High Winds

[Mike]

How much wind can an O'Day 27 take? My boat is far from tender, and even with proper reefing (sometimes I am the only reefed boat around) I heel so much that the water is up to the gunwhale and even close to the winch. Is it possible to flip this type of boat? Am I pushing it too far?

 

[Ned Young]

Reefing

Most boats will start reefing at 20 to 25 knots. Try using your traveler to ease out the main and spill excessive air from the top. I doubt if you will turn over the boat without help of some large waves.Good Luck

 

[Leonard Hooks]

Tender Odays

Most Odays are tender by their high freeboard design. You can reduce heel several ways before reefing. Use a smaller headsail if your using a 130 or 150.. Tighten the outhaul and boomvang to flatten the main. Drop the traveller leward, if you have a traveller. If that doesn't help enough, you may need to ease the boomvang and ease mainsheet to spill more air. The suggestion to reef with wind above 20-25 is pretty aggressive unless you just like thrills. If you're not racing, reef early, 15-18. It easier to shake-out a reef if the air lightens than it is to put a reef in if the air builds

 

[Tim Loviska]

Going Over

I have a fixed keel 25 and will push it pretty hard. I have put it over to 40 degrees and not gone over. In fact the boat will round up in to the wind since the rudder is no good at about 35 degrees. Now given a large gust and a bad wave I am sure you could put it in the water but I think it would come back up. Like I said I enjoy pushing it since you learn the bounds of the preformance.

 

[P.Jay]

Tender O'Day

I've noticed the same. Once the wind gets up around 15 plus, she doesn't want to take a lot of sail. I furl the jib in first which helps. Then I throw a first reef in the main. Once I do this, the boat will pick up at least another knot of speed.