Hatch and Port leaks

[Johnmpru]

We have just purchased an 84 O'Day 39 this is our first sailboat! Although the boat is in very good condition there are many drips around the hatches and the port holes even the Lexan windows need to be replaced because of some cracks and a very fine spiderwebbing. I have no idea where to start looking for materials for these repairs. I don't have a problem doing the work myself but just don't know where to start to identify the parts needed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Easter
John

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Hi John,

Welcome to the site.

You will find a vast (maybe not vast, but certainly lots) amount of material on replacing fixed and opening ports. Just look in the SEARCH menu under such things as ports, fixed ports, portholes, windows, etc. until you find what you want. I've already completed replacing the acrylic in all of my opening ports and will, should, must, have to, get to work on the fixed ports as they are starting to show signs of crazing.

If you have access to woodworking tools (router, table saw, drill press, etc.) acrylic is beautiful to work with. If you can remove the old panes in one piece, you can use them as a pattern. A pattern tracing router bit will reproduce the old panes within +/- 0.001". With a reasonable amount of care, your replacements will be identical in appearance and quality to the originals.

 

[Panta Rei]

We have just purchased an 84 O'Day 39 this is our first sailboat! Although the boat is in very good condition there are many drips around the hatches and the port holes even the Lexan windows need to be replaced because of some cracks and a very fine spiderwebbing. I have no idea where to start looking for materials for these repairs. I don't have a problem doing the work myself but just don't know where to start to identify the parts needed.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Happy Easter
John

Congratulations John, I hope your new (to you) O'day gives you many years of enjoyment. You certainly came to the right place for help and advice.
Here's a few starters for you:
D&R marine sells many replacement items for the entire O'day line. I believe the owner Rudy was once the purchasing manager for O'day.
You will find that O'day used many of the same component across the product line so advise from owners of other models is generally applicable to the 39.
The crazing you see on the hatches and windows happens with normal aging. It's not necessarily something you must replace unless you feel it unacceptable cosmetically and something you don't feel like explaining to your friends as you welcome them aboard this summer.
I too have an 39 and have done a lot of work on the boat. I and other 39 owners have likely encountered the same leak or problems you are looking at. Being as specific as possible will help everyone help you.
May I ask where you purchased the boat? and it's name.
One piece of advise I would like to pass on is to take some time before you dig into any projects. I was forced to let my boat sit for a year while we planned and paid for a wedding. Best thing I could have done! It gave me a chance to research and get advise from others before I took on many projects.
Welcome aboard!!

 

[Johnmpru]

Thanks much for the reply. We purchased the boat in Iuka, Mississippi the boat name at the time was Kell Erin we will be returning it to the previous name Annabelle. She is in good condition but in need of some TLC. I know it's hard for you because of your weather but we motored it 55 miles up river the day we bought it. It was a little cold but not bad, I'm from WI moved to the south 10 yrs ago. I will check out the D&R Marine site. I have read all of your posts... Great project spring is just around the corner!

 

[Panta Rei]

So, you must still be a Packer fan right?? I lived in the west side of Tenn for several years back in the 80's . I remember a very large O'day dealer in on Kentucky lake likely near Grand Rivers. It's where I was first hooked on the O'day line.
Rogersville is a good distance from Kentucky lake / Lake Barkley where do you intend the sail the boat? You have some nice lakes in eastern Tenn. Are you headed that way? I've hauled my boat several times. It can be very inexpensive if you find the right rig and keep your schedule open.
You may find Captain Tolley's creeping crack cure very helpful on small hairline cracks that are tough to get to. It's not a replacement for rebedding hardware but can solve many little problems. I love the stuff.
Keep us posted on the leaks.