose and exhaust port. Is the port below your tiller also 4 inches?

 

[RichBone]

Or you could put in something like this (found it on a clearance sale for $20).

 

[Joe11688]

Hokey smokes, Ritdog! I'd sooner paddle in and out of my harbor every trip than go through what you describe to put on an outboard motor mount. Seriously, though, I've never noticed any additional planking glassed on the starboard side. If I ever have to do it, I was hoping to put the mount on the port side so I wouldn't have to move my transom ladder. Next time I'm back there, I'll check it out.

Trinkka, you got me convinced. The next time weather permits, I'm putting on a deckplate similar to your set up on your 22. It will help me getting to the cockpit drain hose, gudgeon bolts, gas tank and fueling hose and exhaust port. Is the port below your tiller also 4 inches?

I would even go one better and see if you can find something like Rich has pictured. If you have to beef up the inside of your transom with plywood or do any glassing, you could probably just get away with the full face respirator without the need of going in there with a bunny suit.

 

[Joe11688]

Rich, you got a great buy on that. I think I paid about $20 for my 8" deck plate new at "Worst Marine" years ago. That 4" Beckson Deck plate that I just installed in my fuel compartment cost me $5 and the small jam cleat was $2 at a marine consignment store in the Newport RI area.

 

[Ritdog]

Hi RBone! The kingplank, as I know it, is the plate right up the centerline of the transom that the gudgeons mount to. It's inside the hull, next to the transom stiffener to starboard. Mine was getting soft, so I took it out.

Dharma- mine might be a retrofit- I have a swim platform on the port side, and there is no plywood there.

To all - the bunny suit was to protect from all the fiberglass I was grinding off to get to the wood. Scratchy! I can recommend blowing off well with an air compressor afterwards, then using a lint roller all over exposed skin , then a shower, washing in ONE direction for the left over glass, then another session with the roller. Get's 99% of the glass out of your skin.

Rich's hatch is nice , but there is no way you are gonna get a 30" piece of plywood through that!

Those deck plates are nice, but the wife is a bear about holes in the boat, anywhere. We have a dry boat , but that involved resetting and backplating ALL the deck hardware, and resealing all the portlights.

BTW Trinnka- you are a great source of information - thanks a bunch for what you do.

 

[DharmaBum]

RBone, That is impressive. But that hatch is inside the cabin, giving you access under the V-berth, right? I might be a little apprehensive about cutting that big of a hole on the cockpit side of the transom.

I'll start looking for a similar fitting. As long as it doesn't interfere with her cup-holder or sun tan, or gives my underage son another place to hide beer, my wife doesn't care where I cut hole in the boat.

 

[DharmaBum]

RBone, thanks for referring me to Rudy. I just got his email -- he has the part, so I ordered it. But I think the inspection port goes in first. That's one website that get's bookmarked.