Someone wrote to me recently with an Oday question that I couldn't help with, so I'm tossing it out to the fellow owners on this b-board: "My dock on a creek has 2 feet depth at low tide with a soft muck bottom. I am thinking of buying an ODay 25 with Centerboard. The Oday 25 Centerboard specs list a 2 ft 3 inch draft with centerboard up. BUT the fixed rudder draft is listed at 2 ft 8 inches. Are you aware of any modifications I could make to the rudder to allow me to dock it in this shallow water?? OR is it OK for fixed rudder to settle into the muck???" That's the question. Any help? (I'll pass along useful info to the guy who asked me in the first place.) Thanks. Pete s/v EmmieLou (Oday 322) Little Silver, NJ
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Answer
Simply put, no. I would look for a boat with a center board AND kick-up rudder. Having the boat sit at a dock with its rudder 1/3 buried and unable to move is asking for trouble. On top of that, you will be limited as to when you can depart and return.
Simply put, no. I would look for a boat with a center board AND kick-up rudder. Having the boat sit at a dock with its rudder 1/3 buried and unable to move is asking for trouble. On top of that, you will be limited as to when you can depart and return.
maybe
My boat has what might be a solution to your problem: instead of pintles on the rudder, there are two gudgeon straps, whose sockets ride just above the gudgeon sockets that bolt to the transom. A long (3' or so) 1/2" stainless rod then runs down through all the holes from the top. It has a collar on one end to keep it from going all the way through, and a block on the rudder along with an eyestrap on one side of the transom and cleat on the other allow me to raise the rudder about a foot in just a few seconds with a pull on the appropriate line. I can give you more details or pics if you want.
My boat has what might be a solution to your problem: instead of pintles on the rudder, there are two gudgeon straps, whose sockets ride just above the gudgeon sockets that bolt to the transom. A long (3' or so) 1/2" stainless rod then runs down through all the holes from the top. It has a collar on one end to keep it from going all the way through, and a block on the rudder along with an eyestrap on one side of the transom and cleat on the other allow me to raise the rudder about a foot in just a few seconds with a pull on the appropriate line. I can give you more details or pics if you want.
O'Day 25 CB Rudder
(repeat from the other thread) I would not recommend buying the boat PLANNING on putting the rudder in the mud, the factory built rudders are not the strongest. There are two additional O'Day 25's at my marina besides mine. The other two have split rudders. Mine doesn't, because I replaced it three years ago with a solid rudder from Rudy. Also, imagine the strain that would be put on the transom as the boat rocks against the gudgeons when the keel is out of the mud, but the rudder isn't. The rudder can be removed, but it's a balanced rudder, so about 1.5" of the rudder are under the hull of the boat. That means it has to be turned hard to one side or the other to remove it. Ida Sailor makes a replacement kick-up rudder, he may be interested in that. If I were in his position, I believe I would be looking at that instead of just planning on sinking the rudder into the mud.
(repeat from the other thread) I would not recommend buying the boat PLANNING on putting the rudder in the mud, the factory built rudders are not the strongest. There are two additional O'Day 25's at my marina besides mine. The other two have split rudders. Mine doesn't, because I replaced it three years ago with a solid rudder from Rudy. Also, imagine the strain that would be put on the transom as the boat rocks against the gudgeons when the keel is out of the mud, but the rudder isn't. The rudder can be removed, but it's a balanced rudder, so about 1.5" of the rudder are under the hull of the boat. That means it has to be turned hard to one side or the other to remove it. Ida Sailor makes a replacement kick-up rudder, he may be interested in that. If I were in his position, I believe I would be looking at that instead of just planning on sinking the rudder into the mud.
Rudders - shudders
Pete, I'm reluctant to disagree with my mates here, some pretty smart too. This happens all over the world, with nil results for damage. I had a small boat 25 ft that with diurnal tides was stuck in the muck (a small marina) twice daily usually, high & dry at spring tides, and the rudder solid too. I had a ten ton yacht stuck, rudder too, up river hard aground with 40 other yachts. If just muck and steady current no breaking waves or ROCKS, then I cannot attest to longevity, but a rudder can take that kind of punishment without question; eight inches into mud.
Pete, I'm reluctant to disagree with my mates here, some pretty smart too. This happens all over the world, with nil results for damage. I had a small boat 25 ft that with diurnal tides was stuck in the muck (a small marina) twice daily usually, high & dry at spring tides, and the rudder solid too. I had a ten ton yacht stuck, rudder too, up river hard aground with 40 other yachts. If just muck and steady current no breaking waves or ROCKS, then I cannot attest to longevity, but a rudder can take that kind of punishment without question; eight inches into mud.
Thanks
Thanks for the feedback. I've passed it along to the original questioner. Now it's up to him. Pete s/v EmmieLou (Oday 322) Little Silver, NJ
Thanks for the feedback. I've passed it along to the original questioner. Now it's up to him. Pete s/v EmmieLou (Oday 322) Little Silver, NJ
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